Intro
Muhammad Yusuf Khan was the crooked Ahmadi Maulvi who directly caused the “Great Ahmadiyya schism of 1934-1936 in Pittsburgh and Cleveland” (See Dannin). He was caught red-handed exploiting African-American’s for Chanda money (see Bowen). His actions led to the failure of Ahmadiyya in America in its second wave (1928-1946).
He is mentioned in the ROR of March-1927 as the “Missionary-in-Charge” of the Chicago branch of Ahmadi’s. He made a run to British India in late 1927 and seems to have travelled with Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali from British-India to America (See my book review of Dannin). Some academics surmised that Maulvi Muhammad Yusuf Khan was expelled from the Ahmadiyya Movement in 1934, that is highly likely (see Bowen). In fact, in 1950, Rashid Ahmad (African-American pseudo-missionary) asked the 2nd Khalifa (while in Pakistan) if Ahmadi’s were allowed to pray behind Maulvi Muhammad Yusuf Khan. The 2nd Khalifa called him a fraud and said that if he considers himself an Ahmadi, he is free to do so, but don’t waste time with him, he is a fraud type of person. Rashid Ahmad and his editors seem to have written a footnote wherein they confirmed that Muhammad Yusuf Khan was selling “lucky numbers” and “sacred incense,” and charging money for teaching the Qur’an from roughly 1923-1934. Thus, it seems that Muhammad Yusuf Khan was kicked out of Ahmadiyya formally in 1934 and remained as a teacher of Arabic and seller of Muslims fragrances, garments and other Islamic things. However, he stayed in the purview and even attended prayers/and other events at the Ahmadiyya temple in Chicago on Wabash Ave as late as 1946-1948.
Muhammad Yusuf Khan submitted a photo of himself, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq and Maulvi Muhammad Din in the Aug-1927 edition of the Occult Digest. He alleges that there are 1400 Ahmadi’s in America. MGA is introduced as a “Prophet without law” and a “Promised Messiah”. Buddha, Rama, Krishna, Confucius and Zoroaster are presented as Prophets (See Michael Muhammad Knight, “The Supreme Wisdom Lessons” [2024], page 47).
M. Yusuf Khan is introduced is “The St. Louis Argus” newspaper of Fri, Oct 07, 1927 Page 2 has a sub-headline “Moslem Mission Here”, and his address is given as 2100 Carr St, St. Louis, MO. M. Yusuf Khan specifically speaks about all color’s being equal as his selling point. Services are held every Sunday at 8pm.
After Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali arrived in the USA in 1928, it was decided that he work on getting whites to convert to Ahmadiyya (he totally failed), whereas Muhammad Yusuf Khan would work with African-Americans (ex-members of the Moorish Science Temple).
In 1929, Muhammad Yusaf Khan began using the term “Sufi” in front of his name and he was in Dayton, Ohio giving free lectures on Islam (see Dayton Herald of Monday, March-18, 1929). This was after the arrival of Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali (summer-1928), who was working mainly out of Chicago. Thus, Sufi Muhammad Yusaf Khan began touring Ohio, Pennsylvania and etc.
Thus, in March of 1930, Muhammad Yusuf Khan moved to Pittsburgh and began teaching ex-members of the Moorish Science Temple (See the Moslem Sunrise of 1975). By 1930, Khan had been working as an Islamic missionary to U.S. blacks for ten years—longer, perhaps, than any other Islamic missionary in the U.S. at the time (see Bowen). He seems to have focused on converting African-American’s to Qadianiat, since white people didn’t care.
By 1932, he was doing great and had made a few African-American’s as Sheikh (Saeed Akmal and Sheikh Nasir Ahmad).
By 1933, Muhammad Yusuf Khan and Sheikh Nasir Ahmad were contacted by Wali Akram in Cleveland, wherein Akram was requesting an imam. Thus, Sheikh Nasir Ahmad and Sheikh Muhammad Omar (Omar Ahmad of Braddock?) began working in Cleveland as “teachers/imams” under Muhammad Yusuf Khan and with Wali Akram as the owner of the mission house/mosque (See the ROR of Sep-1933). In “The Cincinnati Post” of Thu, Feb 09, 1933 ·Page 2, the Ahmadiyya mission in Cincinatti is explained. They are operating out of a drab tenement house, a bare double room, at 928 W. 7th St. “Nearly” all the converts to Qadianism are negroes, which insinuates that some are not black and could be white. Some of the names of the new Ahmadi’s are interesting. The newspaper alleges that the muezzin used to be named Fox, but now his name is Noor-dad. Another convert is John Smith, who’s new name is Abu Saleh. Tom White has become Wali Mohammed. Jarrel is Ahmad and Jones is Ali. Dr. M. Yusuf Khan is their leader, he alleges to have graduated from the University of Chicago. His brother is also there and helping him and a Qadiani named Hajee Bashir Ahmad Malik (he was also mentioned in the Moslem Sunrise of 1930, see page 13). Some of the Ahmadiyya beliefs are also given, like Jesus (as) died in India and the huge difference in prophethood, how Muslims believe Muhammad (saw) to be the Final prophet appointed and Ahmadi’s don’t. Allegedly, Ahmadi’s don’t believe in polygamy. Most of the negro converts wear the Fez cap. Only 6 converts can read Arabic and most can’t even read English.
In January of 1934, Yusuf Khan was published in a local newspaper and seems to have arrived to work in Cleveland and is working with Wali Akram and Sheikh Nasir Ahmad and a whole bunch of African American’s who were former members of the Moorish Science Temple (Aka Walter Smith Bey)(See “My Message to the Moslems,” Cleveland Call and Post, January 6, 1934, 4;, via Bowen). He signed off his letter as M. Yusuf Khan. There is another article about “Youngstown Moslems” by Amtul Majeed, in this specific article, there seems to be a woman named Madame Begum who is giving speeches. The location in Youngstown Moslem is at 960 South Rigby St, Youngstown, Ohio. Bro Ali Mubarik and his sister Azeema Mubarik are also mentioned. Dr. M. Yusuf Khan is their leader. The 3rd article in this is about “Activities of The Braddock Mosque” by Abdullah Easa. Sheikh M. Omar, Ahmad Omar and Sheikh Akmal are also mentioned and gave speeches. They were taking new converts on Dec-25-1933 in 135 Linden Ave, Duquesne in Pittsburgh, PA. The first woman to join up was Mrs. Coleman, then Daniel Moore then Bro Coleman. At the end, Sheikh Akmal appointed Bro M. Rafeek as President and Bro Mataza as Vice President. The 4th article is about the Dayton Mosque, Sheikh Nazeer Elahi (his name is spelled as Shaikh Nazier Eliehee) is named as the Imam of the mosque. Dr. Y.M. Khan is their supreme leader. The 5th article is about Ahmadiyya in Cincinatti, Dr. M.Y. Khan is their leader by Y. Waheed.
However, Khan never claimed to have founded the Cleveland mosque, while he did claim this for several others in Ohio. There was another article in the same newspaper about the mosque itself, see “The Cleveland Mosque,” Cleveland Call and Post, January 13, 1934. Khan in fact appointed Nasir Ahmad to be head of the Cleveland mosque—suggesting that Khan was in control of the Cleveland mosque and not Ahmad or Akram; see Ahsan Elihee, “The Cleveland Mosque,” Cleveland Call and Post, January 13, 1934, 4. By March, “Dr. Khan to Make His Headquarters Here,” Cleveland Call and Post, March 3, 1934, 2, via Bowen).
In Jan-1934, via the Cleveland Call and Post (of Sat, Jan 20, 1934 ·Page 4), under the heading, “Activities of the Braddock Mosque by Abdullah Eesa, the people of the Cleveland “Head Mosque” were surprised by a lecture from Wali Mohammed aka the medicine man, Maulvi Muhammad Yusuf Khan also spoke. A photo of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was given in the newspaper, Tuesday night, 7pm. The same newspaper mentions the news of the “Mother Mosque” as well, and how a man named Shaikh Wali Dod gave a speech and was referred to as God. This appeared on the “Religion” page of the newspaper and was a daily or bi-daily publication and MGA’s face appeared many times.
News from the Dayton Mosque via Sheikh Nazeer Elahi is also given, this is the Ahmadiyya mission, Dr. M.Y. Khan is listed as the missionary. However, simultaneously, Dr. M.Y. Khan is teaching the other 2 groups of Muslims, one by Brother Abdullah Farook. The other by Omar Mohammed who had recently returned, they both seem to be connected to Dr. M.Y. Khan and Brother Abdullah Farook.
Sheikh Nazeer Elahi gave a speech on “The Life of Mohammed”. The Ahmadiyya Mosque has recently moved to 216 Euclid Ave.
Interestingly, the Cleveland Mosque, which is ran by Sheikh Nasir Ahmed is mentioned and money was being collected for the travel expenses ($2) of the Ahmadiyya missionary, Dr. M.Y. Khan, who will allegedly represent them to the East. The Colombus Mosque by Rasheed Hosas is also mentioned, the rope of Allah is discussed.
The Cleveland Call and Post of Sat, Jan 27, 1934 ·Page 4 mentions almost all the same data as
The Cleveland Call and Post, January 6, 1934, 4;, via Bowen).
By 1934, the local Cleveland newspapers were calling Muhammad Yusuf Khan as “The Head Moslem of Cleveland”. On Apr-1-1934, Muhammad Yusuf Khan returned from an import/export run to British India and immediately confronted Sheikh Nasir Ahmad (in Cleveland or Pittsburgh?) and accused him of having alleged ties to the Moorish Science Temple, which he characterized as “worthless” and “un-Islamic.” Rather than seeing the Moors and the Garveyites as links to a larger American audience, Dr. Khan challenged their influence. He vehemently opposed Freemasonry and insisted that membership in the Ahmadiyya Movement excluded other sectarian affiliations. (See Bismilla,” Cleveland Call and Post, April 21, 1934, 2; Dannin, Pilgrimmage, 38, via Bowen). Thus, in April of 1934, Sheikh Nasir Ahmad seems to have been ex-communicated by Muhammad Yusuf Khan in Cleveland, he then moved to Philadelphia and started working with Muslims therein. Just six weeks (by June of 1934) after Sheikh Nasir Ahmad’s departure, the Ohio River Valley Muslims got word of Ahmad’s success in Philadelphia (See Abdul Mohammad, “Philadelphia Mission,” Cleveland Call and Post, June 2, 1934, 2., via Bowen).
In Apr-1934, via “The Plain Dealer” of Mon, Apr 23, 1934 ·Page 5 mentions Muhammad Yusuf Khan. This is about the Cleveland Mosque. There are allegedly 400 members of the Cleveland Mosque. Muhammad Yusuf Khan is mentioned as the “head man” of the Ahmadia Moslems and he says that this mosque has left Islam and he will try to bring them back. The majority of the membership is Negro, with a few Indians and a few Arabs. This Cleveland Mosque is on the 3rd floor of a building at 5311 Woodland Ave, Cleveland and is simply called “Mosque”. Ahmadia people expect more prophets in opposition to Islam and deny holy wars. Ahmadi’s also allegedly don’t believe in polygamy. Khan is allegedly teaching the Quran, Arabic names have also been given out to new converts. Khan alleges to have 8 converts who have learned Arabic good enough to become Sheikh’s (missionaries) and he has already did that with the previous 22 students. Allegedly, the Pittsburgh Mosque is the same size as the Cleveland Mosque. Khan told the newspaper that there are 16 Ahmadi Mosques in the USA. Allegedly, the Cincinatti Mosque has 150 members, however, most locations have less than 100 members. There are other Ahmadiyya temples (mosques) in Chicago, Akron, Colombus, Dayton, Youngstown, Steubenville, Washington, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Detroit, Braddock, Homestead and Duquesne, PA. Khan hopes to open a mosque in NY next year. The Cleveland Mosque was opened in 1932. Khan has been splitting his time between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Khan told the newspaper that he came to the USA in 1921 as a chemistry student.
By July of 1934, the Muslims in Pittsburgh had totally ousted Muhammad Yusuf Khan (See Bowen). On July 14, an important announcement was made in the religion section of the Cleveland Call and Post, the local black newspaper:
“””The leaders of Vearianue [sic], or what is better known as Imams, gathered [in Pittsburgh] and formed a council, according to the Islamic teaching. We discharged the missionary, M.Y. Khan because of his failure to carry the work on in the right way. We, the members have been successful in making connection with the Moslem League, that we may be known throughout all the Moslem World. Our lecturer will cost just about half what it has been costing. The new
missionary will be located at … Pittsburgh. His name is Abdul Mohammed Iben Akbar. For any information, please write 18 South Sickel St., Philadelphia, Pa. Shaikh Nasir Ahmad has returned back to his mission in Philadelphia. We are making wonderful progress here in Philadelphia. Unity is our aim. May Allah guide us wherever we go.”” (Cleveland Call and Post, the local black newspaper of July-14-1934)(See Bowen).
The Vearianue, which was also known as both the Islamic Council and the Supreme Council, was led by Nasir Ahmad and was initially composed of twelve leading men from the Ohio-Pennsylvania community (because Philadelphia was now included, the region cannot be limited to the Ohio River Valley), and it soon acquired representatives from the Pittsburgh, Braddock, Youngstown, and Columbus Ahmadi missions (See Saadi Mliak, “Proceedings at the Pittsburgh Mosque,” Cleveland Call and Post, July 21, 1934, 2; Abdulla Eesa, “Bis-mil-lah,” Cleveland Call and Post, July 21, 1934, 2., via Bowen).
In August 1934, Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali who had spent most of the last few years promoting Islam to whites in cities outside of the Ohio River Valley, attempted to win back the disgruntled members in Pittsburgh (Braddock Mosque). He publicly denounced Muhammad Yusuf Khan and pleaded with the mosques that had broken off to return under his leadership. (See “Moslem Activities in Braddock,” Cleveland Call and Post, August 4, 1934, 2, via Bowen).
Muhammad Yusuf Khan seems to have left Cleveland (and returned to British-India on an import-export run) by roughly Oct-1934 and in Nov-1934 he sent a letter to Wali Akram asking for travel funds (See Dannin, page 99 and 283). Akram refused! While Muhammad Yusuf Khan was gone, the imam that he had appointed Chaudhri Mohammed Ashraf was chased from the community, then Muhammad Yusuf Khan’s possessions were seized and auctioned to repay the Muslims for the hardships they had endured on his behalf. They had even bought him a car (See Dannin). At this point, Wali Akram stepped forward and wrote letters to the 2nd Qadiani-Khalifa in Qadian and told him how much of a crook Muhammad Yusuf Khan was. This prompted the 2nd Qadiani-Khalifa in Qadian to send in Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali to try to save Ahmadiyya in Cleveland. However, Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali began requesting “back fees” for all the payments of chanda that had been missed.
In Jan-1935, Muhammad Yusuf Khan seems to have been stuck in India, the schism continues to brew in Cleveland. Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali travels to India in Dec-1935 and leaves the Chicago mission with no one in-charge. Even the Moslem Sunrise ceases to operate. While he is gone to India (1936), Wali Akram had totally leaves Ahmadiyya and had taken many pseudo-Ahmadi’s with him. At some point in 1936, while at Juma prayer, Wali Akram announced his independence from the Ahmadiyya Movement (Qadiani) in dramatic fashion, he had a dream. In roughly Oct-1936, Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali heard about all of the turmoil and rushed to Cleveland where he found Wali Akram in the Mosque (mission house) giving Arabic lessons. Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali yelled out that this mission house was property of the Ahmadiyya Movement and anyone not loyal to Ahmadiyya should leave, practically the whole congregation left (See Hameeda Mansur, audiotape interview by author, Cleveland, Aug-25-1990, via Dannin).
Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali returned to America in Oct-1936 and the vast majority of his African-American converts had totally left Ahmadiyya teachers and were disgusted with the financial crimes of Ahmadi’s.
By 1937, his good friend, the famous Saeed Akmal (a fellow ex-ahmadi) wrote him a letter wherein he described himself as a Lahori-Ahmadi (See Dannin). By 1950, Ahmadiyya in the USA had totally failed, barely 200 members remained, 5 mission houses, NO MOSQUES.
It is unclear if Muhammad Yusuf Khan was ex-communicated by the Ahmadiyya Movement (see Ayesha Khan, page 41), he was publicly denounced, nevertheless, he shows up in local newspapers in 1937 in Cincinatti (see full ref in the below). He is mentioned again in 1938, 1942 and in 1943 was reportedly working in Pittsburgh again and Cincinatti, he seems to have been lecturing and teaching Islam as a rogue Ahmadi. We haven’t found any quotes in the ROR about him.
From 1944 to 1972 he is totally missing.
In 1973, he was living in Detroit and was the oldest member of the Qadiani-Ahmadi jamaat of the USA (See the Muslim Sunrise of Fall-1973, page 27).
In the Moslem Sunrise of 1975, he was alive and well and gave his life story, he had to be 70+ years old, his death and grave are unknown.
In 1976, the 3rd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa, Mirza Nasir Ahmad visits the USA and Muhammad Yusuf Khan is nowhere to be found.
In 2024, he is mentioned in Michael Muhammad Knight’s research book, “The Supreme Wisdom Lessons”.
Continue reading “Who is Mr. Muhammad Yusuf Khan? A crooked Ahmadi Maulvi in the USA, 1921-1976?”
