On Sunday 23rd November 2025, a community dinner was held by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Cardiff on the occasion of the inauguration of the Bait-ur-Raheem Mosque there. It was a very joyful moment for the local Ahmadi Muslim Community, especially since the mosque had faced numerous challenges in the planning phase before it was finally built.
The event’s keynote address was delivered by His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), the Fifth Caliph and Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. His words were well received by all those in attendance. Here’s what guests had to say about the speech of His Holiness, as well as about the event in general:
(Please note that these interviews have been lightly edited for concision and clarity)
“I’m full of admiration”
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name is Sue White, I was a former Cardiff Councillor and I took a stand for the Ahmadiyya community and supported you through the discrimination that you faced during planning application.
So very kindly, you never forget to invite me to your events.
What are your thoughts about today’s event?
Oh, it’s just wonderful. It’s wonderful to see the mosque finally finished after such a long and difficult journey. And it’s really good to see that good has prevailed. So it’s been a real honour.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
I thought it was admirable. I’m full of admiration for your community and your motto ‘Love For All, Hatred For None’ is an example to us all and I think that came across in his speech.
What overall message are you going to take home from tonight’s event?
I just think it was inspirational. It was inspirational and really, really good for your heart to see that good can prevail against all the odds sometimes.
“Phenomenal. Inspiring.”
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name’s Katie, I’m a PCSO with South Wales Police, so I cover this area on behalf of the police.
What brings you here to the event today?
We were invited to the event today, obviously for the grand opening of this beautiful mosque. Just to get to know the community, see what you’re about and just introduce ourselves.
Now that you’re here, what do you think about the event?
It was incredible. Getting to speak to a lot of the community and stuff like that. Find out exactly what it is that your religion is about and what you’re trying to achieve here is phenomenal. It was very well organised. Yeah, it was amazing to be here today.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
It was very interesting, to be honest. It wasn’t what I was expecting. It was great to hear about the Qur’an and the values that you hold. It was very impactful.
How would you describe the event in one word?
Phenomenal. Inspiring.
“Enlightening.”
Please could you introduce yourself?
Yes, hello. I’m Ian Ferrier. I specialize in GRP, which is a product that we’ve used to make the dome and the minarets here. I’ve been involved with this mosque for a number of years now. It’s really good to see the finished result with all the lights and what’s gone on here. It’s fantastic, really.
Is this your first time working on a mosque?
No, we’ve manufactured quite a few mosques and domes over the years and for this community in particular we’ve done at least several mosques and domes and it’s just a heart-warming event when you see everybody come together and how welcoming this is. What’s important is that you’re laying the foundations for the future to bring people together and that’s paramount.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
It’s food for thought, it’s very important. He’s got ideas and a mindset I hope more people will take on board because in the long run it would lead to a better society worldwide.
How would you describe the event in one word?
Enlightening.
“Impressive.”
Please could you introduce yourself?
Inspector Tim Ursell, I’m the local neighbour inspector for the Canton area.
What brings you here to the event today?
We very kindly received an offer to attend the event to come and meet everyone at the opening, both members of your community along with other people who’ve been invited to the event as well.
What are your impressions of the event?
Really impressed. The new building is really impressive, it’s great to have as part of the community and your event has been fantastic, really welcoming.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
Meaningful.
How would you describe the event in one word?
Impressive.
“Absolutely wonderful”
Please could you introduce yourself?
Tony Edwards. I live in Cardiff about 3 miles from here.
What have your impressions been of this evening?
Absolutely wonderful, I’m privileged to be here.
What do you think of the mosque?
I think it’s wonderful. It’s beautiful from the outside and beautiful on the inside.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
Wonderful, I’ve heard his address once on the radio on The Voice of Islam. Such a holy man, wonderful voice, wonderful message as well.
“Astonishing”
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name is Hugh. Hugh Farey. I’m from Herefordshire.
How did you find this evening’s event?
I thought it was astonishing. It’s remarkable that so many people from different faiths should be invited. Everybody who isn’t an Ahmadi, I think, felt honoured to be here. I was quite shocked at your saying how honoured you were that we came, which is quite wrong, we honoured to be invited, really.
What are your thoughts about our community?
I think that the Ahmadiyya Community is an extraordinary force for good around the world and is not sufficiently well known, in England or Wales or, particularly where I come from in Herefordshire.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
I thought it was astonishing. I thought it was remarkable because he covered a huge areas, a wide general field of responsibility and yet he was so particular and direct in his teaching and I thought that was very powerful indeed.
“I’m really thrilled”
Please could you introduce yourself?
Well, my name is Rhys Burton and I’m from South Wales Police. I’m a crew safety manager with the force here in Cardiff.
What do you think of the event?
Well, I think the very first thing to say is just coming down the road and seeing the mosque for the first time fully completed with the lights on it. It just is such a stunning building to see and is a real privilege to have something of this calibre, this excellence, if you’re in Cardiff. I’m really pretty pleased with that.
And then coming in the warmth of the environment, people are very welcoming. I’ve had a really big welcome tonight. And again, the message of the Caliph is fantastic from a policing side and from a community side. Who can argue with what he said tonight? Really embracing, really welcoming, so supportive and it’s a mature approach to the way we want to live our lives in society. So I’m really thrilled with what he said tonight as well.
“Inspirational”
Please could you introduce yourself?
So my name is Linda Davis. I’m the leader of Pontipry’s town council. Pontipry is an old mining town about 12 miles north of Cardiff.
What do you think of the event?
Well, I didn’t know what to expect because the last time I was on this site was when it was a makeshift temporary mosque. And I came on one occasion, saw the plans for the mosque on the wall. And here I am now, and that mosque is actually a reality. And I remember driving down the road here, just out, sort of, awestruck by the sign at the sides of the minaret and the dome.
So straight away, that blew me away. And then coming here this evening, that same welcome and warmth that I’ve experienced. Again, it just leaves you feeling uplifted.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
Amazing.
First of all, I could follow it.
It was clear. It was direct. It was informative.
And it was a very strong message to everybody. But a message that everybody can follow.
Easy to do. Common sense. And I think the message was, you know, when you walk into this building, it’s not just a place of worship, which is important, but it’s a place where those values are meant to be nurtured.
How would you describe the event in one word?
Inspirational.
“It was a good message”
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name is Tanya Randhawa and I’m from Colbridge.
What do you think of the event?
I think the event on the whole was very well organized and very well done.
I’d like to congratulate you on this big occasion and wish you all the best and success in the future.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
Speech was very well done. It was a good message for the whole community and for the whole world.
“Peaceful”
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name is Nick Goss. I’m from St Thomas’ Church in Cardiff on Pampbank Road. I’m the chairman of the church committee.
What do you think of the mosque?
I think the mosque is a fantastic building. It’s obviously taken a long time to get it done, but it’s worth it with all these things. It’s important, I think, for every religion to have a proper centre, a place they can go, a dedicated worship.
We’re the same with our church. The building means a lot to us. And I’m sure that that’s what this building means to you as well.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
I thought the speech by His Holiness was superb. It was full of the right sort of messages about peace and getting on with people and just respect for everybody.
How would you describe the event in one word?
Peaceful.
“really welcoming and very enlightening”
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name’s Ben. I’m one of the local police officers, part of the neighbourhood team in the area that the mosque is situated.
Initially we were asked to come operationally to help with sort of general organisation. As luck would have it, we were then invited in to the event. And it’s been really welcoming and very enlightening.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
It’s love for all regardless of their background, their faith or any of their ideas, principles, etc.
The Islam faith just preaches love and sort of care for everyone. And I think that’s such a wonderful way to look at life. And I think that’s where I’ll be taken away today.
“evenings such as this give us pause to rejoice and to hope”
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name is Ainsley Griffiths. I’m a priest in the Church in Wales, which is an Anglican church, sister church to the Church of England. I serve at the moment as Director of Faith, Order and Unity for the Church in Wales, which means that I advise the church on matters relating to worship, doctrine, relations with other churches, and relations with other religions. And I serve on the Interfaith Council for Wales.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
I think it is this generosity, this warmth, this desire to serve the community, and to stand as a beacon of hope and light and peace and cooperation in the world, which is troubled. We know that the world is facing enormous challenges. Many of our communities face enormous challenges. But evenings such as this give us pause to rejoice and to hope.
“It’s a fantastic event.”
Please could you introduce yourself?
I’m Rodney Berman. I’m the leader of the Liberal Democrats on Card of Council.
What do you think about today’s event?
It’s a fantastic event. It’s great to see so many people gathered here. And it’s such a lovely new building, which is clearly going to be a huge asset to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
It was very humbling to listen to His Holiness give his address. And I think he made some very pertinent points, particularly about how Muslims, along with everybody else, must be promoting peace and love and basically valuing everybody. And that certainly values that I subscribe to myself. So I think he made some very poignant remarks.
“it’s just so relevant to everyone”
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name is Janet Davies, I’m High Sheriff of South Glamorgan.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
Well, I’ve asked for a transcript actually because there were so many interesting sections to it. There were so many things that resonated with me that I just feel that it’s just so relevant to everyone.
“It hit a chord.”
Please could you introduce yourself?
I’m Robin Bates and I was invited here by a friend of mine.
What did you think of the event?
Everybody’s so friendly. And it makes you feel at home. It’s really nice.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
It hit a chord. Very nice. About peace, about helping everybody. And it’s a shame that there’s not more of that out there in the world currently.
“I’m very pleased to see His Holiness.”
Please could you introduce yourself?
I’m Stephen Heils. I’m the design consultant that has designed this marvellous mosque. And it’s lovely to see it finally built after so many years of trying to get it through planning procedures. And then with COVID, finally built. And it’s lovely to see it lit up tonight as it has been.
I’m very pleased to see His Holiness. At the very start of this project, I went to a peace symposium and saw His Holiness. And His Holiness actually blessed me and laid his hands on me to say how much he appreciated the efforts I was making to achieve this mosque.
“he was speaking things which are good for all of us, regardless of our religion”
Please could you introduce yourself?
My name is Phil McCollgan. I’m married to Katie McCollgan, chair of the Interfaith Council for Wales. So I’m a plus one. And it’s been a wonderful experience coming here today.
What did you think of the event?
I’ve been to many events and the Ahmadiyya Muslims have been at them. And you are the most lovely people. There’s a goodness about you. There’s a humanity.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
Your leader today, every word he said, I’m obviously not a Muslim, but I was not a single word I could possibly disagree with because he was speaking things which are good for all of us, regardless of our religion.
“It was very inspiring and very reassuring to the community”
Please could you introduce yourself?
I’m Reverend David Dean. I’ve known about Ahmadiyya Islam for many years because I’ve done interfaith work in England before moving to Cardiff. So I was very pleased to be invited to the inauguration.
What did you think about the speech of His Holiness?
It was very inspiring and very reassuring to the community. He addressed why there’s no need for anyone be concerned about a mosque being built in a neighbourhood in Cardiff. There’s no concern whatsoever because of the principles of Ahmadiyya Islam. To live by the teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and to aspire to help humanity, serve God and deserve humanity, it was all one thing.
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