Ahmadiyya in Belgium
Islamic movement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in Belgium in 1981, with an approximate 2000 adherents and over 15 branches within Belgium as of 2024.[1][2]
History
The first Ahmadi missionary to Belgium was Malik Ataur Rahman who arrived in Belgium in 1948 for a prospect of establishing a mission. However, in February 1981, Mirza Nasir Ahmad (the third Caliph of the community) sent Saleh Muhammad Khan to propagate the teaching of Islam Ahmadiyya, and in 1985, a building was purchased as a mission house in Dilbeek.[3] In November 1992, the first Belgian Jalsa was held in the Dilbeek mission house, Bait-us-Salaam as a one-day event.[3][4]
Demographics
It is estimated that around 2000 Ahmadis live in Belgium,[1] with approximately 1250 members living in the Flanders region, many of whom are immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh.[5]
The community has 5 Mosques in the country, located in Antwerp and Brussels, Dilbeek and Alken (the latter two which were originally mission houses).[6] The foundations for the first purpose-built Ahmadi mosque in Belgium was laid in 2011, the Bait-ul-Mujeeb mosque in Uccle, Belgium, and completed in 2020. Upon its completion, a number of guests including mayors were invited.[7]
| Mosque | City | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inaugurated | |||
| Bait-un-Noor | Lier | ? | Mission house (51.12946212°N 4.57708783°E) |
| Bait-ul-Mujeeb Mosque | Uccle, Brussels | 2020 | First purpose-built mosque. |
| Bait-ur-Raheem | Alken | Est. | (50.87540305°N 5.26447106°E) |
| Bait-us-Salam | Dilbeek, Brussels | 1985 (Est.) | First mosque in the country,
initially a mission house. (50.87591834°N 4.23938335°E) |
| Dar-ul-Tabligh Aziz | Antwerp | 2000 (Est.) | (51.24107983°N 4.43874373°E) |
