Doncaster Muslims celebrate 100th anniversary of London’s first mosque
Muslims in Doncaster have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of London’s first pupose built mosque.
The city’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Association has marked the centenary of the Fazl Mosque.
A spokesperson said: “The centenary is particularly significant for our community in Doncaster, as the Fazl Mosque played an important role in the establishment and development of Ahmadiyya Muslim communities across Britain.“We are marking this historic occasion by highlighting the values of peace, service, integration and loyalty to our local communities.”
The mosque in Southfields marks its centenary on Saturday 3 October. It has space for around 150 worshippers and stands on a quiet suburban residential street in southwest London – however for more than a hundred years it has been considerably more than a building for prayer.
Key dignitaries have visited the mosque over the past century including Muhammad Ali Jinnah (the founder of Pakistan), Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan (President of the United Nations General Assembly), Professor Abdus Salam (the first Muslim to win a Nobel Prize in science), HRH Prince Faisal and HRH Prince Saud, both of whom later became Kings of Saudi Arabia.
HRH Prince Edward has also visited in recent years.The Fazl Mosque was granted listed status by Historic England in 2018, and in March 2026 Wandsworth Borough Council awarded it a green heritage plaque.
His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Fifth Caliph and Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said:“For one hundred years, the Fazl Mosque has stood as a place of worship, peace and service to humanity. Its history reflects the principle that true faith requires us to serve our neighbours, show loyalty to the country in which we live, and make peace with all people, regardless of their faith or background.
“As we mark this centenary, I pray that the mosque may continue to be a beacon of peace and a means of bringing people together for generations to come.”
Bilal Mahmood, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK Doncaster branch said: “Our community in Doncaster 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.
“A hundred years on, we mark this centenary the way we were taught to — by helping the people around us. That is what a mosque is for. It is a beacon of peace for all.”
