In 1934, the First Mosque of Cleveland was, developed by a major community of Ahmadis headed by Wali Akram from 1934-1937. By the 1940s, there were two hundred people in the Masjid. As the twentieth century progressed, the direct personal influence of the Ahmadi missionaries declined. Many of the early members left the movement for a variety of reasons. In the 1930’s, three other Mosques (Masjids) were started in Dearborn, MI., Sacramento, CA., and Michigan City, MI.
Books & Sources
Book: “African American Islam,” by Aminah Beverly McCloud
Book: “Islam: In the African-American Experience,” by Richard Brent Turner
Book: “Islam, Black Nationalism & Slavery,” Adib Rashad
External Research and Sources
- https://case.edu/ech/articles/a/akram-wali
- https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/wali-akram-obituary?id=21177302
- https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/L5NK-VBS/wali-akram-1904-1994
- https://prayersconnect.com/mosques/96311-first-cleveland-mosque-cleveland-ohio?ptimes_date=16-10-2021
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3CFHMNHtw0&list=PLf3Yqs8qcX9ps1NdW0wb NcDh5pR6Eex1c&index=21&t=1218s