ahmadiyyafactcheckblog

Intro
Ahmadiyya arrived in St. Louis in 1922 (see the full history of Ahmadiyya in the USA herein) via Mufti Muhammad Sadiq. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq converted Paul Nathaniel Johnson aka Sheikh Ahmad Din (aka Fahamme Rasool) and he began working in the St. Louis area selling Ahmadiyya beliefs with a fake accent. He remained as the face of pseudo-Ahmadiyya beliefs in St. Louis until 1927.

When Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali arrived in 1928 in Chicago, he tried to revive the St. Louis mission but failed, in 1930, he mentioned that there was a mission, and again in 1932, however, from 1932 to 1948, Ahmadiyya literature was totally silent on Ahmadiyya missions in St. Louis.

In 1949, one year after Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali had left, and one year since Khalil Ahmad Nasir took charge, Ahmadiyya sources (See the Muslim Sunrise of 1976, convention edition, page 15) alleged that on Jan-7-1949, the Muslim League of Islamic Brotherhood (of St. Louis) changed its ownership to the Ahmadiyya Movement. This seems to be ownership of their mission house and flock of followers. It’s unclear, it is also unclear as to who the Muslim League of Islamic Brotherhood was. Dannin mentioned the Muslim League of Islamic Brotherhood in St. Louis and how they were working with African-American women and empowering them into leadership positions (See Dannin, page 52). Maulvi Shukar ilahi also arrived in 1949 and began working as the head Ahmadiyya missionary in St. Louis at 613 Locust Street.

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). He worked out of at 613 Locust Street.

Usman Khalid and Amina Khalid are also some pioneers of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in St. Louis, in 1962, they married their daughter off to Rashid Ahmad.

Munir Ahmad became President of the St. Louis Jamaat in the 1970’s and remained for over 30 years.

After many failed mission houses, in 1992, the Ahmadiyya Movement bought a property in St. Louis (Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques Around The World – A Pictorical Presentation. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community; Khilafat Centenary Edition. 2008. ISBN 978-1882494514). By 2008, this is still under construction, it seems to have been fully built by 2012-2018.

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Mission houses and temples

From 1949 to 1952, 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). He worked out of 613 Locust Ave (see the Muslim Sunrise).

From roughly 1960 to roughly 2008, they rented a mission house at 4401 Oakwood (they turned this into Sadiq Gardens). Munir Ahmad was the head Ahmadi in-charge, and Rashid Ahmad was there as well as Qadiani-Ahmadi Maulvi Abdus-Shakoor Kunze and many others.

In roughly 2009-2011, an Ahmadiyya temple is finally opened in St. Louis, Baitul Hafeez, at 4529 Emerson Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63120. Before that, they were at
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1922

One summer evening (in 1922?) while walking in downtown St. Louis, MO, Paul Nathaniel Johnson came upon a gentleman speaking on a soap box.  It was common in those days for evangelist to stand upon a soap box and speak to the people as they moved through the streets.  On this particular day, the person of note was a gentleman by the name of Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq of Qadian, Punjab, India, the first Moslem Missionary to America, representing the Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, head of the Ahmadia Movement in Islam, which was founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.

After hearing Dr. Mufti speak, Paul N. Johnson told him that what he said was not completely correct.  Upon being challenged, Dr. Mufti gave the standard Islamic response.  Can you do better?  Paul Johnson as he was known at that time, replied yes.  Dr. Mufti offered him the platform of which Mr. Johnson accepted and preceded to teach the lesson without fault.  Dr. Mufti then asked Mr. Johnson how did he know what he knew.  Mr. Johnson’s reply was, “I don’t know, I just know”.  It was at that time that Dr. Mufti offered him an opportunity.  The Rasool accepted, was appointed Shiek and given the name Ahmad Din.  A title and name that the Rasool revered even after he developed into further knowledge and understanding of his own mission.

He appears in the Moslem Sunrise of July-1922 (see page 119), he was the first ever African-American to become an Ahmadi missionary (Sheikh)(however, without going to jamia).
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1923

He appears again in the Moslem Sunrise of Apr. & July 1923 and his work in St. Louis is highlighted. The Moslem Sunrise of Oct-1923 alleges that Brother Shaikh Ahmad Din is working out of 22 N. Compton Ave, St. Louis, MO. His missionary center seems to be at 2658 Olive St.

He is mentioned in the “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” of 16 Jul 1923, Mon ·Page 21.

He famously converts Wali Akram to Ahmadiyya.
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1924

The Moslem Sunrise of Jan-1924 alleges he is a missionary and working out of St. Louis. He has a poem and an essay in this edition too. He is also mentioned on page 33 and is alleged to have converted 25-30 people to Qadianism in this recent cycle. The Moslem Sunrise of Apr-1924 alleges that Ahmad Din is working out of St. Louis at 2658 Olive St. St. Louis, MO, they even has a photo of him therein. He also wrote an essay arguing pro-polygamy.

The Effingham Daily Record of 26 Jul 1924, Sat ·Page 1 mentions Sheikh Ahmad Din and his missionary work with Maulvi Muhammad Din. It seems that Maulvi Muhammad Din came to St. Louis and visited his mission.
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1925

He is mentioned in the ROR of May-1925 and incorrectly written that this is J.L. Mott. Nevertheless, he is working out of St. Louis and reporting converts.

In the May-1925 edition of the ROR, he claims to have converted 200 people to Qadianism, it is also listed that he is an imam out of St. Louis.
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1926

The ROR of Jan-1926 has a letter by him about his work in St. Louis. The 2nd Khalifa’s response is also given, the letter is dated Oct-10-1925 and the 2nd Khalifa says that he hasn’t heard from Ahmadi’s in the USA for quite a while.

In Nov. of 1926, Bro Mohd. Y. Khan visited NY and gave some speeches (see ROR of March-1927). He stayed there for 3 weeks. He went to Indianapolis right after and he claims that there are barely a few Qadiani’s therein. He stayed in Indianapolis for 3 weeks also. He alleges that 2 Ahmadi’s have been managing his mission in Chicago as he toured. Sheikh Ahmad Din is also mentioned as well as his work in St. Louis.

Sheikh Ahmad Din is mentioned in the “The St. Louis Star and Times” of 27 May 1926, Thu ·Page 3. The newspaper reports that Sheikh Ahmad Din has 380 followers and his location is at 2636 Olive St. The newspaper alleges that he is an Arab, but was born in America, they also allege that he is teaching Arabic to his congregation. He is also mentioned in the “The St. Louis Star and Times” of 09 Dec 1926, Thu ·Page 14 and 01 Dec 1926, Wed ·Page 18.
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1927

Sheikh Ahmad Din has a letter published in the May-1927 edition of the ROR. In this letter he claims that Eisa (as) lived til age 120.

“Colored People of St. Louis”; “From a Moslem,” Chicago Defender (Ntl ed.), June 4, 1927, A2; Rev. Sheikh Ahmad Din, “Nice Words from a Sheikh,” Messenger 9 (July 1927): 222.

Hoffert claims that Ahmadiyya has spread to Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis and St. Louis. He claims that in NY there was some membership too, but it dwindled over the years. He visited the Chicago mission on Wabash and observed barely 25-40 active members attending the various meetings (See Andrew T. Hoffert, “The Moslem Movement in America,” The Moslem World, 20 (1930): 309).  His essay on Ahmadiyya was published verbatim in the ROR of Dec-1927. It was initially published in the “The Messenger”, dated 9 (May 1927): 141, 160; John Van Ess, “A Moslem Mosque in Chicago,” Neglected Arabia 141 (1927): 13-15. The title of the article was “Moslem Propaganda”. He also wrote about the Ahmadiyya in 1930, via the Muslim World Magazine (See scans in the below). This was reproduced in ROR of Aug-Sep-1930.
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1930

In the Moslem Sunrise of Dec-1930, Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali mentions all 4 Mission’s of the Ahmadiyya Movement in the USA. This includes the mission at 2040 Rose St. Pittsburgh, PA, which is operated by M. Y. Khan. It also includes a location at 928 W. 7th St. Cincinatti, OH. which is ran and operated by a man named Mr. A.H. Khan. The 4th location in the USA is operated by Brother T. Ahmad at 350 W. 16th St. Indianapolis, IN. Missions are also mentioned in St. Louis, Washington and Detroit.
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In the Moslem Sunrise of Oct-1931/Jan-1932, Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali alleges to have toured and given speeches in Chicago, Pittsburgh-Pennsylvania, Indianapolis-Indiana, St. Louis-MO, Grand Rapids-Dowagiac-Detroit, Michigan and Gary, Indiana. Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali claims that have had Ahmadi’s meet up in 11 places around America to celebrate the “Life of the Prophet”. 2 in Chicago, 1 each in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Kansas City, East St. Louis, Cincinatti, Pittsburgh and Washington, Pennsylvania. Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali mentions all 6 Mission’s of the Ahmadiyya Movement in the USA. This includes the mission at 2222 Webster Ave Pittsburgh, PA, which is operated by M. Y. Khan. It also includes a location at 928 W. 7th St. Cincinatti, OH. which is ran and operated by a man named Mr. N.A. Halik. The 4th location in the USA is operated by Brother T. Ahmad at 350 W. 16th St. Indianapolis, IN. The 5th is a new mission in Detroit, at 537 Hendrie St. The 6th is another new mission in Kansas City (MO), at 913 Woodland Ave.

One convert who joined the St. Louis Ahmadiyya Muslim community went by the name of Ibrahim Khalil. Ibrahim may have been the first Native American to become an Ahmadi Muslim. Ibrahim was said to be a very private man. What is known about him comes from oral history of the Ahmadi community in the St. Louis area dating back to the 1930s. (When Nations Gather, by Sultan Abdul Latif, page 256)

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Khalil Ahmad Nasir is mentioned in The St. Louis Argus of Fri, Nov 04, 1949 ·Page 4 as having visited St. Louis with Maulvi Shukar ilahi. He also calls Islam a Democracy, which is a lie.

Scan

Ahmadiyya sources (See the Muslim Sunrise of 1976, convention edition, page 15) alleged that on Jan-7-1949, the Muslim League of Islamic Brotherhood (of St. Louis) changed its ownership to the Ahmadiyya Movement. This seems to be ownership of their mission house and flock of followers. It’s unclear, it is also unclear as to who the Muslim League of Islamic Brotherhood was. Dannin mentioned the Muslim League of Islamic Brotherhood in St. Louis and how they were working with African-American women and empowering them into leadership positions (See Dannin, page 52). 

Via the Moslem Sunrise of 2nd Quarter-1949, Khalil Ahmad Nasir is the editor of the Moslem Sunrise, as well as the new missionary-in-charge of the USA. Khalil Ahmad Nasir gave 220 South State St., Suite 1010 as the mailing address for the Ahmadiyya Movement in Chicago, he also gave an address at 2532 Center Ave, Pittsburgh and a new location at 613 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO. “Life of Muhammad” by Sufi M.R. Bengalee is promoted heavily too.

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).

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).

From the Moslem Sunrise of 2nd Quarter-1949 to the Muslim Sunrise of the 2nd Quarter of 1952 (3 years), 613 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO was given as the location of the Ahmadiyya mission house, it was Maulvi Shukar ilahi who was working as the Ahmadi Maulvi. 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 below photo, accepted Ahmadiyyat in 1951-52 while he was in his early 20s. He was thus there and working in the St. Louis jamaat in the early 1950‘s. Abdul Aziz can be seen too, he is the father of Habibullah Aziz, current President of the St. Louis Jamaat. Zainab Usman is there too, Abdullah Ali is there too and Ibn Yamin.

Uthman Khalid, as of 08/01/09, is still living by Allah’s Grace. He was the father-in law of Munir Hamid. This picture is an early St. Louis Jamaat photo, which was taken in front of the mission house in the late 40s or early 50s. Abdullah Ali and Uthman Khalid were early pioneers of the St. Louis Jamaat. Uthman Khalid, father-in-law of our late Naib Ameer, Munir Hamid passed away in Philadelphia 09/08/2009. He was 96 years old. Mubarak Ahmad is standing far right.

Habibullah Aziz, seated to the far right, is the current (2009) President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community St. Louis. His father, Abdullah Aziz, is seated to the far left. The Aziz family has five generations of Ahmadis. Ali Raraa is standing 2nd from the left.  Ibin Yamin is there too. Ibrahim Khalil can be seen too.

Ibrahim Khalil can be seen too, top right.

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1956

In the Ahmadiyya Gazette of the First Quarter-1956, the 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa begs for Ahmadi’s in the USA to sign up for Wasiyyat. The 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa explains how there is a graveyard in Qadian, India and Rabwah, Pakistan and maybe a 3rd in the USA if enough Ahmadi’s sign up. The 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa urges the missionary in-charge in the USA (Khalil Ahmad Nasir) should thoroughly explain Wasiyyat and then buy a property accordingly. The 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa explains how Wasiyyat money will be split up from America. 50% of the money collected will go to “The Central Ahmadiyya Anjuman” (in Rabwah) and “Tahrik-e-Jadid”. Of the remaining 50%, 37.5% would be spent in the USA on propagation (aka pay for the Maulvi’s), and the remaining 12.5% would be spent among the poor Ahmadi’s. A few wedding are announced, Maulvi Abdul Qadar Zaighum is in Rabwah and his wife gave birth to a boy. The procedures for collecting money from women (Lajna) is laid out. Ahmadi’s are ordered to pray for the 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa, his health is deteriorating. Report written by Muhammad Sadiq, secretary of Tabligh in the USA jamaat. A report on the Ahmadiyya mission in Holland (Netherlands) is given. They allege that in 1956, Hafiz Qudratullah (after working as a secretary of the Indonesian mission from Rabwah, was again being sent to Holland (Netherlands) as the missionary-in-charge. A report on Ahmadiyya in the Scandanavian countries is also given. Maulvi Syed Kamal Yousaf (also spelled Kamal Yusuf) was assigned to the Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden) for tabligh. The 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa appointed Rashid Ahmad (spelled as Rasheed Ahmad) as an honorary missionary in St. Louis. Rashid Ahmad will be working under Mr. A. Shukoor Kunze. The Khuddam pledge is given. Some small Ahmadiyya pamphlets with basics of beliefs are explored. The famous english commentary of the Quran (1947) allegedly by the 2nd Qadiani-Ahmadi Khalifa is for sale. Ahmadi’s are reminded to pay Tahrik-e-Jadid (“The New Scheme”). A list of books for sale is also given and very similar to the list in the Muslim Sunrise magazine. 1 book by MGA: “The Teachings of Islam” aka “The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam”. 10 books by the Qadiani 2nd Khalifa, 2 by Mirza Bashir Ahmad, 3 by Zafrullah Khan, 1 book by Sufi M.R. Bengalee, 1 book by J.D. Shams, 1 book by Shaikh Nasir Ahmad, a book by Zahoor Ahmad Bajwa (missionary-in-charge in England), 2 books from A.R. Dard and 3 books by Khalil Ahmad Nasir.

Via the Muslim Sunrise of the 3rd Quarter-1956, Khalil Ahmad Nasir is the editor of the Moslem Sunrise, as well as the missionary-in-charge of the USA. Khalil Ahmad Nasir gave 2141 Leroy Place, N.W., Washington D.C., 4448 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago, 2532 Center Ave, Pittsburgh, 265 W. 30th St., NY, NY and at 927 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, Ca. This edition has 1 book by MGA: “The Teachings of Islam” aka “The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam”. 11 books by the Qadiani 2nd Khalifa, 2 by Mirza Bashir Ahmad, 4 by Zafrullah Khan, 1 book by Sufi M.R. Bengalee, 1 book by J.D. Shams, 1 book by Shaikh Nasir Ahmad, a book by Zahoor Ahmad Bajwa (missionary-in-charge in England) and 2 books from A.R. Dard. A Qadiani-Ahmadi German/Dutch/English translation of the Quran is also available for sale as well as an english commentary of the Quran (this was very short and never went past Chapter 4 of the Quran) by the 2nd Khalifa and his team, this was started back in 1914 and never fully completed, instead, people in American used the Lahori-Ahmadi’s version of the Quran by Maulvi Muhammad Ali.
A speech by Professor Muhammad Aslam is reproduced which was delivered in Peshawar in April of 1956, this was for the Pakistan Philosophical Congress. Zafrullah Khan has an essay on “The Frontiers of Knowledge and Humanity’s First Hopes for the Future”. Shaikh Nasir Ahmad has an essay on “Our Daily Bread”.

Ahmad Hadi claims to have been cutting the grass for his Pakistani handlers in St. Louis and gave his personal testimony on the jamaat history in St. Louis. Maulvi Dibba lies about Alexander Webb and alleges that he regretted not meeting MGA in 1892, he also alleges that Alexander Webb had converted to Qadianism and was the first person from St. Louis to have done so. Abdul Azim Aziz alleges that his grandfather (Abdul Aziz) converted to Sunni-Islam in 1942 and then left Islam and converted to Qadianism soon thereafter (allegedly 1944). Ahmadi Hadi says he converted to Qadianism after working as a shoeshiner in-front of an Ahmadi owned barbershop (the Pyramid barber shop). Ahmadi Hadi was a high school dropout. The Pyramid barbershop was owned by an African-American convert, Munir Ibrahim Khalil (see his photo)(see also When Nations Gather: Latif, Sultan Abdul: 9780964011816: Amazon.com: Books). Ishmael Latif Ahmad’s father (Munir Ahmad) also worked at this barbershop. Abdul Hakim Shahid also visited the barbershop (year unknown). Allegedly, some prominent African-American families in St. Louis are the Khalid family, the Ahmad family and the Aziz family. Observantly, all the Ahmadi women who were in this video had Christian husbands (or with Christian names, converts?). Saeeda Aziz is in this “History of St. Louis” video with her husband Theodore Morris (a Christian convert?), and she seems to own “Pharoah’s Doughnuts” (which he inherited from her father, Amon Aziz, who opened it in 1994). They then mention Munir Ahmad (was President of the St. Louis jamaat for a long time). Abu Bakr Ladd is in this video too.

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1956-1958
Roughly

Qadiani-Ahmadi Maulvi Abdus-Shakoor Kunze is working in the St. Louis circle with Rashid Ahmad.

Bottom row, 2nd from the left looks like Sister Aziza Ahmad of Milwaukee or her sister Jamilah Hamid. Back row, standing 2nd from the right. That HAS to be Sister Nasira Razaa from Kenosha! The baby in her hand could be one of her sons. In the back row middle Sister Aminah Khalid, (Aunt Aziza’s & Aunt Jamilah’s mother) and to her right, Sister Muneerah Ahmad (wife of Br. Munir Ahmad)…Ooh…2nd row left looks like Kareema Shahid (Br. Munir’s daughter). Nuruddin Aneesa, I see My Mother holding My Brother Harith~Smiles.

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1959

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.

This is beautiful! I’m so grateful you have this photo…and all the others. They literally leave me speechless. This is Br. Abdullah Ali and Sister Ali of St. Louis, MO. Br. Ali lived to be 99 years old and never missed a Jalsa or jamaat trip until he was just physically unable to attend…which was in his 90’s. I also remember having Jumas at their home in St. Louis prior to the purchase of the Sadiq Mosque. Amazing!! Your efforts are truly a blessing to us all. Alhumdulillah!!

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1964

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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1976
Muslim Sunrise 1976 Special Issue

In the Moslem Sunrise of 1976 (Jalsa edition), a photo is given of the St. Louis mission. The history of the St. Louis Jamaat is also given. The location of the Ahmadiyya mission was 4401 Oakwood Ave, this remained their location uptil roughly 2008, in 2014, the new Ahmadiyya Mosque-Temple was opened at 4529 Emerson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63120. 

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1977

A Trip Down Memory Lane – 25 Photos that Shaped Ahmadiyyat in America (youtube.com)

The 30 annual USA Jalsa Salana was held in St. Louis. As you can see, barely 60 men showed up. Syed Muhammad Saddiq (aka Muhammad Siddique Shahid Gurdaspuri) can be seen, he was the missionary-in-charge (39:00 time stamp). Mian Muhammad Ibrahim can also be seen. Abid Haneef can be seen, however, none of his sons are in this photo, were they even in attendance? Yahya Shareef can also be seen, he was a Jewish convert (the only white Ahmadi in the USA). Abdur-Raqib Wali can also be seen. Yusuf Lateef, a famous Jazz player can also be seen. Muzaffar Ahmad Zafar was also there.

Photo

Maulanaa Ataullah Kaleem (1977 -1983) published 40.000 copies of the I loly Quran
with Engli~h translation. Thousands of brochures and 18 books and booklets on Islam and
Ahmadiyyat were printed and distributed. The Synopsis of Religious Preaching (Parts I, II
and Ill) were authored by him. He started the Urdu journal Al-Noor and enlarged the
Ahmadiyya Ga1ette to ih present si7C. His propagational interviews were broadcasted live
on Manhattan and East Saint Louis Cable TV and published in The Detroit News, Detroit
Free Press. The Community Carrier, and the Canton Observer. He spoke to students al several colleges and universities. The building for the mosque in Philadelphia was purchased
in his time. Similarly, the land for the mosque in Chicago was purchased, and the mosque
in Tuscon. Ari/Ima was inaugurated. Maulana Kaleem is currently serving as Missionary
in Charge in Germany.

Khuddam Ijtima, St. Louis about 1977-78. These brothers were from Dayton, Ohio, Chicago, Milwaukee, Kenosha, WI and St. Louis, MO. The missionary in the picture was Mian Ibrahim of Dayton. Hafiz Nurruddin is the only boy I recognize. The boy with glasses was from St. Louis. I believe he is now deceased. Al Hajj Abdul Hakeem standing second to last in the front row. Mushin Rashid, (my children’s dad) is seated first in the front row. Ali Aziz is there too. That is Hafiz Nasiruddin yawning. That is me aka Jamil Ahmad on the far right side looking off into the distance. That’s Fahim with his eyes close. The boy sitting at the end to the left is Jawad Wali, the son of Ahmad Wali, a former barber at Pyramid Barbershop. Unfortunately, both father and son are deceased. The brother standing on Ahmad Hanif’s right is Jamil, a longtime member of the StL Jamaat. Habbib shefeek sitting in second row on the far right wearing a striped shirt. Aminullah Ahmad and Abdul Khabir Haqq are there too. The light skinned Brother is Brother Ismael. He was a Convert from Waukegan that was friends with a lot of the Waukegan brother. He was great friends of My father and came to the Waukegan Mosque with Bro. Muhammad Sadiq, Mustafa Abdullah and Abdul Jeelani, the tall brother in the back. I think he is now deceased. The tallest brother in the back is Abdul Jeelani. He is alive and an active member of the Zion Jamaat. Derrick N. Johnson, I was born in 71′ and I am in that photo. I am guessing I was 6 or 7 at the time. Munir Ahmad is my grandfather and was president of the St.Louis Jamat for many years.

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1980’s

By the 1980’s, Ahmadi immigrants came and replaced the African-Americans.

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1989

They celebrated 100 years of Ahmadiyya.

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1992
(Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosques Around The World – A Pictorical Presentation. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community; Khilafat Centenary Edition. 2008. ISBN 978-1882494514)

The Ahmadiyya Movement allegedly buys a mission house property in St. Louis. Munir Ahmad and Abdul Hakim Shahid can be seen in this photo.

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2010
AHMADIYYA MOSQUE: Bait Ul Hafeez – St Louis Missouri USA

An Ahmadiyya temple is finally opened in St. Louis, Sadiq Mosque.

Bait Ul Hafeez – St Louis Missouri USA

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2014
Majlis Khuddamul-Ahmadiyya USA | Pioneer Dinner honors Legacies of Faith in St. Louis (mkausa.org)

10 JUN PIONEER DINNER HONORS LEGACIES OF FAITH IN ST. LOUIS

“I SHALL CAUSE THY MESSAGE TO REACH THE CORNERS OF THE CORNERS OF THE EARTH”

Every Ahmadi around the world knows of this revelation to the Promised Messiah in the early days of his calling but few are so directly connected as the early American converts to Ahmadiyyat from the early 1920’s to 1950’s. This generation of Ahmadis laid the foundation of today’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA in small town and cities across the US far away from the remote birthplace of Ahmadiyyat.

Who were these men and women? What was their story? Where are the loved ones they left behind?

This year the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya USA invested in the search to identify these individuals and reconnect their families to the their spiritual family of Ahmadiyyat.

On Saturday June 7th 2014 at Baitul Hafeez Mosque in St. Louis, with blessed prayers of Huzoor (aba) MKA USA sponsored its first Ahmadi Muslim Pioneer Dinner for 4 notable personalities who played major roles in establishing Ahmadiyyat in the St. Louis area. The goal of the dinner was to show surviving family members the great work their ancestor had done and let them know that Ahmadiyyat is part of their heritage and we as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are part of their spiritual family.

The 50+ guests enjoyed a brief presentation of Ahmadiyyat in America by Naib Sadr and Local Tabligh Secretary Dr. Basiyr Rodney, followed by a short speech by Naib Sadr Junayd Latif expressing our connection through Ahmadiyyat and inviting guests back to this spiritual home their ancestors had helped build.

Abu Bakr Ladd of St. Louis Jamaat talked specifically about the honorees and their achievements.
After each honoree was mentioned, the family of the the honoree was presented a plaque signed by MKA Sadr Dr. Bilal Rana in honor of the dedication and sacrifice of their ancestor for the cause of Islam.
The plaque will also serve as a reminder that these families are associated with Ahmadiyyat and within Ahmadiyyat there will always be a home.

Respected President St. Louis Dr. Naseer Ahmad closed the event by relating personal experiences with the honorees and mentioning other members who had not been mentioned on this occasion. He showed the deep respect these great individuals received by men and women of every background due only to their love of Islam and Ahmadiyyat.

The only surviving honoree Respected Munir Ahmad (88) of St. Louis offered timeless advice for the young men of Ahmadiyyat. He said “A khadim must always be ready to serve”. Though he had very little, He said, Allah always gave him enough to be able to serve others.Therefore, every khadim must use what he is given to help others.

A family member of another honoree, who had been restricted from practicing Islam after his grandfather had passed said ” I always knew I was supposed to be Muslim…My mother denied it of me but I never adopted any other faith because I knew Islam was right for me”

Though he and his siblings never accepted Ahmadiyyat his soul never seemed to want to connect with anything else.
Ahmadiyyat was imprinted on his heart and now 60+ years later he is still drawn to its beauty.

May Allah the most Merciful establish peace in their hearts and allow these family members to grow closer to Ahmadiyyat.

This dinner is the first of many set to launch at historic Jamaat Centers

SEE MORE PHOTOS

Junayd Latif  – Zion
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2023

Mirza Masroor Ahmad seems to have visited the St. Louis Temple in 2023.

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Brother Nafi Rafat said the following concerning Brother Abdullah Ali. “This is Brother Abdullah Ali, he was one of the oldest members here in Saint Louis. It is said he passed in his 90’s but I haven’t heard anyone speak with authority on his exact age. For years when I was a little guy and before that even, the membership would meet at he and his wife’s house, Sister Ali, before we had a permanent place to worship. He was an upright and faithful Ahmadiyya Muslim in my opinion for what its worth, clearly a man of God. He was always full of zeal to learn, and participated even in his very old age he was always the first to volunteer for whatever had to be done. May Allah bless his soul and grant him high station in the Jinnah ( Maybe Hafiz will have more particulars such as the year he passed etc.)”.

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Links and Related Essay’s

Robert Dannin and his writings on the Ahmadiyya Movement in the USA, Cleveland and Pittsburgh – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog

This history of #Ahmadiyya in the #USA – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog

Who is Sufi Muti-ur-Rahman Bengali (1900-1955)?

Who is Khalil Ahmad Nasir? A Qadiani-Ahmadi Missionary-in-charge murrabi in the USA (1948 to 1959)

Who is Mr. Muhammad Yusuf Khan? A crooked Ahmadi Maulvi in the USA, 1921-1976

Who is Munir Ahmad, a pioneer Ahmadi in St. Louis? – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog

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#ahmadiyya #ahmadiyyafactcheckblog #messiahhascome #ahmadiyyat #trueislam #ahmadianswers #mirzaghulamahmad #qadiani #qadianism