Intro
You can listen to my video explanation herein. Alexander Russell Webb was never an Ahmadi (see Dannin too, pages 43-44 and others). He seems to have been a rational type of Muslim like Sir Syed and even admired him (See “A Muslim in Victorian America” by Abd-Allah)(see “The three Lectures of Alexander Webb”). In 1891, he wrote letters to the Allahabad review wherein he praised Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. When he visited India (1892), he made it to Lahore and refused to go to Qadian and meet MGA since MGA had made his blasphemous claims (See Singleton) by then. It should be noted that Jane Smith argued (See Jane Smith, “Islam in America“) that Alexander Russel Webb’s letters to MGA were the: “key to his conversion to Islam”, however, Smith didn’t have access to the wealth of data that we have in 2022. Robert Dannin argued that Webb never made any public mention of MGA, nor did any part of Ahmadiyya eschatology appear in Webb’s writings (See “Black Pilgrimage” by Dannin). Abd-Allah reported that Webb gave some strange comments to the New York Herald (he doesn’t give dates) about Jesus (as), he even mentioned something about Jesus in India, however, he quickly shut his mouth and got out of there.
In the 1880’s, he worked for the U.S. government as an ambassador (consul general)(in the Philippines) and allegedly came across the challenge of MGA about 10,000 rupees if anyone could refute the Barahin-i-Ahmadiyya. However, he couldn’t read Urdu and the 4-part Barahin-i-Ahmadiyya set was in Urdu. Thus, his entire conversion to Ahmadiyya story is bogus. He seems to have wrote letters to MGA in Qadian and MGA had them published them in his book, (Shahna’-e-Haq, 1887-1888 era). Shortly thereafter, Webb declared himself a Muslim. The original letter that was written by Webb to MGA is totally missing (See “A Muslim in Victorian America” by Abd-Allah).
Haji Abdullah Arab (see “Mujadid-e-Azim”, by Dr. Basharat Ahmad) enters the story, and even went to the Philippines to visit him (see “The three Lectures of Alexander Webb”). Per Maulvi Hassan Ali, Haji Abdullah Arab convinced Alexander Webb to quit his job as the “Consul General” in the Philipinnes and travel to India and then to the USA and start preaching Islam. He landed in British-India (Calcutta), India on Oct 2nd, 1892 (See Singleton) and met up with Moulvi Hasan Ali Sahib Bhagalpuri. Moulvi Hasan Ali accompanied Mr. Webb during his 3 Lectures in Madras, Hyderabad (Deccan) and Bombay (Thursday evening, 10th November, 1892). A man named Badrudin Abdulla Kur Esq. also had the Bombay lecture published. It’s unclear when and where Moulvi Hasan Ali Sahib Bhagalpuri became an Ahmadi, he is listed in 1896 in the famous list of 313 Ahmadi’s (see Dard)(see Tareekh Ahmadiyyat Vol 1 Page 307). He then travelled North-west to Agra, most likely via train, and made it to Lahore. He was in British-India from Oct 2nd to Dec-15th 1892. Nevertheless, in 1892, Webb refused to meet MGA (see page 24, Singleton). He also met up with Haji Abdullah Arab (see “Mujadid-e-Azim”, by Dr. Basharat Ahmad). The Lahori-Ahmadi’s even claim that Haji Abdullah Arab went to Qadian in 1892 and told him about Webb and how Islam in America was about to be launched (see “Mujadid-e-Azim”, by Dr. Basharat Ahmad). Thus, Webb was around people who knew of MGA and willingly decided to avoid MGA altogether. Webb also worked with a Burmese Muslim named Abdul Kareem Abdul Shakur Jamal (See Singleton). Interestingly, in this era, he called Indians as niggers, (See “A Muslim in Victorian America” by Abd-Allah, pages 135-136).
He returned to the USA in 1893 and wrote his famous book, “Islam in America”. Webb was also in contact with the Bahai’s. He also was the sole representative of Islam at the Parliament of World Religions in 1893. He also wrote and published his famous book, “A Guide to Namaz” (1893). Dr. Basharat Ahmad claims that he was in Qadian in 1906 and saw a letter of regret from Webb addressed to MGA about not meeting him in 1892 (this seems to be a total lie)(see “Mujadid-e-Azim”, by Dr. Basharat Ahmad and Gilham).
In 1910, MGA’s famous book, “Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam” is translated into english by Maulvi Muhammad Ali and published as, “The Teachings of Islam”, Mr. Muhammad Alexander Webb is given credit as someone who helped in the translation. This was the second english translation of “Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam. Although Webb acknowledged Ghulam Ahmad as “a man of God” and the one who had guided him to Islam, however, it should be noted that this was before MGA’s claims and a total lie, since Alexander Russell Webb couldn’t read Urdu. Nevertheless, Singleton claims that Webb stayed in touch with Ahmadi’s until his death in 1916.
Alexander Russell Webb wasn’t heard from again in the history of Ahmadiyya until 1921 in the ROR (see the ref in the below. In fact, in the Moslem Sunrise of July-1921, Muftree Muhammad Sadiq announced that a man named F.L. Anderson was the first ever Ahmadi from the USA, Muftree Muhammad Sadiq alleged that he converted to Ahmadiyya in 1901 in the Moslem Sunrise of 1921. The photo of F.L. Anderson is posted also. Anthony George Baker is another fake convert, as is F.L. Anderson and Professor Clement Lindley Wragge.
However, by 2021, the Ahmadiyya Movement was claiming that Webb was the first Ahmadi in the Usa. Max Muller is also mentioned in terms of Webb, he also had a friendship with the famous Mark Twain and Victor Hugo and Abdullah Quilliam.
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Free books for download
Bombay Lecture by Webb and various letters
Click to access a-guide-to-namaz-by-webb.pdf
The three Lectures of Alexander Webb
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1886
While living in St. Louis, MO, Webb writes a letter to MGA, this letter is totally missing(See “A Muslim in Victorian America” by Abd-Allah). MGA and his team of writers published a summary of the letter in 1887, via Shahne-e-Haqq. Webb’s second letter was received by MGA on December 17, 1886 (See “A Muslim in Victorian America” by Abd-Allah).
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1887
While working for the Missouri Republican, he was appointed (in September, 1887) by President Cleveland to be Consular Representative to the Philippines at the U.S. office at Manila. According to the editor of his book The Three Lectures, he had given up any concept of religion at least fifteen years before that point.
______________________________________________________________________________________________1887-1888
https://www.muslim.org/islam/webb1.htm
Webb wrote two letters to Ghulam Ahmad at Qadian. These letters were published then in Ghulam Ahmad’s book Shahne-e-Haqq page 372 and 439.
Webb’s second letter, dated 24th February 1887, and his reply to it. Despite the length of Webb’s letter, we may reproduce it here for our readers’ interest. Webb begins:
“I cannot adequately express to you my gratitude for the letter received from you under date of December 17. I had almost given up all hope of receiving a reply but the contents of the letter and circulars fully repaid me for the delay. After reading your circulars an idea occurred to me which I will present to you for your consideration. “
He then speaks of his desire to visit India, but regrets that it is not possible due to his circumstances. He continues:
“Therefore a visit to India being out of the question it occurred to me that I might, through your aid, assist in spreading the truth here. If, as you say, Islam is the only true religion why could I not act as its apostle or promulgator in America? My opportunities for doing so seem to me very good if I had someone to lead me aright at first. I have been led to believe that not only Muhammad but also Jesus, Gautama Buddha, Zoroaster and many others taught the truth, that we should, however, worship God and not men. If I could know what Muhammad really taught that was superior to the teachings of others, I could then be in a position to defend and promulgate the Muhammadan religion above all others. But the little I do know of his teachings is not sufficient for me to do effective work with. The attention of the American people is being quite generally attracted to the oriental religions but Buddhism seems to be the foremost in their investigations. The public mind, I think, is now more than ever fitted to receive Muhammadanism as well as Buddhism and it may be that through you it is to be introduced in my country. I am convinced that you are very much in earnest. I have no reason to doubt that you are inspired by God to spread the light of truth. Therefore I would be happy to know more of your teachings and to hear further from you. God, who can read all hearts, knows that I am seeking for the truth, that I am ready and eager to embrace it wherever I can find it. If you can lead me into its blessed light you will find me not only a willing pupil but an anxious one. I have been seeking now for three years and have found a great deal.
“If you can help me I hope that you will do so. I shall keep your letter and prize it highly. The circulars, I will have printed in one of the leading American newspapers so that they will have a widespread circulation. I shall be happy to receive from you at any time matter which you may have for general circulation and if you should see fit to use my services to further the aims of truth in the country they will be freely at your disposal, provided of course that I am capable of receiving your ideas and that they convince me of their truth.
“I am already well satisfied that Muhammad taught the truth, that he pointed out the way to salvation and that those who follow his teachings will attain to a condition of eternal bliss. But did not Jesus Christ also teach the way? Now suppose I should follow the way pointed out by Jesus, would not my salvation be as perfectly assured as if I followed Islam? I ask with a desire to know the truth and not to dispute or argue. I am seeking the truth, not to defend my theory.
“I think I understand you to be a follower of the esoteric teachings of Muhammad, and not what is known to the masses of the people as Muhammadanism; that you recognise the truths that underlie all religions and not their exoteric features which have been added by men. I too regret very much that I cannot understand your language, nor you mine; for I feel quite assured that you could tell me many things which I much desire to know. “
In his reply, dated 4th April 1887, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad expresses his delight and satisfaction upon receiving Webb’s letter, and writes that:
” the object which I have in view for which I have dedicated the whole of my life [is] not to confine the spread of the light of truth to the oriental world but, as far as it lies in my power, to further it in Europe and America where the attention of the people has not been sufficiently attracted towards a proper understanding of the teachings of Islam. Therefore I consider it an honour to comply with your request.
“Your friendly words permit me to entertain the happy idea that I may soon receive the good news that the natural moral sense has attracted not only you but many other virtuous people of America towards the call of truth in order to find the true guidance.”
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1891
While in the Philippines, Webb wrote many letters all around the world to newspapers and etc, we have posted his letter in the Allahabad Review in the below. The Allahabad Review was a monthly, bilingual (English-Urdu) journal edited by M. Hameed-Ullah and published by the Indian Press in Allahabad. It was published from March 1890 to January 1895 (Vol. 1 to Vol 6, No. 1). He praised Sir Syed Ahmad Khan herein.
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1892-1893
https://books.google.com/books?id=2ew2yUZJ5aUC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
He was in British-India from Oct 2nd to Dec-15th 1892, he travelled to British India from the Philippines. He landed in Calcutta, and delivered 3 Lectures in Madras, Hyderabad (Deccan) and Bombay. Later that year, he travelled North-west to Agra, most likely via train, and made it to Lahore.(See Singleton) and refused to meet MGA (see page 24). A few months later, he travelled to Egypt and Turkey (from British-India) where he could continue studying Islam (See Singleton). While in Istanbul in 1893, he resigned his post with the State Department and returned to America.
11-10-1892—Lecture in Bombay—Lecture on Islam
11-25-1892—Lecture in Hyderabad
12-11-1892—Lecture at Madras
The three Lectures of Alexander Webb
In 1893 Muhammad Alexander Webb wrote “Islam in America” in Chapter Two “An outline of the Islamic Faith”, he wrote about Muhammad SAW “He declared that he was the last of a long line of Prophets”. This was after his correspondence with Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
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1893
February 16, 1893, Muhammad Webb returned to America, via London. Had things improved with our nation, since his absence for many years? I regret to say that matters had grown instead worse. We are told that farms were covered with mortgages, business was prostrate. Before Cleveland could begin his second term, the panic of 1893 had swept the nation and prosperity did not return for over four years. Three months after his arrival in New York City, this year of the Panic, May 12, 1893, the first number of the “Moslem World” appeared, a weekly printed by the “Moslem World Publishing Company” of 458 West 20th Street, with Muhammad Webb as editor. The “Moslem World” lasted only 7 months.
He founded one of the first American mosques in the United States as well as the American Muslim Press. He also was the sole representative of Islam at the Parliament of World Religions in 1893. He also wrote and published his famous book, “A Guide to Namaz” (1893). A Guide to Namaz by Webb. (New York : Moslem World Publishing Co., c1893).
In 1893, he wrote his famous book, “Islam in America”, below are the chapters.
- Why I Became a Mussulman
- An Outline of Islamic Faith
- The Five Pillars of Practice
- Islam in Its Philosophic Aspect
- Polygamy and the Purdah
- Popular Errors Refuted
- The Muslim Defensive Wars
- The American Islamic Propaganda
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1902
https://www.alhakam.org/100-years-ago-alexander-russell-webbs-love-for-ahmadiyyat-and-news-from-ceylon-malabar-india-and-uk/
This is an alleged letter that Qadianis are presenting:
“My dear brother, Assalamo alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
“I just received your letter dated 22 February 1902 and I was very happy to read it. I am relieved to hear that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is sincerely interested in my efforts to spread the wonderful truths of Islam here. Since my work is difficult and sometimes frustrating, I am happy to hear that Hazrat Mirza Sahib and you are praying for me. When I went to India, I was sure that our Muslim brothers would help me to their full extent. I did not imagine for a moment that anyone who is called a Muslim would oppose me and halt my efforts. I had already told them clearly that many Christians would oppose me and level allegations to frustrate my success and carry out all kinds of opposition. I had advised them not to listen to these … Christians and try to discern their motives. However, as soon as the news of the opposition of the Christians here reached India, the unfaithful Muslims over there turned against me and tried to hurt me in every way possible. They forgot all the promises they had made to me and sought only a statement to break their confessions. Now I understand why they did that. The fact is that their religious knowledge is only superficial. Truthfulness and light is not found in them. Moreover, faithfulness towards the Holy Prophetsa is not present in their hearts.”
Then he writes, “It is good that they no longer have a relationship with me.”
“I miss my dear brother Hassan Ali very much. I remember the time I spent in his wonderful company. He tried to do good according to his understanding but like me, he also made a mistake. I am pleased to hear that he had the audience of Hazrat Mirza Sahib before he passed away. He helped me when I was in India and I regret why he and I did not go to Qadian at that time.”
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1903
“I received your letter dated 28 January 1903 and now I write the answer. I often get magazines of The Review of Religions through Mr Webb which are published from Qadian. I am sincerely interested in some of its articles because they are written on genuine issues. I think that a person whose nature is keen on seeking the truth, these [articles] would be very valuable to them. I myself want to buy it and hope to send its subscription price in this month.
“I got many benefits in Ahmadiyyat and I agree with you that it is destined for Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to unite the different sects of Islam. Moreover, through the study of The Review of Religions and from other sources, I have come to the conclusion that this holy man is in fact the Mahdi, or at least the forerunner of the Mahdi.”
In the end, he writes:
“I see an emerging unity in all sects of Islam and the glory of our extraordinary religion will shine once again as it did in the early years, i.e. from the seventh to the eleventh century. I now conclude this letter and hope that I will receive a lot of news from you about this Jamaat. I am your true friend, Anderson.”
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1906-1907
Dr. Basharat Ahmad claims that he was in Qadian in 1906 and saw a letter of regret from Webb addressed to MGA about not meeting him in 1892 (this seems to be a total lie)(see “Mujadid-e-Azim”, by Dr. Basharat Ahmad).
MGA and his team of writers mentioned Webb in Haqiqatul Wahy (1907) twice. Once about the controversy with Dowie.
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1908
https://www.reviewofreligions.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/RR198812.pdf#page=25
Ahmadiyya sources allege that when MGA died, Webb wrote a letter of condolence. However, the full letter is missing.
“More than twenty years ago I started my correspondence with him and ever since then I have been deeply affected by the fearless earnestness with which he continued to spread the truth in the pursuance of his purpose. Without a doubt God Almighty had chosen him for this great enterprise which he fulfilled completely”. (Via ROR of 1988)
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1910
https://aaiil.org/text/books/mga/teachingsislam/teachingsofislam1910.pdf
MGA’s famous book, “Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam” is translated into english by Maulvi Muhammad Ali and published as, “The Teachings of Islam”, Mr. Muhammad Alexander Webb is given credit as someone who helped in the translation.
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1915
https://www.reviewofreligions.org/21289/review-of-religions-october-1915-edition/
The english ROR of Oct-1915 began quoting a statement by Alexander Webb From New Jersey. This went on for many years and ended in Dec-1923.
Webb allegedly wrote about the ROR as such:
“It’s articles are well written, thoughtful and clear expositions of spiritual truths”.
and
“it is doing a glorious work”.
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1916
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Russell_Webb#/media/File:Alexander_R_Webb_Gravestone.jpg
Alexander Webb dies on Oct. 1st, 1916 and is buried at the Hillside Cemetery, Lyndhurst New Jersey. A few months before this, the ROR of July-1916 alleges that Webb sent them an article from the USA wherein Islam was set to be attacked.
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1923
The ROR quotes Webb for the last time on their cover pages. The english ROR of Oct-1915 began quoting a statement by Alexander Webb From New Jersey. This went on for many years and ended in Dec-1923.
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1926
The 2nd Khalifa claims that MGA helped to convert Webb to Islam in “Invitation to Ahmadiyyat”
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1933
Weller, ”The Contribution of the Ahmadiyya
See “A Muslim in Victorian America” by Abd-Allah
There was an event held in Chicago called, “World Fellowship of Faiths”, this was the second “Parliament of Religions” event. Webb was obviously at the first one in 1893. The Ahmadiyya faction was also there, however, they didn’t mention how Webb was an Ahmadi.
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1943
Click to access webb-light-1944-apr-8-16.pdf
https://www.muslim.org/islam/webb1.htm
An American lady, Lahori-Ahmadi convert in 1943? Or maybe just a Muslim. It was converted into a book entitled, “The Story” (1944) by Nadirah Florence Ives Osman (See “A Muslim in Victorian America” by Abd-Allah).
In “The Light” in 1944:
http://www.ahmadiyya.org/islam/webb1.htm
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1988
https://www.reviewofreligions.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/RR198812.pdf#page=25
Ahmadiyya sources allege that when MGA died, Webb wrote a letter of condolence. However, the full letter is missing.
“More than twenty years ago I started my correspondence with him and ever since then I have been deeply affected by the fearless earnestness with which he continued to spread the truth in the pursuance of his purpose. Without a doubt God Almighty had chosen him for this great enterprise which he fulfilled completely”. (Via ROR of 1988)
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1989
Converted document (muslimsunrise.com)
The Moslem Sunrise of 1989 alleges that Webb was the first American-Ahmadi-Muslim (see page 14).
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2016
https://www.alislam.org/friday-sermon/2016-01-29.html
Mirza Masoor Ahmad lies and claims that Webb became a Muslim as a result of his communication with MGA.
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2021
By 2021, the Ahmadiyya Movement was claiming that Webb was the first Ahmadi in the Usa.
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Links and Related Essay’s
Singleton, Brent D. (2007). Yankee Muslim: The Asian Travels of Mohammed Alexander Russell Webb
F.L. Anderson was a fake Ahmadi from the USA, he never existed in reality
Quotes from SHAHNA-E-HAQQ by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1887 or 1888)
Who is Dr. Basharat Ahmad? The famous Lahori-Ahmadi, (1876–1943)
F.L. Anderson was a fake Ahmadi from the USA, he never existed in reality
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_Quilliam
https://youtu.be/cmmK6dn00E8
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