The Fazl Mosque in Wandsworth, also known as London Mosque, is marking its 100th anniversary with celebrations and community outreach. The mosque, which houses members of the UK’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community, has been a fixture in south London since its opening a century ago. According to Mahmood Rafiq of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, community integration has been central to the mosque’s identity, with activities including distributing sweets to local children at Eid, exchanging seasonal greetings with neighbors, and supporting other faiths during times of crisis.
The building, located in the Southfields area, was designated as a listed structure by Historic England in 2018. Its architectural features, including a green dome, white exterior, and narrow vertical windows, remain largely unchanged from its original design. The purchase of the land was largely funded by Ahmadi Muslims from Qadian in India, many of them women who sold personal jewelry to finance the project despite knowing they would likely never visit the completed building.
Throughout its history, the mosque has served purposes beyond religious worship. It functioned as an air raid shelter during the second world war and more recently has been used for blood donation drives and Covid-19 vaccination programs. The building has hosted notable historical figures, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who later became the governor general of Pakistan when it gained independence in August 1947. According to mosque records, the imam in the 1930s, Abdur Rahim Dard, played a role in developments related to the partition of British India.
To commemorate the centenary, the mosque is distributing 10,000 free meals to homeless individuals and framing the anniversary as “a century of connection.” Leadership emphasizes a core message of “love for all, hatred for none.” Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the current leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, expressed hopes that the mosque would continue serving as “a beacon of peace” for future generations.
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