Intro
In 1948, in Pittsburgh, PA (which was the largest Qadiani-Ahmadi population), less than 100 members are reported by the press (See Bowen). 2 years later, in 1950, Ahmadiyya was declared dead in America by Hatim A. Sahib, “The Nation of Islam” (M.A. thesis, University of Chicago, 1951). After visiting many times in March of 1950, Hatim A. Sahib noticed that there were a few (5 people) at the daily prayers and barely 50 member’s total. He also noticed that there were no membership records going back to 1921 or even 1941. He didn’t explain if these were all African-American’s it certainly seems to be the case. We are curious to know what Qadiani-Ahmadi Maulvi he met? Was it Shukar Ilahi (he was a white convert to Ahmadiyya)? It should be noted that in 1933, the Ahmadiyya Movement was claiming 20,000 Ahmadi’s in the USA (a total lie). Turner claims that by 1940 the U.S. mission had “somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 members” (Turner, 134). However, he cites no source for this number and (writing before Dannin had done his interviews) does not seem to be aware of the full impact of the schism in the mid-1930’s (See Bowen). Read our full history of Ahmadiyya in the USA herein. By 1979, the Ahmadiyya Movement was claiming to have only 5 mission houses and 4 mosques in the country. However, at least 2 of the 4 alleged mosques are residential properties (the property on Wabash in Chicago and the residential property in Washington D.C. aka the American Fazl Mosque). The 3rd being the Ahmadiyya temple/mosque in Dayton, Ohio. The 4th is thus unknown.
What’s really interesting is that the First Annual Convention (Jalsa) of Aḥmadiyya Community of the United States of America was held in Dayton, Ohio on 5 September 1948. The tents used for the convention were made by Ahmadi sisters. Notable Jamā‘ats which participated are: Chicago, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Youngstown, Du Quoin, Homestead, New York and Kansas. Ninety participated in the convention. (Al-Fazl, 24-25 September 1948, p. 6). Also check out the Ahmadiyya Gazette and take a look at the finances and how the Ahmadiyya Movement was severely in debt in this era.
Missionary Abdul Qadir Zaighum participated in the 2nd annual conference (USA Jalsa) on the instructions of the 2nd Qadiani Khalifa (Tarikh Aḥmadiyyat, Vol. 13, p.108). The Aḥmadiyya Movement, USA, held two-day second Annual Convention in Pittsburgh on 17-18 September 1949. It was inaugurated by Dr. Khalil Ahmad Nasir. At his request, the 2nd Qadiani Khalifa sent a message. He directed the Jamā‘at USA to adopt the message of MGA about Al-Waṣiyyat. Chaudhri Muhammad Zafrulla Khan attended the convention and delivered two speeches. Two hundred attended the convention. (Review of Religions, January 1956, pp. 8-12, Al-Fazl, 6 October 1950, p. 2). A new Department, the Co-operative Committee was created at the second annual convention. The principal object was to institute ways and means of helping our sisters and brothers to work in unity and to co-operate with one another to better their social, financial and spiritual conditions. (Tarikh Aḥmadiyyat, Vol. 14, p. 43, The Aḥmadiyya Gazette USA, June 1950, Vol. 1, No. 4, p. 13).
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Links and Related Essay’s
Who is Maulvi Shukar ilahi Hussain? He was a missionary in the USA (1954-1966) and an ex-Ahmadi
This history of #Ahmadiyya in the #USA – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
The Ahmadiyya Gazette magazine, by the Ahmadiyya Movement in the USA – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
The first ever Ahmadi Jalsa Salana in the USA (1948) at Dayton, Ohio – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
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#ahmadiyya #ahmadiyyafactcheckblog #messiahhascome #ahmadiyyat #trueislam #ahmadianswers #mirzaghulamahmad #qadiani #qadianism
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