Souvenir on Baitur Rahman Mosque USA Inauguration — Page 8
AHMADIYYA MOVEMENT IN AMERICA ''Our task today is to herald the news in all directions; he who has a noble soul surely comes!" Mr. Muh ammad Alexander Russell Webb The First American Co nv ert to Islam The Un it ed States of America is one of those countries whic h was bl essed with t he message of true Islam through the Promised Messiah himself. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad first conveyed the message of Islam to the American people t hrough a pamphlet mailed to thousands of laymen and clergy in Europe and America in the year 1885. This created a considerable interest in Islam among various section s of t he Americans. A journalist, Mr. A le xander Russell Webb, who later became American Consu l in the Philippines, became deeply interested and started correspondence with Hazrat Ahmad. In a letter dated February 24, 1887, Mr. Webb wrote to the Promised Messiah:". . . it occurred to me that I might, through your aid, assist in spreading the truth here. If, as you say, the Muhamaden is the only trne religion why could 1 not ace as its Aposde or Promulgator in America. . . " Consequently, Mr. Webb accepted I slam and became an active (The Promised Mcmah) missionary of Islam, established seven Islamic branches in various cities in the United States, and in 1893, founded a publication, "The Moslem World". In h is letter of condolence upon the death of t he Promised Messiah, Mr. Webb wrote:" Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad accomplished a great undertaking and conveyed the light of truth to hundr eds of hearts, which it cou ld not have reach ed ot herwise. More t han twenty years ago I started my correspondence with him and ever since then I have been deeply affected by the fearless ea rn estness with which he conti nu ed to spread the t ruth in the pursuance of his purpose. Without a doubt God Almighty had chosen him for t hi s gr eat enterprise whi~h he fulfilled completely. I am sure t hat he will enjoy the companionship of the saints a nd prophets in heaven. " The Chicago Mosque In 1922, the first Ahmadiyya Mosque was estab li shed in C hicago at 4448 Wabash Av- en u e. The money for this project was do- nated by Ahmadis in India. 8 Hazrat Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (May Allah be pleased with him) T he Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam began its regular mission in the U. S. A. in 1920 under the direction of Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, the Second Successor of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, of Qadian, India. The first Ahmadiyya Muslim missionary in America, Hazrat Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, arrived in New York on February 25, 1920; but he was detained in Ellis Island, New York. He was asked to wr ite to the President of the country. The Secretary of State replied on behalf of the President conveying his permission to him to preach Islam in the United States. Soon after his arrival, D r. Sad iq estab li shed t he first Headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam in C hicago, Illinois.