Tamara Magdy

The Ahmadiyya community is a movement that was established in Punjab, British India, in the late 19th century, centered around the life and teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908). He claimed to have been divinely chosen as the Mahdi and the Promised Messiah, expected to appear by Muslims at the end of times, to achieve "the final victory of Islam" peacefully. Ahmad also embodied the anticipated eschatological figure according to other major religions. He declared the abolition of jihad in Islam and prohibited Muslims from rebelling against the British, stating that they were "the rulers whose obedience is necessary." He emphasized that the suspension of Islamic jihad was one of his primary goals, as noted in his writings, including "Tabligh al-Risala" (7/17) "I am certain that as the number of my followers increases, the belief in jihad decreases, for mere belief in me is a denial of jihad." He denied that Muhammad was the last of the prophets, stating that "Seal of the Prophets" means the best and greatest of the prophets, not the last one. The followers of Ahmadiyya (a term adopted in reference to one of Muhammad's names, Ahmad) are known as "Ahmadi Muslims" or simply "Ahmadis." They consider themselves a non-political religious community aimed at renewing Islam and claim to seek to spread their faith through peaceful means by translating the Quran into several languages, which, according to community sources, has reached 52 languages worldwide. The Ahmadiyya community asserts that it has no connection to politics and deliberately distances religion from politics, also emphasizing that they and their followers will not lead or participate in any uprising against the government of any country in which they reside.