The Fazl Mosque in Southfields is marking 100 years of faith
A mosque described as a “beacon of peace” is marking 100 years of faith and community service.
The Fazl Mosque in Southfields, the first purpose-built mosque in London, has stood in the capital since 1926 and will celebrate its centenary on Saturday, October 3.
Located on a quiet suburban street, the mosque has served as far more than a place of worship, influencing communities across the UK through outreach, education, and charitable work.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.”The mosque has welcomed a long list of dignitaries 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; and members of the Saudi royal family.
In 2018, it was granted listed status by Historic England, and in March 2026, Wandsworth Borough Council awarded it a green heritage plaque.
Shakeel Ahmed Syed, former regional president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, said: “Our community in Wandsworth 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.”
