Intro
He was born on October 10, 1910 at Shujabad, District Multan, Pakistan), graduated with Honors in Arabic from the University of Punjab in 1931, and completed his religious studies and training as Missionary in 1933 at the Ahmadiyya Seminary, Qadian, India.
Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad was a pioneering missionary to East Africa, as well as South Africa. In 1934, he landed in Mombasa, Kenya (it was British-Kenya at the time)(See Fisher)(See Moslem Sunrise, April-1984). He seems to have never even traveled to the West Coast of Africa. He returned to India and now it’s Pakistan (See page 27) in 1949.
From 1979 to 1983 he served the Missionary-in-Charge for the entire U.K. Jamaat of Ahmadi’s. From Nov-1983 to 1991 (See Moslem Sunrise of March-1984), he served as the Amir and Missionary-in-Charge for the USA Jamaat, he retired thereafter.
See The 1989 Khuddam Souvenir, page 39
_____________________________________________________________________________________________1910
Per Ahmadiyya sources he is born.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________1931
Per Ahmadiyya sources he graduated from the University of the Punjab, he majored in Arabic.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________1933
In 2 short years, he is graduated as an Ahmadi mullah.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________1934 to 1962
1984_iss_1.pdf, see page 27
He served as Missionary-in-Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim missions in East Africa, and established Ahmadiyya Muslim outreach centers in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. During this period, Ahmadiyya mosques were constructed in several East African cities. He translated several Islamic religious books in Swahili; his most memorable achievement being the translation of the Holy Quran and commentary in that language. Ahmadiyya sources allege that he had issued a Mubahila to Billy Graham when he visited in 1960.
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1940
The ROR of Dec-1940 alleges that Maulvi Mubarak Ahmad (aka Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad)(who is the missionary-in-charge) recently started a tour of Shiyanga (modern day Tanazania) to Mowannza on Lake Victoria. Maulvi Mubarak Ahmad (aka Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad) went Musowa, then to Kitsumu, and then to Karicho. He arrived in Nicaro and gave a speech at the Salvation Army center. He reached Nairobi (modern day Kenya) on Aug-16th. The ROR alleges that Nairobi is one of the active centers of the Ahmadiyya Movement. On Sep-8th, the Ahmadi’s of East Africa prayed that the British and their allies win WW-2.
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1941
The ROR of March-1941 reports that Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad has reported in his letter of Jan-1941 that there was a meeting held entitled, “Founders of Religions Day” in Nairobi (modern day Kenya)and Tanga (modern day Tanzania). He seems to have gotten the Quran translated into Swahili and 2000 copies were sent out to Nairobi (modern day Kenya), Tanga(modern day Tanzania), Zanzibar (modern day Tanzania), Mombasa (modern day Kenya), Darresalam (modern day Tanzania), Khakoma (Kakuma in Kenya?) and Batora (could this Batura, Rwanda?).
The ROR of July-1941 alleges that M. Mubarak Ahmad (most likely this is Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad has been in contact with some white man, and this white man’s essay was published in the ROR.
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1942
The ROR of Feb-1942 has reproduced a talk broadcasted on the local radio by Maulana Mubarak Ahmad (aka Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad). This was a speech of his given via the Khilafat Day celebration and from 7 LO, Nairobi, this speech was given on Dec-1-1941. Maulana Mubarak Ahmad alleges that his Khalifa (the 2nd Khalifa) is getting people under the British government to be super loyal and appreciative. He also mentioned Tahrik-i-Jadid and how Ahmadi’s were told to eat less and give more chanda. The entire essay in praise of the 2nd Khalifa.
The ROR of May-1942 has an essay by him entitled, “Are the Quranic Teachings Out of Date”.
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1943
Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad’s Eid sermon from Dec-19-1942 is posted in the ROR of Feb-1943 and from Nairobi.
Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad’s Eid sermon from Dec-19-1942 is posted in the ROR of Oct-1943 (this seems to be part-2).
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1949
1984_iss_1.pdf
He returned to India and now it’s Pakistan (See page 27).
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1950
The Ahmadiyya Gazette (June-1950) has some of the diary of Rashid Ahmad from March 4th to April 8th-1950 from Rabwah. Rashid Ahmad talks about all the water that is available in Rabwah. Om March-12, Rashid Ahmad gave a speech (he talked about American Ahmadi’s) at an Ahmadiyya event in Sarghoda. Rashid Ahmad explains how he rubbed shoulders with Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad and he told Rashid Ahmad about how clean Qadian used to be, it seems that Qadian was extremely dirty and had sewage in the streets in the early 1950’s. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq gave a Friday Sermon while the 2nd Qadiani Khalifa was in Lahore. Rashid Ahmad met Dr. Mirza Munawar Ahmad (son of the 2nd Qadiani Khalifa). Rashid Ahmad mentions how an Ahmadi Maulvi from Holland had just returned to the headquarters. Rashid Ahmad alleges that there was an Ahmadi from Sudan who was in Rabwah. Rashid Ahmad mentions how Maulvi F. R. Hakeem gave a speech at the school that Rashid Ahmad at on “Islam in West Africa”. Rashid Ahmad alleges that Maulvi Abdul Khaliq was sent to Iran as a Qadiani-Ahmadi Maulvi. Rashid Ahmad alleges that Saud Ahmad was sent to West Africa (either Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana or Nigeria). Rashid Ahmad alleges that money was collected in Rabwah for the American Fazl Mosque (which was a private residence). Rashid Ahmad explains how Ahmadi’s regularly did tabligh/dawah in their locale (a 15 miles radius around Rabwah). In April of 1950, Maulvi Muhammad Ibrahim returned from serving 3 years in Italy and 2 years in West Africa, he is the brother-in-law of Maulvi Ghulam Yaseen (who was working in the USA). The wife of Maulvi Muhammad Ibrahim had died in Rabwah and left 9 children to be raised by their father only, in these circumstances, Rashid Ahmad was allowed to marry one of his daughters. The 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa had severe gout in those days. Rashid Ahmad alleges that the 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa was sitting with his doctor in a Majlis-e-Shura and was constantly taking medicine. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq told Rashid Ahmad that he spoke 7 languages, including Esperanto (a total lie). Maulvi Nur Ahmad Munir (allegedly a Qadiani-Ahmadi Maulvi working in Syria) gave a speech at the school that Rashid Ahmad was attending. Rashid Ahmad alleges that Mufti Muhammad Sadiq led many Friday prayers in 1950 since the 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa was sick. Rashid Ahmad alleges that a German Ahmadi named Mr. Abdul Karim Duncker was in Rabwah. Rashid Ahmad alleges that Zafrullah Khan was in Rabwah in April of 1950.
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1957
https://www.alhakam.org/26-july-1-august/
27 July 1957: A seasoned missionary of the Jamaat, Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad laid the foundation stone of a mosque in Jinja, a town in southern Uganda, on the shore of Lake Victoria – the source of the Nile.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________1962 to 1979
He served in various administrative capacities at the Ahmadiyya Jamaat’s International Headquarters at Rabwah, Pakistan. His assignments included the offices of Nazir Islaho-Irshad, Secretary of Fazal-e-Umar Foundation and Secretary Hadiqatul Mubasherin.
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1963
Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad published a Mubahila challenge vs. the famous Billy Graham (see also herein, page 24).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________1979 to 1983
He served as Amir and the Missionary-in-Charge of the United Kingdom Ahmadiyya Jamaat where he established eleven new Ahmadiyya Muslim Missions in various counties.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________1983
In November of 1983, he came to Washington, D.C. , as the Amir and Missionary-in- Charge of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in the United States and served in this capacity until his retirement in 1991.
Khurram Shah, Shahid Abassi, Raqib Wali, Hidayt Shah, Anwar Shah, Khadim Shah and Shahid Shah can be seen in this photo. Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad must have visited California in 1983.
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1984
The March-1984 edition of the Muslim Sunrise was edited by Dr. Khalil Ahmad Nasir (named as the Editor in Chief), Dr. Khalil Ahmad Nasir’s private address is given out for those who have questions about the subject matter, all questions about the business affairs of the Muslim Sunrise are addressed at 2141 Leroy Place, N.W., Washington D.C., at the American Fazl Mosque (which was the headquarters of the USA jamaat). Dr. Khalil Ahmad Nasir wrote an editorial vs. William Safire. Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad is announced as the Missionary-in-Charge for the USA, he also has a short essay wherein he mentions Zafrullah Khan. An essay by Zafrullah Khan is given thereafter, Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad wrote the forward. In this essay, the review by Batalvi is mentioned, Sufi Ahmad Jan is also mentioned, it is also alleged that there are 10 million Ahmadi’s in the world. Ahmadiyya locations around the world are given; Benin, the Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Canada, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Australia, Burma, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
This photo is at Georgetown, at the Holiday Inn on 11-26-1983, Dr. Khalil Ahmad Nasir can be seen too.
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1991
He retires from his employment as an Ahmadi cleric. He helped build several new Mosques, Ahmadiyya Centers and other properties were added to the branches of Ahmadiyya Muslim communities in various cities.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________After 1991
He translated Riyadh-as-Salihin (a book of Ahadith) and The Words of Wisdom And Purification in Swahili.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________2001
He dies.
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Pioneer Missionaries: Part 13 – 50 years of service on four continents (alhakam.org)
Pioneer Missionaries: Part 13 – 50 years of service on four continents
Awwab Saad Hayat, Al Hakam
Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib, while serving as a missionary for the Jamaat, attained the honour of continuing to discharge his responsibilities until the age of 81. Achieving success in continuous service for a period of 60 years is itself an honour and a special blessing, and it is possible only by Allah’s grace.
Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib was born in 1910 in the region of Punjab, in the house of a companion of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Dinra. In 1931, when he was 21 years old, after completing his studies, he stepped into the field of service, and this series of services continued until the age of 81. After acquiring education and basic training, he achieved remarkable success in his service of Islam. His service continued in various areas of British India. His first posting was in Lyallpur city (now Faisalabad, Pakistan). Then, under the supervision of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, his assignment of responsibilities spanned the entire Indian subcontinent.
After leaving the subcontinent, new horizons awaited him.
At that time, the four East African countries under British colonial rule were Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika (now part of Tanzania), and Zanzibar.
Just as in West Africa, where Hazrat Maulana Abdul Rahim Nayyarra and Hazrat Maulvi Nazir Ahmad Alira were among the first missionaries to set foot, similarly, in East Africa, the honour of being the initial missionary was granted to Maulana Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib.
The message of Ahmadiyyat reached the aforementioned countries of East Africa in 1896 when, at that time, some companions of the Promised Messiahas were given jobs in the construction and operation of the Uganda Railway project. However, the establishment of a permanent mission occurred with the arrival of the respected Maulana Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad. He departed from Qadian on 11 November 1934, and reached Nairobi on 27 November. For the next 28 years, he achieved success and blessings through a series of services and endeavours in the lands of Hazrat Bilalra.
During this period, he also witnessed the various ups and downs of this region. The events of gaining independence from British colonial rule and the partition of these nations all unfolded before him. Prior to their independence, he was entrusted with the missions in these four countries.
In his own written memoirs, he states: “From the headquarters, I was appointed as the Amir and Chief Missionary for the entire East Africa. In the last years, Aden was also included in my jurisdiction, and it was instructed that I should visit Aden every 15 days, and besides imparting congregational training, fulfil other responsibilities as well.” (Kaifiyat-e-Zindagi, p. 63)
During the years 1961-1962, when Kenya and Uganda gained independence and Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania on the world map, individual Jamaat systems were implemented in these countries. Respected Maulana Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib was appointed as the Amir and Regional Missionary of Kenya alone, and after fulfilling these duties until 30 April 1962, he returned to Pakistan.
After the establishment of the mission in East Africa, his headquarters were located in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. The Ahmadiyya Mosque in Nairobi contained a small room with only a desk, which served as the entirety of his office space. All mission-related matters were concluded here, and all programmes were finalised in this space.
During this period, his famous debates with Lal Hussain Akhtar in East Africa became well-known, resulting in the inclusion of several sincere families into the fold of Ahmadiyyat. Similarly, the challenge he posed to the renowned American preacher Dr. Billy Graham and his subsequent evasion continued to make headlines in African newspapers.
Respected Sheikh Umri Ubaidi (former Minister of Justice, Tanzania), in November 1936, through the efforts of the esteemed Maulana Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib, took the bai‘at and joined the Ahmadiyya fold.
In East Africa, Maulana Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib was granted the opportunity to serve in various capacities. The construction of mission houses and mosques in Tabora and Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, Jinja and Kampala in Uganda, and Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu in Kenya were all completed under his guidance and supervision. Furthermore, he also initiated the establishment of the first Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya in Nairobi in April 1938.
A significant achievement that became part of respected Sheikh Sahib’s legacy is the publication of the Swahili translation of the Holy Quran. Swahili is still one of the most widely spoken and understood languages in the world today, particularly in various parts of East Africa, and ranks among the top ten most spoken languages globally. The work on the Swahili translation of the Holy Quran began in November 1939, under the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, during the blessed month of Ramadan. This effort reached its completion milestone in March 1953. The preface to this translation of the Quran was personally penned by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra.
The publication of the Swahili translation of the Holy Quran marked a significant event, ushering in a new and golden era in the history of Islam Ahmadiyya in East Africa.
In addition to the Swahili translation of the Holy Quran, during the establishment of the Jamaat in Kenya, he was granted the opportunity to publish the Swahili translation of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s book Kashti-e-Nuh, (Noah’s Ark).
In the realm of publications, a noteworthy accomplishment was his initiation of a monthly magazine in the Swahili language called Mapenzi Ya Mangu (Fruits of Love) in January 1936. The popularity of this magazine can be gauged from the fact that its first issue had a circulation of 1000 copies, which quickly rose to 2000 copies with the second issue. This magazine continued to be published for a considerable period, initially in Kenya and later in Tanzania.
Sheikh Sahib introduced a two-page newspaper named the East African Times. Initially, it was published as a monthly magazine, but later, due to increasing demands, it was expanded to a fortnightly publication. This newspaper is still being published in Kenya to this day.
Hence, his service in East Africa spanned 28 years, during which he achieved remarkable success. The events of this period are a significant part of the history of Ahmadiyyat, documented in the relevant volumes of the history of Ahmadiyyat.
Upon his return to Pakistan in 1962, he held important positions such as Deputy Nazir Islah-o-Irshad, Additional Nazir Islah-o-Irshad (Taleem al-Quran), Secretary Fazl-e-Umar Foundation, and Secretary Hadiqa-tul-Mubashireen. Furthermore, he managed the construction of the grand buildings of Masjid Aqsa Rabwah, Khilafat Library Rabwah, and Fazl-e-Umar Foundation Rabwah offices with great dedication and grace.
After rendering significant services for 13 years at the Rabwah, he was appointed as the Amir and Murabbi in charge of the UK in 1979. He continued his service in the UK until December 1983; during this time, he achieved notable success. Over these four years, he established new mission houses in nine different locations across the UK, including Oxford, Southall, Birmingham, Croydon, Manchester, Bradford, Huddersfield, Gillingham, and East London. Undoubtedly, this was an extraordinary achievement.
In 1983, he was appointed as the missionary-in-charge of the United States, where he served in this capacity for more than seven years. During this time, he achieved success by establishing mission houses at 13 different locations, and, by the grace of Allah, he was granted success in building five mosques.
The aforementioned glimpses shed light on the fact that Sheikh Sahib excelled in service wherever the opportunity arose, across the four continents of the world. His successful journey is marked by tireless effort, unwavering loyalty to the mission, prayers, trust in Allah, profound love and dedication to assigned tasks, unparalleled striving, and, above all, a strong connection and complete obedience to Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya.
May Allah continue to grant new missionaries and preachers the opportunity to benefit from such great individuals, and may He continue to bless Ahmadiyyat with selfless missionaries until the Day of Judgement.
(In preparation for the above-mentioned materials, the content was extracted from the newspaper Al Fazl, 22 February 1992.)
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Additional Photo’s
Photos – Hazrat Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad
_____________________________________________________________________________________________Links and Related Essays
Photos – Hazrat Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad
This history of #Ahmadiyya in the #USA – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
Pioneer Missionaries: Part 13 – 50 years of service on four continents (alhakam.org)
“Ahmadiyya, A Study in contemporary Islam on the West African Coast” by Humphrey J. Fisher (1963)
Abdur Rahim Nayyar’s first speech in British West Africa was at the famous Shitta-Bey Mosque
Who is Fadl-ul-Rahman Hakim? The first permanent Ahmadi mullah sent to British West Africa (Ghana)
The 3rd sect of #ahmadis were created in Lagos, Nigeria in 1922
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmadiyya_in_Ghana
In 1922, the Ahmadiyya Movement stole the Adepopo mosque from the Quranic people in Lagos, Nigeria
https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.com/2020/10/21/who-is-the-ahmadi-mullah-abdur-rahim-nayyar/
Stefan Reichmuth. “Education and the Growth of Religious Associations among Yoruba Muslims: The Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria”, Journal of Religion in Africa, Vol. 26, Fasc. 4 (Nov., 1996). p 8.
Click to access NY-Souvenir-1989.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jibril_Martin
https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/fisher-humphrey-john-1933
https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.com/2019/09/03/early-history-of-ahmadiyya-in-ghana-by-haneef-keelson/
https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.com/2017/05/22/ahmadiyya-in-gambia/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmadiyya_in_the_Gambia#cite_note-Fisher126-1
https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.com/2018/06/14/who-is-ghulam-nabi-gilkar/
https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.com/2017/05/22/ahmadiyya-in-gambia/
https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.com/?s=Balogan
https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.com/2017/05/22/ahmadiyya-in-gambia/
https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.com/2020/01/13/ahmadi-medical-officers-doctors-who-served-in-the-british-military-during-ww-2/
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