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The life and impact of Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) were set in motion with the opening of a story that began in the British Indian city of Bhera. A descendant from the direct lineage of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), Hazrat Sadiq (ra) was designated through prayer by saints even before birth. That blessed day was January 11, 1872. As a result, a unique spark overtook this boy, who indulged in praying in seclusion and connecting with the Divine even as a child (1).
The city of his birth was predominately Muslim, but a serenity of Mandirs, Gurdwaras, and Mosques enveloped every street corner. As early as 13, he questioned whether revelation could ever again descend on any human being after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). It was, therefore, overwhelming to hear of a man in a distant village claiming to receive divine revelation once again. This would be the first instance that he would hear the name of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). It was still years before the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam was established, and it would not be the last (2).
By Age 15, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq’s father decided it was time for him to immerse himself in religious studies further, sending him to Jammu and Kashmir to learn from his maternal uncle, Hazrat Nooruddin (3). No surprise that this was the same Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin who would later be embraced by the Promised Messiah (as) as his most trusted and revered disciple, and the same Hazrat Nooruddin that became his very first Khalifa (successor). The trip was brief, but his father, Mufti Inayatullah, passed away within days after returning. Thus, his father was leaving the entire burden of the household on his only son, who was the eldest of two. Having to take care of his mother and younger sister, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) was forced to begin teaching immediately after graduating the tenth grade. However, due to his quick wit and mastery of the English language, he was employed with ease in Jammu as a High School teacher despite his young age (4).
Then at 17, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) saw the most incredible dream that finally pulled him closer to the message of the Promised Messiah (as) and its global mission.
“I saw a star rising from the East, and it kept on ascending with more glory and shine until it reached the center of the sky. At this point, that star was as big and bright as the moon. Then it started orbiting, and each circle was orbiting faster than before until it had reached the horizon. This part of the dream was so powerful that I woke up” (5).
His understanding of the dream was that a Reformer would unquestionably descend on earth to expand Islam. So he immediately connected the dots and started corresponding with Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah (as) (6).
However, letters did not do justice to the ever-prevailing questions that arose in his mind forcing him to trek the 160-kilometer journey to Qadian. Soul ultimately recognized soul. Soon after, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) stepped forward to embrace him by taking the initiation at his hands (7). This day was January 31, 1891, and not a single day went by since that moment that Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) did not devote every spare moment to travel to Qadian to see his Master, again and again (8), ultimately deciding to relocate to Qadian permanently (9).
During one such transformative visit, the Promised Messiah (as) took Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) into a small room, urging him to remain seated while food would be brought to him.
“I thought a servant would bring the food, but I was astonished to see that the Promised Messiah (as) appeared with food in his hands. His Holiness (as) said, ‘Mufti Sahib, you should start eating while I go and bring water for you.’ I could not control my emotions and started weeping. I asked myself that if His Holiness (as) is serving me, even though he is our Master and leader, with what humility then should we serve others?” (10).
After settling in Qadian, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) began correspondences with others across the globe, introducing them to Islam. Among them were Dr. Baker of Philadelphia and Mr. F. L. Anderson of New York City who embraced Islam Ahmadiyyat by the continued correspondences furnished by Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) (11).
By 1907 at the age of 35, he left his employment. Instead, he decided to dedicate his life as a full-time Missionary joining other life devotees who passionately spent every waking moment to serve the mission of the Promised Messiah (as), writing and translating materials received from afar for the Promised Messiah (as).
Little did he know that his decision would be the start of a new American revolution that would completely transform the very dynamics of American society, reshape the entire next century, and champion Islam as the second-largest religion in the US by 2050. However, it would not be until the era of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) that he would traverse vast distances and meet all those he had changed.
The trumpets of war prompted the beginnings of that journey. This war was not an ordinary war, but the infamous World War I. At this time, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) received the orders to depart for England. Upon hearing this, many concerned well-wishers implored him to forego the mission, apologize to the Khalifatul Masih, and not go. He replied,
“What is the worst that could happen to me? I could either be arrested as a POW or be killed. If it is the first, I will preach Islam and Ahmadiyyat in the jail, and if I am murdered, I would have surely succeeded, for I have no desire for this life” (12).
This was his devotion, desire, and passion for spreading the message of Islam.
Some, still very concerned, mustered the courage to speak to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) of the treacherous journey by sea that would have to be undertaken at the risk of his life. Hearing this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) replied,
“although the wheat grains are ground in the millstone, there are some grains that are saved even after the grinding process. Mufti Sahib is one of those that will remain safe; nothing will happen to him” (13).
Then, amazed by his fortitude and certainty, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) related the story of this journey:
“Many ships were destroyed before us and behind us, but our ship remained unhurt. As we entered the Mediterranean Sea, the captain and his crew became restless, for they did not know what would happen next. I had a vision that Allah is operating the ship, and an Angel says to me in English that: “Sadiq, rest assured, this steamer will arrive safely” (14).
Indeed, the ship did arrive safely in England in 1917 and eventually departed for the USA in 1920. However, as he arrived on the shores of Philadelphia, he was immediately confronted with hostility and denied entry. In his memoirs, he mentions the reaction of the immigration officers when they saw his request to enter the United States to preach Islam. They quickly decided they did not want anything to do with such a predicament and allowed all other passengers to pass through while giving Hazrat Sadiq (ra) a simple option; either return on the same ship he came on or be imprisoned awaiting the President of the United States to decide his fate.
Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) reacted very courageously,
“I am not going back for my Khalifa has ordered me to go to the USA and preach the message of Islam. Many souls are waiting for my arrival to be guided on the right path” (15).
The officers could not understand what was said and therefore insisted on the afore-mentioned two options. Again Hazrat Sadiq (ra) bravely chose imprisonment so he could fulfill his mission of spreading Islam. During his nearly seven weeks in the immigration detention center, Hazrat Sadiq (ra) continued preaching and saw many individuals join Islam from among his fellow prisoners (16).
Khalifatul Masih II became aware of the decision to imprison his disciple from the headquarters of Qadian, he made the following proclamation:
“America claims to be a powerful country for she has only battled with worldly kingdoms and has not confronted a spiritual kingdom yet. If America confronts our kingdom, she will never be able to defeat us because God is on our side. We will preach to the surrounding outskirts of America and convert them to Islam, and then we will send them to America whom they will not be able to stop. I hope the day would come when all of America will sing the words of Kalima: La ilaha illallaho Muhammadur Rasulullah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger), and that day will certainly come” (17).
In those early days, he must have felt the need was even more significant than anticipated. And so, what came next could not be halted; a passion for spreading Islam shook the very core of America. People from all walks of life started paying attention and pondered over this newfound philosophy of faith with delight and amusement. God desired to guide Americans and plant the framework for Islam that will eventually lead every street corner in America to sing the words of the Kalima. His mission was fortified by the prayers he made, the mosque he established, the people he met, and of course, the magazine that became his instrument of choice. But, it was the Muslim Sunrise that helped awaken people from sea to shining sea. For someone in complete isolation, first during a voyage, then while in confinement, all while in an era that included every conceivable misery, left him with nothing in his hands except the burning zeal of his heart (18). It was that flame that set the groundwork for this great spiritual revolution. “It had been decreed in the heavens that the western world should no more prostrate before a man-god but should turn to Allah, the true God, the One God, God of Abraham (as), Ishmael (as), Isaac (as), Moses (as), Jesus (as), Muhammad (sa), and Ahmad (as). Prophet Ahmad (as) foresaw this more than twenty years ago, and Prophet Muhammad (sa) foresaw and foretold this thirteen hundred years ago” (19).
References
1. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, Tadeeth bin Ne`mat, Muhammad Yameen and Sons, Qadian, Page 3
2. Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Zikre Habib, Manager Book Depot Taleef-o-Isha`at Qadian, Dec. 1932, Page 2
3. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Zikre Habib, Manager Book Depot Taleef-o-Isha`at Qadian, Dec. 1932, Page 2
4. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Tahqiq Jadid Muta`liq Qadre Masih, Taleef-o-Ishaat Qadian, Page 162
5. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Zikre Habib, Manager Book Depot Taleef-o-Isha`at Qadian, Dec. 1932, Page 3
6. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Zikre Habib, Manager Book Depot T aleef-o-Isha`at Qadian, Dec. 1932, Page 4
7. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Zikre Habib, Manager Book Depot Taleef-o-Isha`at Qadian, Dec. 1932, Page 6 & Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Zikre Habib, Manager Book Depot Taleef-o-Isha`at Qadian, December 1932, Page 6
8. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Zikre Habib, Manager Book Depot Taleef-o-Isha`at Qadian, Dec. 1932, Page 7
9. Maulana Dost Muhammad Shahib, Tarikhe Ahmadiyyat, Nazarat Nashro Ishaat Qadian, 2007, Vol. 18, Page 563
10. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Zikre Habib, Manager Book Depot Taleef-o-Isha`at Qadian, Dec. 1932, Page 327
11. Al-Hakam, Number 8, Volume 6, February 28, 1902, and Al-Hakam, Number 41-42, Vol. 8, November 30- December 10, 1904
12. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, Khilafate Thania kay karnamay, Al-Hakam Khilafat Number, Dec. 21-28, 1937, Page 6
13. Shaikh Muhammad Asmaeel Paani Pati, Lataife Sadiq, Jamaluddin Anjum,
14. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Khilafate Thania kay karnamay, Al-Hakam Khilafat Number, Dec. 21-28, 1937, Page 6
15. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Khilafate Thania kay karnamay, Al-Hakam Khilafat Number, Dec. 21-28, 1937, Page 6
16. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib (ra), One Year’s Moslem Missionary Work in America, The Moslem Sunrise, July 1921, Page 12
17. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib, Khilafate Thania kay karnamay, Al-Hakam Khilafat Number, Dec. 21-28, 1937, Page 6
18. Shaikh Muhammad Asmaeel Paani Pati, Lataife Sadiq, Jamaluddin Anjum, 1946, Page 138-139
19. Muslim Sunrise 1923, Vol 2/3, pp. 188
Last modified: January 2022
