بسم الله الحمد لله و صلاة و سلام على رسول الله و على آله و سلم
With literature explicitly geared towards Muslims, it is no secret that the Ahmadi faith is primarily interested in spreading its beliefs amongst Muslims. However, it is unlikely that their beliefs will spread in the North American context. This is for many reasons. Here is a short analysis of why not and my prediction of the direction their community will take.
Ibn Khaldun, the 8th century-Hijri social scientist, observed that when the socio-economic status of an area is depressed, Islamic intellectual thought tends to suffer. While only 28% of Americans have post-high school degrees, roughly 60% of American-Muslims have college or masters degrees, making American Muslims one of the most educated communities in the country. And following Ibn Khaldun’s observation, this has led to the rise of effective Islamic institutions in the US (which I commented on here). These programs tend to be energetic, enriching and serve both the intellectual and spiritual needs of Muslims.
This has a strong effect on Ahmadi youth. First, those raised in the US are disconnected from the day-to-day struggles of Pakistan. The stock hatred levied by their leadership against the ‘mullahs’ for their ignorance (and I do not deny that there is much ignorance) fails to characterize the Islamic authorities they encounter in the West. As a result, rhetoric that otherwise works so effectively falls upon deaf ears. When Western Ahmadis experience Islamic scholarship for the first time, many question what they have been taught about Muslim leaders, some question Ahmadi-specific doctrines, and yet others the legitimacy of Ahmadiyya all together.
Ahmadiyya is largely stagnant in the US. Yes, from time to time individuals convert, but there is no exodus from Islam to Ahmadiyya, relegating Ahmadis to live as a minority within a minority.
Islamic institutions have essentially crowded out Ahmadi-based ones. Muslim Students’ Associations across the country are dominated by mainstream Muslims and the scattered Shi’a populations tend to conform to Sunni norms. Major events, such as lectures, social activities, and Jumu’ah prayers, and iftars are entirely Islamic, not Ahmadi. National Islamic spokesmen tend to be from CAIR, or MAS (Muslim American Society). Both Congressman Keith Ellison and Congressman Andre Carson (may Allah bless them both) are within the fold of mainstream Islam. And key social figures representing Islam in popular culture, such as Shaquille O’Neal, Siraj Wahhaj, Tariq Ramadan, Malcolm X and others, adhere to mainstream Islam, not Ahmadiyya.
So where does this leave Ahmadiyya? A few predictions:
I predict that it will exist as a faith largely in antagonism to a Muslim community. For example, despite the fact that CAIR has managed an anti-terrorism campaign for over a decade and even released a 68-page document highlighting 10 years of fatawa (religious edicts) and condemnation of terrorism, an Ahmadi spokesman appeared on Fox News to say that CAIR was “appeasing the terrorists” and that only Ahmadis were “taking the lead” in the effort against terrorism. In more recent weeks, the entire Muslim community joined together to financially and morally support the Cordoba Initiative’s plan to build an Islamic Community center in New York City. But, an Ahmadi spokesman has condemned the project, while highlighting his own faith.
Secondly, I predict that their members will slowly but surely be re-absorbed back into the fold of Islam. Undeniably there are many who are theologically convinced of Ahmadi-specific beliefs. But even historically, the vast majority of members of any faith, including Islam, have only concentrated on the essentials. The logical gymnastics required to justify key Ahmadi beliefs are all but apparent without social conditioning. And the lack of an ominous campaign of oppression against them, will allow them to get comfortable with their Muslim neighbors, colleagues and friends. Therefore, with time Ahmadis will only culturally maintain their Ahmadi identity, while their beliefs will entirely conform to Islam. With marriages, education and time, they will re-assimilate back into the Muslim community.
The last prediction runs contrary to the second. I predict that they will take an Ismaili-approach. Historically, the Batiniyya, a now defunct sub-sect of Ismaili Shi’ism, were so active that they conquered Makkah and spread their faith in the Muslim lands. It took Salah al-Din al-Ayubi to expel them from Egypt and Imam al-Ghazali to refute their theological positions. Nowadays, Ismailism exists as a highly organized and wealthy but inviable religious order that is isolated, inclusive and unable to propagate its beliefs – and guess what, they still think they’re the “True Muslims”! This is precisely what many break-away sects have become, and I predict that Ahmadiyya will follow the sunnah of the ones that came before it.
Again, merely my predictions. Allah knows best.
In this Holy month of Ramadan, we ask Allah to continue to guide Ahmadis from the false beliefs of Mirza Ghulam to the true beliefs of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم.
و صلى الله على سيدنا محمد و على آله و سلم
Ameeen.
Ahmadis push their children to be physicians and lawyers. They are mobilized and quite stern in that regard. I can guess that the ahmadi heads over in UK know that 6.5 % Chanda of 500 thousand is a great amountof money vs a teachers salary at 35 thousand.
People from the Subcontinent generally push their children to be physicians and lawyers, that’s not really an Ahmadi-specific practice…
Another well written article by Farhan.
My prediction is that after the death of Masroor Ahmad the khilafat will be over. This will be their final khalifa. There are many scenarios. If a non-family member is elected…then forget about it. Ahmadiyyat will be long gone! If another family member gets the seat…i still think that people at large will understand what direction ahmadiyyat is going.
I don’t know enough about their organizational structure to comment…but I’ll say this…
Imam Siraj Wahhaj (who is coming into town today!) said that when the leader of the Nation of “Islam” Elijah Muhammad died, for the first few years the religion was headed by his son W. Deen Muhammad رحمه الله (who I met in college). W. Deen was a Muslim, not a NOI’er (sp?). He begun to preach Orthodox Islam for a number of years from NOI temples, but eventually was forced out and Louis Farrakhan took over. But that was the spark by which millions of NOI’ers slowly drifted towards Islam. To this day, the largest single Muslim ethnic group in the US are African-Americans. This is because of tawfiq (success) that Allah gave W. Deen.
Allah put W. Deen in the right place at the right time. And, I know for a fact that there are many Muslims in the Ahmadi community who have not disclosed themselves. Perhaps Allah will do the same with Ahmadiyya?
Allahu ‘alim.
I would just say whether ahmadies grow or decrease Islam will remain the truth
May Allah guide them to Islam and away from ahmadiyyat
May Allah guide us to the right path, the path of Prophet Mohammad(saw). Ameen
Every opponent of Ahmadiyyat over it’s 100+ year history made similar predictions…
Sultan even if Farhan’s prediction does not becomes right still he is not claiming to receive revelation nor he claim to be prophet (like was)
so his prediction going wrong is a big issue unlike mirza ghulam’s failed predictions.
secondly even if ahmadies keeps on growing still number is never a proof of truthfulness
infact internet has made things available to common ahmadies who are searching for truth, so after all the proofs avalible against Mirza Ghulam and Jammat u will be left with very few sane people and only blind followers or those who lack knowledge
Hmmm…. you can boast about the internet all you want but the fact of the matter is that the internet hasn’t produced anything new. 95% of the allegations that I have seen have been the same that have been made since the time of the Promised Messiah علیہ السلام.
And this whole “MULLAH” excuse is also pointless. Ahmadiyyat’s progress in Pakistan has actually been slowed down by the Mullahs because of the banning of Ahmadiyya literature. Before the MULLAHS came along and there was greater tolerance in the society, Ahmadiyyat was progressing much faster in Pakistan. In other words, the MULLAH AFFECT is a very recent phenomenon…
*EFFECT
Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t say that I believed Ahmadiyya would be completely extinguished. What I believe is that it will become just like the other groups that preceded it.
All of them thought they were the ‘new true Islam’. Most of them still exist to this day. But, their numbers are reduced and ultimately they become insignificant.
Sounds like these “mullahs” were very wise.
Before Ahmadiyyat was there any islamic organization that manufactured Murrabis?
Did any other islamic organization make billions off of a system of creating murrabis and mosques?
Islam was spread by love and word of mouth. Ahmadiyyat was spread and influenced by the christian practice of manufacturing and sending clerics to gain converts.
Do the math…
Yes. The main goal was to reduce and eliminate the negative effect of the work of the Christian Missionaries on Muslims.
And if you don’t think that there was any concept of a “murabbi” before Ahmadiyyat, you are sadly unaware of Islamic history.
Consider the example of Hadhrat Mas’ab bin Umair (ra).
I was not previously aware of the story of Hadhrat Mas’ab bin Umair (ra). I just researched it. Here are my thoughts…
Muhammad (saw) sent a muslim to medina where muslims were requesting an Imam to teach them. In comparison, Mahmud Ahmad sent missionaries to africa where the white man was destroying the culture and people.
In medina there was a muslim community that was in need of learning Islam. In Africa there were a people were being raped and pillaged. Mahmud Ahmad never used his tongue to lash out in the gold coast against the “European War Machine”. In fact he supported all european advancements in the continent of Africa as well as the world. Ahmadiyyat was the biggest non-white supporter of the european global economy.
Every country that Mahmud invested an Imam there was the presence of the europeans. It seems that Mahmud Ahmad saw that people were struggling in these areas and bought stocks and bonds and was looking for converts that would pay 6.25% and further the business of Ahmadiyyat.
Mahmud also sent Muhammad Sadiq to the good ol’ USA. Instead of helping the black man get human rights..Ahmadiyyat wanted to support the US govt in any way shape or form. Black people smartened up and left en-masse in the 40′s and 50′s. Azhar Haneef became the first African American missionary in 1987 as well as the LAST. In 80 years, Ahmadiyyat has only promoted 1 african american to missionary status.
In conclusion, you tried to draw a parallel. Sorry…you dont even come close. MSQ huh?
Well said brother Rationalist. The Ahmadiyya is the biggest “house paki” that the West has ever encountered. Or using political language “useful idiots”.
I believe its Mus’ab, not Ma’sab.
The concept of a Murabbi definitely existed before Ahmadiyya was invented. I never heard the term before Ahmadiyya, but terminology isn’t really a big deal. Its one who helps you in Tarbiyya (nurturing, protecting, being your rabb – not in the divine sense)
Shahid, I’ve heard Malcolm X’s (May Allah shower him with his mercy) “House Negro” vs “Field Negro” talks. It never really understood it until I encountered Ahmadiyya. He’s right, there are some who have so thoroughly swallowed the values and mindset of the West and secularism that they articulate a world-view that is utterly alien to the Islamic paradigm without even realizing it.
A LOT of Muslims do it too, but at least officially its not right. Whereas in Ahmadi faith to believe as such. May Allah guide them.
95% of the allegations that I have seen have been the same that have been made since the time of the Promised Messiah
Dear Sultan,
I am not talking about any allegation – I am talking about filth that people can read on the internet and verify it is written by Mirza himself. Just as an example the following was discussed fair and just by one of your cult fellows:
“Mirza’s son came from the dirty path of urine of Mirza first – then he went into dirty path of urine of Nusrat Jahan – you can continue it…”
Fair enough, that is true, and using proper terminology,
As Muslims, we consider it filth – but as Mirzais you guys find it perfect and fair enough
What are the Ahmadiyya Jamaat’s predictions in terms of Mormonism?
What were the Sunni predictions of Shias?
What are the ahmadiyya predictions in terms of the taliban?
Mahmud Ahmad was a political gamer. His sons succeeded him…the game isnt over…
DUMMY…
You guys just dont get it. MGAQ could have said that he thought Esa (as) was dead. MGAQ could have adjusted any rule of Islam as he wished. He could have interpretted the Quran as he wished. That doesnt really bother the Ummah as much.
But, in 1891 he claimed to be a prophet, namely Esa (as). That is a defamation of the Islamic. Furthermore, he went on to argue from the Quran in his attempt at impersonation. MGAQ falsely impersonated a prophet of Allah. Exactly 10 years later he claimed to be a prophet as well. The ummah had warned us in 1891 that MGAQ was lying about his prophethood. They said that he only wished to decieve us (see the fatwa of 1891). The ummah said that MGAQ was a Kafir based on pretending to be a prophet of Allah.
Thats the story. This is our gripe. And then his sons turned it into a family business. And here we are in 2010…you people have a 3rd grader as your grand wizard. Good luck!
Thanks but we need your luck!
Thanks but we DON’T need your luck!
I was an ahmadi for 20+ years, from birth i may add. I smelled a rat….i started researching ahmadiyyat…i found the truth on the “ahmadiyya awareness” websites. It looks like these websites work.
Now I am muslim. I was an ahmadi and now I am muslim. I thought you said that these sites didnt work?
The info is more available now than ever before. And on top of that, the icing on the cake is that your grand wizard is a 3rd grader. —Thats priceless!
Many people have left the cult of Mirzology as a result of learning the truth and being given the gift of hidaayah. Many speak, some do not, but the cult is certainly collapsing. Your official figures speak for themselves. Once 220 million, you are now “10 million” or “20 million” or “millions”. What’s the figure today?
Yet the fastest growing religion in the world today is Islam. And Mirzology is not a religion, rather, it is a cult.
Didnt Farhan destroy you in the whole prophethood debate? You still show your face in public?
Mahmud Ahmad was caught red-handed mis-representing Ibn Arabi, Farhan proved that, it was through this debate that I became muslim. I am sure that your research showed that Mahmud was lying through his bi-focals. And you are still an ahmadi? Mahmud was accused of illicit sexual behavior as early as 1907, and you are still an ahmadi?
A muslim can have differences of opinion on any topic inside Islam. But they cannot claim to be Esa (as). Esa (as) bin Maryam is a single entity as well as a respected prophet of Allah. You people defamed him. Notice his name Esa (as) the son of Mary. This “son of” terminology is what people used to distinguish each other. Muhammad ibn Abdullah (saw) is another example.
Well if that doesn’t win the award for Freudian slip of the year, I don’t know what does…
Sultanulqalam,
Earlier Mirzais used to lie that Mullah put false allegation on them. Now by the help of internet, filth of Mirza is openly visible to every one.
If you are talking about the allegations on the internet, they have always been available. They have just copied themselves from the print media to electronic media. When print media couldn’t do much, how is the internet going to be any different? Vain hopes.
And still blind follower like you are blindly following Mirza & sons
just have a look at Masroor ur so called khalifah
coz mirza ghulam and ahmadiyyat have been clearly proven wrong but still you follow them just shows that ur not seeking truth
Let me repeat my post above:
Dear Sultan,
I am not talking about any allegation – I am talking about filth that people can read on the internet and verify it is written by Mirza himself. Just as an example the following was discussed fair and just by one of your cult fellows:
“Mirza’s son came from the dirty path of urine of Mirza first – then he went into dirty path of urine of Nusrat Jahan – you can continue it…”
Fair enough, that is true, and using proper terminology,
As Muslims, we consider it filth – but as Mirzais you guys find it perfect and fair enough
What the Internet has done is made it very difficult for you to bury your embarrassing nonsense. It has been exposed time and time again and through this forum and blog, and others, you have been forced to re-visit, re-explain and re-write some of Mirza’s work. Very curious that you should allow your creed to be directed by those dedicated to exposing it for what it is – a shallow cult.
As for vain hopes, our hope is only to invite people to Islam. Unlike Ahmadiyya, we don’t ask for any money, we just pray for the opportunity to continue to spread the message and invite you to the good news that is Islam.
Rationalist wrote :
**Didnt Farhan destroy you in the whole prophethood debate? You still show your face in public? **
Really ? Farhan debated with the sultan ul qalam team ? Where are the videos of sultan ul qalam on that case ?
Brother Farhan your prophet hood videos were a response to the sultan ul qalam team ?
I think Sultanulqalam, removed those videos after being defeated. He can confirm.
Not only do they remove their own videos, but they tried and failed to have my videos and Farhan Qureshi’s videos removed through the Chilling Effect of the DMCA notice. They failed and can be held legally accountable for malicious filing if I’m not mistaken. Of course, my videos (and Farhan’s) were re-instated.
They can’t hide the truth forever.
Farhan’s (Orthodox) videos were never re-instated. Mine were never taken down to begin with.
Its so confusing that there are two Farhans!
Yes they were bro. I was helping him with the DMCA counter-file notices at the time. I counter-filed first. We were both vindicated. If there were subsequent videos removed for other reasons, that’s a different story. This was before you and I spoke.
I do know the difference between the two Farhans akhi. May Allah bless and reward you both!
Farhans debate was like video series
and it was in response to ayaz mahmood(who later took down the video for wat ever reason)
There was an entire video series on this topic. I think that there was a young ahmadi who was in school at the “murrabi manufacturing plant” aka jamia in canada. I think that this clown was aspiring to be a murrabi like 2 or 3 years ago.
Farhan and the other Farhan aka Orthodox totally destroyed this guy as well as all the arguments “pro-prophethood” that exist in ahmadiyya literature. This was when I left ahmadiyyat. I contacted Farhan shortly after watching the 20+ series. Me and Farhan met because of Farhan’s videos and work.
Farhan even had outtakes which were hilarous.
http://www.youtube.com/user/farhan00#p/u/41/z2dAhYKcY8c
This video should lead you to the debate.
Here is the personality of Majlis Sultan-al-qalam in the flesh. Im not sure if he is the official spokesman of MSQ or what, he removed his old response videos. Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/user/sultanulqalamcanada#p/u/7/6_fZ7VGbcdU
Sultanul,
In my opinion, this was the strongest line in the entire essay:
“The logical gymnastics required to justify key Ahmadi beliefs are all but apparent without social conditioning.”
Imam al-Ghazali wrote the book titled “The Prohibition of the Masses from studying Scholastic Theology”. Amongst many things, he writes that the masses do not need to learn this stuff, the plain text of the Qur’an is sufficient for them. In other words, Islam does not depend on rationalized theology or maintain complexities in foundational beliefs. But, basic Ahmadi beliefs cannot be justified without “logical gymnastics”. I recognize that you are a firm and sincere believer in Ahmadiyya, but even you must acknowledge that this is true.
So, do you really think the layman Ahmadi is going to maintain that? Is that even the case now? How many e-mails do you receive saying “How can Mirza be a prophet is the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم was the last prophet?”
The only way you can maintain that is by creating an extremely insular community, where people do not interact with Muslims and with people who NEVER question what their leaders tell them. And as I said, if history is any guide, we have seen the outcome of such attempts.
asalamualikum everyone,
Brother sultan, how can you say ‘its not working’ when people are researching the material online and leaving?
What people need to understand is that its alot more difficult to leave Jamat Ahmadiyya in Pakistan, because they whole society is geared around tribalism and to leave puts you in a vunerable position. Social boycott threat is very real and harmful in those places.
But in the west where we have independent lives detached from tribal loyalties we can make bigger decisions without so much fear.
Br. Farhan is spot on! I think young professional ahmadis in the west are going leave the jamat, they are either going to
1. become muslims
2. become secular and irreligious
3. convert to another faith
But many will not stay within the suffocation of a punjabi-centric group. Young professionals from sub-continent dont listen to the parents over big issues and ahmadiyya thinks they are going to bow and courtesy to some non-english speaking guy sat in London, UK?
No chance!
Sultan you need to get your head around the fact that you are trying to steer a sinking ship! You are our dear brother, we love you for Allah as our brother in humanity, we want good for your and your family, we ask you for nothing in return, please, please reflect upon your position and affilation with Ahmadiyya, the Ummah is such a beautiful community to be with and we want you to come back home!
I think there is another category – we call it in Business language – DO NOTHING.
There are many, even in Pakistan who are not bothered, many of them don’t pay chanda and they are not bothered what their religion is. They go to Jumma for Muslim mosques, mingle with Muslim friends, but at the time of marriage they are compelled to move back to community. A Muslim family will not accept them for marriage till they denounce Qadianiat and they don’t want to do it for social pressure. So practically they are Muslims, they don’t read any crap of Mirza, they are not dying to kiss the hands of their so called Caliph. But at the time of their marriage they get back to Jama’at. At that time they start paying Chanda again.
I think majority in Pakistan is like this and it may take a few generations to take these people out of the cult.
But yes, I agree – the younger boys who are more internet friendly, do browse the websites like this one. May Allah shower his blessings on Shahid Kamal, for accepting hidaya and for propagating it.
The Internet is damaging this cult in every single way. InshaAllah it will continually result in people being made aware of the reality of Ahmadiyya and the history of deception that comes with it. Indeed, it will not die completely as the family of the Indian ‘Messiah’ will continue to profit from this organisation as its loyal hard headed followers but InshaAllah it will continue to decline as it has been doing for the past 10 years or so.
Brother Farhan has put it right the Qadiani cult is in decline u just have to look at their figures they are in slow demise and they are slowly following the footsteps of other heratical cults that have cropped up during the last 14oo years of islamic history
this reminds me of Ismaili Aghar Khani girl in my work place she told me they dont have to fast or need to keep go for Hajj coz its not compulsury they believe they redeemed from these islamic rituals and they and their leader Aghar Khan is now is their Imam and whatever he says even if it is NOT from islamic souces they have to obey he is seen as semi devine
so this is the same postion the Qadianies are taking coz their Khilafa is now a big family business exact same steps the Ismaili Agha Khanies have taken