Intro
He seems to have been a white man. Maulvi Shukar ilahi (his real name is unknown) is mentioned 8 times in Rashid Ahmad‘s memoir, “Perseverance“, Rashid Ahmad also mentions how he left Ahmadiyya after 1966 too. Ahmadiyya sources in 2023 allege that he served from 1947 to 1960, then went missing for 4 years and served as a missionary from 1964 to 1973 (however this is unfounded in their literature). Ahmadiyya sources from Chicago (via a phone call) allege that he committed suicide in 1980.
The story of Maulvi Shukar ilahi in Ahmadiyya literature starts in 1947 (See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022), per Rashid Ahmad he is at the ground-breaking ceremony for the upcoming Dayton Mosque in the USA. From roughly 1949 to 1953, Maulvi Shukar ilahi specifically worked in the St. Louis circle of Ahmadiyya business. Rashid Ahmad recalls (in 1950) how the 2nd Khalifa wanted Maulvi Shukar ilahi to work amongst the white people of St. Louis and Rashid Ahmad said it wouldn’t work (conversations in Rabwah). Chaudhri Shukar Ilahi was transferred to Chicago in 1953 where he lived with his family in the Sadiq Mosque at 4448 Wabash.
In February 1954 he was sent to Los Angeles (See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022) wherein he stayed for 4 years. During this period, a house was rented at 927 Fairfax
Avenue (this location was mentioned in the Muslim Sunrise), which was used as a residence as well as an office and mission house. Records document activities in Tabligh with outreach to schools, universities, and the media to educate the public about Islam and Ahmadiyyat. During these years, there were not many Muslims of any sect living in the area and many students from Muslim countries, eager for interaction, would visit. Only three known Ahmadis were living in California in 1954; Brothers Ahmad Jamal and Sharif Ahmad in Los Angeles. and Sister Sakina Nusrat in San Francisco. The reports document that Sister Sakina “had not seen another Ahmadi in 10 years” since she had moved there. The names and occupations of other new members are listed and eventually a larger house on Curson Avenue (this location was mentioned in the Muslim Sunrise) was rented to accommodate the mission and host public meetings. It must be mentioned that the JamāꜤat funds available for this building were not sufficient to cover the cost as the area was quite expensive. Bro. Ahmad Jamal, a devout pioneer member lived in one room in the house with the missionary’s family and helped to supplement the rent. (Statement of Tanvir ul-Nisa Ahmad)(Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
In 1958, Maulvi Shukar ilahi was transferred to Washington D.C. wherein he worked with Khalil Ahmad Nasir (See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022). He was then relieved of his job.
By the late 1959, after being kicked out of Ahmadiyya as a Maulvi, Maulvi Shukar ilahi was still working in the St. Louis Circle of Ahmadiyya (See Moslem Sunrise, Dec-1975). By 1962, Maulvi Shukar ilahi was still in St. Louis (see the photo with Rashid Ahmad and Usman Khalid (black man). Maulvi Shukar ilahi had converted Usman Khalid and his wife Ameena Khalid to Ahmadiyya in St. Louis in roughly 1959 and arranged for their daughter to be married to Rashid Ahmad.
By 1964, Maulvi Shukar ilahi was the missionary-in-charge in the USA and worked as such until 1966. After 1966, he quit Ahmadiyya and went totally missing in the history of Ahmadiyya (See “Perseverance“). In 1998, in the famous “50th Jalsa Salana Souvenir”, the Maulvi Shukar ilahi is not mentioned at all, not even as a previous missionary, they tried to wipe him clean.
Maulvi Shukar ilahi and his family moved to Zion on September 10, 1965. The home they purchased was located at 2209 Elam Avenue in Zion. It was a two story farmhouse built by a family who had come to Zion to follow Dowie. Their neighbors were followers from all around the nation and Canada who migrated to Zion to be a part of Dowie’s theocracy and his Christian Catholic Church. [Ahmadiyya Gazette USA, April-September 2020, p. 360 (comprising Hundred Years of Ahmadiyya Islam in the US)](Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
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His daughter
Tanvir ul-Nisa Ahmad
See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022
He had a daughter (Tanvir ul-Nisa Ahmad) who gave info about his life in 2021 (See Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
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1947
The story of Maulvi Shukar ilahi in Ahmadiyya literature starts in 1947 (See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022), per Rashid Ahmad he is at the ground-breaking ceremony for the upcoming Dayton Mosque in the USA.
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1948
In this photo, the rest of the Murrabi’s came in and sat down. They are Maulvi Ghulam Yaseen, Khalil Ahmad Nasir, Mirza Monawar Ahmad and Maulvi Shukar ilahi. The 2 daughters of Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali can also be seen.
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1949
He takes over the St. Louis mission (See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
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1950-1953
The Missouri circle was given to missionary in-Charge Shukar Ilahi. (The Ahmadiyya Gazette USA June 1950, V. 1, No. 4, p. 2)(See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022)(See also the Ahmadiyya Gazette (June-1950).
There is a financial report given thereafter, this covers the first 4 months of 1950. Allegedly, only $530.52 were given as chanda by the entire USA jamaat. Allegedly, Ahmadiyya headquarters sent $1872.90, which brought the USA budget to $2403.42. This money was spent on Ahmadi Maulvi’s, Khalil Ahmad Nasir (and his family), Ghulam Yasin, Shukar Ilahi and Abdul Qadir = $1560. $338.43 was spent on rent for Ahmadiyya offices, $11.13 on stationary, $219 on conveyance, $142.06 on mail, $19 repairs to office furniture, $95 on Literature and Gazette and $68,75 on miscellaneous.
He seems to have been a white man. Maulvi Shukar ilahi is mentioned 8 times in Rashid Ahmad‘s memoir, “Perseverance“, Rashid Ahmad also mentions how he left Ahmadiyya.
Rashid Ahmad recalls how the 2nd Khalifa wanted Maulvi Shukar ilahi to work amongst the white people of St. Louis and Rashid Ahmad said it wouldn’t work. By the late 1950’s, Maulvi Shukar ilahi was working in the St. Louis Circle of Ahmadiyya (See Moslem Sunrise, Dec-1975). Maulvi Shukar ilahi was in St. Louis in 1962 (see the photo with Rashid Ahmad and Usman Khalid (black man). Maulvi Shukar ilahi had converted Usman Khalid and his wife Ameena Khalid to Ahmadiyya in St. Louis in the late 1950’s.
Chaudhri Shukar Ilahi was transferred to Chicago in 1953 where he lived with his family in the Sadiq Mosque at 4448 Wabash. Later, in February 1954 he was sent to Los Angeles (See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022.
Saeed Ahmad, seen in the above photo, accepted Ahmadiyyat in 1951-52 while he was in his early 20s.
The children from left to right: Raqiyyah, daughter of Abdullah Muhammad, Tanvir Ahmad, Unknown baby and Halimah, daughter of Abdullah Muhammad.
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1954
Chaudhri Shukar Ilahi was transferred to Chicago in 1953 where he lived with his family in the Sadiq Mosque at 4448 Wabash. Later, in February 1954 he was sent to Los Angeles (See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022.
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1954–1958
Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022
The history of #Ahmadiyya in #California 1921-1958 – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
In February 1954 he was sent to Los Angeles (See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022) wherein he stayed for 4 years. During this period, a house was rented at 927 Fairfax
Avenue, which was used as a residence as well as an office and mission house. Records document activities in Tabligh with outreach to schools, universities, and the media to educate the public about Islam and Ahmadiyyat. During these years, there were not many Muslims of any sect living in the area and many students from Muslim countries, eager for interaction, would visit. Only three known Ahmadis were living in California in 1954; Brothers Ahmad
Jamal and Sharif Ahmad in Los Angeles. and Sister Sakina Nusrat in San Francisco. The reports document that Sister Sakina “had not seen another Ahmadi in 10 years” since she had moved there. The names and occupations of other new members are listed and eventually a larger house on Curson Avenue was rented to accommodate the mission and host
public meetings. It must be mentioned that the JamāꜤat funds available for this building were not sufficient to cover the cost as the area was quite expensive. Bro. Ahmad Jamal, a devout pioneer member lived in one room in the house with the missionary’s family and helped to supplement the rent. (Statement of Tanvir ul-Nisa Ahmad)(Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
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1958
In 1958, Maulvi Shukar ilahi was transferred to Washington D.C. wherein he worked with Khalil Ahmad Nasir (See also Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022). He was then relieved of his job.
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1959–1963
In 1964 Maulvi Shukar ilahi was living in St. Louis and still an Ahmadi (Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
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1964-1966
In 1964 he was again assigned the responsibility for the Midwest area, and he and his family moved to Chicago and lived in the historic Sadiq Mosque once again.
He became the Missionary-In-Charge of the USA Jamaat (See page 160).
Maulvi Shukar ilahi and his family moved to Zion on September 10, 1965. The home they purchased was located at 2209 Elam Avenue in Zion. It was a two story farmhouse built by a family who had come to Zion to follow Dowie. Their neighbors were followers from all around the nation and Canada who migrated to Zion to be a part of Dowie’s theocracy and his Christian Catholic Church. [Ahmadiyya Gazette USA, April-September 2020, p. 360 (comprising Hundred Years of Ahmadiyya Islam in the US)](Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
After 1966, he quit Ahmadiyya and went totally missing in the history of Ahmadiyya (See “Perseverance“).
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1969
The Waukegan Jamā’at was formally recognized in 1969 and elections were conducted by
Missionary Shukar Ilahi. (The Ahmadiyya Gazette, Centennial Souvenir 2020, p. 362)(Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
The Muslim Sunrise of June-July- 1969 was published, edited by Maulvi Maqbool Ahmad Qureshi (the new missionary-in-charge of the USA). He is operating out of the Dayton Mosque-temple at 637 Randolph St, Dayton, Ohio. Syed Jawad Ali is mentioned, his work out of the Qadiani headquarters at 2141 Leroy Place, Washington D.C., is highlighted. Maulvi Shukur Ilahi is also mentioned and his location is given as down the street (he is at 185 N. Wabash Ave, Suite-616) from the main Qadiani temple-mosque at 4448 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL.
The Muslim Sunrise of Aug-Sep- 1969 was published, edited by Maulvi Maqbool Ahmad Qureshi (the new missionary-in-charge of the USA). He is operating out of the Dayton Mosque-temple at 637 Randolph St, Dayton, Ohio. A speech of the 3rd Khalifa is presented. Syed Jawad Ali is mentioned, his work out of the Qadiani headquarters at 2141 Leroy Place, Washington D.C., is highlighted. Maulvi Shukur Ilahi is also mentioned and his location is given as down the street (he is at 185 N. Wabash Ave, Suite-616) from the main Qadiani temple-mosque at 4448 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL.
The Muslim Sunrise of Dec-1969-Jan-1970 was published, edited by Maulvi Maqbool Ahmad Qureshi (the new missionary-in-charge of the USA). He is operating out of the Dayton Mosque-temple at 637 Randolph St, Dayton, Ohio. A speech of the 3rd Khalifa is presented from the 1966 Jalsa Salana at Rabwah. Maulvi Maqbool Ahmad Qureshi‘s Eid sermon of 12-11-1969 is reproduced. A testimony by Mirza Bashir Ahmad is given wherein he alleges that his father (MGA) had healing powers. The death of Syed Abdul Latif is also mentioned. Maulvi A.R. Khan Bengali was given the keys to the City of Cleveland. A son was born to Syed Jawad Ali. Maulvi Maqbool Ahmad Qureshi announced his departure from America (heading back to Pakistan). Syed Jawad Ali is mentioned, his work out of the Qadiani headquarters at 2141 Leroy Place, Washington D.C., is highlighted. Maulvi Shukur Ilahi is also mentioned and his location is given as down the street (he is at 185 N. Wabash Ave, Suite-616) from the main Qadiani temple-mosque at 4448 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL. Maulvi A.R. Khan Bengali’s work in Cleveland is also highlighted, his location is 3280 E. 134th St, Cleveland, OH.
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1970
The Muslim Sunrise of Dec-1969-Jan-1970 was published, edited by Maulvi Maqbool Ahmad Qureshi (the new missionary-in-charge of the USA). He is operating out of the Dayton Mosque-temple at 637 Randolph St, Dayton, Ohio. A speech of the 3rd Khalifa is presented from the 1966 Jalsa Salana at Rabwah. Maulvi Maqbool Ahmad Qureshi‘s Eid sermon of 12-11-1969 is reproduced. A testimony by Mirza Bashir Ahmad is given wherein he alleges that his father (MGA) had healing powers. The death of Syed Abdul Latif is also mentioned. Maulvi A.R. Khan Bengali was given the keys to the City of Cleveland. A son was born to Syed Jawad Ali. Maulvi Maqbool Ahmad Qureshi announced his departure from America (heading back to Pakistan). Syed Jawad Ali is mentioned, his work out of the Qadiani headquarters at 2141 Leroy Place, Washington D.C., is highlighted. Maulvi Shukur Ilahi is also mentioned and his location is given as down the street (he is at 185 N. Wabash Ave, Suite-616) from the main Qadiani temple-mosque at 4448 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL. Maulvi A.R. Khan Bengali’s work in Cleveland is also highlighted, his location is 3280 E. 134th St, Cleveland, OH.
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1972
Via the Muslim Sunrise of 1972 (there is only one edition), Maulvi Shukar ilahi Hussain is the editor, it has essay from Bushra Saeeda, she is also the managing editor, Rashid Ahmad is the business manager, Hasan Hakeem is the production coordinator and Ahmad Saeed is the circulation manager.
In 1972, the USA Jalsa Salana was held at Lake Forest College. Shukar Ilahi engaged all the
members from the region including Chicago, Waukegan, Zion, Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee for the planning of the Annual Convention. [Ahmadiyya Gazette USA, April-September 2020, p. 363 (comprising Hundred Years of Ahmadiyya Islam in the US)](Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
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1973
He allegedly retired from missionary work in 1973 (Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
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1975
https://muslimsunrise.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1975_iss_4.pdf
He is mentioned in the Moslem Sunrise, Dec-1975 (See page 13).
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1980
He died in 1980 (Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022). Ahmadiyya sources allege that he committed suicide.
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2010
Shukar Ilahi was married to a convert from St. Louis, Bushra Saeeda who passed away in 2010 at the age of 81. They had two girls and a boy: Tanvir ul-Nisa (married to Dr. Naseer Ahmad of St. Louis in 1974), Bashir (deceased) and Kamar (Ahmadiyya Gazette of Oct-2021/Sep-2022).
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Links and Related Essay’s
Click to access 1975_iss_4.pdf
The history of #Ahmadiyya in #California 1921-1958 – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
When was the first Ahmadiyya temple acquired in the USA? – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
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