Intro
In various newspapers of 1894, Haji Abdullah Arab was described as a wealthy business-man from Jeddah (See the New York Herald of Tue, Jul 17, 1894 ·Page 2). However, he seems to be a British agent. Alexander Webb described Hajee Abdullah Arab as a grand old man from Medina (ref under construction). Simultaneously, a woman named Nafeesa Kemp had worked in an official capacity under Webb as the editor of the “Voice of Islam” newspaper, was barricaded inside of Webb’s business office and refuses to leave, this is at 30 East 23rd St. NY.
In 1892, Haji Abdullah Arab (see “Mujadid-e-Azim”, by Dr. Basharat Ahmad) went to the Philippines to visit Alexander Webb (see “The three Lectures of Alexander Webb”) and brought him to India. Per Maulvi Hassan Ali, Haji Abdullah Arab convinced Alexander Webb to quit his job as the “Consul General” in the Philipinnes and travel to India and then to the USA and start preaching Islam. He landed in British-India (Calcutta), India on Oct 2nd, 1892 (See Singleton) and met up with Moulvi Hasan Ali Sahib Bhagalpuri. Moulvi Hasan Ali accompanied Mr. Webb during his 3 Lectures in Madras, Hyderabad (Deccan) and Bombay (Thursday evening, 10th November, 1892). A man named Badrudin Abdulla Kur Esq. also had the Bombay lecture published. It’s unclear when and where Moulvi Hasan Ali Sahib Bhagalpuri became an Ahmadi, he is listed in 1896 in the famous list of 313 Ahmadi’s (see Dard)(see Tareekh Ahmadiyyat Vol 1 Page 307). He then travelled North-west to Agra, most likely via train, and made it to Lahore. He was in British-India from Oct 2nd to Dec-15th 1892. Nevertheless, in 1892, Webb refused to meet MGA (see page 24, Singleton). He also met up with Haji Abdullah Arab (see “Mujadid-e-Azim”, by Dr. Basharat Ahmad). The Lahori-Ahmadi’s even claim that Haji Abdullah Arab went to Qadian in 1892 and told him about Webb and how Islam in America was about to be launched (see “Mujadid-e-Azim”, by Dr. Basharat Ahmad). Thus, Webb was around people who knew of MGA and willingly decided to avoid MGA altogether. Webb also worked with a Burmese Muslim named Abdul Kareem Abdul Shakur Jamal (See Singleton). Interestingly, in this era, he called Indians as niggers, (See “A Muslim in Victorian America” by Abd-Allah, pages 135-136).
In 1892, Mohammed Alexander Webb and Haji Abdullah Arab toured Burma and then
India all the way to Lahore. Webb visited Poona, Bombay, Calcutta, Hyderabad, and Madras and gave speeches in each town. In India, he repeatedly expressed his dislike of Westernization and its effect on colonized Muslims. He viewed Muslims who were blindly imitating the West, adopting its style of clothing, and abandoning their own as servile and unworthy of their rich heritage. He saw them as far removed from a genuine Islamic ethos, stating: “The only Mohammedans in all the East who drink intoxicating beverages are those who have been educated in England and wear European clothes. Their contact with Christian nations has demoralized them, and they have drifted away from their religion” (See Abd-Allah, Umar Faruq [2006]. A Muslim in Victorian America : the life of Alexander Russell Webb. Oxford University Press. p. 10. ISBN 0195187288. Retrieved 6 April 2020).
In 1893, The Mohammadan Tract and Book Depot, Punjab published “The Propagation of Islam”, A Lecture Delivered in English by Nawab Mohsan-ul-Mulk Bahadur (1893). The future plans of spreading Islam in America are laid out, Alexander Webb, Haji Abdullah Arab and Maulvi Hassan Ali are mentioned. On page 46, they allege that Webb is trustworthy and won’t steal the money.
In 1893 (Sep), the St. Louis Globe-Democrat of Sun, Sep 03, 1893 ·Page 30 called Webb as “Islam’s Champion” and gave his conversion to Islam story. The headlines allege that Webb‘s studies in Manila and his reception in India made him convert to Islam. The newspaper also alleges that the origin of Webb as a missionary as a valid idea will also be told and how Webb plans to spread Islam in America via the benefits of polygamy. In the article, Webb is interviewed, Webb alleges to have made more converts in America than any Christian missionary in any foreign country. Webb alleges to have started “study” circles in Colorado, NY and Washington DC. Webb alleges that his converts have converted to Islam on their own, Webb has not seen many of these alleged converts. Webb alleges that as early as 1885, he had secured the job as American consul in Manila. Webb alleges that he studied Islam while in Manila and converted alone. Webb admits to being funded by Indians. Webb alleges to not be the first ex-Christian turned Muslim and mentions Quilliam and his mosque in Liverpool and alleges that they have a membership of 800. Webb says that he met Haji Abullah Arab through Budrudin Abdullah Kur, Webb alleges to have converted to Islam 4 years prior (1889, he would have been in Manila). Budrudin Abdullah Kur is a member of the municipal council in Bombay. Webb says that he had been corresponding with Budrudin Abdullah Kur while in Manila. In March of 1892, Webb says he was visited in Manila by Haji Abdullah Arab and Maulvi Seraj uddin Ahmad. Webb was requested to make a budget of costs for a mission in America. At which point, Haji Abdullah Arab and Maulvi Seraj uddin Ahmad returned to India and collected the monies. They then sent Webb a letter and Webb immediately came to Bombay, India. Thus, a committee was formed with a man named Hajee Nur Jan Mohammed as the President. Webb then alleges to have arrived in Calcutta and was greeted by 5000 Muslim men. Webb alleges that the British government sent spies to watch him. Webb alleges to have went to the Madrassa College in Calcutta and gave a speech. However, the local authorities stopped all of this and Webb found a bungalow from where he spoke and people met him. Webb alleges to have travelled to Hyderabad (Deccan) thereafter and was received well, in fact, Webb alleges that the prince of Hyderabad (Deccan) regularly entertains notable Europeans. Webb says he was in Hyderabad (Deccan) for 3 weeks, however, he never met the prince and commented that the British Government watches him via spies when he eats. Webb says that the prince is totally controlled by the British government. Webb alleges to have lectured in the state pavilion at Hyderabad (Deccan) in the public gardens and got huge ovations. Webb also alleges to have spoke at the Great mosque in Hyderabad (Deccan) and Indians were ready to die for him. Webb alleges that the British Government has totally brainwashed Indians to believe that the Russians will attack at anytime, thus, the British aren’t that bad, even though the taxes are really high. Webb explains how the majority of the population at Hyderabad (Deccan) are Buddhist and Hindu’s and with the British if the Muslims ever revolted. Webb says he doesn’t teach polygamy. Webb argues that in American, women are homeless and living on the streets and thus polygamy would be better. Webb alleges that most Muslims only acknowledge one wife and the others are simply wives. Webb then alleges that his friend and financier, Haji Abdullah Arab was the son of a rich man and gave away all of his money to charity. Haji Abullah Arab was then homeless. However, everything changed recently and he became rich again and has homes in Caclutta, Jeddah and Medina. Webb alleges that Haji Abdullah Arab owns several iron steamers via a Hajj business. Webb says that he expects the arrival of a new helper named Mullah Mirza Khan next week as well as his team, which includes a Hafiz, an English clerk, a Maulvi and a cook. Webb says that this other visitors are Hajee Rahmatullah, Hajee Dawood, Maulvi Hassan Ali. Additionally, Webb alleges that some other people might come, Hajee Mohammed Abdus Salam of Madras (he is a wealthy merchant and his brother is the Turkish council), Jan Mohammed is another potential visitor, and a rich merchant of Calcutta and another person, Hajee Haroon Joffer Yusuf, a wealthy merchant from Poona. Webb alleges that when he arrived in Burma, some Muslims asked him to take the name of Abdullah, however, he arrived in India and ended up taking the name of Muhammad. Webb confirmed that Muhammad (Saw) was the comforter that was described in the Bible by Jesus (as) and would come specifically after the death of Jesus (as).
In 1894 (May), Hamid Snow is mentioned in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of Fri, May 18, 1894 ·Page 1 as someone who was working with Alexander Webb in New York. It seems that Hamid Snow was accusing Alexander Webb of fraud and misappropriation of funds and created a new organization called “The Church of Islam”. Haji Abdullah Arab was also mentioned, he seems to have given Alexander Webb 34,000 rupees.
In 1894 (July), the Altoona Tribune of Thu, Jul 19, 1894 ·Page 1 reports that Muhammed Webb was barred out of his business office vs. Mrs. Nafeesa M.T. Keep. Mrs. Keep used to be a Theosophist. Hajee Abdullah Hajee Arab is described as a wealthy oriental merchant, who lives Jedda. Arabia and has extensive commercial connections throughout India. Mrs. Keep alleges that Webb has been stealing money.
In 1896 (Mar), Mohammed Webb was forced to respond to allegations of stealing money. Webb wrote a letter to the NY Times about their issue of March-20-1896 (Friday) wherein a communication from Hajee Abdullah Arab sahib of Bombay, India. Webb alleges that the Nawab Sahib of Basoda, India did not give him 40k-50k, there is an error in the translation alleges Webb. Webb alleges that this was rupees and not British pounds and there is a huge difference between the two. Webb alleges to have only been given 12,000 pounds. Which is roughly 12,000 US dollars. Webb says that he was supposed to get 40k US Dollars and only got like 10k. Webb alleges that most of the money was received in NY. Haji Abdullah Arab allegedly gave 10k rupees (roughly 3k US dollars) from his own purse. Webb gives a list of 14 payments. Signed off by Webb from Ulster Park (See The New York Times of Fri, Mar 27, 1896 ·Page 3).
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