Mawlana Hazar Imam crossed the finish line at the London Marathon on Sunday 26 April 2026 with a personal best time.
Hazar Imam was delighted to see members of the Jamat participating in the marathon and asked that his warm congratulations be conveyed to them, as well as his appreciation for the support he received from Jamati members in the crowd.
In his Farmans, Hazar Imam has encouraged the Jamat to stay active and take part in physical activity.
“As a prevention and protection for your future health: stay active, play sports when you can, and make some time to move every day,” he said to the Jamat in Uganda last year. “Whatever your age, and however busy you are, everyone can make an effort to move more.”
Alongside his many responsibilities, Hazar Imam continues to make time for regular exercise, including distance running. He completed the Berlin Marathon in 2024 and the Chicago Marathon in 2025.
The marathon is widely considered the pinnacle of endurance running. It is a test of physical stamina, mental fortitude, and strategic pacing; it requires months of rigorous training, nutrition planning, and recovery. Even so, distance running is accessible, with no special equipment or surface required. Major marathon events attract upwards of 50,000 entrants, featuring a mix of elite athletes and recreational runners alike.
Today’s event was one of historic firsts. Sebastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s race, in a world-record time of 1:59:30, making him the first person to break the two-hour barrier. In the women’s race, Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia claimed her second consecutive London title, also in a world record time of 2:15:41. This year’s oldest male entrant was 88-year-old Harry Newton from the UK, who began running at the age of 57, and today competed in his 32nd marathon. Maria Rivera from the USA, aged 86, was the oldest female entrant.
Held every April, the London Marathon—one of the seven World Marathon Majors—is a highly anticipated event on the World Athletics calendar. The route begins in Greenwich Park and weaves its way through the iconic landmarks in the South and East of the city, passing the Tower of London and along the Thames Embankment, before finishing on The Mall in the heart of the city.
Since being established in 1981, the race has steadily risen in popularity thanks to its scenic course and passionate local community support. Each year, runners are assisted by more than 16,000 volunteers at aid stations spread throughout the route. Last year, the event raised a record-breaking £87.3 million for charitable organisations, cementing its position as the world’s largest annual one-day fundraising event in support of thousands of national and global charities.
