Propagation of Islam

AAIIL(UK) Bulletin, May 1989 Issue (p. 4)

The Ahmadiyya Movement has the distinction of being the first organisation to undertake the propagation of Islam to the Western world. We produced the first popular English translation of the Holy Quran penned by a Muslim, and we were first in bringing out the German and the Dutch translations. Further we set up the first Muslim missions in Europe in the UK, Germany, Holland and Austria. These missions were established in accordance with the prophecy of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) as interpreted by the Promised Messiah [Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian]. He said:

“We believe that the Sun that shall rise from the West. However, what has been revealed to this humble one in a vision, is that by the sun rising from the West is meant, the Western countries which are full of disbelief and heresy from ancient times, becoming illuminated by the Sun of Truth and a part of Islamic world.” (Izala-e-Auham, p. 515)

These missions were also a fulfilment of the visions of the Promised Messiah himself. He described one such vision in this way:

“I saw that I am standing on a pulpit in the city of London and that I am showing the truth of Islam by reasoned speech. After that, I caught many birds which were perched on small trees and their colour was white… Then I interpreted it thus, that, though not I, but my writings shall spread widely among these people and that many righteous English shall accept the Truth.” (Izala-e-Auham, pp. 515–516)

The Promised Messiah had started by bringing out the journal: A Review of Religions. This contained Islamic literature in English and it was widely distributed to the West. Mr Russell Webb, the first American Muslim, embraced Islam through the Promised Messiah’s efforts. Then, there were, his true followers who took up the jihad of the pen and went out to the four corners of the world for propagation of Islam. One such couple was Dr Shaikh Muhammad Abdullah and his wife Mahmooda Abdullah. This lady, who outlived her noble husband by three decades, passed away this month in Lahore in Pakistan (inna lillla hai wa inna alai hai rajiun).

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