Intro
Also called Maulana Abul Ata Jalandhari (From Jalandhar, also spelled Jallundhari), he was born on April 14th, 1904 at a village called Kariha. His father was name Munshi Imam ud Din and he seems to have accepted MGA in 1902. In 1910, at age 6, his father dedicated him to Ahmadiyya, specifically as a gift to Mirza Basheer ud Din Mahmud Ahmad (this was before he became Khalifa). They groomed him to defeat Maulvi Sanaullah. He was brought to Qadian in 1910 also. His real name was Allah Ditta, however, the Khalifa seems to have ordered it to be changed to Abul Ata.
He was certified as an Ahmadi-mullah in the late 1920’s and immediately sent to Kababir, Isreal to relieve Jalal ud Din Shams by 1931. He was given the title of “Khalid” by the 2nd Khalifa (aka Khalid bin Walid). While in the Arab world, he started the Ahmadi journal “Al-Bushra” (arabic only) and when he returned to British-India he started an urdu magazine entitled, “Al-Furqan”.
He is the father of the long time Ahmadiyya imam in London, Ata’ul Mujeeb Rashid who has served as Imam since 1983 at the very small Fazl mosque. It is unclear what Jamia school he passed from, nevertheless, he was sent out from Qadian to Israel in 1931, he returned to Qadian by 1936 and then opened the Ahmadiyya mosque in Srinagar in 1940. He seems to have become the Principal at the Ahmadiyya Jamia at Qadian by the mid-1940’s. When the 2nd Khalifa was paralyzed and unable to lead prayers (1957–1965), Abul Ata Jalandhari led the Friday prayers at Rabwah. He published his debate of 1933 in 1963. He died in 1977 at Rabwah.
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1904
He was born on April 14th, 1904 at a village called Kariha.
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1910
He moves to Qadian and lives with the Mirza family and attends the Ahmadiyya schools.
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1927
He begins working as a missionary at Qadian.
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1931
He begins working in the Arab world. He worked in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine.
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1933
Jan–March
He is working in Egypt and seems to have had a debate in Cairo, he got this published in ahmadiyya newspaper, the al-bushra, later on, it was converted into book form.
Maulana Abul Ata has a photo with 13 people in Cairo, this was on the cover of the ROR of June-1933. The ROR of Nov-1933 reports that 2 Ahmadi missionaries (Dard and F.R. Hakeem) stopped in Cairo and were greeted by Maulvi Abu᾽l-῾Ata Jalandhari and his small group of Ahmadi converts, Sheikh Mahmud Ahmad Irfani is mentioned by name.
Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta is mentioned in the ROR of Sep-1933, one of his letters was published in the Al-Fazl of Aug-10-1933 and also published in the ROR. He is working out of Egypt, Syria and Palestine. He claims to have held a debate with Bahai’s and Sunni Muslims. He even met the famous Shoghi Effendi (the leader of the Bahai’s and Abdul Baha’s grandson). Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta alleges that 8 people from Cairo, Egypt have converted to Ahmadiyya.
Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta’s missionary work in Egypt, Syria and Palestine (and modern day Lebanon) is mentioned in the ROR of Dec-1933. He alleges that 7 men have converted to Ahmadiyya, 4 of which who are from Cairo, Egypt. 2 from Lebanon and 1 from what seems like Palestine. Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta claims to have had 3 more controversies with the local Muslims. Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta claims that Muslims are afraid to debate Ahmadi’s. He claims to have confronted a Muslim named Shaikh Muhammad Al-Hafiz on the “Finality of the Holy Prophet’s Prophethood”. Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta claims that Syrian Muslims from the USA have written to him about Ahmadiyya and the arabic Ahmadiyya newspaper, Almobashirat.
Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta claims that a man named Sheikh Abdur Rahman Berja (modern day Lebanon) has sent him a report on his tabligh activities therein. An Ahmadi from Syria also mailed a report to Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta, who is working out of the Ahmadiyya temple at Kababir, Haifa, Palestine (modern day Israel). Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta reports that Ahmadi’s were beat up in Cairo. Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta also reports how 3 newspapers have mentioned Ahmadiyya after these fights, they are, “As-Siyyasat”, ‘Al-Ehram” and “Almanar”.
He also mentions how the mosque in Kababir hasn’t been opened yet.
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1934
His work in Egypt, Syria and Palestine is mentioned in the ROR of May-1934. The ROR of Dec-1934 spells his name as follows, Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta, and gives his letter/report which was written on Sep-10, 1934. Maulvi Abul Ata claims to have converted a man named Sayyad Ahmad Effendi Zehri and then engaging in debates with his wife, who is Christian. He also claims to have some Ahmadiyya literature published in Hebrew and he reports that he had a debate with a Jewish man in this connection. He seems to travel to Egypt as needed for tabligh work. He claims to have had a controversy with a man named Reverend Serjuis and challenged him through local newspapers like alkashkol. In another letter, he tells about an Ahmadiyya Press that has been setup as well as many other administrative offices. He also claims that the Ahmadiyya newspaper, “Albushra” will publish its first edition in January of 1935, it is an arabic only newspaper and will have circulation in Egypt, Syria and Palestine.
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1936
His photo appeared in the ROR of Sep-1936, as well as that of his successor, Maulvi M. Saleem. Maulvi M. Saleem is set to relieve Maulvi Abul Ata Allah Ditta in Egypt, Syria and Palestine.
The photo
He gave a speech at the Jalsa of 1936 at Qadian (see the ROR of Jan-1937), his speech topic was the life of the Holy Prophet (saw).
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1937
The ROR of Jan-1938 reports that he gave a speech at the 1937 Jalsa Salana at Qadian.
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1938
The ROR of Jan-1938 reports that he gave a speech at the 1937 Jalsa Salana at Qadian.
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1940
He was sent to Srinagar, Kashmir to open the only Ahmadiyya mosque there (1940). Upon his return he become Principal at Jamia-Qadian.
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1941
The ROR of Feb-1941 tells the world that the Ahmadiyya Community has acquired land from the British government in Srinagar, Kashmir, British India for the purposes of building an ahmadiyya mosque, this would eventually be the famous Ahmadiyya mosque in Srinagar. The price is not given, it seems to be for free. Land in Poonch (modern day Azad Kashmir area) has also been acquired.
The ROR of May-1941 reviewed a book of his entitled, “Bahai Tahrik Par Tabsirah”.
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1947
He migrates to Pakistan, most likely Lahore.
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1950–1957
He continues to work as a Principal at Jamia-Rabwah.
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1956
At the famous 1956 Jalsa, the Khalifa gives Maulana Abul Ata Jalandhari the title of “Khalid” (See page 10).
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1957–1965
He led the Friday sermons at Rabwah in this era. He also wrote an essay in the Al-Fazl of 3-28-1957, wherein he claimed that the first bait ceremony in Ahmadiyya happened on March 23rd, 1889 (See page 10).
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1963
He publishes his debate in Cairo from the 1930’s.
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1974
He accompanies the Khalifa (Mirza Nasir Ahmad) to the famous NA hearings on Ahmadiyya in September.
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1977
He dies and is buried in Bahishti Maqbara in Rabwah.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________Links and Related Essays
Click to access The-Cairo-Debate.pdf
Is there only one Ahmadiyya place of worship in Srinagar, Kashmir, India?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazl_Mosque,_London
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