Dr Mohammed Iqbal, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Bradford, explains how, as his community celebrates a century in Britain, its message is one of social harmony

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community – whose ethos is Love for All Hatred for None – marked a historic milestone last month – its centenary in Britain.

This is a reformist community within Islam and ever since it was founded in India in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, it has stood firmly against firebrand clerics and those who incite hatred and violence.

Ahmadi Muslims throughout the world are well known for their very strong stance against extremist violence, and have been persecuted for their stance.

Over the last 100 years, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has worked tirelessly in the UK to encourage inter-faith dialogue and spread the peaceful message of Islam. The community is now established in more than 100 towns and cities across the UK – and it continues to build bridges between all faith and non-faith groups.

Ahmadi Muslims built London’s first mosque in 1924 and now operate Western Europe’s largest mosque in Morden, Surrey, with capacity for more than 10,000 worshippers.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has reached out to thousands of people throughout the UK by promoting messages of peace, freedom and justice on hundreds of buses around the country, including a highly-visible campaign across Bradford and West Yorkshire.

The community has raised millions of pounds for charities including tens of thousands of pounds for the annual Poppy Appeal, organised blood donation drives, planted tens of thousands of trees to protect the environment, initiated a “feed the homeless” programme that will reach 20,000 people during the centenary.

In response to the very positive messages received from the members of the wider community and highly-distinguished friends, the Ahmadiyya Community has embarked on a nationwide programme of spreading the peaceful message of Islam through a door-to-door leaflet campaign that has already reached four million homes.

Earlier this year, the community hosted a National Peace Symposium that was attended by 900 delegates including Cabinet Ministers and Ambassadors, and in June an historical centenary celebratory event was hosted in the House of Commons by Secretary of State Rt Hon Ed Davey MP, together with the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

More than 40 parliamentarians, including a large number of Cabinet Ministers including the Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, were present and the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community delivered the keynote address.

The Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, based in London, said: "Britain has provided a home for thousands of Ahmadi Muslims over the past century. Our duty as Muslims is to be grateful to God and to give thanks to Queen and country for allowing us to practice our faith freely.

“Islam teaches us to be loyal citizens and we believe it is our duty to serve the country, contribute to society and promote peace for all.

“When we say Islam means peace, we practice that very fact and demonstrate it with our actions.”

In 2012, the community also funded hundreds of buses on the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as part of firm commitment to loyalty to one’s country.

Earlier this year, the community raised nearly £250,000 for British charities through its charity walks, and in August the centenary celebrations have been taking centre stage in its Annual International convention (Jalsa Salana) that will attract 30,000 delegates from more than 80 countries.

The National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, Mr Rafiq Hayat also said: “In this, our centenary year, we are making an extra effort to reach out and strengthen our links with the wider community.

“Events such as the terrible Woolwich murders, which have no place in Islam, remind us that we need to ensure that people have the chance to learn about the true peaceful message of Islam, so that there is greater understanding, unity and social harmony.

“The need for such initiatives has never been greater. We are proud of our heritage and our contribution to the UK.”

The community has already hosted many local events to mark the centenary with friends and communities, and more are planned throughout the centenary year, as well as a major international Conference of World Religions as part of the community’s on-going commitment to education and peace.