Intro
Benin was colonized by the French, its a West African nation and is the birthplace of the vodun (or “voodoo”) religion and home to the former Dahomey Kingdom from circa 1600–1900. Islam was entrenched in the north, they are mostly Maliki-Muslims. Mirza Mubarak Ahmad in his famous “Foreign Mission” (1958) doesn’t mention any Ahmadiyya mission in Benin (See the 1961, 3rd edition), Fisher doesn’t mention Ahmadiyya in Benin either (1963). The first ever Qadiani-Ahmadi missionary was sent in the 1980’s. By 1998, per Ahmadiyya sources, there were scarcely 1000 Ahmadi’s in the whole country, however, this is a lie, it was most likely less than 100. The Ahmadiyya movement announced 2-3 million converts and specifically in the area of the The Trans–West African Coastal Highway, the Khalifa claimed that there are 328 cities around the border with Niger and most of the converts came from this area. By 2001, the Ahmadiyya jamaat and the Khalifa were claiming 1.3 million Ahmadi’s in Benin, which is a total farce. At the 2002 UK annual Jalsa, the Khalifa, Mirza Tahir Ahmad brought many so called Kings from Benin and claimed to have specifically fulfilled a prophecy of MGA, wherein it was described that kings would seek blessings from MGA (or his descendants) garments. However, by 2002, there were barely 4-5 Ahmadiyya mosques in the entire country and even those were very small and in villages, nothing in any major city. By 2004, the new Khalifa, Mirza Masroor Ahmad visited and thus for the first time ever, a sitting Khalifa visited. He opened the Baitul Tauheed mosque, which was the biggest Ahmadiyya mosque in the country. The Khalifa visited again in 2008 and opened the Al-Mahdi mosque in Porto Nova. In 2020, the Ahmadiyya movement fraudulently reported 1000 converts for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, which is a total lie. At the annual Jalsa, barely 200 people attended, most of which were probably guests.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
How many Ahmadi’s are there in Benin?

We estimate no more than 1000 Ahmadi’s in Benin in 2021.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Who is the current missionary-in-charge?

Ahmad Rana Farooq also phrase as Rana Farooq Ahmad, is the missionary-in-charge, he seems to be the only Ahmadi mullah working in the country. We haven’t found any others.

The first ever Qadiani-Ahmadi missionary to be officially sent to Benin was Maulana Ahmad Shamsheer Sookia (1980’s).

Some notable Ahmadiyya jamaat workers are Naib Amir Jamaat Benin Raji Ibrahim Sahib, Chairman Humanity First Benin Bakari Mouslihou Sahib, and Regional Missionary Cotonou Muntazir Ahmad Sahib.

Ameer Jamaat Benin, is Qamar Ahmad (per a tweet on 5-18-22).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Ahmadiyya mosques in Benin?

We have counted 16 Ahmadiyya mosques in the entire country.  Most of the Ahmadiyya mosques in Benin are very small. There are 12 mini-mosques, wherein the capacity is barely 50 people, these are in small villages. They are the first 8 listed in the below. Most of these are in the southern region of Benin. In the northern area of Benin, the entire population is Maliki-Muslim and not converting to Ahmadiyya,.

In 2008, the Khalifa, Mirza Masroor Ahmad travelled to Benin and opened the Al-Mahdi Mosque, which is now the headquarters of the Benin jamaat. The 10th is the grand mosque in Porto Novo, Benin, which is the capital, this was opened in 2008. The other large size mosque is Baitul Tauheed, which was opened in 2004. There are 2 others, one in Bohicon and the other in Save. MTA news tells us that 4 additional small mosque were opened in 2018.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Ahmadiyya hospital in Parakou, Benin
https://twitter.com/islam_et_media/status/1384623739732647936/photo/4

L’un des plus jeunes médecins en chef d’un hôpital #Ahmadiyya est une dame: la Dr Anila Bhunnoo-Abdullah, responsable de notre hôpital à Parakou, au #Bénin Flag of Benin

One of our youngest head physicians in the world is Dr Anila Bhunnoo-Abdullah, Ahmadiyya hospital, Parakou, Benin Flag of Benin

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1972
https://islaminafrica.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/ahmadiyya-muslim-jamaat-nigeria-the-spread-of-ahmadiyyat-to-neighboring-countries/

After the initial introduction, a Central Missionary in the person of Maulvi Bashirud-Deen was sent there to survey the situation. In 1972 however, the Jama’at requested the then Amir Maulana Muhammad Ajmal Shahid, to send Resident Missionary. Alhaji Muhammad Taoheed Shekoni was  posted to them. He met three active members of the Jama’at with whom he was carried  on his preaching activities. The brothers were:  Sikiru Dauda, Abdul Lateef and Bisiriou Raji.  Port-Novo was used for the Jama’at’s daily and Jum’ah Prayers. This, therefore, marked the beginning of a regular Jama’at of Ahmadiyya in The Republic of Benin. Initially, as a result of the opposition encountered by the Jama’at, the members’ wives did not join the Jama’at until some- time later.

The Jama’at also built a one-storey Mosque on a piece of land donated  by Alhaji Bisiriyou Raji, the then  President of the Jama’at. Even Eid prayer was being observed on one of his farmlands. After the departure of Alhaji Muhammad Taoheed Shekoni, who spent one and a half years in the People’s Republic of Benin, some other Missionaries were sent there at different times. Those sent there included  Late Bro. A. R. Oluwa and Alhaji M. A. Salman (on several occasions). In particular, Brother Tajudeen Abdul Azeez was there for a considerable length of time.  Later on, a Central Missionary in person of Maulvi Sookia was also posted there to teach and lead the Jama’at.

Owing to the activities of hostile non-Ahmadis, the Jama’at Mosque in Port-Novo was closed down for some time by the government. But the ban was later lifted through divine grace. The Jama’at was thus once again making progress in the propagation of Ahmadiyya in the People’s Republic of Benin.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1980’s

The first ever Qadiani-Ahmadi missionary to be sent to Benin was Maulana Ahmad Shamsheer Sookia (1980’s)(See Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques Around the World, 2008). By 2014, was working as the missionary-in-charge for the Ahmadiyya jamaat in Mauritius, another french speaking nation.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1987

Per Ahmadiyya sources, Dr. Abdus Salam begins working with the Benin government to connect his International Center of Theoretical Physics with the Benin Institute for Mathematics and Physics, which opened in 1988. (See Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques Around the World, 2008).


_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1988

Per Ahmadiya sources, the first ever Jalsa Salana is held.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
1998

Ahmadiyya sources (See Ahmadiyya mosques around the world) report that there were barely 1000 Ahmadi’s in the country, however, the number was probably less than 100. (See Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques Around the World, 2008).

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1999

Ahmadiyya sources report 10,000 converts to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community from Bénin, however, this is a lie. (See Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques Around the World, 2008). 
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2000

Ahmadiyya sources claim that 801,000 people from Benin joined Ahmadiyya, which is a lie. (See Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques Around the World, 2008).
______________________________________________________________________________________________2001

Ahmadiyya sources claim that 1.2 million people from Benin joined Ahmadiyya, thus the number is now at 2 million. However, this is a lie. (See Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques Around the World, 2008). 
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2002

Benin Jalsa went from 50000 in 2002 to few hundred in 2004 from islam_ahmadiyya

Ahmadiyya sources allege that there were 50,000 attendees at the 2002 Jalsa.

Benin Jalsa went from 50000 in 2002 to few hundred in 2004

 

I noticed the following page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ahmadis

Lists the following royals who are Ahmadi:

That peaked my interest, googling these folks doesn’t reveal much, but led me to the following article:

https://issuu.com/mkauk/docs/tm0901/12

The figure of 50k at the Jalsa Salana caught my eye. Further search revealed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-OmbgfCW5g

KM5 addressing few hundred people at Benin Jalsa salana in 2004. One would think new Khalifa being there would have doubled the previous number.

Anyone know what happened? Why was the attendance so much lower in 2004?

Seems like in 2019 the attendance was 3000ish:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_t_ifM2w3Q

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2004

Baitul Tauheed Mosque is inaugurated. It is the economic center of Benin, in Cotonou. Capacity seems to be 1000. The Khalifa meets the president of Benin also.

https://www.reddit.com/r/islam_ahmadiyya/comments/111126y/benin_jalsa_went_from_50000_in_2002_to_few/

Benin Jalsa went from 50000 in 2002 to few hundred in 2004

 

I noticed the following page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ahmadis

Lists the following royals who are Ahmadi:

That peaked my interest, googling these folks doesn’t reveal much, but led me to the following article:

https://issuu.com/mkauk/docs/tm0901/12

The figure of 50k at the Jalsa Salana caught my eye. Further search revealed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-OmbgfCW5g

KM5 addressing few hundred people at Benin Jalsa salana in 2004. One would think new Khalifa being there would have doubled the previous number.

Anyone know what happened? Why was the attendance so much lower in 2004?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2008

The Khalifa visits and opens the biggest Ahmadiyya mosque in the country, the Al-Mahdi Mosque.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2017

Ahmadiyya Mosque – Save, Benin is opened.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2019

At the annual Jalsa, barely 200 people attended, most of which were probably guests.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2020

The Khalifa announces that 10,000 people joined Ahmadiyya from Benin in the 2019-2020 fiscal Ahmadiyya year, which ends in roughly July-2020.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2022

This orphanage (Daroul Ikram) is ran by Humanity First-Germany. Since Benin was an old german colony, they seem to have retained economic/social exclusivity rights. 41 children and 18 workers live on the premises.

The Ahmadiyya Movement claims to be running an orphanage in Benin. Deborah suffers from a neurological disorder and impaired walking ability.

https://twitter.com/waisenheim/status/1558705230686068736/photo/4
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Links and Related Essay’s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin

Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques Around the World – A Pictorial Presentation (Khilafat Centenary Edition) by the USA Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, ISBN 1-882494-51-2

Barely 100 American’s converted to Ahmadiyya from July 2019 to July 2020

“Our Foreign Missions” 1961 edition, by Mirza Mubarak Ahmad, grandson of MGA

“Ahmadiyya, A Study in contemporary Islam on the West African Coast” by Humphrey J. Fisher (1963)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ahmadiyya_buildings_and_structures#Benin

Who is Jibril Martin (1888-1959)? The Ahmadi in Nigeria who rejected the Qadiani Khilafat and created the 5th sect of #ahmadis

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Tags

#ahmadiyyainbenin #benin #westafrica #frenchwestafrica #ahmadiyya #ahmadiyyatrueislam #ahmadiapartheid #Ahmadiyyat #rabwah #qadian #meetthekhalifa #muslimsforpeace #ahmadiyyafactcheckblog #nolifewithoutkhalifa #AhmadiMosqueattack #AhmadiyyaPersecution #Mosqueattack #trueislam