Annual report of the Ahmadiyya Mission in America, 1922
Al Fazl, 25 January 1923
Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra (1872-1957)
Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib wrote the following report to be read out at the Jalsa Salana [Qadian 1922], but since it could not arrive in time, it is now being conveyed to friends through this newspaper. [Editor, Al Fazl]
Brothers!
as-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
I thought that I would be in Qadian at this year’s Jalsa [Qadian 1922] and would have the privilege of meeting the companions, but I am not fortunate enough to have the honour of entering the beloved land. I love Qadian, and then I love my wife and children. My friends are very dear to me and the sadness of being separated from them for six years is really heavy on my heart. However, thank God, my journey is not for any personal gain or any carnal pleasure but for the spread of Islam and in obedience to the instructions of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih [IIra]. The feeling of separation from loved ones is a natural thing that is not in my control. Nevertheless, if Hazrat Imam[ra] orders me to stay longer in this country or instructs me, for instance, to go to South America or Japan, then my heart is as ready to obey this instruction as it is to return to Qadian. In obedience to my True Mentor, [Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra], home and foreign lands are the same for me, and journey and sojourn are no different.
I do not claim to have done anything on this journey [to America] or that I will be able to do more commendable works if I stay any longer. Not at all; it is Allah the Almighty Who is always doing the work and if anything has been achieved, it is only the result of the prayers of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih and the admirers of Sadiq. All the rewards [from these achievements are] theirs.
Brother Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sahib’s telegram, requesting to send a report for the Jalsa [Salana Qadian 1922], has been received at Al-Masjid [Chicago]. This is the first telegram that has been received at this address and has arrived safely. In a city like Chicago, which is a vast, endless city with a length of 26 miles and breadth of 15 miles, just writing “Al-Masjid Chicago” gets me the telegram. This [short address] reduces the cost and also helps make the mosque known. I did not know there was a need to write a report and now there is very little time left, so I will present a few things briefly:
Ahmadiyya Mosque
Last year, [1922] had been very auspicious in terms of preaching in this country [America].
Firstly, a permanent house and a mosque have been built for the Ahmadiyya Community in the centre of this country. It is located in the heart of Chicago. Its current value, along with its assets, is around 30 thousand rupees. A large sum of this money has already been deposited, some of which has been received from India and the rest has been collected here by the grace of Allah. For this very purpose, we are expecting 500 dollars more from India. Hopefully, friends have already collected this amount. May Allah the Almighty grant them the best of rewards. For the rest of the money, we have already made some arrangements here and some are still in process, insha-Allah.
[The] Moslem Sunrise
Secondly, the magazine, [The] Moslem Sunrise, is serving as a great instrument for tabligh [spread of Islam] not only in America but also in Canada, South America and Central America. This magazine is widely circulated by the grace of Allah the Almighty and the people read it with great interest. We receive letters in this respect on a daily basis.
Lectures
Thirdly, I delivered lectures and preached in many cities across the country. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, the lectures turned out to be successful in every place. Last year, nearly 200 lectures were delivered.
400 new converts
Fourthly, the number of new converts is now around 400 and growing by the day. Many of them perform prayers and learn Arabic. Especially in the city of Chicago, about sixty to seventy people join the prayers on Sunday, as it is a holiday.
Branches of the Mission
Fifthly, in addition to Chicago, two branches of the Mission have been opened in the cities of St Louis and Detroit. In each of the two places, the new converts there made arrangements for the lecturers at halls and libraries at their own expense and participated in the work of preaching. Amirs have been appointed in both cities. The Islamic name of one amir is Sheikh Ahmad Deen and the name of the other is Sheikh Abdus Salam. These two friends were formerly Christian priests and are now Muslim missionaries. They work purely out of passion and we do not even give them any financial support.
This is a short report of the work that was done here. I request that my friends remember me in their prayers.
Mufti Muhammad Sadiq. 21 November 1922.
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 25 January 1923 issue of Al Fazl)