Radical Islamic terrorism or jihad is one of the key issues to counterterrorism researchers and organizations in the current time. Islam, which claims to be a religion of peace has already earned a bad name in the world for ongoing atrocious activities, thus creating a public opinion about reforming it alongside the Quran.
The Islam we know today is a perception practiced and propagated by radical Islamists – more precisely – Sunni and Shiite clerics. Very few know that there are 73 sects within Islam mostly following the same radical ideologies given by these so-called enlightened clerics of the religion of peace, who are driven by the ulterior agenda of enforcing Islamist dominance in the world. On the contrary, a sect within Islam that claims to be a real moderate form of this religion was founded in India with a different interpretation of Islamic teachings and ideologies.
Ahmadiyya Muslims who are known for their welfare works and friendliness with other faiths are considered non-muslims and infidels by both Sunni and Shiite clerics. Ahmadis are the most persecuted people on the face of the earth.
Concept of Jihad as understood by Ahmadiyya Muslims
Ahmadis believe that Islam is the eternal religion in its literal sense and practice the true teachings as understood by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who founded this sect in the late 19th century. We Ahmadis believe him to be a prophet of God not only for the children of Abraham but the whole of humanity. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who is referred to as ‘Imam Mahdi’ was a scholar of Islam who categorically rejected the ideology of Jihad as understood by radical Muslims. Prophet Ahmad firmly believed and practiced the real Islamic teachings with divine guidance. His scholastic and philosophical approach towards the concept of Jihad made radical Muslims deny his whole set of teachings ultimately declaring prophet Ahmad an infidel. The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect was a beacon of light for the truth seekers within and outside Islam. Famous Muslim scholars of his time denied his philosophies and understandings of Islamic teachings due to his moderate attitude. Prophet Ahmad taught us how to live in harmony with the people of other faith. Today, we, Ahmadis, are following his mission of spreading peace and uplifting humanity in the world. One may never find an Ahmadi Muslim involved in any criminal and anti-national activities anywhere in the world. This is due to the preachings of the Ahmadiyya sect within Islam.
We Ahmadis categorically deny Jihad which causes killing innocent people in the name of religion.
Quran Reform by Ahmadi Muslims
Ahmadi Muslims believe in the holy scriptures of every faith on this earth. We believe in the Holy Quran in its true sense. Quran does not require any literary reform but reform of interpretation and understanding of it. The Arabic version of the Quran which we believe to be authentic requires a philosophical approach as portrayed by Prophet Ahmad. Many phrases in the Quran are not interpreted correctly by radical Islamist leaders. This is why many radical Muslims are ready enough to accept the concept of Jihad as a way of spreading the religion and cleaning the earth, at least what they claim.
There is truly a segment of Islam that follows several reforms done by a scholar and a philosopher Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. We Ahmadi firmly believe that he is the same messiah of the latter days as foretold by the holy prophet of Islam. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said the messiah of the latter days will reform the true teachings of Islam and will bring peace on the earth. While most of the Muslims are being misled by many interpretations of Islam and hadith, Ahmadis do not use their religious scriptures as a tool of religious hatred or terrorism. Ahmadis firmly uphold the principle of interfaith harmony. In our eyes, the people of scripture are our cousins – the children of prophet Abraham. In our eyes, even the people outside holy scriptures or even atheists are not our enemies. They are our neighbors in this human neighborhood as well.
We Ahmadis believe that the holy Quran never taught us to kill innocent humans. Translation and interpretation of the Holy Quran which is published in many languages around the world by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community are boycotted by radical Islamic scholars. Almost every infamous Islamic scholars like Zakir Naik, Dr. Israr Ahmad, Dr. Ahmed Deedat, and many others categorically denounced the moderate teachings of Islam as portrayed by the Ahmadiyya Muslims. In almost every Muslim country Ahmadiyya sect is banned. There is no place on this earth for Ahmadis. We are scattered around the world.
We don’t believe the hadith, the sayings of Prophet Mohammad, which contradicts the teachings of the Holy Quran. Ahmadis believe in the verse of the Quran which says that every community on this earth was sent a prophet and we adhere to it. Be it Krishna, Nanak, Moses, Jesus, Zarathustra, Buddha, Confucius, Mohammad – all are the prophets of God sent to his children. This is why we say their name as Hadhrat Krishna, Hadhrat Moses, Hadhrat Isa, and so on.
Radical Muslim clerics – both Sunni and Shiite on purpose portray Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya sect within Islam as an infidel stating we Ahmadis consider him as a prophet like Mohammad (PBUH). This is a blatant lie. We definitely believe Muhammad as a prophet of Islam and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be a reformer of Islam.
Dangers caused by Sunni and Shiite Islam
There are ideological differences between Shiite and Sunni Muslims. Both consider each other the enemies of Islam. The political rivalries between both ultimately turned out to be a religious movement for both. There are hundreds of events around the world where both had brutal fights resulting in the killing of thousands of innocent people. The political chaos between Iran and Iraq is a recent history of destruction the world has witnessed.
Pakistan banned the Ahmadiyya scriptures and literature because Ahmadi scriptures do not serve the purpose of Pakistani rulers who want to use religion in taking revenge on their “religious foes”. There are no such activities in Ahmadis. We don’t either force or allure someone into accepting the moderate version of Islam which is the Ahmadiyya Islam. If someone is convinced and attracted towards the philosophies of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the promised messiah and his interpretation of true Islam – decides to shift into the community of moderate Muslims, we definitely wholeheartedly embrace them as our brother or sister.
Fighting radical Islam
The world government has talked much about reform in Islam and Islamic society but never heard the voice of Ahmadis. We Ahmadis are the version of Islam that the world needs today. But, nowhere in the world, Ahmadis are included in the policymaking and peacekeeping process with the Muslim world. Every secular country fighting radical Islam should consider the fact that to maintain peace in the world it is essential to contain the reformed version of Islam which suits the present-day society as well. They need to include us in policymaking.
Ahmadis- people without a land
Today, every persecuted community in the world has a place where they are in peace but Ahmadis are the people without their promised land. All Ahmadiyya Muslims around the world live in harmony and peace with others but a small radical-chaotic voice against them always becomes a disaster for them. Millions of Ahmadis dislocated, killed, looted, and yet to find peace somewhere in the world.
There are countries which we call the land of Buddha, land of Hindus, land of Jews, and the land of Muslims, etc. Ahmadis who are Muslims are not welcomed in Islamic countries in fact are targeted there. Why can’t India embrace them by considering them and include them in the Citizen Amendment Act 2019 (CAA) like for Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians? or why can’t Israel embrace Ahmadis if they are embracing Druce? and Why can’t some secular countries offer them easy settlements where we can live in peace without any radical elements in society? The international community now should not remain silent the way they are.
Ahmadis are divided into two groups, losely labelled as Qadianis and Lahoris. The Qadiani group believes that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet and that all those who deny him are kafirs, even if they recite the kalima. Lahoris believe that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a reformer or mujaddid promised by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s). And that no one has the right to say that another reciter of the kalima is a kafir or heretic.