USA Souvenir 1989 — Page 62
SHEIKH MUBARAK AHMAD AMIR AND MISSIONARY INCHARGE "Islam is the future religion of Africa. We are now preparing the ground. In Islam there is absolutly no distinction drawn between men of different s kin color nor of race. "Coming world events will aid the spread of Islam. Thirteen hundred years ago our Prophet spoke of the equality of all men. So, to speak of racial equality now is just to repeat his words. " These words stand out prominently in their meaning and realism today, decades after they were said by Shaikh Mubarak Ahmad, when he was the Amir and Missionary Incharge of Ahmadiyya Muslim missionary work in east Africa. Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad was born in Multan , Pakistan in 1910. At the age of fifteen years he dedicated his life for the service of Islam. Ile studied at Talimul Islam High School, Madrassa Ahmadiyya and Jamia Ahmadiyya at Qadian. After graduation his first assignment as missionary was at Ludhiana, India. Later, he served at Lahore, Simla and Kashmir. 62 His long career as missionary in East Africa began with his assignment in Mombasa. He served Amir and Missionary Incharge in Kenya , Uganda, Tanganika and Aden. During his stay in East Africa, he had the Holy Quran translated into Swahili language. Ile also arranged to have Ahmadiyya Mosques built at Oarus Salaam, Tabora, Mombasa, Jinga and Kampala as well a score of other places. Thousands entered the fold of Islam through his untiring efforts. While in Nairobi he challenged Billy Graham. The famous Amri ca n Evangelist expressed his inability to accept this challenge. In 1962 Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad returned to Pakistan. Ile served as Additional Nazir Islaho Irshad (Ta limul Quran) , as Secretary Fazle Umar Foundation, Secretary Hadiqatul Mubashereen and member Anjuman WaqfeJadid at Rabwah. lie supervised the construction of Masjid Aqsa , Fazle Umar Foundation and Khilafat Library building. In addition to many other assignments. During his ass ignment as Missionary lncharge of United Kingdom , missions were established in Southall, Birmingham, Manchester, Iladdersfield , Bradford, Gellingham, Croydon and Oxforshire. On arrival in US , Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad was enthusiatically received by the Community here. It happened to be the last day of the Majlise Shura meeting when Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad arrived. The foremost task assigned to him by Khalifatul Masih IV Hazrat Mirza Tahir was to laun ch a scheme to establish major Ahmadiyya Centers in the five important cities of Washington DC, New York, Detroit, Chicago and Lo s Angeles. A NATIONAL MOSQUE FUND WAS ESTABLISllED. WITHIN THREE YEARS OF HIS ARRIVAL, SllAIKll MUBARAK AHMAD OPENED 'l'llESE CENTERS AS WELL AS MAIN MISSIO N HOUSES. FOR THIS PURPOSE, OVER $2 MILLION WERE SPENT.