Baitul Futuh Mosque

The Baitul Futuh Mosque (English: House of Victories^[1]), also known as the Morden Mosque, is a mosque complex in Morden, London. It is Britain's largest mosque, and one of the largest in western Europe.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]} Completed in 2003 at a total cost of approximately £15 million, entirely from donations of Ahmadi Muslims in the UK, the mosque covers an area of 5.2 acres (21,000 m²) and the full complex can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers. It is located in the south-west London suburb of Morden, London Borough of Merton, next to Morden South railway station, approximately 700 yards from Morden Underground station.

History

Inauguration

Mirza Tahir Ahmad launched an appeal for funds for the building on the 24 February 1995, and the land was purchased on the 29 March 1996. The foundation stone was placed by Mirza Tahir Ahmad,^[8] the then head of the Ahmadiyya Community on 19 October 1999, in a ceremony attended by 2000 guests, and inaugurated by the current head of the Ahmadiyya Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, on 3 October 2003. Although based at Fazl Mosque, Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivers his weekly Friday Sermon from Baitul Futuh. The opening ceremony was attended by over 600 guests; those present included High Commissioners, Deputy High Commissioners, Members of European Parliament, Members of Parliament, Mayors of London boroughs, councillors, university lecturers, and representatives of 17 countries.

2015 fire

On September 26, 2015, a major fire broke out at the administrative side of the mosque complex. According to news reports, 50% of the ground floor, as well as parts of the first floor and the roof was set ablaze. The fire brigade was called at about 12 noon. Roughly 10 fire engines and 70 fire-fighters were said to have been tackling the fire. A man was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and there are no other reported injuries.^[9][10][11] The majority of the damage occurred at the front of the complex, within the administrative block of the mosque. The men's and women's prayer area were not affected.^[12] However, the blaze created a huge plume of smoke, visible for miles in South West London, and caused widespread traffic congestion and local rail disruption.^[13] The fire was under control at 5:32pm, more than 5 hours after the initial report.^[14]

By the end of the day, no suggestion of a deliberate attack was made.^[15][14] Two teenagers were arrested the following day on suspicion of arson.^[16] However, the elder of the two was soon released without charge. According to the police, "there is nothing to suggest at this stage that this is a hate crime".^[17]

Community

Several events are held at the Bait'ul Futuh Mosque to serve both the Muslim and greater community. In addition to regular congregational prayers and Quranic lessons, its services include annual Peace Symposiums, school tours, other local community events, as well as the 'Merton Youth Partnership Annual Conference',^[18] hosting the BBC Radio 4 Programme Any Questions?,^[19] and is included in Open House London.^[20]

Services

The Baitul Futuh Mosque has acted as the centre for the 'Loyalty, Freedom and Peace Campaign',^[21][22] which seeks to promote Islam as a peaceful religion, and to improve the integration of Muslims and non-Muslims.^[23]

The Peace Symposium 2010 chose the location to award the first Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize to Lord Eric Avebury.^[24] The award is for lifetime contribution to the cause of Human Rights.

The Mosque receives over 10,000 visitors a year from schools, faith groups, public service organisations, charities, local and central government, and other groups.^[25]

The plan to burn the Qur'an by the Dove World Outreach Center on the 9th anniversary of 9/11 attacks was strongly condemned at the Baitul Futuh mosque by several politicians and religious leaders, representing various faiths, such as Church of England, Catholic Church, Judaism, Bahá'í Faith and other Islamic sects.^[26][27]

In August 2013, the mosque was the site of the largest Eid celebrations in the UK.^[28]

Facilities

Minar Baitul Futuh

Apart from two separate prayer halls for women and men the mosque complex incudes the following facilities:

• Offices
• Library
• Exhibition
• Multi-functional rooms
• MTA Television Studios
• Kitchen & Dine
• Gymnasium
• Guest rooms
• Disabled access.
• Wash-room Facilities:
  • WC's
  • Wash Basins
  • Footbaths
  • Showers
  • Drinking Fountains
  • Baby Changing Units
  • Toilets for the Disabled
  • WC's and Wash Basins for Crèche

Gallery

See also

• Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
• Ahmadiyya in the United Kingdom
• Islam in the United Kingdom
• Islamic architecture
• Islamic art
• List of mosques
• List of mosques in Great Britain
• Darul Barakaat Mosque
• Al Mahdi Mosque

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bait-ul-Futuh Mosque.

Mosques in the United Kingdom
England	Al Mahdi Mosque, Bradford Al-Rahma Mosque, Liverpool Abbey Mills Mosque Aziziye Mosque (London) Baitul Futuh Mosque Banbury Mosque Birmingham Central Mosque Blackpool Central Mosque Brick Lane Mosque Brixton Mosque Bristol Jamia Mosque Chesham Mosque Croydon Mosque Darul Amaan Mosque Darul Barakaat Mosque Didsbury Mosque East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre Faizan-e-Madina Mosque, Peterborough Fazl Mosque, London Forest Gate Mosque Ghamkol Shariff Masjid, Birmingham Green Lane Masjid Harrow Central Mosque Islamic Centre of England Jamea Masjid, Preston Jaame Masjid, Blackburn Leeds Grand Mosque Leytonstone Mosque London Central Mosque Madina Mosque, Horsham Madina Mosque (Preston) Manchester Central Mosque Markazi Masjid, Dewsbury Markazi Masjid, Tower Hamlets Masjid As-Salafi Masjid Umar mosque Medina Mosque (Sheffield) Nasir Mosque Noor-A-Madina Mosque, Blackpool Noor-ur-Islam Mosque (Leyton, Waltham Forest) North London Central Mosque North Manchester Jamia Mosque Redditch Central Mosque Shacklewell Lane Mosque Shah Jahan Mosque, Woking Shropshire Islamic Foundation Stratford Street Mosque Suleymaniye Mosque (London) Upper Brook Street Chapel, Manchester Wembley Central Mosque
Northern Ireland	Belfast Islamic Centre
Scotland	Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre Al-Furqan Mosque Al Maktoum Mosque, Dundee Ayrshire Central Mosque Central Scotland Islamic Centre (Stirling, Scotland) Dumfries Islamic Society Dundee Central Mosque Glasgow Central Mosque Edinburgh Central Mosque Inverness Masjid Jame Masjid Bilal, Dundee Masjid Noor, Glasgow Masjid Tajdare Madina, Dundee Perth Mosque, Scotland Syed Shah Mustafa Jamee Masjid, Aberdeen
Wales	Al-Manar Centre Masjid-e-Zawiyah Swansea Mosque
Category Islam in the United Kingdom Mosques by country