Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

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The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Arabic: الجماعة الأحمدية; transliterated: al-Jamā'a al-Ahmadīya) is one of two communities arising from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (1835-1908). The original movement split into two factions soon after the death of the founder. (The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam is the second offshoot.)

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya movement, claimed to be the Mujaddid (reformer) of the 14th Islamic century as well as the Messiah, Mahdi and The Second Coming of Christ.[1] These claims have proven to be controversial among mainstream Muslims. Mainstream Muslims believe that no prophet or messenger will come after Prophet Muhammad and that Jesus himself will descend from heaven at the End times to wage war against the forces of evil.[2]

Contents

[edit] Beliefs

Further information: Ahmadi Common Beliefs

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believe that Prophet 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 or bring a new law,[citation needed] but claimed to be a the second coming of Jesus. They divide prophets between law-bearing and subservient prophets.[3] The latter follow the given law of the law-bearing prophet and act as a restorative prophet. A historical comparison given by them are of Jesus and Solomon who were "subservient prophets" and the successors of Moses, "the law-giver".[4]

[edit] Organization and size

Figures for the total numbers of members vary greatly among different sources. The movement's own figures refer "tens of millions"[5] or "in the millions"[6] of members. Non-Ahmadi sources estimate the figures of Ahmadiyya to be around 10 million.[7] It has communities in 178 countries.[8][9] It also has missionary schools in most continents and many countries. It also has mosques and communities which will be discussed to a greater extent in the next section. These communities and missionary schools are worldwide which is a main cause of the communities large numbers.

Regions where members live are divided into communities or a Jammat. Each Jammat is organized into many divisions that revolve around education, economics, humanitarianism and charity. Each division has officers who are appointed by their predecessors and c.e.o.s who are elected. This structure functions on the local, regional, national and international level. Also, the whole Jammat is sectioned by age and sex. The aforementioned structure applies to men and women. The men are divided by age into three age groups, children or Atfal whom range from 7-15 whose main concern as Atfal is acquiring knowledge, the middle range also known as the "backbone" of the Jammat for being the main ground men of the community who are ages 15.5 to 40 known as Kuddam and 40 to passing who are the elders of the community and are called Ansar.

The supreme head is currently Mirza Masroor Ahmad, given the title Khalifatul Masih Al-Khamis (Khamis = "fifth" in Arabic). He was elected into office following the demise of the previous Khalifa. He is often referred to as "Hazoor" a surname of respect amongst Pakistanis and others.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community headquarters were originally based in Qadian, India; but then in 1947 it was moved to Rabwah (the Pakistani government, following the results of a vote in the Punjab Assembly, recently changed the name of town to Chenab Nagar),[10] Punjab, Pakistan.

During the first two decades of Pakistan's existence the Ahmadiyya Movement did not receive much attention from the government. However, during the time of President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in 1973, laws were passed stating Ahmadis to be "non-Muslims".[11] This was followed by waves of persecution. During the time of Dictator General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the situation deteriorated, and due to heightened human rights abuses against the community, the acting headquarters were moved to Southfields, London in 1984. According to figures given by the Movement this proved to be a time of rapid growth for the sect around the world. The movement now boasts round the clock Satellite, and web Television transmission for viewers around the globe in 12 languages.

[edit] History

[edit] The split in 1914

In 1914 a split took place in the Ahmadiyya Community resulting in the formation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement. The reasons for the split were ideological differences as well as differences over the suitability of the elected Khalifa (2nd successor) Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad (the son of the Founder).

[edit] Persecution in 1974

Over the course of the 1970s, the Jamaat-e-Islami started a widespread anti-Ahmadiyya movement in Pakistan. Their leader, Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, condemned them as heretics in his book the Qadiani Problem (Qadiani is a derogatory term for Ahmadiyya).

Confident of state support, the Jamaat contested the 1970 elections in Pakistan, only to suffer big reversals. In 1973, Maududi started his violent hate campaign against Ahmadiyyas denouncing them as heretics in his book , Qadiani problem.[12]

They engaged in massacres against them which resulted in 2,000 Ahmadiyya deaths in Pakistani Punjab. This anti-Ahmadiyya movement led Pakistani prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to declare the Ahmadiyyas as "non-Muslims".[13][12]

[edit] Persecution in 1984

In 1984, the Government of Pakistan, under General Zia-ul-Haq, passed Ordinance XX,[14], which banned proselytizing by Ahmadis and also banned calling Ahmadis as Muslims. According to this ordinance, any Ahmadi who refers to oneself as a Muslim by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, directly or indirectly, or makes the call for prayer as other Muslims do, is punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years. Because of these difficulties, Mirza Tahir Ahmad migrated to London, UK.

[edit] Successors of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

The history of the Ahmadi Khilafat has spanned nearly an entire century, and has seen 5 Caliphs lead the sect.[15]

[edit] Mirza Masroor Ahmad

Mirza Masroor Ahmad was born on September 15, 1950 in Rabwah, Pakistan, which was the Ahmadi community's headquarters at the time. He is the son of Mirza Mansoor Ahmad. Mirza Masroor Ahmad did his primary education at Taleem-ul-Islam High School, Rabwah, and obtained his BA from Taleem-ul-Islam College, Rabwah. In 1976 he earned his Masters of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the Agriculture University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Following a number of posts in Ghana he returned to Pakistan and was elected to senior positions at the community's headquarters.

[edit] Famous Ahmadis

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chaudry, Dr. Aziz Ahmad (1996). The Promised Messiah and Mahdi. Islam International Publications Limited, "A World Reformer" p11). OCLC 45460290 ISBN 1-85372-596. 
  2. ^ Further Similarities and Differences (between esoteric, exoteric & Sunni/Shia and between Islam/Christianity/Judaism. Retrieved on September 15, 2006.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ http://www.alislam.org/introduction/index.html
  6. ^ http://www.alislam.org/introduction/intro.pdf
  7. ^ http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#ahm
  8. ^ http://www.alislam.org/introduction/index.html
  9. ^ http://www.alislam.org/introduction/intro.pdf
  10. ^ [3]
  11. ^ [4]
  12. ^ a b Grare, Fredric, Anatomy of Islamism, Political Islam in the Indian Subcontinent,Manohar Publishers, New Delhi, 2001. ISBN 81-7304-404-X
  13. ^ Jamaat-i-Islami Federal Research Division US Library of Congress
  14. ^ Ordinance XX
  15. ^ History of the Ahmadi Khilafat

[edit] External links

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