Intro
In the early 1890’s, Haji Abdullah Browne aka Alfred Browne was a British convert to Islam via Abdullah Quilliam and his Liverpool Muslim Institute. From 1895 to roughly 1925, he lived in Egypt (30 years)(see “The French occupation: a historiographical view” by Jaimee Hunsdon).
In 1893, he was published in Muhammad Alexander Russell Webb’s Muslim World newspaper in 1893. It was later published as a separate pamphlet by Webb. This represents the first reprinting with a new introduction documenting Browne’s importance to the nascent Islam community in England and the United States at the end of the 19th century. Hajee Abdullah Browne who had been sub-editor of the Crescent just prior to Webb publishing the first issue of the Moslem World in May 1893. Both Quilliam and Browne were featured in the Moslem World’s premiere issue; specifically, there was Quilliam’s poem “Moslem Morning Hymn” and an article discussing a lecture by Hajee Browne in Liverpool.
In 1893 (Nov), Browne had broken ties with the LMI and left for London the month before Webb’s paper was published, and had an excerpt of his book published in the Moslem World for
November 1893. In that issue, there also appeared an announcement of the formation of the ‘Anjuman Angrezi’ (English Society) in London with Browne as the president, an organisation, “To promote the study, and propagate the knowledge of Islam […] as a religious social and political system.” In the midst of the later American Muslim turmoil, Webb described Browne as, “One of the most earnest and devout of English Moslems,” and “One of the most intelligent and well-informed of English Moslems.” Browne and Quilliam seem to have had a falling out as the former was never again mentioned in LMI news sources after leaving the LMI, this despite Browne’s continued work in promoting Islam in London with the Anjuman Angrezi and in Egypt with his Egyptian Herald. Thus, Webb’s characterization of Browne may have been a dig at Quilliam as he extolled Browne’s virtues without ever mentioning the British standard bearer of Islam in his paper. Other LMI members also had items published in the Moslem World, including two poems by William Obeid-Ullah Cunliffe as well as advertisements for his book The Disintegration of Christianity (1893), and a lecture on India by Moulvie Mahomed Barakat-Ullah.
In 1894 (May-25), in the “Voice of Islam” newspaper, it is reported that Nafeesa M.T. Keep was elected as secretary of the “American Muslim Brotherhood”. The election was held in the reading room of “The Moslem World Co.”, No. 30 East 23d St. NY. Nafeesa M.T. Keep is also on the “Board of Publications”. The Vice President is C. Omar MacCoun, the Librarian is Ahmed Hamouda, the assistant librarian is R. Othman White, the Treasurer is H. Ali Lewis. H. Ali Lewis is also on the “Board of Publications”, as well as C. Omar MacCoun and R. Othman White. On the Advisory Board are 3 people, E. A. Arnold, H. Fatima Peabody and Khaled D. Hutchins (See Aug-1894 edition of the “Voice of Islam”). James S. Laidlaw has an essay and short poem in this edition of the “Voice of Islam” (Aug-1894 edition). H.A. Lewis is also the “Business Manager” of the “Voice of Islam” and “American Moslem Brotherhood”. Interestingly, a mission in Lahore is discussed called the Anjuman-i-Islam wherein young boys are being taught, this is called the Islamic College. The Nawab of Bahawalpur has given money for orphan boys and via the “Anjuman-i-Himayat-e-Islam“. Many books are listed for sale, a book by Haji Abdullah Browne entitled, “The Evidences of Islam” (from London). Barkatullah also has a book for sale, entitled, “Eleven Months’ Mussulman Work at Hyderabad (Deccan), India, as well as a book by G.W. Leitner (of the Woking Mosque), entitled, “Mohammedanism”. Webb‘s book, “Islam in America” is the most expensive book, $50 for 75 pages. “Education and Literature of the Women of Turkey” by Senorita Esmeralda Cervantes, for $15. A book by Goolam Muhammed bin Hajee Hafiz Sadek Randeri, entitled, “The Touchstone of Philosophers”. There is also a book by Shaikh Faizullah-bhai (Fellow of the University of Bombay and headmaster of the “Anjuman-i-Islam” schools), entitled, “A Moslem Present”, for $35, this book is an anthology of Arabic poems about the Prophet and the faith of Islam. There is also a book entitled, “Al Bahsul-Jaleel” or “The Delhi Controversy” between Maulvi Sharful Haq Kadri Jalali, translated by S. Abdul Haq sahib and for $15. There is also a book for sale entitled, “The Hero as Prophet” by Thos Carlyle for $15.
In 1895, Hajji Abdullah Browne, would meet “Mahmoud Salem Bey” in Alexandria and became his guest for some time, where Browne edited the Egyptian Herald, which advocated “the administrative autonomy of Egypt and the interests of Islam throughout the world”, and was financed by the Ottomans (See 11. Abd-Allah, U. F. 2006. A Muslim in Victorian America: The Life of Alexander Russell Webb. Oxford University Press. p. 75; Wood, H. F., 1896. Egypt under the British. London, Chapman & Hall. Pp. 122-123).
In 1907, he published “Bonaparte in Egypt and the Egyptians of Today” by Haji A. Browne.
In 1907, he died (See Al-Ahari).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1893
This is an essay originally published in Muhammad Alexander Russell Webb’s Muslim World newspaper in 1893. It was later published as a separate pamphlet by Webb. This represents the first reprinting with a new introduction documenting Browne’s importance to the nascent Islam community in England and the United States at the end of the 19th century.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1894
May-25
Aug-1894 edition of the “Voice of Islam”
In 1894 (May-25), in the “Voice of Islam” newspaper, it is reported that Nafeesa M.T. Keep was elected as secretary of the “American Muslim Brotherhood”. The election was held in the reading room of “The Moslem World Co.”, No. 30 East 23d St. NY. Nafeesa M.T. Keep is also on the “Board of Publications”. The Vice President is C. Omar MacCoun, the Librarian is Ahmed Hamouda, the assistant librarian is R. Othman White, the Treasurer is H. Ali Lewis. H. Ali Lewis is also on the “Board of Publications”, as well as C. Omar MacCoun and R. Othman White. On the Advisory Board are 3 people, E. A. Arnold, H. Fatima Peabody and Khaled D. Hutchins (See Aug-1894 edition of the “Voice of Islam”). James S. Laidlaw has an essay and short poem in this edition of the “Voice of Islam” (Aug-1894 edition). H.A. Lewis is also the “Business Manager” of the “Voice of Islam” and “American Moslem Brotherhood”. Interestingly, a mission in Lahore is discussed called the Anjuman-i-Islam wherein young boys are being taught, this is called the Islamic College. The Nawab of Bahawalpur has given money for orphan boys and via the “Anjuman-i-Himayat-e-Islam“. Many books are listed for sale, a book by Haji Abdullah Browne entitled, “The Evidences of Islam” (from London). Barkatullah also has a book for sale, entitled, “Eleven Months’ Mussulman Work at Hyderabad (Deccan), India, as well as a book by G.W. Leitner (of the Woking Mosque), entitled, “Mohammedanism”. Webb‘s book, “Islam in America” is the most expensive book, $50 for 75 pages. “Education and Literature of the Women of Turkey” by Senorita Esmeralda Cervantes, for $15. A book by Goolam Muhammed bin Hajee Hafiz Sadek Randeri, entitled, “The Touchstone of Philosophers”. There is also a book by Shaikh Faizullah-bhai (Fellow of the University of Bombay and headmaster of the “Anjuman-i-Islam” schools), entitled, “A Moslem Present”, for $35, this book is an anthology of Arabic poems about the Prophet and the faith of Islam. There is also a book entitled, “Al Bahsul-Jaleel” or “The Delhi Controversy” between Maulvi Sharful Haq Kadri Jalali, translated by S. Abdul Haq sahib and for $15. There is also a book for sale entitled, “The Hero as Prophet” by Thos Carlyle for $15.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
1895
11. Abd-Allah, U. F. 2006. A Muslim in Victorian America: The Life of Alexander Russell Webb. Oxford University Press. p. 75; Wood, H. F., 1896. Egypt under the British. London, Chapman & Hall. Pp. 122-123.
In 1895, Hajji Abdullah Browne, a friend of Quilliam’s, would meet “Mahmoud Salem Bey” in Alexandria and became his guest for some time, where Browne edited the Egyptian Herald, which advocated “the administrative autonomy of Egypt and the interests of Islam throughout the world”, and was financed by the Ottomans (See 11. Abd-Allah, U. F. 2006. A Muslim in Victorian America: The Life of Alexander Russell Webb. Oxford University Press. p. 75; Wood, H. F., 1896. Egypt under the British. London, Chapman & Hall. Pp. 122-123).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1907
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39971/pg39971-images.html
In 1907, he published “Bonaparte in Egypt and the Egyptians of Today” by Haji A. Browne.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Links and Related Essay’s
The Evidences of Islam: The Religion of the Muslims Clearly of Divine Origin: Browne, Haji Abdullah, Al-Ahari, Muhammed Abdullah: 9781983422799: Amazon.com: Books
An Early Arab View of Liverpool’s Muslims – Everyday Muslim
Alexander Russel Webb was an EX-Ahmadi in 1891 – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam’s International Influence: America, West Africa, and Beyond
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1041&context=library-publications
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Tags
#ahmadiyya #ahmadiyyafactcheckblog #messiahhascome #ahmadiyyat #trueislam #mirzaghulamahmad
1 Pingback