Ahmadiyya in the United Kingdom
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Ahmadiyya in the United Kingdom began in 1913 with the pioneering efforts of Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial. Sial was the first missionary sent to the UK under the direction of Hakeem Noor-ud-Din. Hakeem was the first successor of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, whom the Ahmadis consider the promised messiah. Not many years later, the need for a mosque in the UK became evident and in 1926, the Fazl Mosque was constructed and became the city's first mosque.[1] The sect expanded to include Ahmadi mosques and mission houses across the country. The Baitul Futuh mosque stands as one of the largest in western Europe.
As of 2016, there are approximately 25,000 Ahmadis in the UK (with up to 400 living in Glasgow), under 150 chapters.[2]
The Ahmadiyya suffer from Sunni bigotry in the UK. They are not recognised as Muslims by the Muslim Council of Britain and are targets for vilification by the Khatme Nubuwwat Academy.[3]
References
- ^ "Fazl Mosque". Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ "A religious killing in Scotland: A quiet man with a loud message: A horrific murder prompts fears of more attacks on a small Islamic sect". The Economist. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "The murder of an Ahmadi". The Economist. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.