The Muslim Sunrise (formerly known as the Moslem Sunrise) is an Islamic magazine established in 1921 and published by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA.
History
1921–1923
Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra), the first Ahmadi Muslim missionary to the United States, founded the magazine under the titles of the Moslem Sunrise and شَمْسُ الْإِسْلَام (Shams-ul-Islam, i.e. the Sun of Islam) in July 1921. He published the first issue from 74 Victor Avenue, Highland Park (Detroit), Michigan. An annual subscription cost $1.00 USD for four quarterly issues. The magazine also took subscriptions from the United Kingdom for £5 GBP and India for 5 Rupees. It was initially launched as a quarterly publication with the intent to gradually make it a monthly periodical (Alfazl (Urdu), July 21, 1921, p.1.).
Based on promotional announcements in advance of its inauguration, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) elucidated three aims of the magazine:
- Defend Islam and Muslims
- Report on the progress of the mission
- Invite Americans towards Islam and Ahmadiyyat
Early issues included reports of mission work; names and photographs of early converts; articles about Islam; and correspondence by Ahmadi and non-Ahmadi contacts of Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra). He published the first nine issues, receiving assistance from early converts, including Sister Rahatullah (Ella Mae Garber), Umme Salaam (E Maudling), and Muhammad Abdul Haqq (C.F. Seivwright). Of note, Hazrat Abdul Haqq (ra) met the Promised Messiah (as) in Qadian in 1903 and joined the Jamaat in 1906 (Moslem Sunrise, October 1922, no. 6, 143), during the lifetime of the Promised Messiah (as). Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (ra) was recalled to Qadian in 1923.
1923–1924
Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Din, BA, the second missionary to the United States, arrived at Boston from England on 27 March 1923. He assumed editorship of the magazine with the tenth issue, dated October 1923. He published just three issues before returning to Qadian himself. In his final issue, vol. III, iss. IV, Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Din related the expenses of the magazine were $1,500 against an income of only $600, warning that the magazine may pause for want of funds. Indeed, upon his departure, the magazine was placed on hiatus. (It is worth noting that Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Din published The Sunrise from Qadian in 1926, but it too was closed down.)
1930–1947
Missionary Sufi Mutiur Rahman (M.R.) Bengalee arrived in the United States in 1928 and in 1930, "under a heavy burden of debts," resumed publication of the magazine, leading it through 1947.
1948–2000s
In 1948, Missionary Khalil Ahmad Nasir—who completed his PhD at Northwestern University, founded Majlis Ansar Sultan-ul-Qalam, and was a member of the Council of Foreign Relations—took the reins of the magazine. In 1950, the magazine underwent its first redesign, replacing Moslem with Muslim and becoming more of a scholarly journal than a popular magazine. In addition to its usual topics, it took up the topic of post-World War II nation-building, publishing Pakistan's Objectives Resolution and routinely writing on Muslim-majority nationalist movements in post-colonial Africa and Asia. From the 1950s till the early 2000s, there were several looks and designs of the magazine.
2006 Redesign
In 2006 the publication underwent a complete makeover, transforming it into a modern magazine. The magazine established a new logo (still in use); featured several articles on a given theme, with colourful illustrations; and several recurring 'departments'.
Centenary – Change to Monthly
In the summer of 2021, the Muslim Sunrise celebrated its centennial, publishing a special double issue that featured a letter from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aa). In his letter, Huzoor (aa) advised constant self-reflection on whether the magazine was meeting its aims as set out by Hazrat Musleh-e-Mau'ud (ra); he further advised the magazine be published monthly rather than quarterly and its website be updated regularly and that it use social media platforms to further the reach of the magazine and its content.
Accordingly, in January 2022, the Muslim Sunrise, began publishing monthly, with a focus on its online platforms. Current subscription rates are $40 USD for 12 monthly issues.
