“Leader”, “a pioneer”, “stalwart of the Jama’at”, “legend”, “an institution”, “larger than life” and “one of a kind”. These are just some of the descriptions used about Mohammed Arshad Ahmedi Sahib who sadly passed away on Thursday 7th September 2023 at the age of 70 years. Inna lillaahe wa inna ilaihi raji’oon.
Family background and marriage
Mohamed Arshad Ahmedi Sahib was born in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1952. He was the son of Zaqqia Khanum Sahiba and Mohammed Yusuf Ahmedi Sahib. It was in Kenya where his father and grandfather, Babu Ghulam Mohammad Sahib, converted to Ahmadiyyat in 1935 during the time of missionary Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib.
Arshad Sahib moved to Kent, England, at the age of 15 to complete his education. He settled permanently when the rest of his family joined him during the period of the Asian exodus from East Africa in the late 1960s. The family faced a number of challenges yet integrated well into society and helped to build the Gillingham Jama’at, of which they became an integral part.
In 1976 Arshad Sahib married Amatul Baseer Ahmedi Sahiba, daughter of Khalifa Salahuddin Sahib and Amatul Hafeez Begum Sahiba, and granddaughter of Hazrat Dr Khalifa Rashiduddin Sahib (ra) who was a prominent companion of the Promised Messiah (as) and father-in-law of Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra). Through this he was blessed with a close relationship with the family of the Promised Messiah (as).
Jama’at service
Jama’at service
He had the honour of serving the Jama’at in several capacities including as National Khuddam Sports Secretary, President of Stevenage Jama’at and more recently as National Secretary Ishaat in the UK for over 20 years. In the year of the Jama’at centenary in 1989 he organised the cycle marathon from Bradford to London, which raised thousands of pounds for British charities.
He was a gifted orator and had the privilege of speaking at Jalsa Salana UK, as well as regularly delivering speeches at various events and dars in Ramadan in different Jama’ats. He also undertook various assignments for Wakalat-e-Tasneef London, notably proofreading manuscripts, and reviewed Shahid degree theses of final year Jamia Ahmadiyya UK students as a supervisor and examiner.
Love for the Holy Qur’an and Holy Prophet (saw)
Arshad Sahib had a deep love for the Holy Qur’an. He always exhorted his family members to do Tilawat audibly and melodiously, and he liked nothing more than them reciting the Holy Qur’an simultaneously in the home, particularly after Fajr and during Ramadan. Prior to his unexpected demise, when asked if he would like to have some reading material after his operation in hospital, his response was that he had a copy of the Holy Qur’an with him and that was enough.
He also had immense love for the Holy Prophet (saw). This was evident in his speeches during which he would often get emotional when referring to the Holy Prophet (saw). He particularly enjoyed reading biographies of his blessed life. Upon the instructions of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ru), Arshad Sahib wrote a book entitled ‘Rushdie: Haunted by his unholy ghosts’ as a rebuttal to literary attacks on the Holy Prophet (saw) by Salman Rushdie and other critics of Islam.
He was also very particular about reciting darood shareef on a regular basis and taught his family to do the same.
Attachment to mosque and regard for Salat
In November 2021, Arshad Sahib moved from Stevenage to Farnham with his wife and daughter Aasma in order to be closer to Masjid Mubarak and offer prayers behind Khalifa Waqt. He continued to serve the community in the local Ash Jama’at. He was regular in attending Fajr at the mosque and encouraged all his children and grandchildren to offer at least one daily prayer behind Hazrat Khalifatul Masih (aba) whenever they visited.
On the morning of his operation, he was anxious that he might miss Zuhr and Asr due to being under anaesthetic, and contacted a missionary to ask if he could offer these prayers early. Such was his regard for Salat.
Passion for sports
He was a talented all-round sportsman and played a number of sports at a competitive level, including hockey, cricket, squash and tennis, winning several national Khuddam tournaments in the latter. He qualified as a Squash Rackets Association (STA) club coach, and also went swimming on a regular basis, including in the days before his operation. He organised many tournaments and utilised sport as a means of encouraging and inspiring especially the youth to become closer to the Jama’at.Again in 1989, in the year of the Jama’at centenary, Arshad Sahib was the lead organiser of a major hockey tournament that took place in Gillingham. Twelve teams including local clubs took part in the event, which the Jama’at team won. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ru) graced the final with his presence, and at the dinner reception to which all the teams were invited, Huzur (ru) remarked: “This has been the best day, if not of my life, but certainly of this year.” A year later, Huzur (ru) named the Jama’at team ‘Muslims Tigers Ahmadiyya’, and Arshad Sahib had the privilege of being its captain for several years. The club played in Kent leagues, went on international tours and was victorious in many prestigious competitions. Through the team, the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat reached far and wide.
Arshad Sahib had the honour of playing table tennis with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (ru) and squash with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ru). He presented sports programmes on MTA International for whom he reported on a number of high-profile sporting events and interviewing world class sportsmen such as Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram and world squash champion Jansher Khan.
Affection for Africa and humanity
Arshad Sahib was keen to utilise his professional experience and expertise in the pharmaceutical industry for the service of humanity. Shortly before his passing, he wrote to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) expressing a desire to be part of a project which would provide medicines to all parts of Africa, a continent he loved so deeply.
Piety
He was a pious and devout Ahmadi, and a Musi. He had immense respect and reverence for Waqfeen-e-Zindagi, and he was renowned for his hospitable nature and inviting people from all walks of life to his home. Through his personal and professional networks, he was always ready to help Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis alike. He once remarked that the provision Allah had blessed him with, was solely because his son Mubariz was serving the Jama’at as a life devotee.
He was a very loving and caring family man who enjoyed spending time especially with his grandchildren. As part of their Tarbiyyat, even on family holidays abroad, he would ensure that they visited local Jama’at mosques and met with missionaries.
Obedience to Khilafat
Throughout his life Arshad Sahib demonstrated exemplary loyalty and obedience to Khilafat. His love for Khilafat was ignited in December 1960, when at the age of eight he travelled with his parents and siblings by boat from Kenya to Pakistan to meet Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra). He once said: ‘To be truthful as a young boy I cannot remember much of what was being said, but to this day the voice of the Khalifa still reverberates through my ears and the love affair had started.”
Love for Khilafat Sprinkled with Golden Memories’, Ta’lim UK lecture 2nd March 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQpJPx5vgvs&t=2068s
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) graciously led Arshad Sahib’s funeral prayer and paid a glowing tribute to him in his Friday Sermon of 15th September 2023, in which he also quoted what Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) once said about him:
“By the grace of Allah he was a Musi. He had a strong connection with the Jama’at. Wherever he lived, he served the Jama’at in one way or another. In Khuddamul Ahmadiyya he served as Mohtamim. He served as the National Secretary Isha’at for UK for more than 20 years. He had an intellectual disposition. When Salman Rushdie wrote a blasphemous book against the Holy Prophet (saw), on the instructions and guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ru), Arshad Sahib had the opportunity to write a rebuttal to it. He was regular in offering the prayers in congregation. Since we moved here, he bought a home near to Islamabad with the intention that he would offer prayers. He had a bond of love for the Holy Prophet (saw) and the Promised Messiah (as). He would regularly recite the Holy Qur’an. The deceased had a passion for propagating the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat. He was regular in giving chanda. He would meet everyone with love and warmth, and was eloquent. He was a sincere person who had a deep bond of reverence for Khilafat. On one occasion, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ru) said about him: ‘I have always found Arshad Ahmedi Sahib to be extremely obedient, the likes of which is seldom seen. Whatever I say to him, he accepts immediately. Because of this quality of his, I have a lot of respect for him and his family.’ In reality, this obedience and subservience continued even after. I have always found him to be humble and obedient to Khilafat. He always gave precedence to honour and respect of the Jama’at. May Allah bestow His mercy and forgiveness upon him and may Allah grant his children the opportunity to continue his virtuous deeds. One of his sons is a life devotee.” (Al Fazl International, London, Friday 6th October 2013 page 6, and MTA Online 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrrkdPTAcII)
In a message to Arshad Sahib’s family, Rafiq Ahmad Hayat Sahib, Ameer UK, wrote:
“You father was a very dear friend who had been a very important part of my life for 70 years. In a funny way I had lived longer with him than you and your siblings. From a very early age we lived close by and went to the same primary school where we both learned to swim, we went to the mosque daily and learned to play hockey and cricket together. We also both went to French classes at Nairobi University together. I believe Arshad learn to speak French but unfortunately the same cannot be said about me!
When the family migrated to the UK, we both continued to play hockey and cricket and learned to play squash and table tennis which you know that your dad had the good fortune to play against Khalifa Rabay (ru).
You dad was so keen on sports that when I became National Qaid and then later Sadar I requested him to become Mohtamim Sports which he very graciously accepted and we did some very memorable things together including the cycle marathon, the MTA hockey team, squash tournaments that Khalifa Rabay (ru) regularly attended, then this relationship continued in Ansarullah.
When I became Ameer, Arshad was appointed as Secretary Ishaat and he transformed the department and served for 21 years in that post.
There were so many other aspects to him that I cannot capture in this email but suffice to say that he became an elder of the Jamaat and a source inspiration of guidance for many.
This was an incredible journey, and I will miss him and his smiling face and his love and affection for me and my family.
When the family moved to Farnham, he continued to invite me and Shakira to visit the family to your new home and I promised that I would come and indeed Jummah before Germany Jalsa he met me at Islamabad and updated me on his operation and requested for prayers and once again extended his invitation for the visit.
I think his connection with Allah was so strong that Allah ensured that he did not suffer at the end and Huzoor e Anwar led his Janaza on Friday and paid such a great tribute including Khalifa Rabay’s feelings and his own feelings about him.
May Allah rest his soul in peace and grant him a lofty status hereafter and grant solace to you and your family, especially your mother.
You must take special care of her as she has lost a partner of 47 years which will leave a vacuum which needs to be filled with unconditional love from the children and grandchildren.”
Arshad Sahib is survived by his wife, a daughter, two sons and six grandchildren. He also leaves behind four brothers and one sister. His eldest brother is Muhammad Akram Ahmedi Sahib, who has served as Naib Amir UK and is chairman of IAAAE.
May Allah accept Arshad Sahib’s prayers, services and sacrifices, and grant him the highest abode in Paradise, Ameen.
Author: Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi sb., He is son of respected Mohamed Arshad Ahmedi Sahib