Intro
Qadianism/Ahmadiyya proved itself to be incompatible with African-American’s (See Hoffert and Holmes). Moreover, it doesn’t seem that Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, Maulvi Muhammad Din or Muhammad Yusuf Khan had ever made in-roads in Pittsburgh, PA before 1930, the only thing we find is 7 (6 are women) converts from Pennsylvania (PA) in the Moslem Sunrise of Jan-1923, 3 additional converts (2 are women, that’s 10 total converts of which 8 are women) from Pennsylvania (PA) can be found in the Moslem Sunrise of Oct-1923.
7 years later, by March of 1930, Muhammad Yusuf Khan moved therein and began teaching Qadianism to ex-members of the Moorish Science Temple, his work is acknowledged by the Moslem Sunrise via Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali, the address of the Pittsburgh mission is given initially as 2040 Rose St, Pittsburgh, PA (see the Moslem Sunrise of Dec-1930)(this was the second edition of the newly re-started Moslem Sunrise). In the very next edition of the Moslem Sunrise (Apr-July 1931), the address is given as 2222 Webster Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, which is less than a mile away. This would remain a pseudo-Ahmadi mission house until 1934, when the schism happened. In fact, from the Moslem Sunrise of Dec-1930 (this was the second edition of the newly re-started Moslem Sunrise) to the Moslem Sunrise of Nov-1934, only one Ahmadi from Pittsburgh or Cleveland donated money to help the Moslem Sunrise get published. In the March-1935 edition of the Moslem Sunrise, a new location for the Pittsburgh branch is given, 2008 Wylie Ave, Pittsburgh, PA. Curiously, the Cleveland location with Wali Akram is first mentioned in March-1935 edition of the Moslem Sunrise (5311 Woodland Ave, Cleveland). However, Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali and Muhammad Yusuf Khan were not in America at all in late from Oct/Nov-1935. Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali returned to Qadian on 12 December 1935 for one year and was sent back to America on 21 October 1936, it’s unclear when he landed in Chicago. Nevertheless, he returned to America in late 1936 after being gone for 12 months and Ahmadiyya missions in the USA had totally failed. Even Wali Akram had separated himself from Ahmadiyya missionaries.
In June (23-25th) of 1932, Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali was in Cleveland lecturing at different halls (See the Moslem Sunrise of Oct-1931/Jan-1932, pages 18-20).
By 1933, Muhammad Yusuf Khan and Sheikh Nasir Ahmad and Sheikh Muhammad Omar (Omar Ahmad of Braddock?) were invited to Cleveland by Wali Akram to teach his flock of followers (ex-members of the Moorish Science Temple)(See Dannin)(See the ROR of Sep-1933). By 1950, Ahmadiyya in the USA had totally failed, barely 200 members remained, 5 mission houses, NO purpose built MOSQUES.
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. 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).
In Apr-1934, via the Cleveland Call and Post of Sat, Apr 07, 1934 ·Page 2, there is a photo of M. Yusuf Khan. This is about the Cleveland Mosque. The Ahmadiyya regional headquarter has been changed from Pittsburgh to 5311 Woodland Ave in Cleveland. The headquarters was in Pittsburgh for 4 years. Yusuf Khan alleges to have faced the bitterest opposition vs. Ahmadiyya. Yusuf Khan alleges that he has already created 11 men and 1 woman to go out and to tabligh. On March-29, the Moslems of Pittsburgh gave Yusuf Khan a farewell party (he was going to India on a trade run) wherein 300 people showed up. Shaikh Nasir Ahmad was there as well as well as Shaikh Abdul Wahab, Shaikh Abid Haque, Shaikh Saeed Akmal and Shaikh Abdul Farook. Shaikh Abdul Farook was made in-charge, with full authority in Pittsburgh. Yusuf Khan says that anyone who doesn’t pay their chanda for 3 months will be removed from the membership. There is another report in this newspaper from the “Mother Mosque”, during the week of March-25-1934, wherein it is stated that Rahmat Mahmood Sheikh Farook and Dr. Khan held a meeting. Eid was also held. Shaikh Nasir Ahmad from the Cleveland Mosque were also there. Sheikh Saeed Akmal from Braddock, Pittsburgh was also there. Shaikh Nasir Ahmad will be around and in-charge in Cleveland, signed off by Shaikh Saadi Malik.
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 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, Sheikh Nasir Ahmad 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.
“The Plain Dealer” of Mon, Apr 23, 1934 ·Page 5
Muhammad Yusuf Khan is mentioned by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (of 17 Jun 1934, Sun Page 26) as the head Moslem in Cleveland, however, he seems to be giving new converts Muslim names, which is now causing fraud. This is same incident is mentioned in 10 additional newspapers around America. See also The Morning Call of Sun, Jun 17, 1934 ·Page 7. Sam Jackson changed to “Haroun-al-Raschid” and George Washington Smith turns up as Ben Ali” or something of the sort. Library officials were looking for George Jenkins and his name is Zanab Finesee.
Scans
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal of 17 Jun 1934, Sun ·Page 26
Allentown Morning Call of Sun, Jun 17, 1934 ·Page 7
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 31, 1934, 2; Abdulla Eesa, “Bis-mil-lah,” Cleveland Call and Post, July 31, 1934, 2., via Bowen).
However, it should be noted that even though M.Y. Khan was ousted from Pittsburgh, he moved to Cincinatti and began working therein. The leadership for the Pittsburg Mosque hired an Arab from Egypt, named Abdul Mohammed Ibn Akbar for half the price that they were previously paying M.Y. Khan. The new missionary will be located at 1800 Center Ave, Pittsburgh, PA. For any information, please write to 18 South Sickel St., Philadelphia, PA. Sheikh Nasir Ahmad has returned back to his own mission in Philadelphia. There is an article on “The Akron Mosque”, a man named St. Abdus Subhan gave a short lecture and several short talks by Bro Nasir Hicmat and sis Moleeks Shaun, Bro Hickmd, sis Shann, written by Wakeela Mula, reporter. There is another report on the Cincinatti Mosque, it is reported that they recently held a “Young People’s Islamic Program”, however, only women were speakers. This is a report by Dr. M.Y. Khan, who seems to be working with Prof. Malik and Mr. Ishaq Mohammad. They had all recently returned to Cincinatti from Pittsburgh. Dr. M.Y. Khan alleges that Prof. Malek is “in-charge” of the Cincinatti Mosque. Mr. Majid Hassan is also named as a speaker. Prof. Malek gave a speech on the death of Jesus Christ. Jamal Deen, reporter. Dr. Khan quickly reported to the newspaper about the progress of his cult and left of Cleveland. Prof. Malik (from the Cincinatti Mosque) is currently touring in Chicago. Jameel Geen, reporter. There is another report on the “Akron Mosque”, Sh. Subhan gave a speech, by Wakeel Mula.
Scan
Cleveland Call and Post, the local black newspaper of July-14-1934, via Bowen
In July-1934, via the Cleveland Call and Post of Sat, Jul 21, 1934 ·Page 2, Ahmadiyya is not mentioned at all, Muhammad Yusuf Khan is not mentioned and nor is Sufi Bengalee. It seems that by July-1934, Ahmadiyya had been totally ousted. There was a series of essay’s entitled, “Among the Moslems” by Abdullah Easa. He starts with BIS-MIL-LAH, and alleges to see a bright future of Islam in the region. Abdullah Easa relates a major announcement from the Islamic Council and Maulvi Muhammad Yusuf Khan was removed (however, he is not named in this article) from the mosque. Abdullah Easa consoles the Moslems from Pittsburgh and other areas. Abdullah Easa alleges that old members who had left previously have now returned to the mosque. Abdullah Easa praises the Moslems of Ohio and specifically Colombus. Sheikh Hason is mentioned. Abdullah Easa mentions the council of 12 men. Bro Abdul Mohammad Ibn Akbar has been named as “Imam U1 Shareef in America”. Allegedly Bro Abdul Mohammad Ibn Akbar has connections to the Moslem world via Egypt, Africa, Palestine, Arabia and many other Moslem Governments. Abdullah Easa says that it is in the best interest of the council to join the Moslem League (of which an Ahmadi is the leader, Zafrullah Khan). Abdullah Easa announces that Sheikh Nasir Ahmad is heading the council. There is also a report from the Akron Mosque, on July-15, there was a social held at the house of Bro and Sis Moosa Raheem, at 185 McCoy Street, Akron, Cleveland. Bro’s. Sarle Subhan, Nasis Hiemat, Moosa Raheem and Sis. Bismala Shako gave a talk or a reading. Signed off by Wakeei Mula. There is 3rd article on “Proceedings at the Pittsburgh Mosque” by Saadi Malik. Saadi Malik alleges that there is new life in the Moslems of the region, from places like Colombus, Youngstown, Ohio, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PA. Saadi Malik alleges that a missionary from Egypt is coming soon.
Scan
Cleveland Call and Post of Sat, Jul 21, 1934 ·Page 2
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 fled Cleveland by 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.
The Moslem Sunrise of Nov-1934 didn’t give any locations of Ahmadiyya centers in the USA, it was a regular feature of the magazine to list locations in the USA and abroad. However, just 10 month earlier, the Moslem Sunrise of Jan-1934, the Pittsburg branch of pseudo-Ahmadi’s was mentioned and with Muhammad Yusuf Khan as in-charge and with the famous 2222 Webster Ave, Pittsburgh, PA as the location of the mission house. In the very next issue of the Moslem Sunrise (March-1935), a new Pittsburgh location is given, 2008 Wylie Ave, Pittsburgh, PA.
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1935
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).
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1936
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.
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1937
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).
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1950
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Links and Related Essay’s
Who is Sheikh Nasir Ahmad? Aka Walter Smith Bey, another Ex-Ahmadi
Click to access Dannin2002black-pilgrimage-to-islam.pdf
Moorish Science Temple of America – Wikipedia
Who is Maulvi Muhammad Din? – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
Who is Omar Cleveland (aka Sheikh Omar Cleveland) in Ahmadiyya history? – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
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Tags
#ahmadiyya #ahmadiyyafactcheckblog #messiahhascome #ahmadiyyat #trueislam #ahmadianswers #mirzaghulamahmad #qadiani #qadianism
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