Ipswich family discovers history of missionary Mufti Sadiq

When Daphne Bassett’s grandchildren and some of her nieces and nephews said they wanted to know more about their family, nobody could ever have predicted the secrets they would uncover.

Daphne herself was one of nine children born to Frederick Bassett and his wife, Sylvia.

“Dad was very private, and he didn’t like to talk about his childhood,” explained Daphne. They did, however, know a few details, thanks to the research of Daphne’s late sister, Linda.

Frederick Arthur Bassett was born in London on May 20, 1920, to Ethel Bassett, a housemaid, and Mufti Sadiq, a Muslim missionary from India.  

Frederick Bassett as a child during the 1920s. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)Frederick Bassett's father, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq. Image: Public domain (Image: Public domain)

Whether Ethel ever revealed to Mufti that she was with child, Daphne and her siblings will never know. Mufti left England for America, and Ethel was left to raise Frederick alone.

Life was difficult for Frederick, especially being a mixed race little boy growing up in the 1920s.

When he was just seven, Ethel made the decision to take him to a Doctor Barnardo’s home. He lived in various homes until he was 15, when he was sent to work on a farm in Stowmarket, which his children say he hated.

Photos taken from Frederick Bassett's time growing up in a Doctor Barnardo's home. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)Photos taken from Frederick Bassett's time growing up in a Doctor Barnardo's home. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)

Frederick went from farm to farm in Suffolk, before he met Sylvia Rayner in Christchurch Park, Ipswich.

The couple married on August 30, 1941, and soon welcomed nine children of their own: June, Michael, Fatima, Patricia, Ann, Linda, Marina, Leon and Daphne.

During the 1940s, Mufti had somehow made contact with his son. They exchanged a few letters, and Mufti was delighted to learn that Sylvia was expecting their third child. If the baby was a girl, he asked that they named her Fatima, after the daughter of the prophet Muhammad, and Sylvia and Frederick agreed.

Perhaps due to the Second World War, they never made contact again. Mufti died in 1957, and Frederick later passed away in 1994.

A certificate given to Frederick Bassett when he left the Doctor Barnardo's home where he was raised. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)Frederick Bassett as a young man. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)Frederick and Sylvia Bassett on their wedding day on August 30, 1941. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)

In the late 90s, Daphne and Marina were determined to learn more about their father’s family.

Linda wrote letters to anyone she could think of with a connection to Mufti – and was delighted to receive a reply from his half-brother, Ahmad Mufti, who had no idea of their existence. He journeyed to Ipswich from America with his wife, Karim, in 2000, meeting his nieces and nephews for the very first time.

So, when Daphne’s granddaughter Morgan asked to learn more about Mufti, the family believed they had found out as much as it was possible to learn. However, when her mother, Kerrianne Crane, searched his name online, she was shocked at what she read.

Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, it turned out, was one of the very first Muslim missionaries to the UK and USA. He sought to spread the word about Islam and clear up any misconceptions about the faith, which he did by publishing pamphlets and delivering public lectures.

Mufti arrived in Philadelphia in 1920, the year Frederick was born. He continued to preach about racial equality and harmony at a time when America was deeply segregated.

Mufti spoke seven languages, and is thought to have converted 1,000 Americans to Islam during his three year stay. He was given an honorary doctorate from Lincoln-Jefferson University, and founded the Moslem Sunrise, a monthly magazine that exists to this day.

When Daphne realised how significant her grandfather had been, she, like Linda, began writing to everywhere she could think of to find out more.

The Fazl Mosque, the first purpose-built mosque in London, was delighted to hear from her, and immediately invited the family to visit.

Sisters Daphne (left) and Fatima (right) outside the Fazl Mosque in London. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)The Fazl Mosque in London, where Daphne and her family travelled to earlier this month. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)On Saturday, November 4, Daphne and some of her family travelled up to the Fazl Mosque. L-R: Fatima, Kerrianne, Siobhan and Daphne. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)

Daphne said that she, Fatima and her daughters were welcomed into the community at the Fazl Mosque. Image: Daphne Bassett (Image: Daphne Bassett)

On Saturday, Daphne travelled to the mosque with her sister, Fatima, and daughters, Kerrianne and Siobhan.

They were met by Raheel Ahmad. Mr Ahmad said: “The meeting with Daphne and her family was imbued with warmth and a sense of kinship. They embarked on a tour of the Fazl Mosque, during which we delved into the history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, with a particular focus on Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq's tireless efforts.

“Daphne and her family generously shared their connection with Mufti Sahib, displaying pictures of their father and his letters to Mufti Sahib, highlighting the regular correspondence between them.

“The day's events did not feel like a meeting of strangers but rather resembled a heart-warming family get-together, solidifying the enduring bonds that unite the Ahmadiyya community.”

“They were so lovely, and so welcoming,” said Daphne. “They said, you can come back whenever you like – you are family.”