Souvenir on 50th Jalsa Salana USA — Page 64
DA'WAT ILALLAH IN USA The Promised Messiah (AS) introduced Is lam into the United States dur- ing his life. He also initiated a monthly magazine in English, The Review of Religion s, which was sent to the Western countries starting 1901. The Promised Messiah (AS) addressed many religiou s scholars and leaders and invited them to Islam. His challenge to Dr. Alexander Dowie received a great deal of publicity in the American press. The pathetic end of Dowie was covered very extensively. JC In 1920 , Hadhrat Mufti Mu~ad Sadiq (RA) was sent to USA by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih @'( RA). He converted hundreds of American s into Islam, and started a quarterly magazine , The Moslem Sunrise. Since then scores of Ahmadi missionaries and hundreds of Ahmadi s in their per - sonal capacity, have conveyed the message of Islam in USA over the last seven decade s. Some highlights of the activities in the recent years are given below: • Religious Founders' Day celebrations are held annually in all major communitie s, including Chicago , Dayton, Houston, Los Angeles , Maryland, New York, North Jersey , Philadelphia , Portland, San Francisco, San Jose, Willingboro , and York. In the tradition of these ce l- ebrations all over the world, eminent scholars of different faiths are invit- ed to speak on these occasions. •C entennial anniversary of the Philo so phy of the Teachings of Islam was ce l ebrated with meeting s in several chapters ranging from group discus- sions to general public meetings. Public meeting s were held in Chicago, Houston , Lo s Angeles, Maryland , New York, Philadelphia , Portland, and York. The Philo sop hy of the Teachings of Is lam was pre se nted as a gift to over 2000 Professor s, and national and international dignitaries. • Islamic books are placed in public libraries by Khuddam and Lajna Imaillah, including the Holy Quran, Life of Muhammad (SA), Philosophy of the Teaching s of Islam , and Jesus in India. Various chapters regularly participate in local, regional , and internation- al fairs and exhibitions in which volunteers di s tribute pamphlets and answer questions of the visitors. • Holy Qur ' an has been presented to President Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and the Pre s id ent of Lithuania.