The Moslem Sunrise, April & July 1923
Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra (1872-1957)
Catechism
1. Who are you?
Ans: I am an Ahmadi Moslem.
2. What is an Ahmadi Moslem?
Ans: One who accepts the religion of Islam as expounded by the latest Divine Reformer, the Prophet Ahmad[as] of India.
3. What do you believe?
Ans: I believe in One God (no Trinity or Fourinity); I believe in His Angels, His Prophets and His Books; I believe in life after death and in the Judgment of our deeds – good and bad; I believe in boundless forgiving from God; I believe in God’s kingdom prevailing over each and every thing; I believe that Jesus[as] Christ is dead and gone like all other prophets of God; I believe in one Spiritual Head of the whole Moslem Community, the Khalifatul Masih.
4. What are the practical obligations of an Ahmadi Moslem?
Ans: To say five daily prayers to God; to keep the month of fasting; to give alms in charity; to make a pilgrimage to Mecca; to live a peaceful life; to help the cause of the Mission; to give the message of Truth to others; to visit the sick; to help convey the coffin of the dead; to visit the headquarters at Qadian whenever possible; to sympathize with all.
5. Who is the Founder of Islam?
Ans: The Master-Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace and blessings of God.
6. Who is the Founder of the Ahmadia Movement?
Ans: The Prophet Ahmad[as] of Qadian, the Promised Messiah and Mehdi.
7. Who was the first successor to the Prophet Ahmad[as]?
Ans: His Hazrat Nur-ud-Din of the Blessed Memory.
8. Who is the present Head of the Ahmadi Brotherhood?
Ans: His Hazrat Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, may Allah save him long.
9. What books are you supposed to study?
Ans: (a) The Holy Quran – which contains all the Truth necessary for man.
(b) The traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad[sa], which show the way of the Book of God.
(c) The writings of the Promised Messiah Ahmad[as], which truly explain the teachings of the Quran.
10. What is the slogan of Islam?
Ans: There is none adorable but God and Muhammad[sa] is the Messenger of God.
11. What is the motto of the Ahmadia Movement?
Ans: “I will keep my Faith above the world.”
Note
As the April [1923] number [of The Moslem Sunrise] was delayed on account of certain financial difficulties, this issue combines both the April and July numbers, and its special features are Prayers, Meaning of Moslem Names, Calendar of Islamic Year and such other educational articles useful to new converts to Islam; this number has been named “New Moslem’s Number.”
Maulvi Muhammad Din BA
Maulvi Muhammad Din, BA, [former] Headmaster of TI High School, Qadian, and editor of The Review of Religions, the missionary designated for America, landed in Boston from England on 27 March [1923] and reached Chicago on 29 [March 1923]. He has taken up his work in earnest under the guidance of Mufti Muhammad Sadiq DD. May Allah help him long and make him a success. […]
Message of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra]
The Message (brought by Maulvi Muhammad Din BA, the second missionary of Islam to America):
From,
His Holiness Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad[ra], the Blessed Leader of the Ahmadia Movement.
To,
The New Moslems in America.
السلام علیکم ورحمۃ اللّٰہ وبرکاتہ
“Assalam-o-Alaikum. Peace be with you and the mercy of Allah.
“Though physically I am far away from you, in spirit, I am one with you and my heart is enraptured with love for you. You are a part of myself in our Brotherhood. I regard you all with the same loving consideration as I regard the people who live right here in Qadian. Yet I desire to see you putting forth efforts in the cause of truth and faith, not only like those here, but even going a step higher.
“A believer should strive to excel in the works of Faith. Strive hard then to acquire the knowledge of Faith; see Islam in its true and bright form and make others see its illustrious face.”
True salvation of [African] American
The real solution of the [African American] question
My Dear [African] Americans,
Assalaam-o-Alaikum. Peace be with you and the mercy of Allah.
The Christian profiteers brought you out of your native lands of Africa and in Christianizing you, they made you forget the religion and language of your forefathers – which were Islam and Arabic. You have experienced Christianity for so many years and it has proved to be no good. It is a failure. Christianity cannot bring real brotherhood to the nations. So, now leave it alone. And join Islam, the real faith of Universal Brotherhood. We have opened a School of Islam and the Arabic Language. Join Islam in the Ahmadia movement, founded by Ahmad[as] of India, the Prophet of the day, and be blessed.
For further information, address all letters to:
Ahmadia Movement,
4448 Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, Ill.
How to address a letter to the Leader of the Ahmadia Movement
To,
His Hazrat Mirza,
Basheer-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad,
Khalifat-ul- Masih II.
Qadian, (Gurdaspur) Punjab, India.
(Transcribed by Al Hakam from the original, published in The Moslem Sunrise, April and July 1923)