Britain’s largest mosque, which was destroyed by a massive fire in 2015, has reopened after repairs
Britain’s largest mosque is due to fully reopen on Saturday following an expensive reconstruction after it was partially destroyed by a major fire in 2015. ,
The huge prayer hall survived the fire but the mosque’s administrative block housing function rooms was gutted.
It has been rebuilt using light-coloured stone imported from Portugal at a cost of £20 million ($24 million), fully paid for by community members, according to mosque officials.
Mohammad Nasir Khan, vice-president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK, said the new complex would offer better facilities, including children’s education.
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“But more important to me personally, and I think to many members of the community, is that our neighbors and everyone who visits these campuses have a facility that they can be proud of,” he told AFP. It is possible.”
Around 1,500 people are expected to attend the re-opening, including British politicians, diplomats and religious leaders.
There are about 35,000 followers of the Ahmadiyya sect out of about 4 million Muslims in Britain.
They are most numerous in Pakistan, where they are considered heretics and subject to persecution.
A sixteen-year-old boy was charged with intentionally starting a fire in London, but was cleared of arson at a trial in 2017.
Firmly pacifists, Ahmadis are particularly opposed to the militaristic interpretation of jihad (holy war). The entrance to the Modern campus reads, “Love for all, hate for none”.
