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. The Shah Jahan Mosque was built in 1889 by Hungarian-British Orientalist Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner. It was partly funded by Nawab Shah Jahan Begum of Bhopal, as a place for students at the Oriental Institute in Woking to worship. The mosque was designed by architect William Isaac Chambers (1847–1924) and built in Bath and Bargate stone. It was designed in a late Mughal style, and has a dome, minarets, and a courtyard. The architecture was described by Pevsner Architectural Guides as “extraordinarily dignified”. The alignment with Mecca was established by a ship’s captain, brought in to take bearings. It is located 30 miles (50 km) southwest of London.
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 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 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.
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