For Yr. Consideration: A Photo Essay of London's "rather large" new mosque

BBC On-Line ^ | October 05,2003 | Words and pictures: Dominic Casciani

[yankeedame]

Introduction Ahmadi Muslims are opening what they say is the largest Mosque in western Europe this weekend. The Baitul Futuh Mosque can cater for up to 13,000 people. But the community is not accepted by other Muslims as genuine.

Construction Two years in the making, the mosque is in Morden, south-west London.It is the focus for the Ahmadi community, which originated a century ago in northern India. Followers in modern-day Pakistan face persecution. They believe in a "Messiah" who interpreted the Koran to help find its true meaning in the 19th Century.

Interpretations The entire mosque site covers some 15,000 square metres with the main building made of a specially designed reconstituted marble designed to withstand the British weather. But it also needs to withstand criticism from other Muslim groups who say that the Ahmadi community should not even use the word mosque to describe their place of prayer.

Dome The centrepiece of the mosque is a 15.5 metre dome, capped in specially designed stainless steel.The inside of the dome is dotted with windows allowing light to stream inside, and verses from the Koran are hand painted on its curves.

Prayer hall The main prayer hall can hold some 6,000 people at each session.It has been designed so the community can broadcast live to its satellite television channel – and onwards to what it says are 200 million followers around the world.

Women's prayer hall One of the most striking features is that the women's prayer hall is as big as the men's – something not always found in mosques. "This mosque is the centre of our community," says Salim Malik."We want everyone to be able to come, including children to the crèche."

Minaret The mosque minaret is 36 metres tall and is one of the last features to be finished.The community has not asked for the right to make calls for prayer from the tower. Instead the traditional call will only be made within the mosque itself."

Volunteers Up to 100 people have worked on site at any one time.As the project has neared completion weekends have seen up to 500 volunteers arrive to help with the finishing touches. The final days have seen the volunteers completing the entrance hall and laying miles of carpets – entirely donated by a single community member in the United States.

[EggsAckley]

Big, but certainly NOT Brunelleschi's Dome.

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[Lijahsbubbe]

Okay, where's the rest of the story? Whose old holy site was this mosque erected on?

[pgkdan]

But the community is not accepted by other Muslims as genuine.

What's the matter with them? Don't they beieve in cold blooded murder? DO they have a problem with suicide bombing? Sheesh! Heretics!

[Charles Henrickson]

The sun is slowly setting in the West.

I have heard that now there are more Muslims than Christians attending religious services in Great Britain each week.

[joesnuffy]

The old testament is replete with historical examples of what happens to God's
people when the turn their backs on Him.....
You dont want God in your life, your politics,your culture, and your families...
then you dont get God in your life, your politics, your culture, or your families...
You get the exact opposite...satan, buddah,allah,marx,gaia,wiccan,quetzacoatl, etc (actually all eminate from exactly the same entity and his minons..though he/they all lie about that)

The truth is the truth whether or not anyone believes it...
And a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it

[Moonmad27]

There just might be more Muslims than Christians attending religious services every week. We Christians don't make it a habit to ostracize or even kill someone who falls away from the faith.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

Richard the Lionheart might as well have stayed home.

[bert]

It looks clean, with sharp lines and plain surfaces free from ostentation

[Skooz]

I wonder how many years until every nation in Europe is officially Muslim.

[jwalburg]

Don't forget Molech.

[tbpiper]

You wouldn't happen to have the GPS coordinates would you. I have a house warming present I would like to launch send.

[Savage Beast]

Today the Baitul Futuh. Tomorrow the Westminster Abbey Mosque.

[scouse]

The final days have seen the volunteers completing the entrance hall and laying miles of carpets – entirely donated by a single community member in the United States

A few more homocide bombers and a few more Israeli infants massacred and this might be the only mosque between London and Mecca.

[BushisTheMan]

The final days have seen the volunteers completing the entrance hall and laying miles of carpets ? entirely donated by a single community member in the United States.

Anyway to find out who this is? I'd certainly be interested in knowing.

[Paul_B]

> the community is not accepted by other Muslims as genuine.

Looks like the mosque won't be long-lived. Look for a suicide bomber to "cleanse" the brethren in one of their popular "martyr operations".

> the mosque is in Morden, south-west London

Make that Mordor, and I'd believe it.

Interesting how the architecture is Westernized. Under the radar, eh?

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

And in this room we teach young children to strap explosives on their chest...

[TheCrusader]

"Richard the Lionheart might as well have stayed home."

I was thinking the same thing. Just prior to the Crusades all of Western Europe shuddered whenever Islam was on the warpath. Now they just invite them in to take over. How strange, how very very strange.

[So Cal Rocket]

Big, but certainly NOT Brunelleschi's Dome.

Brunelleshi's Dome: