House of Peace: Scunthorpe’s first purpose-built mosque to open
The official opening of Scunthorpe’s first purpose-built mosque will be marked by a visit from a global Muslim leader this weekend.The Baitus Salam (House of Peace) Mosque will be inagurated by His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad on Saturday, June 17. He is the worldwide leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and will attend a special ceremony alongside over 200 guests from across the country – to celebrate the official opening of the town’s first purpose-built mosque. Members of Parliament, faith leaders, charitable organisations, local businesses and representatives of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will also be in attendance.
The Baitus Salam Mosque on Cliff Closes Road has a floor space of 520 m2 and can accomodate up to 250 worshippers, as well as featuring a community hall and library. Community members in Scunthorpe will conduct regular volunteer street cleaning sessions, blood donation campaigns and education seminars promoting community cohesion. It was built entirely with funds raised by local members of the entirely self-funded Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Rafiq Hayat, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK said: “This is a historic day for us and the Baitus Salam Mosque is a tribute to the prayers, hard work and sacrifice made by members to build this house of peace.
“It is also a great honour that His Holiness will be inaugurating this mosque. May God make it a true source of peace for all. Ameen.” The community has been a leading figure in the peaceful revival of Islam since its inception in India back in 1889. The UK chapter was established in 1913, with London’s first mosque being built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1926. It also built the largest mosque in Western Europe, the landmark Baitul Futh Mosque, in Central London back in 2003.
Photo: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK
Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, Regional President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, North East England said: “We hope that our mosque will be a centre of learning and peace in Scunthorpe. “This is a place for all people, irrespective of your background or whether you belong to a particular faith or not, we welcome everyone. “Even if someone just wants to see a mosque from the inside or visit us as local neighbours, we will be honoured to welcome them. I sincerely hope and pray that this mosque allows us to build a strong community in Scunthorpe and beyond.”
