More than 70 parliamentarians celebrated the centenary of Ahmadiyya Muslims in the UK and their contribution to British life.

The occasion was marked at a reception in honour of His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Islamic Worlds Khalifa based in Southfields.

He was the key note speaker at the event at the House of Commons on Tuesday, June 11.

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community have spent the milestone year carrying out charitable and peace events, which reinforce their ethos of love for all, hatred for none.

These include sponsoring peace messages on busses, raising money for the poppy appeal, blood donation drives and door to door leafleting.

Rafiq Hayat, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK 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.”

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

Since 1913 the community has grown to more than 100 chapters, with each one dedicated to serving the community through charity events, voluntary work and interfaith dialogue.

Ahmadi Muslims have condemned violent Jihad ever since the community was founded in India in 1889 and stand firmly against firebrand clerics and those who incite hatred and violence.