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{{Short description|Mosque in Morden, London, England, United Kingdom}}{{pp-semi-indef}}{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}

factoids

|religious_affiliation = Islam|tradition = Ahmadiyya|administration = Ahmadiyya Muslim Communitywww.baitulfutuh.org}}|architect = |architecture_type = Mosque|architecture_style = Modern|year_completed = 2003|construction_cost = £5.5 million (mosque)£15 million (including complex) ACCESS-DATE=26 AUGUST 2018 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20180827005253/HTTPS://OPENHOUSELONDON.OPEN-CITY.ORG.UK/LISTINGS/3600 5.2abbr=on}}}}The Baitul Futuh{{efn|or Bait-ul-Futūḥ – {{nq|بیت الفتوح}}}} (English: House of VictoriesNEWS, A towering minaret, huge prayer halls ...,weblink The Guardian, 3 October 2003, ) is a mosque complex of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, situated in Morden, London. It is one of the largest mosque complexes in Europe.WEB, What's it like behind the scenes at western Europe's largest Mosque ahead of the 33,000-guest Jalsa Salana?,weblink 23 September 2015, Wimbledon Guardian, NEWS, 2 October 2003, Western Europe's Largest Mosque opens in Morden, The Guardian, London,weblink WEB, Baitul Futuh,weblink 24 June 2011, salatomatic.com, WEB, Muslime en Europa und ihre Herkunftsgesellschaften in Asien und Afrika,weblink dead,weblink 26 March 2016, 24 June 2011, centre for modern oriental studies, NEWS, Ed Harris, 2 October 2003, A £5.5m mosque opens, Evening Standard, London,weblink 24 June 2011, WEB, End of the line: The history of Morden,weblink 23 September 2015, Completed in 2003 at a cost of £15 million, entirely from donations of Ahmadi Muslims, the Mosque can accommodate a total of 13,000 worshippers.WEB, A Milestone in the Redevelopment of the ‘House of Victories’ – The Caliph Inspects the New Phase of the ‘Baitul Futuh’ Project,weblink en-UK, The main mosque has a height of 23m above ground, and to maximise capacity the building extends below ground. Baitul Futuh is located in the south-west London suburb London Borough of Merton. It is situated next to Morden South railway station, 0.4 miles from Morden Underground station (Northern line) and one mile from Morden Road tram stop.This mosque is the central complex of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. It is notable for being a base of local community service by the Community. Baitul Futuh has featured in national newspapers for its homeless feeding and national/local community cohesion efforts, noted under 'Community Cohesion'. Similarly, the design of the main Mosque aimed to combine traditional Islamic design with modern British architecture.NEWS,weblink Baitul Futuh, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, 2018-08-24, en-US, 24 August 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180824183512weblink">weblink dead, Baitul Futuh has a history of notable events. It featured in the 2015 TV documentary Britain's Biggest Mosque by Channel 5.NEWS, Channel 5: Inside Britain's Biggest Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslims who run it,weblink 12 September 2018, Similarly, the mosque is host to the weekly Friday Sermons delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, which are relayed live across a global TV network with satellite network MTA International.

History

2003 inauguration

Mirza Tahir Ahmad, who was the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at the time, launched an appeal for funds for the building on 24 February 1995, and the land, formerly occupied by an Express Dairies depot, was purchased on 29 March 1996. The designs were produced by Oxford architectural studio, Sutton Griffin. The foundation stone was placed by Mirza Tahir AhmadWEB,weblink The Baitulfutuh Mosque in London. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, 29 March 2010, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160323050759weblink">weblink 23 March 2016, dmy, on 19 October 1999 in a ceremony attended by 2,000 guests, and inaugurated by the current head of the worldwide Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, on 3 October 2003. The opening ceremony was attended by over 600 guests; those present included High Commissioners, Deputy High Commissioners, Members of European Parliament, Members of Parliament, Mayors of London boroughs, Councillors, university lecturers, and representatives of 17 nations.WEB,weblink Bait-ul-Futuh, www.alislam.org, 2018-08-24,

2015 fire

On 26 September 2015, a major fire broke out at the administrative side of the mosque complex - adjacent to the main mosque.NEWS,weblink Teenage boy charged with arson after huge £6m mosque fire, Evening Standard, 2018-08-19, en-GB, The fire brigade were called at 12:20 noon and the blaze was soon declared a 'major incident'. 10 fire engines, an aerial platform and 80 fire-fighters tackled the fire.NEWS,weblink Fire crews tackle blaze at south London mosque, BelfastTelegraph.co.uk, 2018-08-19, en-GB, 0307-1235, WEB,weblink Teenager who 'set fire to Morden mosque and filmed it caused over £12m of damage', court hears, This Is Local London, en, 2018-08-19, The fire was under control at 5:32pm, more than 5 hours after the initial report, and was extinguished after 30 hours of firefighting.WEB,weblink Morden mosque saved as crews confine fire to admin buildings, 26 September 2015, London Fire Brigade, 26 September 2015, By the end of the day, no suggestion of a deliberate attack was made.NEWS,weblink Morden mosque fire: community speaks of horror after blaze at Baitul Futuh mosque, 26 September 2015, 26 September 2015, Two teenagers were arrested the following day on suspicion of arson.NEWS,weblink Morden mosque fire: Two teenagers arrested on arson charge, 27 September 2015, 27 September 2015, BBC News, However, the elder of the two was soon released without charge.NEWS,weblink Morden mosque fire: Police say blaze not thought to be a hate crime, 28 September 2015, 28 September 2015, BBC, The majority of the building damage occurred at the front of the complex, within the administrative block of the site (which consisted of office space and function halls). The men's and women's prayer area were not affected.NEWS,weblink Firefighters tackle blaze at south London mosque, 26 September 2015, 26 September 2015, The Guardian, According to news reports, 50% of the ground floor, as well as the first floor and the roof were ablaze. The site was evacuated by site staff and one man was hospitalised after he collapsed and blacked out from smoke inhalation.{{Citation|title=Automatic shut-off valves for gas burners and gas appliances|publisher=BSI British Standards|doi=10.3403/01293682u}}NEWS, Morden mosque fire: 70 firefighters tackle blaze,weblink BBC, 26 September 2015, 26 September 2015, NEWS,weblink Morden mosque fire: huge blaze breaks out at Baitul futuh mosque in south London, Evening Standard, 26 September 2015, 26 September 2015, London Fire Brigade later reported that the "mosque itself is thankfully unaffected". Extensive structural damage led to complex demolition work (adjacent to the functioning TV studio, major A-road and main mosque) over several months in 2017.The blaze created a huge plume of smoke, visible for miles in South West London, and caused widespread traffic congestion, bus disruption and rail suspension. The A24 London Road, a major London A-road, was shut down for hours because of its proximity to Baitul Futuh.WEB,weblink Teenagers arrested after Mosque Fire, 27 September 2015, The Guardian,

Notable events

• In 1999, the foundation stone was laid by Mirza Tahir Ahmad (the fourth head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Community).WEB,weblink A CENTURY'S WORTH OF MEMORIES, Your Local Guardian, en, 2018-08-20,
• In 2010, Baitul Futuh hosted BBC Radio 4's Question Time with Jonathan Dimbleby, Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, Minister Sadiq Khan, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Simon Hughes, MP Daniel Hannan and a studio audience of 400.WEB,weblink BBC Radio 4 Any Questions Aired From Ahmadiyya Mosque Baitul Futuh, British News Updates, en, 2018-08-29,weblink 30 August 2018, dead, WEB,weblink Morden mosque hosts recording of BBC Radio 4's Question Time, Wimbledon Guardian, en, 2018-08-19,
• The mosque was voted one of the ‘Top 50 Buildings in the World’ by The Spectator magazine in 2010.WEB,weblink Baitul Futuh Mosque, Merton, ER - Future, www2.merton.gov.uk, en, 2018-08-20, 20 August 2018,weblink dead,
• Lord Eric Avebury was awarded the first Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize, in recognition of his lifetime of human rights work, at the National Peace Symposium hosted at Baitul Futuh in 2010.
• The 2010 plan to burn the Qur'an by the Pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center on the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks was strongly condemned at the Baitul Futuh mosque by British faith leaders, representing various faiths, such as Church of England, Catholic Church, Judaism, Baháʼí Faith and other Christian and Islamic sects.NEWS,weblink Koran-burning plan condemned at London mosque, 10 September 2010, 12 September 2010,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100911134825weblink">weblink 11 September 2010, live, BBC News,
• The Baitul Futuh Mosque acted as the centre for the UK-wide Loyalty, Freedom and Peace Campaign, which challenged stereotypes of the faith, removed misconceptions, started conversations and improved the integration of Muslims and non-Muslims. The campaign was famed for featuring on the side of red buses across London.
• In August 2013, the mosque was the location of the largest Eid celebration in the UK of 15,000 people.weblink" title="archive.today/20130811101809weblink">Eid: British Muslims Join In Celebrations retrieved 10 August 2013
• Home Secretary Theresa May toured the Baitul Futuh Mosque complex in May 2015 and addressed 200 members of the community to take questions and commend the relief efforts of Humanity First, the international aid charity run by volunteers of the Ahmadiyya Community.WEB,weblink British Home Secretary Visits Baitul Futuh Mosque {{!, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK {{!}} Love For All Hatred For None|website=www.loveforallhatredfornone.org|access-date=2018-08-20}}
• In 2015, massive preparations for Eid celebrations at Baitul Futuh Mosque were filmed by Channel 5 for the behind-the-scenes TV documentary Britain's Biggest Mosque. The one-off special was broadcast in 2016.WEB,weblink Channel 5: Inside Britain's Biggest Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslims who run it, www.rabwah.net, en-US, 2018-08-19, 2016-05-27, NEWS,weblink Fire breaks out at London mosque, 2015-09-27, BBC News, 2018-08-20, en-GB, Channel 5 included the 2015 fire in their programme.
• The site hosts the annual National Peace Symposium which includes the awarding of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize. Speakers have included the head of the Ahmadiyya Community Mirza Masroor Ahmad, politicians such as Boris Johnson and the heads of various British and global faiths.WEB,weblink Peace symposium {{!, 15th National Peace Symposium|website=peacesymposium.org.uk|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-24}}
• The 13,000-capacity complex is host to the weekly Friday Sermons delivered by the head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad. These sermons are relayed live to social media and the community's worldwide TV network, including the UK Sky 'MTA' channel.WEB,weblink MTA, MTA, en, 2018-08-24,

Community

The Morden Mosque is notable for its efforts in serving the greater community. Baitul Futuh has featured in national news for its peace work and community cohesion efforts. The design of Baitul Futuh also aims to combine modern British architecture.Several events are held at the Baitul Futuh Mosque to serve the greater community. The complex hosts school tours, local college exams, local community events, multi-faith conferences, the annual National Peace Symposium, and visiting dignitaries. In addition to regular congregational prayers, its services include weekly homeless feeding across London, volunteering events, local community events and the 'Merton Youth Partnership Annual Conference’,WEB,weblink Merton youth Partnership Conference, mertonconnected.com, {{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and the hosting of the BBC Radio 4 Programme Any Questions?,.WEB,weblink Any Questions? – hosted at Baitul Futuh Mosque, wimbledonguardian, The Mosque receives over 10,000 visitors a year from schools, open events, faith groups, public service organisations, charities, local and central government.WEB,weblink Love for All Hatred for None Contact, loveforallhatredfornone.org,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100820010822weblink">weblink 20 August 2010, dead, dmy, The National Peace Symposium 2010 chose the location to award the first Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize to Lord Eric Avebury.WEB,weblink Peace Symposium 2010 Prize, itnews.it, {{dead link|date=October 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} The award was for lifetime contribution to global Human Rights. The Peace Prize is awarded annually "in recognition of an individual’s or an organisation’s contribution for the advancement of the cause of peace". The Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize has since been awarded annually at the Peace Symposium hosted at the Baitul Futuh Mosque.The Baitul Futuh Mosque acted as the centre for the UK-wide 'Loyalty, Freedom and Peace Campaign',WEB,weblink Loyalty, Freedom and Peace Campaign, ekklesia.co.uk, 2015-12-15, WEB,weblink Love for All Hatred for None downloads, loveforallhatrednone.org,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100426231444weblink">weblink 26 April 2010, dead, dmy, which sought to challenge stereotypes of the faith, remove misconceptions, start conversations and improve the integration of Muslims and non-Muslims.WEB,weblink Love for All Hatred for None Homepage, loveforallhatredfoenone.org, NEWS,weblink Bus campaign tackles Islamophobia, Talwar, Divya, 2011-04-05, BBC News, 2018-08-19, en-GB, In 2018, Baitul Futuh was one of the UK Ahmadi Mosques to host The Big Iftar, a gathering to break the fast during Islam's holy month of Ramadan. Ahmadi Muslims were encouraged to invite their neighbors, in addition to the open invitation on social media. Londoners from across the capital attended to tour the site and sit together for an evening meal. The Big Iftar has run since 2013.WEB,weblink Muslim group inspires community cohesion at Ramadan meal, Your Local Guardian, en, 2018-08-20, Baitul Futuh is also part of Open House London - an annual event in September with "free entry to London's best buildings".Merton Site {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331133404weblink|date=31 March 2016}}

Redevelopment for 2020

(File:Baitul Futuh Mosque old building Eid.jpg|thumb|Eid at Baitul Futuh Mosque, showing a previous building (office space and function halls) before 2015 fire damage and demolition)(File:Baitul Futuh Mosque Building Reconstruction.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of office space and function halls in the Baitul Futuh Mosque site)Plans were made to redevelop the administrative block (consisting of office space and function halls) damaged by a large fire in September 2015. Proposals for the reconstruction were designed by renowned London architecture firm John McAslan + Partners.NEWS,weblink Repair work for fire damaged Baitul Futuh Mosque to include new wing, bigger courtyard and extra accommodation, 30 June 2016, 18 March 2018, BBC, {{Citation |title=Baitul Futuh Mosque A New Chapter |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KPfejOaLJ0 |access-date=2023-03-08 |language=en}}Reconstruction funds were raised from fire damages repaid by the insurer, and additional donations from the British Ahmadi community.[51] The London architectural studio published its initial concepts online in July 2016.In January 2017, several months of complicated demolition work took place close to the major A24 London Road, Morden South Railway Station bridge and the adjacent functioning main Mosque.NEWS,weblink Baitul Futuh Mosque (Fire Damaged) - Downwell Group, Downwell Group, 2018-08-20, en-GB, Planning and consultation work for the rebuild also took place in 2017/2018.NEWS,weblink Baitul Futuh Mosque (Fire Damaged), 4 March 2018, 9 April 2018, Downwell Demolition Group, The new Foundation Stone was placed by Mirza Masroor Ahmad, head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, on 4 March 2018. Following this ceremony, a two-year expectation was set for the new building to open.NEWS,weblink Khalifa lays Foundation Stone for new Administrative Block at Baitul Futuh Mosque, 2018-03-08, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, 2018-08-19, en-US, Construction work began in October 2018 and was completed in March 2023

Grand reopening

Britain’s biggest mosque fully reopened on Saturday 4 March 2023 after 8 yearsWEB, Iftikhar, Shumaila, 2023-03-07, Britain’s biggest mosque reopens after £20m redevelopment following fire,weblink 2023-03-08, Evening Standard, en, following a costly rebuild of about $24 millionWEB, 2023-03-03, UK’s biggest mosque to fully reopen after 2015 fire,weblink 2023-03-08, Al Arabiya English, en, after the complex was partly destroyed by a huge fire in 2015. (File:MosqueAhmadiyya.jpg|thumb)A £20 million renovation project has seen the facade of the building re-worked with an ornate, geometric design.WEB, Ahmadiyya community opens Europe's biggest mosque in London,weblink 2023-03-08, Atalayar, en, The mosque has also been re-built with some special new features, including solar panels on the roof, and other energy and water-saving features, to make it more sustainable.Its administration building has been rebuilt as a five-storey complex with two large multipurpose halls, offices and guest rooms.WEB, Al Fozan,weblink 2023-03-08, mosqpedia.org, (File:New mosque pic.jpg|thumb)The exterior utalised light colored marble imported from Portugal, with 20 meter high columns.WEB, The Baitul Futuh Mosque in London. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.,weblink 2023-03-08, www.baitulfutuh.org, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide head and Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, inaugurated the new complex and delivered a keynote address. More than 1500 people from 40 countries attended the 19th National UK Peace Symposium which was held on 4 March 2023 along with the Grand Reopening of the newly built complex.WEB, Fatima, Sakina, 2023-03-05, UK's largest mosque Baitul Futuh reopens after 2015 fire,weblink 2023-03-08, The Siasat Daily, en-US,

MTA Television Studios

The Baitul Futuh complex includes the Mosque and an administrative block, which is the location of the UK studio of the MTA International Studios (Muslim Television Ahmadiyya). There are two studios on site that are home to several television shows and other media relayed to the MTA online channels and television channels in the UK (e.g. the Sky MTA channel) and globally. MTA has a complete post production studio on site that processes its broadcast material.WEB,weblink AMJ International, www.amjinternational.org, en-US, 2018-08-24, The fundamental role of MTA is to provide a platform for the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, to address his community members across the globe and also the wider global audience. Baitul Futuh also serves as the location of the weekly Friday Sermons delivered by Mirza Masroor Ahmad and these sermons are live broadcast globally on MTA's television channels and social media channels.NEWS,weblink About Us, 2016-03-21, MTA, 2018-08-24, en, The studio also hosts the Voice of Islam radio station.WEB,weblink About Us – Voice Of Islam, voiceofislam.co.uk, en-US, 2018-08-24,

Facilities

Apart from two separate large prayer halls in the mosque for women and men, the complex includes the following facilities:WEB,weblink Baitul Futuh Mosque, Morden - Exploring Surrey's Past, www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk, en-US, 2018-08-24,

• Offices
• Islamic book store
• The Aftab Khan Library
• Khilafat Centenary Gallery (exhibition space)
• Multi-functional halls
• MTA Television Studios and the Voice of Islam (VOI) radio station
• Kitchen & Dining Hall
• Guest rooms
• Disabled access
• Wash-room facilities

Architectural design

The Baitul Futuh complex includes the mosque and an administrative block. A standout design feature of the mosque is the 18 metre diameter "shimmering silver dome" made of stainless steel (as reviewed by Exploring Surrey's Past). The interior of this dome is lined with hand-painted silver Arabic calligraphy from the Quran. The mosque's two upper (above ground) and lower (below ground) prayer halls span spaces of 28m x 36m. The exterior walls of the mosque are made with polished marble tiles. Huge glass panels make the entrance to the mosque.The mosque was designed from the ground up, the adjoining multi-functional halls were renovated from an existing derelict dairy building. The original site's chimney was converted into the 35m minaret featured right.WEB,weblink Bait-ul-Futuh Mosque {{!, Architecture and Building Consultancy{{!}} Carter Jonas|website=Carter Jonas|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-08-26}}Oxford architectural studio Sutton Griffin designed the complex and Carter Jonas designed the mosque with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association. The design of Baitul Futuh aims to combine modern British architecture, and the environmentally-friendly building design won the prestigious Green Award. Renowned architects John McAslan + Partners, notable for King's Cross station and The Roundhouse in London, were chosen to design a large administration block in the location of the previous block which was damaged by a serious fire in 2015.Baitul Futuh was voted one of the ‘Top 50 Buildings in the World’ by The Spectator magazine. The mosque was also listed in the 'Best 50 Modern Religious Buildings' published by The Independent newspaper.The Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden is part of the architectural event Open House London, an annual event in September which recognises building design.

Gallery

File:Morden South stn look north to mosque.JPG|View of the Morden Mosque from Morden South Railway StationFile:Baitul Futuh back.jpg|The side of the Mosque seen from the A24 London Road.File:Morden South stn entrance.JPG|View of the main mosque from the entrance of Morden South Railway StationFile:Baitul Futuh entrance.jpg|Water fountain by the entrance of the main mosque.File:Baitul Futuh Minaret.jpg|View of the Mosque's minaret from the A24 London RoadFile:Baitul Futuh main entrance.jpg|Entrance to the main mosque with a view of the glass entrance.File:Bait ul-Futuh interior.jpg|View of men's prayer hall and dome from inside the main mosque.File:New mosque pic.jpg|The newly built mosque in March 2023File:MosqueAhmadiyya.jpg|An aerial view of the rebuilt mosque after a fire in 2015 destroyed 50% of the mosque

See also

• Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
• MTA International
• The London Mosque (Fazl Mosque)
• Ahmadiyya in the United Kingdom
• Islam in the United Kingdom
• Islamic architecture
• List of Ahmadiyya buildings and structures

{{Clear}}

References

{{Commons category|Bait-ul-Futuh Mosque}}{{Notelist}}{{Reflist}}{{Mosques in the United Kingdom}}{{Authority control}}