The faith of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, including its origin, beliefs and rituals (August 2005) [PAK100056.E]

The Origin of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam

The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam was founded by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a "devout" Muslim, in 1889 in the Qadian province of Punjab, India (Hammann 15 May 1985; Al Islam n.d.a; The Toronto Star 4 July 2004; BBC 8 Aug. 2005; AI 15 May 2001; The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05; The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 153). Ahmadis, or followers of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, are also often referred to as Qadianis, since Qadian was Hadhrat's birth place (ibid.; The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301; BBC 8 Aug. 2005). In 1889, Hadhrat "announced that he had received a divine revelation authorizing him to accept the baya, the allegiance of the faithful" (1891) (The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301). According to the The Encyclopedia of Religion, Ahmadis believe that Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was "a prophet (nabi), the awaited reformer (mujaddid) of the fourteenth century, the Mahdi and promised Messiah (masih maw'ud), and the expected tenth incarnation of the Hindu god Visnu" (1987, p.153; see also The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301).

Hadhrat died in 1908, leaving the movement to be headed by his elected successors known as Khalifas al-Masih (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301; Al Islam n.d.a). The first successor was Hakim Noor-ud-din, who led the movement from 1908 until his death in 1914 (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301; The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05). The second Khalifa was Hadhrat Mirza Bashir ad-Din Mahmud Ahmad who headed the movement from 1914 until 1965 (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154; The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05). The third Khalifa was Mirza Nasir, who led the movement from 1965 until 1982 (ibid.; Al Islam n.d.d). The fourth Khalifa was Mirza Tahir Ahmad (ibid.; The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154; Hammann 15 May 1985), who headed the movement until 2003 (Al Islam n.d.d). In April 2003, the fifth Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, was elected and as at July 2005 continued to be the Khalifa (Ahmadiyya Muslim Association 7 July 2005; The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05). The Encyclopedia of Religion indicates that three of the movement's Khalifas were descendants of Ghulam Ahmad, although there is no requirement specifying that to hold the position of Khalifa an individual must be related to Ahmad (1987, 154). The encyclopaedia goes on to state that "[t]he succession is by election in an electoral college of three hundred members who are charged with the responsibility of electing the most qualified person regardless of family connection" (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154).

Information posted on the Al Islam Website, the official Website of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, indicates that the movement has branches in 178 countries located in Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia and Europe (Hammann 15 May 1985; The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154; Al Islam n.d.a), with a worldwide membership of over 200 million people (ibid.). In Pakistan, the Ahmadi population is concentrated in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh (International Religious Freedom Report 2004 15 Sept. 2004, Sec. I).

In 1947, upon the establishment of Pakistan as an independent state, the institutional base and spiritual centre of the Ahmadiyya movement was re-located from Qadian, India to the town of Rabwah, province of Punjab, in Pakistan (ibid.; The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301, 302; Hammann 15 May 1985). In 1998, Rabwah was given a new name - Chenab Nagar - by virtue of a resolution adopted by the Punjab Assembly (International Religious Freedom Report 2004 15 Sept. 2004, Sec. I; see also MRG Aug. 2002, 24). The renaming of Rabwah was "against the wishes of the Ahmadi community (International Religious Freedom Report 2004 15 Sept. 2004, Sec. I).

The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam is organizationally comprised of a largely elected central advisory council known as the Madjlis-i Mushawarat, a central secretariat, an internal judiciary and the Khalifa (The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301). The Encyclopedia of Religion provides more detailed information on the organizational structure of the movement as follows:

1. The Central Ahmadiyah Association, under the direction of a chief secretary, who is responsible for supervising subordinate departments including Treasury, Discipline and General Affairs, Relations with Other Communities and Government, Education and Training, Missionary Work and Propagation, Compilations and Publications, and Hospitality;
2. The Advisory Council of the Khalifah, formed in 1922 and made up of as many as six hundred nominated and elected senior members;
3. The Branch Associations, both in Pakistan and foreign countries, where the majority of the of the Ahmadis are to be found today;
4. The Islamic Judicial System (Qaza), created in 1925 to handle discipline and civil cases involving the disputes among the Ahmadis;
5.

The Women's Association;

6. Boys' and Men's Associations, which provide for males from age eight on;
7. Secular and religious schools and training institutions, with the Ta'lim-ul-Islam College at its apex;
8. The New Movement (Tahrik-i-Jadid), formed in 1934 to improve training, discipline, and missionary work;
9. Majlis Nusrat Jahan, a board to supervise and expand Ahmadi schools and hospitals in West Africa (1987, 155).

A Split in the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam

In 1914, following the death of the first Khalifa, the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam split into two branches - the Ahmadis and the Lahore group (The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301). The initial president or Amir of the Lahore group, known as the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha'at-i-Islam (or the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement), was Muhammad Ali (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 302) who led the movement until his death in 1951 (ibid).

The split was caused by theological differences between the groups and over the issue of the movement's leadership following the death of the second Khalifa (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154). Lahore Ahmadis wanted to re-align the movement more towards traditional Islam (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 155), mainly through recognizing Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a reformer (mujaddid) and not as a prophet (ibid.; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 302; The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05).

The activities of Lahore Ahmadis include "publishing; organized foreign missionary work, and leadership in intellectual modernism (liberalism) in Islam, especially of English-reading Islam" (The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 302). Foreign mission stations of Lahore Ahmadis are located in London, Berlin and Indonesia (ibid.).

According to information provided by the treasurer of Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha'at-i-Islam, Lahori Ahmadis carry out their religious practices, which include Friday prayer services, in Jami'as, or "gathering places," since Ahmadis cannot call their places of worship "mosques" (Canada 19 July 1996). The treasurer indicated that a Jami'a is "built like a mosque, it functions as a mosque, and the prayers that are said are those that all Muslims say" (ibid.). However, Lahori Ahmadis are prohibited from giving azan, or the call to prayer, although as Muslims they would normally have this as part of their rituals (ibid.).

Beliefs

In the early 1880s, Ahmad began the writing of Barahin-i-Ahmadiyah (also referred to as Baraheen Ahmadiyya) (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301), which defended Islam and was well received by the Muslim community (The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301). Ahmad's doctrine incorporated "Indian, Sufi, Islamic and Western elements [and] attempted to revitalize Islam in the face of the British raj, Protestant Christianity, and resurgent Hinduism" (The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05). In total, Ahmad produced over 75 publications (The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 302), which include Fath-i Islam (The Victory of Islam) and Izalah-i awham (Removal of False Opinions) (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154).

The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam has been described as "a messianic sect of Islam" (Hammann 15 May 1985; The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05). The following are the basic tenets of the faith:

1. Ahmadis believe that the Qadian branch of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam is the only "embodiment of 'True Islam'" (The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 302).
2. Although Ahmadis agree that Muhammad was "the final and only law-bearing prophet," they also believe that there can be "other lesser prophets, such as [Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad], who will renew the teachings of Muhammad" (Toronto Star 4 July 2004).
3. Ahmadis believe that Jesus will not have a second coming, although an individual in his "likeness" will arrive (ibid.). Ahmadis believe therefore that since Jesus was "mortal like God's other prophets, the messiahship of Ghulam Ahmad was that of a person possessing the 'spirit and power' of Jesus, not as Jesus personally returned" (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154).
4. Ahmadis believe that Jesus was crucified on the cross, but do not believe that he died (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154). Instead, Ahmadis claim that Jesus "undertook a mission to the Lost Tribes of Israel in Afghanistan and Kashmir" (Hammann 15 May 1985). Ahmadis believe that Jesus died in Kashmirand was buried in Srinagar, the capital city of Kashmir (ibid.; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301; Hammann 15 May 1985; The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 154).
5. Ahmadis are strongly opposed to the notion of armed jihad (Hammann 15 May 1985; The Toronto Star 4 July 2004). The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam "strongly rejects violence and terrorism in any form and for any reason" (Al Islam n.d.a; The Toronto Star 4 July 2004). Ahmadis interpret jihad in accordance with Ahmad's doctrine: "'The Jihad of this age is to strive in upholding the word of Islam, to refute the objections of the opponents, to propagate the excellences of the Islamic faith, and to proclaim the truth of the Holy Prophet'" in a peaceful and secure manner (Hammann 15 May 1985).

According to information on the Al Islam Website, the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam "encourages interfaith dialogue, ...defends Islam and tries to correct misunderstandings about Islam in the West. It advocates peace, tolerance, love and understanding among followers of different faiths" (n.d.a). Ahmadis also believe in the authority of the Koran (Al Islam n.d.c).

Activities of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam

The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam is actively involved in missionary work in Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia and the Indian subcontinent (The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05). It also administers social projects, educational institutes, health services, Islamic publications and the construction of mosques in its communities (Al Islam n.d.a; The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 302; The Columbia Encyclopedia 2001-05).

Religious Practice

According to the "Conditions of initiation (Bai'at) in Ahmadiyya Muslim Community by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, The Promised Messiah and Mahdi", Ahmadis are required to engage in the following rituals:

- "regularly offer the five daily prayers in accordance with the commandments of God and the Holy Prophet";
- "regularly [offer] the Tahajud (pre-dawn supererogatory prayers) and invok[e] Darood (blessings) on the Holy Prophet";
- ask daily for forgiveness for one's sins (Al Islam n.d.c).

Each year in December, the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam plans an annual meeting called jalsah where the movement's followers from Pakistan and abroad come together with the Khalifa (The Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 155).

Becoming an Ahmadi

Membership in the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam occurs by "birth within the movement, or by joining, on formal profession of faith and acceptance of duties" (The Encyclopedia of Islam 1986, 301). According to information on the Al Islam Website, to become initiated into the Ahmadiyya Muslim community one must do the following: read and understand the "Conditions of initiation (Bai'at) in Ahmadiyya Muslim Community by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, The Promised Messiah and Mahdi"; read and sign the "Declaration of Initiation" form; complete the "Full Particulars" form if one or one's family is not already registered with one's national headquarters; and mail the signed and completed "Declaration of Initiation" and "Full Particulars" form to one's national headquarters or the local mission house (Al Islam n.d.b). Please see the attachment for copies of these forms.

According to the The Encyclopedia of Islam, Ahmadis are required to pay 25 per cent of their income in monthly dues with "various further contributions expected" (1986, 301).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Ahmadiyya Muslim Association. 7 July 2005. "London Terror Bombings - An Act Against Humanity." (Al Islam Website) http://www.Alislam.org?London-Bombings-Resources/Press-Release-London-Bombings.pdf [Accessed 16 Aug. 2005]

Al Islam. N.d.a. "The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam: An Overview." http://www.alislam.org/introduction/index.html [Accessed 11 Aug. 2005]

_____. N.d.b. "Declaration of Initiation." http://www.alislam.org/introduction/initiation.html [Accessed 11 Aug. 2005]

_____. N.d.c. "Conditions of initiation (Bai'at) in Ahmadiyya Muslim Community by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, The Promised Messiah and Mahdi (Peace be Upon Him)." http://www.alislam.org/introduction/conditions.html [Accessed 11 Aug. 2005]

_____. N.d.d. "Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (1928-2003)." http://www.alislam.org/library/tahir1.html [Accessed 16 Aug. 2005]

Amnesty International (AI). 15 May 2001. "Pakistan: Insufficient Protection of Religious Minorities." (ASA 33/008/2001) http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGASA330082001 [Accessed 10 Aug. 2005]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 8 August 2005. "Sect Offices Closed in Pakistan." http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4131624.stm [Accessed 10 Aug. 2005]

Canada. 19 July 1996. Research Directorate. Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Transcript of a Question and Answer Session on Lahori Ahmadis in Pakistan with Dr. Noman Malik, Treasurer, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Lahore Inc. (USA).

The Columbia Encyclopedia. 2001-05. Sixth Edition. http://www.bartleby.com/65/ah/Ahmadiyy.html [Accessed 11 Aug. 2005]

Encyclopedia of Islam. 1986. E.J.Brill, Leiden. Netherlands.

The Encyclopedia of Religion. 1987. Macmillan Publishing Co.: New York.

Hammann, Louis J. 15 May 1985. "Ahmadiyyat: An Introduction." (Al Islam Website) http://www.alislam.org/introduction/into-louis-hammann.html [Accessed 11 Aug. 2005]

International Religious Freedom Report 2004. 15 September 2004. "Pakistan." United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35519.htm [Accessed 10 Aug. 2005]

Minority Rights Group International (MRG). August 2002. Dr. Iftikhar H. Malik. Religious Minorities in Pakistan. http://www.minorityrights.org/admin/Download/pdf/MRGPakistanReport.pdf [Accessed 15 Aug. 2005]

Toronto Star. 4 July 2004. Camille Roy. "Faithful Bemoan Their Loss of Rights; Can't Call Selves Muslims in Pakistan. Men and Women Assigned Separate Meeting Halls." (Dialog)

Attachments


Al Islam. N.d. "Declaration of Initiation." http://www.alislam.org/introduction/initiation.html [Accessed 15 Aug. 2005]

_____. N.d. "Conditions of initiation (Bai'at) in Ahmadiyya Muslim Community by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, The Promised Messiah and Mahdi (Peace Be upon Him)." http://www.alislam.org/introduction/conditions.html [Accessed 15 Aug. 2005]

_____. N.d. "Assalamo Alauikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wa Barakatuhoo." http://www.alislam.org/introduction/declaration.pdf [Accessed 11 Aug. 2005]

_____. N.d. "Full Particulars." http://www.alislam.org/introduction/full_particulars.pdf [Accessed 11 Aug. 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted


Internet sites, including: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Canada, The Ahmadiyya Portal, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004, Dawn, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Factiva, Freedom House, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Human Rights Watch (HRW), Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), World News Connection (WNC).

Associated documents