Intro
Maulvi Muhammad Ali is one of the most famous Ahmadi’s in history. He was friends with Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din who introduced him to MGA and Ahmadiyya.
In 1899, he moved to Qadian and moved into the house of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (this was elite company). He lived there until 1909.
In 1902, he started the Review of Religions (Urdu and English) and remained as its main editor for 10+ years.
In 1905 (Nov-29), MGA told Ahmadi’s that he wanted to created a school (madrassa) wherein the students would settle for like at Qadian and not chase the world. MGA says he wants to create scholars like Maulvi Muhammad ‘Ali (See Malfuzat-8, online English edition, page 166,
Al-Hakam, vol. 9, no. 43, p. 2–4, dated 10 December 1905).
In 1906, an Ahmadi named Miraj ud Din Omar came to Qadian and saw that MGA was sitting in the small room (Bait ud Dua?), and Maulawi Syed Muhammad Ahsan and Maulawi Muhammad ‘Ali were sitting next to him. Miyan Ghulam Rasul, the barber from Amritsar, was describing his own condition (See Malfuzat-8, online English edition, page 367, via al-Badr, vol. 2, no. 20, p. 3, dated 17 May 1906).
After MGA died in May of 1908, Maulvi Muhammad Ali teamed up with Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din and other prominent Ahmadi’s in Lahore and began secretly opposing the Khilafat of Maulvi Nur ud Din. This came to the forefront at the 1908 Jalsa at Qadian, which was followed with a meeting of the top 200 Ahmadi’s in the world at Qadian on Jan-31-1909, wherein Maulvi Noorudin then forced Maulvi Muhammad Ali and Khwaja Kamaluddin to take a new bait at his hand (the nature of this bait was disputed later in 1914 via “Andruni Ikhtilafat-e-Silsilah Ahmadiyya kei Asbab”, p. 58), they complied accordingly! Maulvi Noorudin then forced Shaikh Yacub Ali Irfani to also take a new bait at his hand and he complied (See page 245). Lahori-Ahmadi sources also allege that Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (before his Khilafat) and Mir Nasir Nawab were made to promise that they would obey him (Maulvi Nur ud Din)(see page 89).
In 1909, Maulvi Sanaullah had a debate with top Ahmadi’s in Rampur. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, Hafiz Raushan Ali, Maulvi Muhammad Ali, Syed Sarwar Shah, Mir Qasim Ali and Maulvi Ahsan Amrohi were there representing Ahmadi’s (see Hakeem Nur ud Din) as they debated Maulvi Sanaullah Amritsari (see Hakeem Nur ud Din).
In 1910, MGA’s famous book, “Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam” is translated into english by Maulvi Muhammad Ali and published as, “The Teachings of Islam”, Mr. Muhammad Alexander Webb is given credit as someone who helped in the translation. This was the second english translation of “Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam. Although Webb acknowledged Ghulam Ahmad as “a man of God” and the one who had guided him to Islam, however, it should be noted that this was before MGA’s claims and a total lie, since Alexander Russell Webb couldn’t read Urdu. Nevertheless, Singleton claims that Webb stayed in touch with Ahmadi’s until his death in 1916. The english ROR of Oct-1915 began quoting a statement by Alexander Webb From New Jersey. This went on for many years and ended in Dec-1923.
In 1917, his famous commentary on the Quran was published.
In 1920, another edition of his famous commentary on the Quran was published.
In 1921, Maulvi Muhammad Ali published a 2nd edition (from Lahore, not Qadian) of his English translation of the “The Teachings of Islam” (aka the “Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam”). There doesn’t seem to be many changes, in fact, the old preface is also used. The same note on Alexander Webb is given from the 1910 edition.
In 1935, Sir Hubert Stewart-Rankin, the 36-year-old leader President of the British Muslim Society has resigned. Sir Hubert Stweart-Rankin tried to get a resolution passed wherein Ahmadi’s would be barred from joining this organization. However, this resolution was shot down, since most of the executive committee and secretaries were Ahmadi. After the resolution was shot down, Sir Hubert walked out. Sir Hubert alleged that he would be starting a new organization. This seems to be referring to the Lahori-Ahmadi’s and their leader, Maulvi Muhammad Ali. Khalid Sheldrake is also mentioned, as well as his short lived, “Western Islamic Association”, of which Sheldrake is the President and Sir Hubert the Vice President. The newspaper alleges that there are roughly 10k Muslims in the UK, of which 90%+ are Indian sailors. The Aga Khan is trying to build a mosque at South Shields. The newspaper also acknowledges that there are 2 mosques in London in 1935, the Qadiani’s at Southfields and the Lahori-Ahmadi’s at the Woking.
In 1947, he was already living in Lahore and didn’t have to move during the migration.
He died on October 13, 1951 (age 76 years), Karachi, Pakistan.

Continue reading “Who is Maulvi Muhammad Ali in the history of Ahmadiyya?” →