Bradford Muslims mark Fazl Mosque’s 100th anniversary
Muslims in Bradford have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of London’s first purpose-built mosque. The Fazl Mosque, located in Southfields and inaugurated in 1926, is being honoured as a beacon of “faith, peace and community service”.
Waqaas Anwar, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK’s Bradford branch, said: “Our community in Bradford exists because of that mosque in London.”From the Fazl Mosque, missionaries were sent out to towns and cities across Britain to build communities like ours, and everything we do here began there.”
The centenary is being marked under the theme Fazl Mosque: Beacon of Peace – A Century of Integration, Loyalty and Service.
A year-long programme has been launched to serve 10,000 meals to the homeless and dedicate 10,000 volunteer hours across Britain.The Fazl Mosque has long been a centre for interfaith dialogue and has welcomed global dignitaries including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Nobel laureate Professor Abdus Salam, and members of the Saudi and British royal families.Events have also been organised to mark the Queen’s Jubilees and the Coronation of King Charles III.
In 2018, the mosque was granted listed status by Historic England, and in March 2026 Wandsworth Borough Council awarded it a green heritage plaque.
