It was during the Khilafat of Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin (ra) that the first ever Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission was established outside of India, which was in England. Until that time, direct preaching was limited to India only, although preaching was carried out in foreign countries through correspondence and magazines etc.

In 1913, Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin (ra), Khalifatul Masih I, expressed his desire to send a missionary to London for preaching Islam Ahmadiyyat, upon which Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial (ra) presented himself.

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) arranged the travel expenses from Anjuman Ansarullah, which was already considering a scheme for preaching to the foreign countries. Hazrat Mir Nasir Nawab (ra) and some other members also donated some expenses. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 3, p. 457)

Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial (ra) reached England on 25 July 1913. Therefore, he was the first Ahmadi missionary who was sent outside India purely for the preaching purpose. (Ibid, p. 458)

At that time, Khawaja Kamaluddin was already in England since September 1912, as a rich Ahmadi of Bombay (now Mumbai) Syed Muhammad Rizwi sent him to look after his business affairs which were pending there. (Ibid, p. 405)

Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial (ra) reached Woking on 11 August 1913. Khawaja Kamaluddin told Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial (ra) not to mention the name of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah, and just preach Islam in general. Upon this, Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial (ra) wrote about this to Huzoor (ra), and in response Huzoor (ra) instructed him to always mention the name of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) while preaching. So, Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial (ra) continued preaching Islam Ahmadiyyat, in accordance with Huzoor's instruction.

After the demise of Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin (ra), Khawaja Kamaluddin deviated from the right path and did not pledge allegiance to Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) as Khalifatul Masih II. So, Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial (ra) separated himself from Khawaja Kamaluddin, and went to London, where he acted in accordance with the guidance of Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra), Khalifatul Masih II. (Ibid, p. 459)

Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial (ra) established a new markaz (centre) in London, with the permission of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra).

Then, in 1924 Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) laid the cornerstone of the Fazl Mosque (London Mosque) in Southfields, which was inaugurated in 1926. This mosque served as the markaz (centre) of the Ahmadiyya Mission in England.

In 1984, when Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) migrated to the UK from Pakistan, the London Mosque started serving as the markaz (centre) of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. 

Then, it was felt necessary by the UK Jamaat to find a suitable place outside London, large enough to hold Jalsa Salana and other events. A number of sites, among which was one in the Midlands, were visited in the course of the next few months but none of them were suitable for the Jamaat's requirements. 

In September 1984, an approximately 25-acre site of an old residential boarding school was for sale through an auction, situated in Tilford, Surrey and consisting of a number of timber-framed buildings. The site was inspected, and it was felt that it suited the Jamaat's requirements. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) was then requested to visit the site. 

Huzoor (rh), after inspection and approval, instructed the UK Jamaat to bid for it at the auction. Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK was successful in securing the site for around £423,000. The site was named “Islamabad” by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh). 

This site was where the Jalsa Salana was held for many years.

During the time of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aa), the Mubarak Mosque was built in Islamabad and in addition, the site was converted into state-of-the-art offices and residential complex. 

Towards the end of his Friday Sermon on 12 April 2019, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (aa) indicated to the global Jamaat that he would soon move to what would become the new Markaz of the Jamaat – Islamabad, Surrey. 

He made this move, a historic moment in the history of Islam, in the evening of Monday, 15 April 2019 from London to the new Jamaat Markaz (headquarters) in Tilford, Surrey, to the land that is fittingly named Islamabad. Central offices – including Huzoor’s private secretariat, Wakalat-e-Tabshir, Wakalat-e-Mal, Wakalat-e-Tamil-o-Tanfidh (India, Nepal and Bhutan) – also moved to Islamabad as part of the Markaz’s shift.