Intro
The Shah Jahan Mosque (also known as Woking Mosque) in Oriental Road, Woking, England, is the first purpose-built mosque in the United Kingdom. Built in 1889, it is located 30 miles (50 km) southwest of London. In roughly 1910, a Trust for guardianship of the mosque was then created with a membership made up of three public figures having strong connexions with India the Right Hon. Sayyid Ameer Ali, Sir Mirza Abbas Ali Baig and Sir Thomas Arnold (See also “Islam in Interwar Europe” by Clayer and Germain, it is also on the Ahmadiyyafactcheckblog). This also seems to be connected to the famous London Mosque Fund of 1910.
In 1891 (Apr), the Liverpool Daily Post of Mon, Apr 20, 1891 ·Page 7, reported about the First Moslem Marriage in England. The pseudo-Muslims in Liverpool represent the center of Islam in England. The mosque at Woking is also mentioned and described as simply lodging for college students. Mr. W.H. Quilliam, a well known lawyer is the leader and there seem to be 50 members. All white converts. Maulvi Mohammed Barkatullah was there too. The minister of Education for Armenia was there too, a man named Mohammed Ubeid Ullah. The Ottoman consul general was there too, a man named Mr. D. Mavrogordato. The marriage ceremony was read by Mr. Rafiuddin Ahmad.
In 1894 (May-25), in the “Voice of Islam” newspaper, it is reported that Nafeesa M.T. Keep was elected as secretary of the “American Muslim Brotherhood”. The election was held in the reading room of “The Moslem World Co.”, No. 30 East 23d St. NY. Nafeesa M.T. Keep is also on the “Board of Publications”. The Vice President is C. Omar MacCoun, the Librarian is Ahmed Hamouda, the assistant librarian is R. Othman White, the Treasurer is H. Ali Lewis. H. Ali Lewis is also on the “Board of Publications”, as well as C. Omar MacCoun and R. Othman White. On the Advisory Board are 3 people, E. A. Arnold, H. Fatima Peabody and Khaled D. Hutchins (See Aug-1894 edition of the “Voice of Islam”). James S. Laidlaw has an essay and short poem in this edition of the “Voice of Islam” (Aug-1894 edition). H.A. Lewis is also the “Business Manager” of the “Voice of Islam” and “American Moslem Brotherhood”. Interestingly, a mission in Lahore is discussed called the Anjuman-i-Islam wherein young boys are being taught, this is called the Islamic College. The Nawab of Bahawalpur has given money for orphan boys and via the “Anjuman-i-Himayat-e-Islam“. Many books are listed for sale, a book by Haji Abdullah Browne entitled, “The Evidences of Islam” (from London). Barkatullah also has a book for sale, entitled, “Eleven Months’ Mussulman Work at Hyderabad (Deccan), India, as well as a book by G.W. Leitner (of the Woking Mosque), entitled, “Mohammedanism”. Webb‘s book, “Islam in America” is the most expensive book, $50 for 75 pages. “Education and Literature of the Women of Turkey” by Senorita Esmeralda Cervantes, for $15. A book by Goolam Muhammed bin Hajee Hafiz Sadek Randeri, entitled, “The Touchstone of Philosophers”. There is also a book by Shaikh Faizullah-bhai (Fellow of the University of Bombay and headmaster of the “Anjuman-i-Islam” schools), entitled, “A Moslem Present”, for $35, this book is an anthology of Arabic poems about the Prophet and the faith of Islam. There is also a book entitled, “Al Bahsul-Jaleel” or “The Delhi Controversy” between Maulvi Sharful Haq Kadri Jalali, translated by S. Abdul Haq sahib and for $15. There is also a book for sale entitled, “The Hero as Prophet” by Thos Carlyle for $15.
In 1912, the Shah Jahan Mosque fell into Ahmadi hands, via Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din (See the details in the below). However, just a year later, during the split of 1914, Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din joined the Lahori-Ahmadi’s and detested all orders and advice coming from Qadian and the 2nd Qadiani Khalifa. Thus, the Shah Jahan Mosque was under Lahori-Ahmadi control in 1914, and the other Ahmadi Maulvi (Maulvi Fateh Muhammad Sayyal) had Qadiani leanings. Thus, from 1912 to roughly 1965, the Shah Jahan Mosque was in Lahori-Ahmadi hands. Khalid Sheldrake and Abdullah Quilliam were also there.
In 1913, the visit of Abdul Baha to Woking on January 1913. The head of the Baha’i Faith announced, on behalf of the heir of Dr. Leitner, that “the mosque would in future be open for Muhammadans to worship at any time they pleased (See also “Islam in Interwar Europe” by Clayer and Germain, it is also on the Ahmadiyyafactcheckblog).
In 1913 (Nov), The Guardian of Sat, Nov 29, 1913 ·Page 9 reported that on Nov-28-1913, at Caxton Hall, Westminster, about 40 Moslems met for Friday prayers, which were led by Khwaja Kamaluddin. It is alleged that Khwaja Kamaluddin left his lucrative Law practice in Lahore, British India to be a missionary for Islam in the UK, specifically at the Woking Mosque. Some wore the ref Fez, Lord Headley is also there as well as Maulvi Zafar Ali Khan, who told the crowd to hold their applause. Khwaja Kamaluddin announced 3 new conversions to pseudo-Islam, Viscount De Pudre, a Belgium nobleman living in Antwerp, Captain Stanley Marquis, an English gentleman and Miss Lilly Ransom, an English lady. Lord Headley gave confusing comments about Protestantism vs. Catholicism.
In 1913 (Dec-21), The Times of Trenton, New Jersey on Sun, Dec 21, 1913 ·Page 23 reported on the conversion of Lord Headley to Lahori-Ahmadiyya (however, it is called Islam). The operation of Quilliam in Liverpool is also mentioned. About a year ago, Khwaja Kamaluddin arrived in the UK and is trying to re-open the Woking Mosque. It is alleged that Khwaja Kamaluddin gave up his lucrative legal practice to be a missionary of Islam in the UK to white people (See also The Buffalo News of Sun, Dec 21, 1913 ·Page 2)(See also The Omaha Daily News of Sun, Dec 21, 1913 ·Page 14)(See also The Buffalo Sunday Morning News of Sun, Dec 21, 1913 ·Page 32).
In 1913 (Dec-26), the Alturas Plaindealer and Modoc County Times of Fri, Dec 26, 1913 ·Page 6 reported the conversion of Lord Headley to Lahori-Ahmadiyya (they call it Islam) by Khwaja Kamaluddin (Imam at the Woking Mosque). It is also mentioned that Lord Stanley of Alderly had secretly converted to Islam many years ago and only at his death was it revealed to the public. Another British aristocrat to convert is Lady Hester Stanhope, niece of William Pitt (See also the Wisconsin State Journal of Fri, Dec 26, 1913 ·Page 2).
In 1913, despite harsh critiques of Ahmadiyya doctrines, Rashid Rida, in his al-Manār magazine, in some instances, hailed the conversions of Europeans to Islam in the Woking mosque. The above-mentioned Baron Lord Headley and his conversion occupied a prominent place in al-Manār, despite Headley’s known close connection with the Ahmadis in London (See Umar Ryad, “Muslims in Interwar Europe: A Transcultural Historical Perspective”, 2016, pp. 47-87 (41 pages).
In 1913 (Dec-21), The Times of Trenton, New Jersey on Sun, Dec 21, 1913 ·Page 23 reported on the conversion of Lord Headley to Lahori-Ahmadiyya (however, it is called Islam). The operation of Quilliam in Liverpool is also mentioned. About a year ago, Khwaja Kamaluddin arrived in the UK and is trying to re-open the Woking Mosque. It is alleged that Khwaja Kamaluddin gave up his lucrative legal practice to be a missionary of Islam in the UK to white people.
In 1913 (Dec-26), the Alturas Plaindealer and Modoc County Times of Fri, Dec 26, 1913 ·Page 6 reported the conversion of Lord Headley to Lahori-Ahmadiyya (they call it Islam) by Khwaja Kamaluddin (Imam at the Woking Mosque). It is also mentioned that Lord Stanley of Alderly had secretly converted to Islam many years ago and only at his death was it revealed to the public. Another British aristocrat to convert is Lady Hester Stanhope, niece of William Pitt.
In 1914 (Feb-23), The Sun of Mon, Feb 23, 1914 ·Page 3 of Sydney, Australia reports on the work of Khwaja Kamaluddin (the imam attached to the Woking Mosque) and how he converted Lord Headley to Lahori-Ahmadiyya (aka Islam). There was a recent meeting at Frascatti’s wherein it was stated that Lord Stanley of Alderley had secretly converted to Islam, which was concealed until his death. Another British aristocrat to join the ranks of Islam was Lady Hester Stanhope, the niece of William Pitt.
In 1914 (Mar-6), The Record-Herald of Fri, Mar 06, 1914 ·Page 2 (and a few other American newspapers) alleged that white people in the UK have been converting to Islam and how number 600 people (mostly in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Edinborough. However, this is not a new thing, Islam has been in the UK for roughly 25 years, Abdullah Quilliam (a Liverpool lawyer) was called “Sheikh of the British Isles”. Lord Headley’s conversion to Islam is also mentioned as recent. However, the newspaper alleges that Khwaja Kamaluddin arrived in 1913 and commenced work to specifically convert white people to Islam. The new headquarter of operation is from the Woking Mosque. Polygamy is discussed and it is alleged that the white converts to Islam in the UK don’t practice polygamy.
In 1914 (Aug-29), the Surrey Times and County Express of Sat, Aug 29, 1914 ·Page 3 reports that the Eid-ul-Fitr festival was held at the Woking Mosque. Maulvi Sadr ud Din was the prayer leader and Shaikh Noor Ahmad seems to be a junior imam. At the end of the ceremony, allegedly, an English woman converted to Lahori-Ahmadism (aka Islam). It seems that the Moslems walked the streets after the lecture (a procession?). On Sunday, Khwaja Kamaluddin gave the usual lecture. In the evening a dinner was held for Khwaja Kamaluddin‘s going away party, which was held at the “Memorial House”. Allegedly, Khwaja Kamaluddin is going to India, but will stop in Mecca and make the pilgrimage.
In 1914 (Sep-11), via The Spectator and Methodist Chronicle of Fri, Sep 11, 1914 ·Page 1443 reports that Khwaja Kamaluddin is the leader of Islam in the UK, he is working out of the Woking Mosque, which was built by Dr. Leitner in 1889. The mosque is open for Sunday school only. The Islamic Review newspaper is published from there too. Khwaja Kamaluddin is collecting funds for an English translation of the Quran.
In 1914 (Sep-30), The Greenville Democrat of Wed, Sep 30, 1914 ·Page 2 of Greenville, Ohio reports on the work of Khwaja Kamaluddin and his conversion of Lord Headley. Quilliam’s Muslim Institute of Liverpool is also mentioned. Khwaja Kamaluddin has setup his headquarters at the Woking Mosque and alleges that 600 white people have converted to Lahori-Ahmadiyya (aka Islam).
In 1930, Lord Headley (and his wife) met with “The Arab-Palestine Delegation”, which included Haj Amin al-Husayni (Syed Muhammad Amin Al-Husaini), the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and President of the Supreme Muslim Council in Jerusalem. They were alleged protesting against the Balfour Declaration. However, this video points out that Lord Headley never had an official position on Palestine. Maulvi Abdul Majid M.A., who is the “acting” Imam of the Woking Mosque (and a Lahori-Ahmadi) officially asked Haj Amin al-Husayni to lead the prayer. On Friday May-9-1930, Haj Amin al-Husayni (Syed Muhammad Amin Al-Husaini), the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem led the Eid prayer at the Woking Mosque (The Islamic Review, June 1930 – Woking Muslim Mission). After his Eid Khutbah, which was in Arabic, Maulvi Abdul Majid M.A. read it out in English, he also read the Juma salat. Abdullah Quilliam aka Professor H.M. Leon was there too and his wife. The Afghan minister to London was also there, Sirdar Shah Wali Khan. Mr. Lovegrove, secretary of the Moslem Society of Great Britain was also there. Abdullah Yusuf Ali was there too. Abdullah Yusuf Ali allegedly recited verses of the Quran.
The Islamic Review became the most popular “outwardly Sunni” magazine in the us during the Great Depression. Judging by the correspondence published in the Islamic Review, it seems that, starting in the early 1930s, the Woking mission had instituted a new push to spread information about Islam in the us. Letters began pouring into the magazine from cities and small towns across the country, sent by either librarians, who were happy to receive the Islamic Review and the mission’s other Islamic literature, or readers, who had run across a copy of the magazine and found its contents so interesting that they felt compelled to compliment the editors and request more information about Islam. Through these efforts, the Islamic Review became the century’s first successful English-language Sunni publication in the us, creating the first truly nationwide reader-based community of non-Muslim and convert Americans who were interested in Sunni Islam. However, Woking had no official representatives in the us, so, like the readers of Webb’s newspapers, without face-to-face contact with Muslims, or at least a
feeling that such contact would be possible, many of the Review’s readers who became interested in Islam felt reluctant to convert. The timing was therefore perfect for the aia to come in and capitalize on the religious market the British Muslims had created. Without doubt, this would be the principal reason that Glick’s early efforts were able to eventually spread nationally and have a real historical impact (See Bowen, A History of Conversion to Islam in the United States, Volume 1, White American Muslims before 1975).
In the Islamic Review (Lahori-Ahmadi newspaper) of March-1935, prominent Lahori-Ahmadi’s like Khwaja Nazir Ahmad (Vice President of the “Woking Muslim Mission and Literary Trust”, member of the “Board of Trustees” and member of the “Management Committee of the Trust”) told the world that they were not the “Qadiani’s”, nor were they “Ahmadi’s”, they told the world that they believe Muhammad (saw) to be the Final prophet and consider any new claimant of prophethood as outside of Islam (see page 81). Abdul Majid is listed as the “Imam of the Shah Jehan Mosque, Woking, England”. Aftab-ud-Din is listed as the “Acting Imam of the Shah Jehan Mosque, Woking, England”. Khwaja Abdul Ghani is listed as “Secretary of the “Woking Muslim Mission and Literary Trust”.
In 1935, Sir Hubert Stewart-Rankin, the 36-year-old leader President of the British Muslim Society has resigned. Sir Hubert Stweart-Rankin tried to get a resolution passed wherein Ahmadi’s would be barred from joining this organization. However, this resolution was shot down, since most of the executive committee and secretaries were Ahmadi. After the resolution was shot down, Sir Hubert walked out. Sir Hubert alleged that he would be starting a new organization. This seems to be referring to the Lahori-Ahmadi’s and their leader, Maulvi Muhammad Ali. Khalid Sheldrake is also mentioned, as well as his short lived, “Western Islamic Association”, of which Sheldrake is the President and Sir Hubert the Vice President. The newspaper alleges that there are roughly 10k Muslims in the UK, of which 90%+ are Indian sailors. The Aga Khan is trying to build a mosque at South Shields. The newspaper also acknowledges that there are 2 mosques in London in 1935, the Qadiani’s at Southfields and the Lahori-Ahmadi’s at the Woking.
In 1961, the famous ex-Qadiani-Ahmadi Bashir Ahmad Misri arrived in the UK (he famously accused the 2nd Qadiani-Khalifa of rape in 1937). A few years later, the Lahori-Ahmadi’s hired him to be an editor. It seems that Bashir Ahmad Misri was planning to make friends with the Lahori-Ahmadi’s and then to turn on them at an opportune time. Which is exactly what he did. In 1964, he became the Imam of the Woking Mosque. By July 1968, his plan was in motion, he organized the local Muslim’s and wrestled control of the mosque from the Lahori-Ahmadi’s to the local Muslim scholars. He them left and went on a tour. His father (Sheikh Abdur Rehman Misri, also an ex-Qadiani-Ahmadi, allegedly a Lahori-Ahmadi) died as a Lahori-Ahmadi in Pakistan in 1979. Bashir Ahmad Misri then responded to Mirza Tahir Ahmad’s global Mubahila challenge in 1989 and wrote about his youth in Qadian. His death year is unknown to us. Hassan Bin Mahmood Odeh has a photo with Bashir Ahmad Masri in his book and met him in the UK in 1989. Bashir Ahmad Masri was living in the UK in 1989. He died in 1992, in the UK.
The struggle to its conversion to Sunni Muslims started in January 1968 by setting a Woking Mosque Regeneration Committee, comprising Khalid Hussain Qamar (Woking), Moulana Habibur Rehman UK Islamic Mission (Manchester), Allama Khalid Mehmood (executive director Manchester Mosque), Editor of Faran Magazine (Leicester), and Gondal (Reading). The committee wished to see High Commissioner of Pakistan, who was officially President of Registered Trust responsible for affairs of the Mosque, but all in vain for nine months. The state of the Mosque was miserable as there was no place for abolution, or taharat. There were no five times prayer established in the Mosque. Only on Sundays the Imam use to deliver a sermon to non-Muslim visitors over a cup of tea. The Islamic Review magazine was regularly published from Shah Jehan Mosque as the only Muslim Organ under Editorship of Moulana Majeed Ahmad and Imam Hafiz BASHIR Ahmad Misri. Khalid Hussain Qamar started Quran Nazira lessons to 80 children of Sunni Muslims of Woking voluntarily with kind permission of the Imam in January 1968. So the First ever Sunni Imam (an employee of High Commissioner) Khawaja Qamar-Ud-Din took the charge as First Sunni Imam in December 1968. Since then the Mosque is in possession of Sunni Muslims (See The Light — U.K. edition, April 2-2007).
Because of this permission, the Ahmadiyyah Movement terminated Hafiz Bashir Ahmed as Imam. Hafiz BASHIR Ahmad Misri, while leaving for Uganda authorised Khalid Hussain Qamar for arranging Traveeh Prayer during Ramadan first time ever in the history of the Mosque. Khalid Hussain Qamar (Woking), Chaudhary BASHIR Ahmad(Woking), and Raja Muhammad Asghar (Woking) availed this opportunity to install a new Imam for leading Traveeh Prayer while Hafiz BASHIR Ahmed Misri moved to Uganda as terminated Imam. Forceful capture of Mosque’s Residence and Mosque itself for prayers during Ramadan 1968 was beginning of Sunni Era of usage of the Mosque. That reached as blowing news to staff of Pakistan High Commissioner. Col Nazir Ahmed Dence Attachee and Haroon High Commissioner shown their concern about this possession. After one week of consistent request of the High Commissioner, Khalid Hussain Qamar along with local Muslims asked Col Nazir to visit them in the Mosque to resolve the issue. Woking Muslims presented the case that Mosque is to be natural worshipping place for local Muslims and therefore should be run along the wishes of local Muslims. Col Nazir agreed and requested the audience, let the High Commissioner offer them list of possible next Imams for their choice and High Commissioner could restore the official responsibility. So the First ever Sunni Imam (an employee of High Commissioner) Khawaja Qamar-Ud-Din took the charge as First Sunni Imam in December 1968. Since then the Mosque is in possession of Sunni Muslims (See the statements of Bashir Ahmad Misri in 1989).
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