Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement

The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement for the Propagation of Islam, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam (Urdu: أحمدية أنجومان اشاعات الاسلام) (not to be confused with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community), formed as a result of ideological differences^[1] between the Ahmadiyya Community, after the demise of Maulawi Hakeem Noor-ud-Din in 1914, the first Khalifa of its founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. The dispute was based on differing interpretations of a verse (33:40) in the Qur'an related to the finality of prophethood. Other issues of contention were the Kalima, funeral prayers, and the suitability of the elected Khalifa (2nd successor) Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad (the son of the Founder). The Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam is led by a President or Emir

The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement believes Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be the Mujaddid (reformer) of the 14th century Hijra and not a true prophet. They assert that he intended his use of the terms “Nabi” and “Rasool” to be metaphorical, when referring to himself.^[2] Members of the movement are often referred to colloquially as Lahori Ahmadis.

Many Muslims do not consider members of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement to be Muslims and some group them with together with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and refer to them by the term "Qadiani" and refer to their belief as "Qadianism", a term rejected by Ahmadi-Muslims as derogatory.^[3] Members of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement however like to refer to themselves as Lahori Ahmadi Muslims and consider themselves completely separate from Qadiani Ahmadis.

As the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement’s view regarding Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s status and the concept of finality of prophethood of Muhammad is closer to traditional Islamic thought, the Literature published by the Movement has found greater acceptability among the Muslim Intelligentsia^[4]^[5] and some orthodox Islamic Scholars consider the Lahore Ahmadiyya as Muslims^[6]

The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement's position

The main differing belief that led to the formation of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement as a distinct and separate group from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is that the Lahore Ahmadiyya believe Muhammad to be the last of the prophets, and that after him no prophet can appear, neither a past one like Jesus, nor a new one.^[7] They believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is referred to as a Prophet in the metaphorical sense only (as other Muslims saints have been referred to as well), and not in the real and technical meaning of the word as used in Islamic terminology.^[8] In contrast, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hold that Muhammad was the last law-bearing prophets and new non-law bearing prophets can come after him.^[9] They hold Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be a Prophet (with all the qualities of a prophet like Jesus) but subordinate and deputy to the Prophet Muhammad.^[10]

Another differing issue between the two communities is regarding the status of Muslims who have not accpeted Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claims. The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement believes that any person who professes the Kalima Shahada is a Muslim, and cannot be called a Kafir (Non-Muslim) by anyone,^[11] regardless of whether he/she believes in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s claims or not.^[12] In contrast the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that any one who does not accept Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claim is a Kafir.^[13]

Leaders of the Community

Maulana Muhammad Ali (1874 - 13 October 1951), (Emir 1914 - 1951)
Maulana Sadr-ud-Din (c. 1880 - 15 November 1981), (Emir 1951 - 1981)
Dr. Saeed Ahmad Khan (1900 - 15 November 1996), (Emir 1981 - 1996)
Dr. Asghar Hameed (1919 - 14 October 2002), (Emir 1996 - 2002)
Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed Pasha (Current Emir)

References

^ "Split in the Ahmadiyya Movement", by Maulana Muhammad Ali, 1918
^ "Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib of Qadian never claimed prophethood (in the light of his own writings)", Accusations Answered, The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement
^ "Lies and the Liar who told them!", Inter-Islam
^ Al-Azhar endorses publications by Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement AAIIL, USA
^ Marmaduke Pickthall's (famous British Muslim and a translator of the Quran into English)comments on Lahore Ahmadiyya Literature AAIIL, USA
^ Tributes to Maulana Muhammad Ali and The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement AAIIL Website
^ "The Issue of Khatam-un-Nabiyyin", The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement
^ "The Use of the Terms Nabi & Rasul For Non-prophets", The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, [1]
^ "The Question of Finality of Prophethood", The Promised Messiah and Mahdi by Dr. Aziz Ahmad Chaudhry, Islam International Publications Limited
^ "A World Reformer", The Promised Mehdi and Messiha, by Dr. Aziz Ahmad Chaudhry, Islam International Publications Limited, [2]
^ "Who is a Muslim?", The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement
^ "Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad regarded other Muslims as Muslims"
^ “…the belief that all those so called Muslims who have not entered into his (Promised Messiah’s) bai’at formally, wherever they may be, are kafirs and outside the pale of Islam…” (Mirza Mahmud Ahmad, The Truth about the Split, Rabwah 1965, pages 55-56. 1st published 1924, English translation of Ai’nah-e-Sadaqt)

External links