Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

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Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association (not to be confused with the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam), refer to themselves as Ahmadi Muslims. This Islamic sect created in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the Messiah and Mahdi prophesied in the Qur'an, the Hadith, Bible, and and fulfillment of similar prophesies in the books of other major and minor religions. The movement has met with great resistance among Sunnis as it differs from their common belief that Muhammad was the 'last' or 'seal' of prophets of God. Ahmadis argue that Muhammad, whom all Muslims believe to be the greatest of all Prophets, was the last law-bearing prophet and that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad did not create a new religion, but revived and rejuvenated the teachings of Islam. Ahmadis divide prophets between law-bearing and subservient prophets. The latter follow the given law of the law-bearing prophet, and act as a restorative prophet. In the same way that Jesus and Solomon were (subservient prophets) and the successors of Moses (the law giver). Prophets

Ahmadis teach that:

The Qur'an has no contradictions (or abrogations), and has precedence over the Hadith or traditions; i.e., That one verse of the Qur'an does not cancel another and that no Hadith can contradict a verse of the Qur'an.
Jesus was crucified and survived the 4 hours on the cross, then was revived from a swoon in the tomb. He died in Kashmir of old age whilst seeking the Lost Tribes of Israel. He also clearly foretold the coming of Muhammad after him which Christians have misinterpreted.
There is only 'One God' who revealed knowledge of religion to all mankind through national Prophets up to Muhammad. Islam is the first universal religion for all mankind.
That Jihad can only be used to protect against extreme religious persecution of the faith, not as a political weapon or an excuse of rulers to invade neighbouring territories.concept of Jihad
That the Messiah and Imam Mahdi are the same person, and that Islam will defeat the Anti-Christ or Dajjal in a period similar the period of of time to the rise of Christianity (300 years). Other Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified, but made to look as though he had been, and that after he ascended to heaven he would return as the same person to revive Islam and kill the pigs and break the crosses.
The central value of Prayer, charity, good intention et cetera.

Concepts & Beliefs Accountability, Afterlife, Angels, Conscience, Creation, Destiny, Doomsday, Evolution, God, Happiness, Heaven, Judgment Day, Knowledge, Life, Miracles, Prophecy, Punishment, Resurrection, Spirituality, Suffering, Truth. SEE

Figures for the total numbers of adherents vary greatly between different sources. Figures range from around 10 million (In 1980), to over 200 million (in 2003) members, in over 176 countries and represent 10% of all Muslims.

The supreme head currently is Mirza Masroor Ahmad, given the title Khalifatul Masih Khamis (Khamis = fifth). He is often refered to as Your Holiness or Leader of the faithful.

The Head Quarters was originally in Qadian in Punjab,India; then in 1947 it was moved to Rabwah, Punjab, Pakistan. Initially it was secure in Pakistan, but in the time of President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a law was passed stating that Ahmadis were a non-Muslim sect, and this was followed by waves persecution. During the dictatorship of General Muhammad Zia ul-Haq, the situation deteriorated, and following the general's death, the operation of the Community was so inhibited that it moved to its present location to Wandsworth, London, England.

On January 9, 2004, Bangladesh banned books published by Ahmadis. According to the consensus of objecting Islamic scholars, Ahmadis are considered 'kafirs' because they seem to contradict some of the basic Islamic tenets of faith. Ahmadis who are pacifists believe this is a confirmation of the truth of their faith.

Contents

1 History

1.1 Al-Haaj Hakeem Maulana Nooruddin (1841-1914)
1.2 The Split in 1914
1.3 Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad (1889-1965)
1.4 Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad (1909-1982)
1.5 Mirza Tahir Ahmad (1928-2003)
1.6 Mirza Masroor Ahmad (1950- date)

2 External links

2.1 Pro Ahmadiyya Views
2.2 Anti Ahmadiyya Views

History

Al-Haaj Hakeem Maulana Nooruddin (1841-1914)

Khalifatul Masih I (1908-1914) Hazrat Maulana Hakim Nooruddin Sahib (Khalifatul Masih I). He was born in the village of Bhera in Punjab in 1841. He was Royal Physician to the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir for many years and he travelled far and wide including a four year stay in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in pursuit of knowledge. He was the first person who swear a pledge of allegiance (Baiat) to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as the Promised Messiah on 23rd March, 1889. In Qadian, his only lifes pursuit was religious and a concern to ameliorate the conditions of the poor. He exercised modesty, kindliness, patience and self denial which earned him the affection of all around him. He never ventured out of Qadian or wrote anything without the approval of his Imam Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. After Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's demise, Maulana Hakeem Nooruddin (ra) was unanimously acclaimed as his successor on 27th May 1908. He guided the community in this capacity till his death on Friday March 13, 1914. His achievements were; He laid the foundation for the institution of Khilafat. He successfully thwarted the designs those wishing to re-setablish the institution of Khalifat. English oversaw the translation of the Holy Quran. First foreign mission was established in London. Extensions were carried out to Aqsa Mosque and Talimul Islam High School and Boarding house buildings. Noor Hospital and Noor Mosque were inaugurated. A number of publications were started to broaden the propagation activities of the Ahmadiyya Movement; including, the "Al Fazal", and "Noor" from Qadian, "Al Haque" from Delhi and "Paigham-e-Sulha" from Lahore.

Biography

The Split in 1914

In 1914 a split took place in the Ahmadiyya Community with the accession of Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, the 2nd Khalifatul Masih; over definitions of doctrines forming the mainstream Ahmadiyya Movement and Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha'at Islam. They are respectively known as Qadiani and Lahori sects.

Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad (1889-1965)

Khalifatul Masih II styled "Musleh Maoud" (1914-1965)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had prophesised advent of a spiritual and pious Promised son of the Mahdi at a time when Islam would be at a stage of decline and depression. He had prophesied he would come with a mission to revive and strengthen the Islamic theology and, through him, Islam, would resurge on the surface of the Earth. The Holy Prophet called this Holy Spiritual son as the Musleh (Reformer), and the Promised one, and said about him:

Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad's birth in 1889 was associated with the revelation of the Promised Messiah, the advent of the Promised son. He offered himself to the Community and soon formed an organisation called Anjuman Tashheezul Azhaan and started a magazine by the same name for prosletising.

On 26th May 1908, the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) passed away at Lahore when he was 19. At that moment this promised son stood by the bed of the Promised Messiah and vowed: "Even if all the people leave you and I am left alone I would stand by you and would face all opposition to and onslaughts on your Mission." On 27th May, 1908, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), he was the first to take the oath of allegiance first Khalifa.

In September 1912, he travelled to Egypt, then on to Mecca to performed the Hajj and whilst travelling he preached his fathers new doctrine Ahmadiyyat. In June 1913, he started, a newspaper "The Al Fazl" which became the central organ of the Community. On 14th of March, 1914, in Qadian, the "will" of Khalifatul Masih I was read out, requested the people to act accordingly and elect someone as his successor.

He was elected the Second Successor to the Promised Messiah on 14th March 1914 and remained Khalifa until 7th of November, 1965, a period of about fifty two (52) years. His achievements involved developing the scope of missionary activities and established Madrasa Ahmadiyya [Seminary] up to University status to provide learned religious missionaries. As part of this he established 46 Missions abroad from the remote town of Qadian. With his knowledge of the Quran and Hadith he navigated his way through swathes of opposition from Muslim and Christian Clerics raising the importance of the movement worldwide. In a public gathering in Delhi in 1944, he claiming himself to be the "Musleh Maoud" (Promised Reformer) and reiterating his challenge about the interpretation of the truths and wisdom of the Holy Quran. He also managed the Translation and Publication of the Holy Quran into Various Languages.

He also inspired and established the present configuration of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, establishing;

central and regional organisations:
an Organisation of Ansaarullah for men above 40 years of age.
an organisation of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya for youth below 40.
an Organisation of Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya for boys of below 15 years.
an organisation of Lajna Imaullah for women.
an Organisation of Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya for girls.

Migration of Ahmadis from India At independence in 1947, the country was divided, along religious lines with Muslims in India migrating to Pakistan. The Community found a tract of waste land and built out of the dust the town Rabwah which became the new headquarters to the astonishment of the local shia population. In it they built offices, schools, colleges and various community departments.

After an attempt on his life with a knife during leading prayers he made journey in the first week of April 1955 to London for medical treatment, despite this illness he opened various new missions in Europe. He died in Rabwah in 1955 after 52 years as Khilafa.

Biography

Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad (1909-1982)

Khalifatul Masih III (1965-1982) Mirza Nasir Ahmad was born on 16th November, 1909 son of Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, the second Caliph or Khalifa.

Hazrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad succeeded as the third Caliph in 1965. Since then he expanded the Missionary activities of this Community against great and some times violent opposition. His achievement was the leadership he gave the Community when Pakistan declared the Ahmadiyya Community a Non-Muslim minority and did not suffer disintegration.

Under Mirza Nasir Ahmad the Ahmadiyya Community progressed in the propagation of Islam throughout the world, building and running schools, colleges, hospitals, preaching centres, mosques, especially West Africa. It also translated and published of Holy Quran in many languages. The Ahmadiyya Community made tremendous in roads against the expanding Christian Missionary movements from the coast of West Africa.

In 1976 he toured America, Canada, Norway, West Germany, Holland, Sweden and England in and again he visited in 1982 Switzerland, Holland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and West Germany, and attended the London Conference in 1978 about the false belief in the Cruxifiction of Jesus on the Cross. After more than sixteen years as Khilafa he died on 9th of June, 1982.

Biography

Mirza Tahir Ahmad (1928-2003)

Khalifatul Masih IV (1982-2003) He was born on 18th December, 1928 another son of Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, the second Caliph. He graduated, with a degree from Jamia Ahmadiyya (Theological Academy) at Rabwah, then he studied in London for two and half years. After completing his higher education, he dedicated his life to the service of faith. Hazrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir, Khalifatul Masih III passed away on the 9th of June, 1982 and the following day Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Sahib was elected as Khalifatul Masih IV.

He exhorted the Ahmadi women to observe "Purdah" strictly and to safeguard the Islamic Value of pious devotion over worldlyness. He made preaching of Islam obligatory for every Muslim and set goals which doubled the new converts year upon year. He built up the organisation and its finances and actively visited innunerable countries all over the world.

The Persecution In 1984 the government of Pakistan under Zia-ul-Haq passed Ordinance XX banning the preaching of Qadiyanism. Under the guidance of Khilafat the Ahmadiyya machinated, intrigued and started campaigns of derision against the Pakistani Government which were met with fortitude, reminiscent of the early Muslims in Mecca.

Mirza Tahir on 10th June, 1988, challenged some of the Sunni scholars to a Mubahila. One of the responses can be seen here. The same year Maulvi Aslam Qureshi who had been abducted and tortured by Qadiyanis was released by them.

The Great Expansion Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV has vastly expanded this programme of preaching and propagation and made preaching of Islam is obligatory for every Muslim. On the whole, the implementation of the programme in as many as 152 countries of the world. In the era of the 4th Caliph, the Jamaat has come to exercise considerable influence winning more and more adherents, among them eminent personalities and tribal kings. During the time of the 2nd and 3rd Caliphs, translation of the Qur'an was done in different languages. This work has been considerably accelerated under the 4th Khalifa. Translations in fifty one languages of the world have been completed and published. Translation of 300 selected verses of the Quran in 118 languages of the world have been done. This monumental achievement has no parallel in the last 1400 years. The number of new converts doubled each year reaching over 200 million by the end of his Khalifat. He established the first Muslim Satelite TV station and many 1000's parents dedicated their infants to serve the Ahmadiyya Community. He toured as Khalifa, Australiasia, Europe, America, south and south east Asia, opening the first ever Mosque to be built in Spain in 750 years. In January 1988, he set his foot in West Africa for the first time over a period five weeks to Gambia, Sierra-Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria.

Biography

Mirza Masroor Ahmad (1950- date)

Khalifatul Masih V (2003- date)

Sahibzada [Mirza Masroor Ahmad] was born on 15th September 1950 in Rabwah, Pakistan, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community's then headquarter. He is the son of Hadhrat Sahibzada Mirza Mansoor Ahmad Sahib. Sahibzada Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib did his primary education at Taleem-ul-Islam High School Rabwah, and obtained his BA from Taleemul-Islam (TI) College Rabwah, Pakistan. In 1976 he earned his Masters of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the Agriculture University Faisalabad, Pakistan. He is currently expanding the Mosque, Semenary and education programs of the community