Islam in London

A historic occasion in Southfields as London's first mosque is officially opened.

A momentous occasion in Southfields as the Fazl Mosque, the first to be purpose-built in London, is opened in an official ceremony. The Imam, Hadhrat A.R. Dard(ra), presents a silver key to Khan Bahadur Sheikh Adbul Qadir, Indian Representative to the League of Nations, before the minaret calls the faithful to prayer. The event was attended by 600 distinguished guests, dignitaries and local MPs.

The significance of the event was recognised in the national press, with The Times reporting, "The occasion is one of great importance in the history of religious movements outside Christianity in this country". The Fazl Mosque was not Britain's first, however. Woking's Shah Jahan Mosque was built in 1889 and remained a central Islamic hub for much of the 20th century: see Feast of Eid-ul-Fitr (1924) and Moslem Festival at Woking (1928), also available on BFI Player.