Jamia Masjid Gulshan-E-Baghdad

Connected as a community.
Assalamu alaikum, and welcome to Jamia Masjid Gulshan-E-Baghdad.
The masjid is a Sunni masjid in the Queens Park area of Bedford, following the way of Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jamaat. It is open for the five daily prayers and Jumu'ah, and welcomes worshippers, families and visitors from Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.
The masjid is a registered charity run by its committee and volunteers. Its work is to advance the religion of Islam and Islamic education: providing and looking after a place of worship, teaching members of our community about their faith, holding religious gatherings through the Islamic year, and helping families with funeral and burial arrangements according to Islamic principles.
The masjid's Death Committee supports member families with janazah and burial arrangements and costs, so that no family faces them alone.

Our history

Origins & Founding Early Community Roots: During the mid-to-late 20th century, Muslim immigrants—primarily of South Asian descent (notably Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat / Barelvi traditions)—settled in Bedford, particularly in the Queens Park neighborhood.

Early congregational prayers and community gatherings took place in residential properties or adapted spaces nearby.Charity Registration (1997): To support the growing Muslim population, the Jamia Masjid Gulshan-E-Baghdad Mosque Committee was formally established and registered as a UK registered charity on December 29, 1997. Construction & Opening (2001)First Purpose-Built Mosque in Bedford: Led by local initiative, community fundraising, and volunteers, construction was completed in 2001.
It holds historic significance as Bedford's first purpose-built mosque structure. Capacity & Architecture: Designed as a spacious, multi-story structure with traditional minaret/dome architectural accents, it became one of the largest mosques in Bedfordshire, accommodating hundreds of worshipers for Friday (Jum'ah) and Eid prayers.
Naming & Religious Tradition. The name Gulshan-E-Baghdad translates to "Garden of Baghdad," referencing spiritual lineage tied to the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat tradition and Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani (the 12th-century Sufi saint based in Baghdad). Role in the Community Religious Education: Alongside daily prayers, the mosque provides Quranic studies, Tajweed, and Islamic educational programs for children and adults.
Civic & Charitable Work: The mosque functions as an active civic hub—collaborating on local interfaith programs, hosting community food distribution efforts (such as partnerships with local ethnic food banks), and providing outreach services across Bedford.