The Ismaili Centre, London

The Ismaili Centre, London. Photo: Crispin Boyle

The Ismaili Centre in London is a religious, social and cultural meeting place for the Ismaili Muslim community in the United Kingdom. Opened in 1985, the Centre is the first religious and cultural centre to be specially designed and built for the Ismaili community in the West.

Located in South Kensington, the Ismaili Centre occupies a prominent island site on Cromwell Road, facing the Victoria and Albert Museum on one of the major thoroughfares leading out of London.

Video: Dr Reza Shah-Kazemi delivers the 2010 Yawm-e Ali lecture at the Ismaili Centre, London

Yawm-e Ali 2010 Lecture on Imam Ali and the Power of Compassion by Dr Reza Shah-Kazemi at the Ismaili Centre, London. Copyright: Islamic Publications Ltd

The 2010 Yawm-e Ali Lecture at the Ismaili Centre, London was delivered on 14 July by Dr Reza Shah-Kazemi, Reasearch Fellow at The Institute of Ismaili Studies in London. In his lecture titled Imam Ali and the Power of Compassion, Dr Shah-Kazemi explored the role played by Rahma — divine compassion — in the teachings of Hazrat Ali.

Firoz Rasul, President of the Aga Khan University, spoke at the Ismaili Centre, London on 8 July 2010, where he looked ahead toward the University

Firoz Rasul, President of the Aga Khan University addressed an audience at the Ismaili Centre, London on 8 July 2010, in which he looked ahead towards the University’s next 25 years — a period during which AKU will take an important evolutionary step to become a comprehensive university. He discussed AKU’s plans to offer new programmes in various fields, to build several new campuses and to embark on regional integrated health care strategies.

“Flow” specially composed for the 25th anniversary of the Ismaili Centre, London, is performed by Jonathan Eato and Thomas Maternik from Royal College of Music together with members of Ismaili Community Ensemble. Photo: Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for the UK

Exhibition Road Music Day, an annual festival of live, international music concerts and workshops in London, renewed itself on 20 June with participation from the Ismaili Community Ensemble. This year’s festival also paid tribute to the Ismaili Centre, London, which is marking its 25th anniversary.

An aerial view of the Ismaili Centre, London. Photo: Sadru Verjee

In the 25 years since it opened, tens of thousands of people have experienced the Ismaili Centre in London. The building at Cromwell Gardens in South Kensington was the first high profile Ismaili Centre to be designed and built in the West, and realised an important vision of Mawlana Hazar Imam. Since then, it has both reflected and shaped the aspirations of the Jamat.

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Gallery: Architecture of the Ismaili Centre, London

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