Intro
Percy Smith (aka Saeed Ahmad) was a childhood friend of Rashid Ahmad. They both graduated from Lincoln High School in East St. Louis, in the class of ’42. After Rashid Ahmad had got his job with the Ahmadiyya Movement and he returned to America, he seems to have told his friend how easy his life was now that he was an employee of the Mirza family and thus, Percy Smith (aka Saeed Ahmad) converted to Qadianism and seems to have remained in the St. Louis jamaat for many years as an active member (1955–1995).

He died in 2013 (See Perseverance by Rashid Ahmad).

Saeed Ahmad, seen in the above 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.

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1950’s and 1960’s
Perseverance, pp. 160- 161

For the next few decades, Saeed personally tutored and taught the Holy Quran to the youth, established a youth day, organised chartered busses to Jalsa Salanas and established an ice-skating team competing at local and national events. Together, Rashid Ahmad and Saeed Ahmad were instrumental in ensuring a good faith space was made. For years, the St Louis chapter would use rental halls and homes. Next, there was the purchase of the first formal mosque at 4401 Oakwood; the St Louis mosque and Sadiq Garden were also established.
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“Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam”, Ahmadiyya Gazzette, 1971, p. 4.
The Ahmadiyya Gazette magazine, by the Ahmadiyya Movement in the USA – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog

Aside from socialising, education was a key part of this chapter; Sister Aziza particularly recalls The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam and Where Did Jesus Die? as key texts that were frequently read by the early members – the former had to be read before taking allegiance. Her husband was fundamental in American Islam. Rashid Ahmad was the first African-American missionary to study in Rabwah, Pakistan, before returning to America. His long-time friend, Percy Smith, enquired about Islam on his own return, accepting the Movement soon after. He had been on his own journey and would host popular jazz musicians in California at his house to discuss spirituality and religion. He became a staunch proselytiser in his own right in St Louis, later re-locating and taking the name Saeed Ahmad. He would send letters, pass handbills and visit people’s homes to spread the message of Islam. He even sent a cablegram to Pakistan in repudiation of a false statement published in Lahore. 

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Links and Related Essay’s

The Ahmadiyya Gazette magazine, by the Ahmadiyya Movement in the USA – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog

Who is Rashid Ahmad? The first African-American Ahmadi imam?

The history of #Ahmadiyya in St. Louis – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog

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