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A British Imam told Muslims to 'aspire to be like Qassem Soleimani' at a memorial in London for the top Iranian general.

Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and architect of Iran's spreading military influence in the Middle East, in an air strike on Friday at Baghdad airport.

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran's streets for the funeral and footage has shown a large crowd in London also mourning the death over the weekend.

The footage, which according to the Daily Star was taken outside the Islamic Centre of England in Maida Vale on January 3, shows an Imam labelling Soleimani a 'martyr' as supporters gather around with pictures of him.

(Image: Twitter)

The imam said: "I would like to give you all my condolences but at the same time I would also like to actually congratulate all of you.

"We are very fortunate to live at a time to see, touch and feel a man like Soleimani and we hope and we pray and we work hard to make sure that there will be many many more Qassem Soleimanis.

"We inspire to become like him, we are jealous for his shahada (martyrdom) and we want the same thing for ourselves and our loved ones.

"The beauty of Islam is that you turn around to the enemy and say 'do your worst' because your worst is the best that could happen."

(Image: Twitter)

(Image: Twitter)

On Friday, the centre's director posted a message of condolence in which he described Soleimani as an "honourable Islamic commander".

The centre invited people to attend the "memorial majlis" on Saturday afternoon.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept while leading mourners in prayer for the funeral today.

(Image: ABACA/PA Images)

Soleimani's death in a US drone strike ordered by Trump has caused a huge outpouring of national grief.

The scale of the crowds, shown on television clogging major streets, was the biggest since the 1989 funeral for the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the revolution that set Iran on its political collision course with Washington.

The supreme leader's voice cracked with emotion as he said prayers, forcing him to pause.

Crowds chanted "Death to America". One poster held by a mourner read: "It is our right to seek a harsh revenge," echoing comments by Iranian military and political leaders.

Many Iranians considered Soleimani, a decorated veteran of the eight-year war with Iraq, a national hero, particularly for mobilising Shi'ite Muslim groups in neighbouring Iraq to help crush the militant Sunni forces of Islamic State.