Friday Sermon delivered at Masjid Mubarak, Islamabad, Tilford, UK
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba) said that tomorrow, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK will be holding an event to commemorate 100 years since the foundation stone of the Fazl Mosque was laid. This event will also be attended by non-Ahmadis and neighbours.
His Holiness(aba) said that the Fazl Mosque is significant because it was the first mosque of the Ahmadiyya Community built in a predominantly Christian nation. The opponents of Ahmadiyyat say that Ahmadiyyat was established by the British; however, it is strange because, in that case, this Community which was supposedly established by them, came to their country and highlighted the weaknesses of their faith and promoted the beautiful teachings of Islam. Those who raise this allegation themselves have not been able to carry out such efforts in propagation.
His Holiness(aba) said that before the Fazl Mosque, there was a mosque in Woking which was built by a renowned academic, G.W. Leitner, who used to be the principal of the Oriental College in Lahore. He returned to the UK after retirement and built the mosque in 1889. Interestingly, this was the same year in which Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) established the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. G.W. Leitner also established an academic institute beside the mosque as well. The professor passed away in 1899, and there was no one to look after the mosque after him.
His Holiness(aba) said that then in the time of the First Caliph(ra), Khawaja Kamaluddin came to the UK and was successful in reopening the same mosque. He wrote to the First Caliph(ra) saying that he had been put in charge of the trust for this mosque. Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan(ra) also visited and prayed in this mosque.
His Holiness(aba) said that after some time, the Second Caliph(ra) made an appeal for missionaries; however, there was a shortage of funds. Eventually, Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial(ra) was sent to the UK, where he worked alongside Khwaja Kamaluddin for some time. After the demise of the First Caliph(ra), Khwaja Kamaluddin did not pledge allegiance to the Second Caliph(ra), so Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial(ra) separated himself from Khwaja Kamaluddin.
His Holiness(aba) said that this was the history of the mosque in Woking. However, the first mosque formally established by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was the Fazl Mosque. Today, in London and elsewhere in the world, the Ahmadiyya Community has established many mosques. However, the Fazl Mosque has the distinction of being the first mosque in London.
His Holiness(aba) said that other mosques in London do not spread the true message of Islam, of peace, love and harmony, as is spread from the mosques of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Furthermore, these other non-Ahmadi mosques will be funded by other foreign bodies or governments. However, the Ahmadiyya Community does not receive any foreign funds; instead, these mosques are built as a result of the financial contributions and sacrifices made by Ahmadis. Due to these financial sacrifices, many other mosques have also been built in England and many other western nations.
His Holiness(aba) said that he would speak today about the importance of the Fazl Mosque. The importance of the Fazl Mosque and the benefit of commemorating it with an event will only be beneficial when we understand the purpose and rights of the mosque, the rights of its surroundings, of improving one’s own condition, of increasing in connection with God, and of attaching oneself to the mosque. These are all rights that we must fulfil, and every Ahmadi should remember them. We should not simply become happy by holding a commemorative event; rather, we must fulfil the rights of the mosque and understand its history in contrast with our own condition.
His Holiness(aba) said that the Promised Messiah(as) said a great deal about the spread of Islam Ahmadiyyat in the West, which serves as the basis for our efforts in propagation. The Promised Messiah(as) said with reference to, “The Sun shall rise from the West” that it was revealed to him that those Western nations which are engulfed by the darkness of disbelief will be enlightened by the light of Islam. The Promised Messiah(as) made another prophecy, in which he said that he saw a vision in which he was standing at a pulpit in London and was delivering a speech in English filled with rational arguments in favour of the truthfulness of Islam. He then saw in a vision that he was catching white birds resembling partridges from small trees. He understood this to mean that his writings would spread to the West and many pure-natured Englishmen would accept Islam.
His Holiness(aba) said that this was the desire and hope of the Promised Messiah(as). In light of this, the Community in London, and indeed around the world, including the West, strives to fulfil this vision of the Promised Messiah(as) through its efforts to propagate the true message of Islam. It was for this very purpose that the Fazl Mosque was established.
His Holiness(aba) said that, as mentioned before, Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial(ra) can be considered the first missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who travelled to the UK, and he also had the honour of bringing the first British convert to Islam Ahmadiyyat, followed by another dozen converts. Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial(ra) would travel around London to various places and deliver lectures.
His Holiness(aba) said that later, Qadhi Abdullah(ra) was sent to the UK and he continued the efforts in propagation, which became increasingly difficult during the First World War. Later, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq(ra) was also sent to the UK, and then Chaudhary Fateh Muhammad Sial(ra) was also sent back to the UK.
Under the guidance of the Second Caliph(ra), a property to serve as a mission house was acquired in Putney. When the Second Caliph(ra) was informed of this acquisition, he was in Dalhousie where he held a large function and also named the mosque the Fazl Mosque. He also made an appeal for financial contributions for this property.
His Holiness(aba) said that this piece of land was acquired from a Jewish man. Though it has developed since then, at the time, the land comprised a house and was about an acre in total. Then, in 1924, for the Wembley Conference, it was decided that there should be representation from the various religions of the world so that people may learn about them. Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyar(ra) was serving as a missionary in the UK and was invited to deliver a lecture on behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. When he sent word to Qadian, the Second Caliph(ra) accepted this proposal and started writing a dissertation in which he highlighted the beautiful and true teachings of Islam for this conference. This has now been published as Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam.
His Holiness(aba) said that a consultation was held in which it was suggested that on this auspicious occasion, it would be apt for the Second Caliph(ra) himself to attend the conference. This suggestion was accepted, and after visiting Egypt, Damascus, Switzerland and France, the Second Caliph(ra) made his way to England on 22 August 1924. Interestingly, the Second Caliph(ra) had seen a vision prior to his arrival in which he saw that he was stepping onto the shores of England like a victorious general and heard a voice saying, ‘William the Conqueror.’
His Holiness(aba) said that newspapers covered the arrival of the Second Caliph(ra) in England quite extensively. The Second Caliph(ra) and those who travelled with him visited St Paul’s Cathedral, outside of which he prayed for Islam’s victory, after which he entered the city. During the course of the Second Caliph’s(ra) stay in London, word about the Ahmadiyya Community spread a great deal.
His Holiness(aba) said that after attending the various functions, it came time to lay the foundation stone of the Fazl Mosque. The Second Caliph(ra) had decided that rather than renting various homes as mission houses which naturally would impact the efforts of propagation, a central headquarters should be established. Until 1919, due to a lack of funds and land, this task seemed too difficult. However, God furnished the required means. First came the funds; after the war, the value of the British Pound dropped. When this happened, the Second Caliph(ra) thought to take advantage. On 6 January 1920, he instructed that 14 to 15 thousand rupees should be sent to England. Later, when putting this instruction into writing, the Second Caliph(ra) wrote 30,000 rupees instead, and rather than sending it as a loan, he wrote that it would be sent as a financial contribution. Initially, on the first day, 6,000 rupees were collected. By 11 January, the Ahmadiyya Community in Qadian made great sacrifices and collected 12,000 rupees. Then, an appeal was also made outside of Qadian and in order to give people more opportunities for sacrifices, the amount was increased to 100,000 rupees. Then, through the Bank of India, this amount was sent to England.
His Holiness(aba) said that on 19 October 1924, the Second Caliph(ra) laid the foundation stone of the Fazl Mosque. It was raining on that day, and when this was brought to the attention of the Second Caliph(ra), who said that it was no matter, for those who still came to the event would do so out of sincerity and the event would be successful. A small marquee was erected for the event. Invitations were sent out to various people including politicians, dignitaries and diplomats. Despite the short notice, many guests attended the event.
His Holiness(aba) said that the Second Caliph(ra) delivered an address on this occasion, highlighting the importance and significance of the moment. He drew attention to the fact that all of this was being done to build a structure where people could gather and unite in the worship of the Creator of the entire universe, no matter their status, race or any other apparent difference. He drew attention to the fact that there are always disputes between people in the world. He said that disputes in themselves are not wrong, rather what is wrong is a lack of forbearance and remaining stubborn. The Second Caliph(ra) said that disputes should not create disunity. He said that people say disputes are bad, but what meaning would forbearance have if there were no disputes? It is in the face of disputes and differences of opinion that forbearance comes to light. Despite having differences of opinion, people should still be able to live together harmoniously. People’s views cannot and should be changed by force; rather, the focus should be on changing their hearts.
His Holiness(aba) said that the Second Caliph(ra) highlighted that a mosque does not belong to any person; rather, it belongs to God. He quoted the following Qur’anic verse:
‘And who is more unjust than he who prohibits the name of Allah being glorified in Allah’s temples’ (The Holy Qur’an, 2:115)
His Holiness(aba) continued quoting the Second Caliph’s(ra) address in which he cited an incident from the life of the Holy Prophet(sa). A group of Christians from Yemen visited the Holy Prophet(sa), and during their visit, it came time for their prayer. They sought permission to go outside and offer their prayer; however, the Holy Prophet(sa) said that the Qur’an says that a mosque is open to anyone who worships God and told them that they could offer their prayer within the mosque. The Second Caliph(ra) said that it was with the same spirit that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was establishing this mosque. The purpose of the mosque is solely to worship God, and no one who wishes to worship God will be stopped from entering the mosque. The Second Caliph(ra) expressed his hope that this mosque would serve as a beacon for ending discord in the world, establishing unity and fostering a mutual spirit of collective progress.
His Holiness(aba) said that 100 years on, we have witnessed many people from varying backgrounds and places say that everyone becomes united upon visiting any platform of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. On the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone, the Second Caliph(ra) also unveiled a commemorative plaque which reads:
‘IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST BENEFICENT AND THE MOST COMPASSIONATE. WE PRAISE AND INVOKE HIS BLESSING ON HIS PROPHET THE EXALTED ONE. WITH THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD, HE ALONE IS THE HELPER.
Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah the lord of all the worlds. I, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad Khalifatul Masih, Head of the Ahmadiyya Community, which has its Headquarters at Qadian, Punjab, India lay the foundation stone of this Mosque today, the 20th Rabiul Awwal 1343 Hijra, to seek the pleasure of God so that His name be glorified in England and the people of this country may also partake of the blessings which have been vouchsafed to us. I pray to God that He may accept this humble and sincere effort of all the members of the Ahmadiyya Community, both women and men, and that He may provide means for the growing prosperity of this Mosque and may He make it for ever and ever a centre for promulgating the views of purity, piety, justice and love, and may this place prove a sun of spiritual light radiating forth in this country and in all the countries around the blessed beams of the Heavenly light of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the Chosen one of God and the Seal of the prophets, and of Ahmad the Promised Messiah, the prophet of God the Vicegerent and the reflection of Muhammad (may peace and the blessings of God be upon them both). Amen
19-10-1924’
His Holiness(aba) said that this event was widely covered by newspapers and various quotes of the Second Caliph’s(ra) speech were also quoted. After two years, in 1926 the Fazl Mosque was inaugurated by Sheikh Abdul Qadir.
His Holiness(aba) said that this was a brief history of the Fazl Mosque. As we commemorate 100 years, the event being held is not for any worldly purpose. Rather, as outlined by the Promised Messiah(as) and the Second Caliph(ra), this mosque is a place where people may gather to remember and worship God and focus on fulfilling each other’s rights and reforming themselves spiritually while increasing their moral standards. In today’s time, when people are moving away from religion, mosques hold more significance than ever before. Hence, we must draw the attention of our future generations towards the fact that our survival lies in worshipping God, fulfilling His commandments and serving His creation. Every Ahmadi should remember this purpose. The Holy Prophet(sa) said to like for others what you like for yourself. Therefore, we must spread Islam’s message of peace, love and harmony to the entire world. This alone is the path to humanity’s salvation, otherwise, future generations will be destroyed by the wars and disorders of this world.
His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah the Almighty enable everyone to fulfil the due rights of this mosque and indeed every mosque. May we do justice to spreading God’s word to the world, and may we become true Muslims, the purpose for which God commissioned the Holy Prophet(sa). Then, in this era, He sent the Promised Messiah(as) for the revival of Islam, to spread the unity of God throughout the world and to bring the world under the banner of the Holy Prophet(sa). May Allah enable us all to do so.
Summary prepared by The Review of Religions
After reciting the tashahhud, ta‘awwuz, and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba stated:
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in the UK will be holding an event tomorrow to mark the centenary of the Fazl Mosque in which non-Ahmadi guests and local neighbours will also be invited. The Fazl Mosque holds a historical significance in that it is the first mosque of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which was built in the stronghold of Christianity and from here, the true teachings of Islam started being conveyed to people on a wide scale. Today, our opponents claim that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat was planted by the British. However, it is surprising that through this so-called plant planted by them, the flaws of the religion of these people living in the west are brought to light in their countries, and at the same time, the beauty of Islam is being preached. Furthermore, those who level these allegations, are not able to render such efforts to propagate the teachings of Islam in this manner. It is true that prior to the construction of the Fazl Mosque, a mosque was built in Woking by the renowned orientalist, G. W. Leitner. He retired as the principal of Oriental College in Lahore, returned to England, and built a mosque in Woking in 1889. It is an astonishing coincidence that this is the same year the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah(as). Along with this, this renowned professor also established an institution for oriental studies so that Muslims could acquire religious knowledge, as well as worship. An enormous sum was given for the construction of this mosque by the ruler of Bhopal, Shah Jahan Begum, and it was named after her. Nevertheless, this professor passed away in 1899, and this mosque was locked as there was no one to take care of it. Then, during the Khilafat of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I(ra), Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din Sahib came here [to the UK]. He tried to reopen it and was successful. He then wrote to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I(ra) that a trust was formed for this mosque and that he was made in charge of it. Thereafter, worship commenced again in this mosque. When this mosque was reopened, Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan Sahib(ra) accompanied Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din Sahib to the mosque as well. There, he offered voluntary prayers and supplicated profusely. A short while later, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud(ra) made an appeal for missionaries [to be sent there]. However, [sufficient] funds could not be collected for this. Nevertheless, they somehow managed, and Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial Sahib(ra) was sent here, who worked alongside Khawaja Sahib for some time. Following the demise of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I(ra), Khawaja Sahib did not pledge initiation at the hands of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra). As a result of this, Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial Sahib(ra) left him and went to another place. In any case, these are the details relating to the mosque in Woking. However, the first official mosque that was built by any Muslim community, or by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is the Fazl Mosque. Today, there are certainly many mosques built by Muslims throughout England and in London as well as other western countries, but it is the Fazl Mosque that holds the honour of being the first mosque in London.
However, even the mosques here are not actually conveying the true beautiful teachings of Islam to the world or in the west, [they do not convey] teachings that bring love, peace and harmony to all in the way that is being spread forth from the Ahmadiyya Muslim mosques. Other mosques in the western world rely on financial assistance from world governments – in some cases Islamic governments have also helped to some degree in financing the construction and upkeep of these mosques. In fact those mosques that have been built with government assistance even now receive ongoing financial help through various state sponsorship programmes here in England. However, the beauty of the mosques of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat is that they do not rely on any such funding. It is the excellence of the community that its mosques are built using the donations and sacrifices of its members. And in fact now even in London alone by the grace of Allah the Almighty, owing to the financial sacrifice of Ahmadi Muslims, dozens of new mosques have been built. And in other western countries as well, many mosques have been built.
In any case, today I would like to say something in reference to the Fazl Mosque. However, the importance of mentioning this or the importance of this commemorative event we are organising for its centenary will be of benefit only when we fulfil the true purpose of mosques as they deserve to be fulfilled; by doing true justice in bringing about a change in ourselves; to improve our connection with Allah Almighty; to attach our future generations with the mosque. We must fulfil the rights laid out by Islam. Hence, every Ahmadi Muslim should bear in mind that we shouldn’t just become content with organising a function or by putting up lights. Instead, we should fulfil the rights of this mosque, learn about its history and focus upon it, and then assess our own conditions. In this regard the first thing that I’d like to say is that the Promised Messiah(as) has said a great deal about the spread of Islam in the West. This is the very foundation of our tabligh efforts. On one occasion speaking about a vision regarding the spread of Islam in the West, the Promised Messiah(as) writes:
“While we do believe in the sun that is to rise from the West. However, what was given to understand to this humble one in a dream is that the meaning of the sun rising from the West is that those Western countries, which have been for a long time in a state of disbelief and misguidance, will eventually be illuminated by the sun of truth and shall partake of Islam.” (Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 3, pp. 376-377)
The Promised Messiah(as) said this with great conviction, therefore, we should always have hope that Islam will also spread in these countries.
Then there is another prophecy of the Promised Messiah(as). He states:
“I saw [in a vision] that I was standing on a pulpit in the city of London and was setting forth the truth of Islam in the English language, in a very well-reasoned address. Thereafter, I caught several birds who were sitting upon small trees and were of white colour and their bodies resembled the bodies of partridges. I interpreted this vision as meaning that though I would not be able to travel to that country, my writings will be published among them and many righteous English people will be attracted by the truth.
“In fact, the connection of the Western countries with religious truths had hitherto been very rare. It is as if Allah gave knowledge of religion to the whole of Asia and secular knowledge to Europe and America. The chain of Prophethood also remained with Asia, as did the benefits of consummate sainthood. Now God Almighty wants to encompass these people with His divine mercy.” (Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 3, p. 377)
Allah the Almighty wants to now manifest His divine mercy upon the people of the Western countries.
This is the guidance, desire, prayer, and glad-tiding of the Promised Messiah(as). In order to continue this task, the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in the UK as well as the Jamaat around the world, including America and other Western countries, are striving to convey the true message of Islam, and the foundation of the Fazl Mosque was established in order to fulfil this very objective.
As I have mentioned, Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din Sahib first came to the Woking Mosque, but after the demise of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I(ra), he did not pledge his allegiance to Khilafat. Due to this, Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial Sahib(ra) – who was with him at the time – felt uneasy working alongside him, so he separated himself from him and began to propagate and promulgate the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat in another location, and was met with success by the grace of Allah. Thus, we can say that Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial Sahib(ra) was the first to officially come here as a missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and the first fruit was received through him by the name of Mr Corio, a journalist. He became a Muslim, and thereafter, over a dozen people became Ahmadis. The majority of Chaudhry Sahib’s(ra) propagation was through lectures. In order to spread the message of Islam, he would go to various clubs and societies in various places and deliver speeches.
Thereafter, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) called Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial Sahib(ra) to Qadian and sent Qazi Abdullah Sahib(ra) as a missionary [in his stead]. He worked here for some time, and Qazi Sahib(ra) was also a companion [of the Promised Messiah(as)]. It was very difficult to work here while the war had begun. It was extremely difficult to carry out the propagation when the First World War had commenced, yet these people continued to convey the message. During the tenure of Qazi Sahib(ra), in order to have a permanent place for the mission, a location on Star Street was rented.
It is also recorded in history that during the time Qazi Sahib(ra) was here, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) also sent Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib(ra) as a missionary. He resided here from 1917 to January 1920. In 1919, Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial Sahib(ra) was sent once again alongside Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyar Sahib, and both of them worked selflessly to propagate the message of Ahmadiyyat.
In 1920, Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial Sahib(ra) was told by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) to purchase some land in England on which a mosque and a mission house could be constructed so that missionary work could begin there. Efforts were thus made for this purpose, and this place in Putney was purchased for over £2,200.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) was in Dalhousie when he was informed of this. He held a big function there, and it was there that he named it the “Fazl Mosque”. Then, an appeal for donations was made so that as much money as possible could be gathered to build the mosque. Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial Sahib(ra) purchased this land from a Jewish person. As we are aware that construction has taken place on it now, but at the time, it was a house with approximately one acre of land.
Then, history tells us how further progress was made on this mosque and how it was constructed. During the 1924 Wembley Conference, some respectable people had the idea that in parallel with this global conference, various faiths should be exhibited. Keeping the Christian faith aside, which the people of the West were well aware of, information about other faiths should be gathered. After inviting their representatives to London, they should be given the chance to give lectures. For this task, they invited Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyar Sahib, the missionary at the time, to deliver a lecture on behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. Maulana Nayyar Sahib conveyed this information to Qadian. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) approved it, stating that he would send some representatives who could present the beauties of Islam. At the same time, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) started writing a treatise in which the beauties of Islam and the true teachings were mentioned. This eventually became a voluminous book, which he wrote for this lecture, and is now published under the name Ahmadiyyat or the True Islam.
Thereafter, a consultation within the Community was called, in which Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib(ra) and Hazrat Abdur Rahim Sahib Dard(ra) proposed that this is such an occasion in which Hazrat Khalifatul Masih(ra) himself could attend along with a few members of the Jamaat, instead of a representative being sent. Subsequently, the decision was made that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) would come to England himself. After visiting Damascus, Egypt etc., he would reach Europe and bring some members with him. Among them were Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan Sahib(ra) and Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahib(ra). Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahib(ra) and Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan Sahib(ra) came at their own expense. Likewise, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) travelled at his own expense as well.
In any case, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) reached England from Damascus and Egypt via Italy, Switzerland, and France. He arrived here on 22 August 1924. What is interesting is that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) had already seen a vision about his blessed arrival here, that he was getting off somewhere at the shores of England and placed his foot on a block of wood. Like a victorious general, he was looking in all four directions when a voice called out “William the Conqueror”. It was as if the spiritual victory over England was destined with Huzoor’s(ra) arrival in England, which has now been manifested.
The newspapers extensively published Huzoor’s(ra) journey and arrival in England. Upon reaching there, Huzoor(ra) arrived at London Victoria Station; (he went from the sea port to Victoria Station). From there, Huzoor(ra) and his entourage arrived in front of the great Saint Paul Cathedral, which is the largest church in England. After this, whilst standing there, he prayed to God Almighty for the victory of Islam and the establishment of Tauhid [oneness of God], and then he entered the city along with his entourage. An adequate arrangement had already been organised for his accommodation, which was a large house that had been rented.
Speeches at various religious events, private meetings, public lectures, and also during this time the news was received from Kabul regarding the stoning of Ne matullah Khan Sahib Shaheed – these activities brought much attention to the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, and it was widely reported in many newspapers. Nonetheless, after these events, the time came for the laying of the foundation stone of the mosque, and by the grace of Allah the Almighty, this task was also accomplished in an outstanding and impactful manner.
Regarding the mosque, it is mentioned in history that as soon as the preaching efforts in England had begun, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) already had the intention to build a mosque, because the constant moving from one place to another severely inhibited the effectiveness of the preaching efforts. It was necessary to have a headquarters for the Jamaat. Renting different houses and moving from place to place did not allow stability and therefore lessened the impact of the efforts. Nonetheless, this is why he desired that there should be a headquarters.
However this task seemed difficult to accomplish, and until 1919, no practical solution had been found for this. The collecting of funds, finding land that is within London that would be sufficient and located in a respectable neighbourhood, and free from legal conditions or restrictions – this was a major obstacle – and also purchasing buildings and pieces of land in London and constructing a building as desired. These conditions needed to be fulfilled as well. Then, most importantly, it was drawing people’s attention towards its construction and management. Thus, these were all various hurdles in its path, but God fulfilled every need in the best manner and outcome.
The first [challenge] was securing the funds, and it was resolved in this manner that after the war ended, there came a time when the value of the British Pound began to drop. When the pound’s value decreased significantly, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) was strongly inspired in his heart to take advantage of this opportunity, and he understood that this moment was valuable. On 6 January 1920, whilst he was returning after leading the Zuhr prayer. At that time, some latecomers were offering their prayers in the mosque, due to which the path was blocked, so he stopped there and sat down. After sitting there, he instructed the Nazir Bait-ul-Mal [Secretary of Treasury] to immediately take 14,000 or 15,000 rupees in loan and send it to England, and since the exchange rate was declining, a significant amount of pounds could be acquired by exchanging rupees.
When Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) returned home after this, he finalised this plan. The Nazir Bait-ul-Mal also wrote it down. However, when he finalised it, instead of sending 14,000 or 15,000 rupees, Huzoor increased the amount to 30,000 rupees, and instead of writing “loan” (because first Huzoor said a loan should be taken), he wrote the word “chanda” [financial donations]. Huzoor(ra) used to say that all of this happened by itself and after writing this down that same day, Huzoor handed it over to the Nazir Bait-ul-Mal at Asr time, and directed that people be gathered after Maghrib prayer for this purpose. There was little space in the Mubarak Mosque, and there was very little time to make the announcement, yet despite this, 6,000 rupees were collected in response to Huzoor’s(ra) announcement. The next day, this scheme was announced to the women, and again that day at the ‘Asr prayer, another appeal was made among the men in the Aqsa Mosque. And finally, on 9 January 1920, a formal announcement was made during the Friday Sermon. By 10 or 12 January, 12,000 rupees had been collected in chanda from Qadian alone, and this poor Jamaat of the people of Qadian sacrificed greatly in order to collect this chanda. Huzoor(ra) stated:
“It was not possible for such a poor Jamaat to make such great financial contributions without special divine help, and I believe that Allah the Almighty’s special blessings were associated with making financial contributions at that time.”
He said, “People’s zeal and excitement was a sight to behold. It can only truly be ascertained by those who saw it for themselves. Every man and woman was offering financial contributions while filled with a passion for sacrifice. A child, the son of a poor and hardworking man said, ‘I have saved 13.50 rupees’” At that time, 13.50 rupees held some value, and with the currency rate having fallen it would have been one or one and a half pounds. In any case, he said, “‘I have saved 13.50 rupees which I am sending as financial contribution.’” Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud(ra) says, “I do not know what the boy’s ambitions were for which he was saving that money, but not only did his passion for the faith lead him to sacrifice his money, he also sacrificed his ambitions. In any case, more and more people continued taking part in this sacrifice.” Then Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) also made an appeal to other areas such as Gurdaspur, Lahore, and other places and the thought was that the target of 30,000 rupees would be fulfilled by these three districts. Thereafter, he said, “I was concerned that other Jamaats might complain and so I expanded this and also increased the amount to 100,000 rupees so that more people may partake in the blessings.” In fact, one person wrote to Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud(ra) saying, “Pray that God Almighty grants me success in my business. In exchange for this, I will cover the entire cost of building a mosque in England.” Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) said, “I did not grant permission for this because I did not wish to deprive others of the opportunity.” In any case this amount started to be collected, and through the Bank of India, it was sent to England in the amount of 3,468 pounds. You can compare your conditions today with the circumstances of that time; that amount totalled 52,000 rupees. This amount was gathered within a week and the remaining amount was sent later. Similarly, the value of the pound fell once again which resulted in receiving a greater amount of pounds for fewer rupees; the pound dropped from 15 rupees to six rupees. As I mentioned before, the construction and the laying of the foundation for this mosque commenced upon Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II’s(ra) arrival here.
The foundation of the mosque was laid on Sunday, 19 October 1924. It is recorded in history that on 18 October 1924, the newspapers said that the weather on 19 October was forecasted to be pleasant and sunny. However, God Almighty proved this forecast wrong and in a clear sign of His existence, it rained that day right from the morning. This matter was presented before Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) to which he said, “There is nothing to worry about, in fact, this is very good. Those who will attend the inauguration under such conditions will come out of sincerity.” There is also rain forecasted for tomorrow; let us see whether this forecast proves true or not. In any case, he said, “Those who attend will come out of sincerity, and God willing, this event will be successful.” A small marquee was erected so that people could sit under it and easily attend the programme. Invitation cards had been sent to various people. This included Members of Parliament, leaders, politicians, diplomats, and various other groups of people. Due to the short notice, it was thought that the attendance would be quite low, but despite this, there was a large number of guests who attended. There were representatives from various countries and this event was successful in every respect. During the event, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) stood by the place where the foundation stone was to be laid, at which time Hazrat Hafiz Roshan Ali(ra) recited two chapters of the Holy Quran; Surah al-Lail and Surah al-A’la. After that, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) delivered an address. He stated:
“We have assembled here today for a function which is unique in itself. It is to lay the foundation stone of a building erected to remember that Being Who is the Creator of all, and to give expression to our feelings of devotion and worship of Him. Upon going there, we all become united, irrespective of the country or rule we hail from or the language we speak. When we stand in His presence, Who is the centre of all, we forget all distinctions of age, rank, colour, east or west, for the closer one draws to that Being, the differences diminish and the unity increases. So we have assembled here today to lay the foundation of a building, which is a sign of the unity and harmony; it assures us of the fact that our source and our place of return is the same and that we should not fight with each other or create trouble merely owing to some differences amongst each other.”
He continued:
“There have always been differences in the world, and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it is a good thing, as the Holy Prophet(sa) has said that differences are a sign of mercy and are not harmful. What’s harmful is intolerance (for there to be differences that then lead to intolerance). In other words, when one’s own desire transcends the bounds of unity when everyone insists that their opinion should be agreed upon (it cannot be that there is only ever agreement, and never any disagreement). In fact, differences are a sign of progress. If this is adopted by man, then success becomes within reach.”
He also said:
“Man should establish tolerance. People say that differences are a bad thing, but if there were no differences, then what significance would tolerance hold? Tolerance can only be exercised when there are differences. Tolerance can only be employed when there are differences in certain matters. It is then that one can exhibit tolerance and strive not to cause any sort of harm to anyone else.” This is something which should always be borne in mind. He further stated:
“What the world needs is tolerance—meaning that people should live with love despite their differences in beliefs and principles. Certainly, everyone has the right to call others towards what they believe is good for them, because without spreading teachings, knowledge cannot advance. However, what no one has the right to do is attempt to change someone's speech or actions before changing their heart, or cause them harm simply due to differences in opinion. This is wrong.”
Forcing someone to change their words or actions is unjust; the heart must change first. If force is applied, it is wrong.
He further stated:
“A mosque is built to foster this spirit, and Islam has termed mosques as The House of Allah, meaning it is a house where no human has the right to expel anyone due to differences or cause them harm, for it is not their house but God’s.”
However, the Pakistani clergy today believe that it is within their rights to do as they please, and Ahmadis have been restricted from entering mosques. In any case, he further said:
“This is not the house of any person, but the house of God, the God of the enemy, and their own is the same. In the Holy Quran, Allah says:
وَمَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنۡ مَّنَعَ مَسٰجِدَ اللّٰہِ اَنۡ یُّذۡکَرَ فِیۡہَا اسۡمُہٗ
“That is, ‘And who is more unjust than he who prohibits people from worshipping in the house that has been established for Allah’s worship.’” (2:115)
This injustice is being committed today by the Pakistani clergy in the name of Islam.
Nevertheless, he stated:
“History proves that during the time of the Holy Prophet(sa), a delegation of Christians from Yemen came to meet him. As they were conversing with him, the time for prayer arrived, and they asked permission to go outside to pray. The Holy Prophet(sa) said, ‘There is no need to go outside for your prayers; pray inside our mosque.’ The Holy Quran’s teachings and the practices of the Holy Prophet(sa) confirm that the doors of Islamic mosques are open to anyone who wishes to worship God, and Islamic mosques serve as a unifying point for people of different faiths.”
He further stated, “It is with this very spirit and these sentiments that we (the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat) have intended to build this mosque, and I am inaugurating it today. But before laying the foundation stone, I want to announce that a mosque is built solely for the worship of God Almighty, so that His love may be established in the world, and people may turn towards religion, for without it there can be no true peace or real progress. And we will never prevent anyone from worshipping in this mosque who wishes to worship God, provided they follow the rules established for its administration, and provided they do not disturb the worship of those who have built this mosque to fulfil their religious needs. I firmly believe that the spirit of tolerance that will arise from this mosque will help eliminate discord and establish peace, and soon the time will come when people will abandon war and strife and live together in love and harmony. The entire world will recognize that since all humanity is created by the same God, they should live with even greater love and affection than brothers and sisters. Instead of hindering each other's progress, they should help one another advance. Just as a father dislikes his children fighting amongst themselves, likewise, God never likes that His creation be engaged in mutual conflict and warfare.”
“Many wars are caused by people being distant from God. This is why Allah the Almighty sent the Promised Messiah(as), the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat (these wars arise from estrangement from God, and to unite everyone, Allah the Almighty sent the Promised Messiah(as) in this age), to draw people towards God and remove their differences, fostering unity and love among them. Thus, by God’ s grace, the Ahmadiyya Jamaat will continue striving to eliminate all racial and political wars. We hope that the virtuous people of different religions in every country will support us in these efforts to establish peace, and indeed, the signs of this are already visible.”
He stated that there were different people present at that time, and the presence of honourable individuals from various nations shows that we are coming together. Even today, a hundred years later, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, we see that many people of different nations and religions say that when they come to the platform of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, they all feel united.
As you visit the mosque, especially those who go to the Fazl Mosque for prayers, you will notice that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra) installed a plaque, on which it is written:
“I, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad Khalifatul Masih II, Head of the Ahmadiyya Community, which has its Headquarters at Qadian, Punjab, India lay the foundation stone of this Mosque today, the 20th Rabiul Awwal 1343 Hijra, to seek the pleasure of God so that His name be glorified in England and the people of this country may also partake of the blessings which have been vouchsafed to us. I pray to God that He may accept this humble and sincere effort of all the members of the Ahmadiyya Community, both women and men, and that He may provide means for the growing prosperity of this Mosque and may He make it for ever and ever a centre for promulgating the views of purity, piety, justice and love, and may this place prove a sun of spiritual light radiating forth in this country and in all the countries around the blessed beams of the Heavenly light of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the Chosen one of God and the Seal of the prophets, and of Ahmad the Promised Messiah, the prophet of God the Vicegerent and the reflection of Muhammad (may peace and the blessings of God be upon them both). Amen.
“19-10-1924”
This is the entire inscription which can be read there. With Allah’s grace and prayers, the foundation stone of this mosque was laid. Many newspapers published this news widely. They published various extracts of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s(ra) speech and commended the work of the Jamaat. Some of the points I have mentioned were a summary of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s(ra) speech, there are further details. Those who wish to read the full account can do so.
Two years later the mosque was completed and inaugurated in 1926. Prince Shah Faisal was supposed to inaugurate the mosque and was instructed to attend by his father. However, owing to the reaction of the Muslims, the king stopped him from going. Subsequently Sheikh Abdul Qadir Sahib inaugurated the mosque. He made it clear that he was not an Ahmadi, yet despite this he said that we ought to serve Islam and by putting our differences aside, we should assist one another for this cause. Nonetheless, it was owing to his courage and open-heartedness that he said this. May Allah the Almighty grant him reward for this. (Tarikh Masjid Fazl London, Manager Book Depot, Qadian, pp. 9-14, 18-35, 45-48, 52, 78; Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol.3, pp. 377 and 406; https://shahjahanmosque.org.uk/the-mosque/history/explore/)
Thus, this was a brief history of the Fazl Mosque and the very purpose of building this mosque was for the propagation of the message of Islam in the West. Today, as I mentioned earlier, we are commemorating 100 years, but this celebration is not for any worldly purposes. Rather, I have explained from the sayings of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud(ra) and the writings of the Promised Messiah(as), this mosque has been built so people can gather together to worship the One God, and also fulfil the rights of each other; to improve spiritually and excel in adopting excellent morals. In this era when people are abandoning God, the importance of the mosque increases even more than before. According to Allah the Almighty, the purpose of man’s creation is worship and people are moving away from this. Therefore, today we should strive to fulfil the rights of worship. In our surroundings, among our people and our progeny we must inform every one of them that one’s true life and survival is if we worship Allah the Almighty and fulfil His rights as well as the rights of His creation, and for us to follow His injunctions. Only then can we establish peace, tranquillity and harmony in the world.
Only then can we successfully ensure this world moves ahead in peace, tranquillity and harmony and we can live our lives. Otherwise there is nothing aside from fighting and disorder, which we can see around us today. Thus, every Ahmadi ought to keep this purpose in mind.
The Holy Prophet(sa) said that one should like for others what they like for themselves. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith 13)
Therefore, in light of this teaching, it is the duty of every Ahmadi to inform the world about the teachings of Islam which is full of peace, love and affection: it is a message that contains peace and harmony. We ought to inform the world and make them understand that this is the only guarantee of man’s survival, there is nothing else that can save future progeny from destruction and falling into the abyss of ruin. It is not a far-fetched notion that these wars will cause future generations to be born with disabilities, be handicapped and suffer complications. It is necessary to warn people of this as well. May Allah the Almighty grant everyone the ability to fulfil the rights of this mosque and every other mosque. It should not only be this mosque, but every Ahmadi ought to ensure every mosque remains full of worshippers and that we strive to fulfil its due rights, and may we fulfil the rights due to our worship. May we fulfil the rights of spreading the message of Allah the Almighty; may we fulfil the rights of spreading the message of Islam. May we become those true Muslims for which Allah the Almighty sent the Holy Prophet(sa) and in this era, his True Servant, so that the revival of Islam can begin and to establish the reign of Islam and the One God on earth, in order for the flag of the Holy Prophet(sa) to be raised aloft in the world. May Allah the Almighty enable everyone to do so.
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