Intro
Al-Bayan, البيان [The Explanation] was published by Suleiman Baddour out of Brooklyn, New York. The newspaper started in 1911 and lasted until 1967. Al-Bayan Newspapers collection includes issues dating from January 24 1911 to January 22 1916, January 25 1917 to July 31 1926, and January 25 to December 31 1938. A search engine can be found herein–KCLDS (arabicsearch.org).
Mufti Muhammad Sadiq arrived in NY in early 1920 and began interacting with the American Mohammedan Society and the Al-Bayan, البيان [The Explanation] newspaper. He was desperately trying to become their Imam. It didn’t work out. In June of 1920, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq travelled from New York to Detroit. The Al-Bayan reported his visit in its edition of 26 June, 1920. On June 14, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq arrived in Detroit and was given a good reception, the Muslims of Detroit had no idea what #Qadianism was nor did they know that MGA claimed to be a prophet. By July-1920, he was back in NY.
By August-Sep 1920, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq arrived in Chicago and began working. The ROR of Oct-1920 reports that Muftree Muhammad Sadiq has converted 40 American’s thus far. It also reports that Sadiq moved from New York to Chicago recently. He seems to have lived and worked in Chicago from Aug-Sep 1920 until Feb 1921.
In February 1921, he was invited again to Detroit for lectures, so he arrived there on 5 February 1921. With the characteristic hospitality of Arab Muslims, he was offered a friendly and generous reception and accommodation. He stayed for more than a month in Detroit and its suburb Highland Park with these Arab Muslim friends and delivered a series of lectures on Islam.
By March 1921, he was back in Chicago, he had met with the Muslims in Highland park and promised to return when the mosque opened. On the way to Chicago, he was given a warm welcome by the Syrian community of Michigan City, Indiana. A banquet was also held in his honour where he delivered a lecture (Al-Bayan, 29 March, 1921, p. 3). The whole programme was announced earlier in The Michigan City News on 8 March, 1921.
In June of 1921, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq returned to Highland Park and led the Eid prayer at the new mosque. The sermon delivered by Hussain Karoub, the brother of Muhammad Karoub. The Eid celebration continued after the Eid prayer as a parade was arranged on Victor Ave. In the July-1921 edition of the Moslem Sunrise, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq thanks Mr. Muhammad Karroub.
Mufti Muhammad Sadiq stayed in Highland Park until June-July of 1922, roughly a year. He was ran out of Highland Park, since it was found out that he was a Qadiani and using the money of Muhammad Karroub to advance the Qadiani Agenda (See the Detroit Free Press, 24 Sep, 1922, p. 75).
In May 1922 he travelled to Chicago and once again made it the mission’s centre. The first Ahmadiyya mission-house/temple in America was built in Chicago on 4448 Wabash Avenue. The July-1922 edition of the Moslem Sunrise states the same, permanent quarters of our [Ahmadiyya] Mission have now been established in Chicago where I have bought a large house – a part of which with necessary alterations has been fixed up into a Mosque and the rest decorated and furnished as the Mission House and the office of The Moslem Sunrise. This building owned by the Ahmadia Movement is situated on Wabash Ave. and 45th Street, Northwest Corner. We appreciate the pains taken by our dear Brother Muhammed Yaqub (Mr Andrew Jacob) – carpenter, in making the Mehrab and the Gumbad (Arch and Dome) of the Mosque.