Sheikh Ahmad Bashir

He died in Iligan City from complications of diabetes on the 7th day of Dhul Hijjah 1409 AH (July 10, 1989). His remains were buried in Marawi City, Philippines.

He wrote thirteen books, including Islamic, Arabic, and Muslim history in the Philippines. His collection of Qur’an and Islamic Manuscripts has been cited multiple times around the world. The establishment of 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 was reviewed by a committee of Maranao Scholars headed by Ahmad Bashir, and also Islamic manuscripts of Sheikh Ahmad collection.

In 1972, the Agama Islam Society transferred Ma’had Mindanao Al-Arabie Al-Islamie to Darussalam, Matampay, Marawi City, as the main campus through the assistance of Sheikh Esmail Laut Sarip and former Lanao del Sur Governor, Sultan sa Masiu, Hon. Mohammad Ali Dimaporo for the exclusion of this land from military reservation pursuant to Proclamation No. 2223 signed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines, President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Sheikh Ahmad was nominated by his close associates and supporters without his knowledge and approval to run as a delegate for the lone district of Lanao del Sur to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1971 but lost. He never runs again for any elective post after that.

In 1956, Sheikh Ahmad and companions founded the Agama Islam Society, after the establishment of the Shoura Council. The Society founded Islamic schools, ultimately having 363 branches in all regions of the Philippines, visited by more than 5,000 students in the academic year 1986-1987.

Sheikh Ahmad went back to the Philippines after completing his studies. At first, he taught at an Islamic School in Marawi City. He helped created some of the schools in various communities with complete and organized conjunctions with some of his peers, colleagues throughout the years till 1955.

In 1951, Sheikh Ahmad traveled to the Hejaz to continue his education in Mecca. He joined the Al-Falah School in Makkah, a religious science school till he completed his studies in the year 1953, and later joined the Al-Soltiyyah School in the Grand Mosque also in Makkah. He was awarded a degree in Islamic Sciences, which was considered at that time the highest religious education at the Mosque.

Sheikh Ahmad bin Haji Bashir Mohammed Shafi (Arabic: أحمد بن حاجي بشير الشافي الشيخ Arabic pronunciation; January 1, 1919 – July 10, 1989) was a Filipino Muslim Ālim and Islamic scholar, leader, and teacher former president and founder of the Agama Islam Society. He was born on 1 January 1919, in Miondas, Tamparan, Lanao del Sur, Philippines.