Tijjaniya President launches first Mawlid celebration in London
The President of the Tijjaniya Muslims of Ghana, Sheikh Imam Abdul Wadudi Haruna, has officially launched the maiden edition of the Tijjaniya Mawlid in the United Kingdom.
The event took place at the Ghana Muslim Welfare Centre in Seven Sisters, London, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
The launch, described by organisers as a milestone for the global Tijjaniya fraternity, was part of Sheikh Abdul Wadudi’s visit to the UK, where he had earlier participated in the annual International Conference, known as Jalsa, hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. His attendance was at the invitation of the Supreme Leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslims based in London.
Tijjaniya Muslims commemorate the birth of their founder, Sidi Ahmed Tijjani Bun Muhammed, during the Islamic month of Safar. This year’s celebration falls on Thursday, August 7, 2025. The event is an important part of the Sufi tradition under the Sunni school of thought and is widely observed in Ghana and across the Muslim world.
“Sheikh Abdul Wadudi’s presence here has reinvigorated our community,” said one of the Ghanaian Muslim leaders in London. “We are grateful to host the Khalipha and son of the late Sheikh Alhaji Haruna Mohammed At-Tijjani.”
It is estimated that the UK is home to over 10,000 Tijjaniya Muslims, with the global following of the order exceeding 300 million. The community has welcomed the initiative to institutionalise the Mawlid in the UK and expressed hope that Sheikh Abdul Wadudi would return annually to participate in future commemorations.
Accompanying the Sheikh was the Executive Secretary of the Tijjaniya Muslims of Ghana, Sheikh Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osman. Sheikh Osman was also in the UK to present a scholarly paper on human rights at the University of Oxford.
Mawlid, a key religious practice in many Sufi communities, involves the recitation of the Quran, the narration of the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as well as the biographies of revered Islamic figures. The gatherings are also marked by free distribution of food and drink, poetry recitals, and religious competitions.
According to organisers, the event serves to “immortalise the lifestyles of important people in Islam who are worthy of emulation” and continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the character of Sufi adherents around the world.
In Ghana, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Professor Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, traditionally leads national Mawlid observances which are often attended by the President, government officials, and religious leaders. Sheikh Abdul Wadudi himself hosts the second-largest Mawlid gathering annually in Kumasi, noted for bringing together leaders of Ghana’s two main political parties in a show of unity for national progress.
