Slade Mansion, located on the corner of Park Heights and Slade Avenue, was recently sold in March 2012 for $900,000. This massive 4.17 acre estate in the heart of Pikesville served as an assisted living residence before becoming a frequent resident on real estate websites such as Zillow.com. Now, the mansion has an entirely new future; the building will become the new place of worship for members of the Baltimore area Ahmadiyya Movement.
The Ahmadiyya movement, a reform religious group founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmed of Qadian, is associated with Islam but includes a few deviations in creed that separate it from many of the more traditional sects of the religion. These beliefs include the coming of a second prophet in the mid to late 1800s, and differing views within the group as to the absolute omnipotence of Muhammad’s perfection and prophet hood.
This congregation currently includes a small group of families from the Baltimore region; they currently practice at a smaller location in the nearby Reisterstown Plaza area. Despite the existence of an established group, the new mosque is not an exclusive organization.
“We are not closed door, we are open to everyone. Our motto is ‘Love for all, hatred for none,’” Dr. Agha Khan, leader of the congregation and long-time neurosurgeon at Sinai Hospital, said.
The mansion turned mosque will provide various services to the community, including regular Friday afternoon prayer sessions. Community events will also be held here, and some will focus around certain holidays specific to the Ahmadiyya faith.
“[The mosque] will be just like any other community building,” Dr. Khan said.
Due to the mosque’s identity as a business rather than a residence, building permits must be obtained before worship and other events can begin.