Black History Month: Honoring Pioneer Ahmadi Muslims

“There is no color in Islam; we are all brothers in the sight of Allah. Our requirements are few. We keep in communion with God, hold one month’s fast during the year—during this time we eat at night instead of day—join the Holy Annual Assembly in Mecca at least once in our lifetime, and say five prayers a day.”

—Sheikh Ahmad Din (1923)

On February 10th, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford issued a message on the observance of Black History Month. He told us that our Founding Fathers’ ideals of “freedom” and the “recognition of individual rights” took many years before they were a reality for Black citizens. He urged all of us to “seize the opportunity to honor the too often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

It is therefore vitally important to celebrate the diversity in our communities, particularly historically. The spread of Islam in America can be traced directly back to Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahab and other early Ahmadi missionaries. Sadiq Sahab was the first Ahmadi missionary to come to America, arriving in 1920. He established in Chicago the American headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

He attracted a diverse group of converts, the majority of which were African-American. He fostered a deep appreciation of the peaceful and equitable teachings of Islam. Many whom he taught went on to become leaders of their communities in cities around the country, including St. Louis, Pittsburg, and Detroit. These dynamic figures would speak out against racism and the race divide seen in America.

One notable member of the community was Nur-ul-Islam, who during one period of his life was a welder working sixteen hours a day in the steaming hot steel mills. Despite these conditions, he would still fast the month of Ramadan. He was constant in charity and almsgiving. He never missed an opportunity to serve his community.

Members recall one incident when he was crippled over in pain yet made it as promised to a gathering at the mosque. Later he had to be carried away by an ambulance and was hospitalized due to a bleeding ulcer. His dedication to service and the community at large made a lasting impression on those he met.

Hameeda Khatun Chambers was a notable Ahmadi Muslim woman whose personal examples of service, sacrifice and perseverance were outstanding. Similarly, Mubaraka Malik was a prominent African-American Ahmadi Muslim female leader who met President Gerald R. Ford on September 30th, 1974 as Congressional Candidate for Wisconsin’s 5th District (pictured above).

The advent of Islam 1400 years ago established universal rules for brotherhood and peace. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized racial equality in his Farewell Sermon, stating, “All of you are equal. All people, whatever nation or tribe they belong to, and whatever station in life they may hold, are equal. An Arab possesses no superiority over the non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab. Likewise, a White person possesses no superiority over a Black person nor a Black person over a White person.” Furthermore, Islam recognized the beauty in our diversity, as is mentioned in the Holy Quran: “And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues and colors” (30:23).

This Black History Month we the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community celebrate the beauty in our diversity and honor the contributions of our African-American brothers and sisters to the community and our country as a whole.