Shia centers in Britain were created and expanded all over the country after this country experienced Islam within the Middle East and India. After centuries of exploitation, a small group of the people of this region, who were mostly sailors constantly traveling to Britain, managed to migrate to the island. They lived, married, and settled in cities such as Liverpool, Glasgow, and Cardiff. During the twentieth century, Muslims from Africa migrated to Europe, some of which found themselves in England. Most of these migrators were given British citizenship.
Shia centers in Britain are built mostly by Shias who make up approximately fifteen percent of the estimated 2.8 million Muslims living in the UK, and come from a range of backgrounds including South Asian, East African, Iranian, Iraqi, Afghani, Lebanese, Bahraini, Saudi Arabian, and Yemeni.
Another significant gathering of the Shia in Britain is classified “Twelver Shi’a Khoja”. They are settled in London, Birmingham, Lester, Manchester, Peterborough, Leeds, Wessex, Moston, Milton, etc. With a population of 5000, the Twelver Shi’a Khojas of London make the greatest society of Twelver Shi’a Khojas.
Several Shia centers in Britain have been established and they have become gathering centers for Shi’a ceremonies, religious guidance, and addressing of their religious requests. These centers are involved in educational and propagation activities, charity, and specific religious ceremonies, such as Ramadan, Muharram etc. Some of the most famous centers in Britain are listed below:
- Imam Khoei Islamic Centre
- Shia Ismaili center in London
- Hawza Ilmiyya of England
- Islamic Universal Association
- Muslim Community Of Essex
- TA – HApublishers Ltd.(publications)
- AL Hydery Islamic Center
- World Council For Imamiah Affairs
- The Council of European Jamaats (CoEJ)
- Rasool Al-Adham Hussainiyat
- Islamic Center of England
- Lebanese Youth Foundation
- QFatima
- safoo publications
- ABWA Publishing and Printing Center(publications)
- The Muhammadi Trust of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- iShia Project
- The Islamic Association of Muslims
- World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim communities
- IRAQI WELFARE ASSOCIATION
- Imam Ali (A.S) Foundation
- World Ahlul-Bayt (PBUT) Islamic League
- Sakina Trust
- Institute of Islamic Studies
- Hussaini Centre for Research
- Hussainiyat Al-Rasool Al-Adham
- Alulbayt (AS) Foundation
- Al Zahra Centre