Sheikh Ahmad Bashir

Ahmad bin Haji Bashir Mohammed Shafi ( الشيخ ; January 1, 1919 – July 10, 1989) was a Filipino Muslim Islamic scholar, leader, teacher, and founding president of the Agama Islam Society. He was born on 1 January 1919, in Miondas, Tamparan, Lanao del Sur, Philippines.

Election Ahmad was nominated to run as a delegate for the lone district of Lanao del Sur to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1971 but lost.

Education Early childhood Ahmad received his first non-formal education from his father, and then studied at the School of Islam to complete primary school in the city of Marawi. after the establishment of the Shoura Council. The Society founded Islamic schools, ultimately having 363 branches in all regions of the Philippines, After a certain portion of the land was excluded from the operation of Proclamation No. 453 dated December 23, 1953 which established the Amai Pakpak (former Camp Keithley) military reservation, embraced therein situated in Matampay, City of Marawi according to Proclamation No. 2223 signed by the Philippines President Ferdinand E. Marcos. thumb Sheikh Ahmad (Third from left) met His Excellency President Ferdinand E. Marcos at Malacañang Palace during the ratification of Proclamation No. 2223, the exclusion of around 10 hectares of land from military reservation for the benefit of the Jamiatu Muslim Mindanao.

As president of the Agama Islam Islam, Ahmad had been associated with various Islamic Associations in the Philippines and played a role in their creation. He was president of the National Union of Arab-Islamic Schools in the Philippines. President of the Local Council of Mosques in the Philippines. He attended international conferences with a theme of Islamic mission including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar, Indonesia, Tunisia, Egypt & Others (from 1381 to 1406 Hijri).

He wrote thirteen books in the Philippines, including Islamic, Arabic, and Muslim history. His collection of Qur’an and Islamic Manuscripts has been cited multiple times around the world.

He was involved in: The establishment of the now-defunct Saudi and Philippines Publishing Center in 1980, Parañaque, Metro Manila, financed by King Khalid ibn Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The establishment of the Jamiatu Muslim Mindanao in 1987. The completion of Maranao translation of the Quran, which was reviewed by a committee of Maranao Scholars headed by Ahmad Bashir, and also Islamic manuscripts of Sheikh Ahmad collection.

Left to right: Former Senator Domocao Alonto, Sheikh Ahmad, and former ARMM Governor Lininding Pangandaman representing Muslims in the Philippines to one of the Muslim World League conferences in 1982, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Ahmad had closely worked both with NGO and government various organizations, agencies, leaders, such as former senator Domocao Alonto and former Philippines Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Lininding Pangandaman for the welfare of the Maranaos.

Agama Islam Society The basis of the creation of the society was through a consultative council, of which some academicians were from Marawi City, under the chairmanship of Ahmad Bashir in the year 1375H (1955). This Council established the society to propagate Islam in 1956.

Death After a prolonged battle with multiple health complications, Ahmad died on July 10, 1989.

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