The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

“Indonesia to ban Islamic sect amid pressure from hard-liners”

At this link is a news report in the International Herald Tribune from Asspciated Press.

I quote below the text as well for your convenience. It is a development to be greatly deplored, whoever it may be against.

JAKARTA, Indonesia: A government team has recommended that Indonesia outlaw a Muslim sect that has come under attack from hard-liners as heretical, angering human rights activists who accuse authorities of cowing to pressure from extremists.

The Ahmadi movement has faced bans and persecution in Muslim countries around the world for its belief in another prophet after Muhammad. The group insists it should be considered part of Islam.

A government team of prosecutors, religious scholars and home affairs department officials concluded that the sect “had deviated from Islamic principles” and recommended Wednesday that the government ban it.

“Their activities are causing unrest among Muslims,” team leader Wishnu Subroto said Thursday.

The government was to meet Thursday to discuss the recommendation, media reports said. The team recommended Ahmadi followers be charged with “insulting a religion” — a charge that carries a five-year jail term.

A prominent human rights activist said any ban “cannot be justified and should be regarded as a serious violation of the constitution,” referring to clauses guaranteeing freedom of religion.

“This recommendation shows that board’s members do not understand the real function of the state,” said Hendardi, who goes by a single name.

Hard-liners have led an increasingly vocal campaign against Ahmadi in recent years, often vandalizing its mosques and the homes of its followers. In many cases, police made no attempt to stop the attackers.

“We are the victims here, yet we are being banned,” Yan Hussein Lamardi, a lawyer for the group, told Koran Tempo newspaper.

The Ahmadi sect is believed to have around 200,000 followers in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation. It was founded at the end of the 19th century in Pakistan where it is banned.

Indonesia is a secular country, with a long history of religious tolerance. But in recent years, a hard-line fringe has grown louder and the government — which relies on the support of Islamic parties in parliament — has been accused of cowing to it.

Judgment from “second” Cape Town case, 1990, online

Due to the hard work of the Webmaster of www.aaiil.org the Judgment in what we informally call the “second” Cape Town court case, dated February 1990, is now online. It is the scanned image of the typed Judgment. Please access it from this link.

As the learned Lady Judge says on page 2:

“A marathon trial followed, the major portion of which dealt with the issue whether Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who died in India in 1908 was a Muslim or an apostate, and whether one of the two branches of his followers referred to herein as the Ahmedis … consist of Muslims or apostates.”

At this link is an overall summary of the court case, taken from the obituary of Hafiz Sher Muhammad that I wrote following his death in October 1990. 

There was an appeal by the anti-Ahmadiyya parties against this judgment, whose result came out in September 1995. You can read my coverage of the appeal and the false representation of it by the anti-Ahmadiyya parties at this link.

Return of the Pleezing One

Last weekend I watched the western film “The Magnificent Seven” on a TV channel. This weekend the same channel is showing “The Return of the Magnificent Seven”, which isn’t so good.

I am reminded of this since, you may like to know, we have the “Return of the Pleezing One”, and he has repeated his objections to the statements by the Promised Messiah that he would fulfill the prophecy of carrying out his mission for forty years. I told him earlier that in fact he did carry out his mission for forty years, although in Nishan-i Asmani he did not correctly identify the starting point of his mission. In his obituary which appeared upon his death in the Review of Religions in its issue for June 1908 it is written:

“The period of his revelations thus extended fully over forty years and this may be said to be the period of his ministry.”

But as I told the Pleezing One earlier, we need to finish our discussion on the debate that he chose to start when he objected to the Promised Messiah’s language in Arya Dharm. The point we had reached in the discussion, at which the Pleezing One disappeared, was when I referred him to the Masnavi of Rumi and some of its sexually explicit language.

Please see this link.

(I took the trouble of going to a library to borrow the book by Afzal Iqbal that I have quoted in the above link.)

After the Pleezing One’s departure at this point, I provided further evidence of the high repute of Rumi among Muslims. Please see this link.

Thus he cannot easily dismiss Rumi, as he did, by saying that Rumi is no authority that he is bound by.

He should therefore continue that discussion, and let us know whether he now admits that his allegations against the Promised Messiah relating to the book Arya Dharm  were baseless and should be withdrawn.

I also have another suggestion. The next issue of U.K. edition of The Light will contain an article by me on how the mission and teachings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in the service of Islam are as relevant now, if not more so, than they were when he died 100 years ago. (In fact, I am interrupting my writing of that article to post this.) I suggest that the Pleezing One studies that article, to be published in 3 or 4 weeks time, and lets us know where I am wrong in considering the Promised Messiah to have done great service for Islam.

If the Promised Messiah did not do any service for Islam, then even if 100% of his prophecies turned out to be exactly fulfilled, there would be no point in accepting him on that basis.

Dr Basharat Ahmad’s integrity and service of humanity praised

In a report in Badr, 26th March 1908, the Editor (I presume) gives an account of his visit to Bhera, where Dr Basharat Ahmad was stationed in his medical employment. He records here an event showing Dr Basharat Ahmad’s integrity, truthfulness, fairness and service of humanity in the course of his work.

Click here to read that extract.

Rumi in the ‘Jang’ newspaper

Readers will recall how the anti-Ahmadiyya writer using the name “Pleezing One” claimed that he was ready to reject the writings of Rumi, if we presented them in reply to his allegations against Hazrat Mirza sahib. For that discussion please see this link.

There was an article in the Urdu Daily Jang, in the London edition (28 February 2008, p. 4), in which the writer, Dr Safdar Mehmood, quoted an anecdote from Rumi’s Mathnawi. His first paragraph shows how highly Rumi is regarded. The point of the article is also of interest. Please read it here as a pdf file.

(Note: The first page of the pdf file shows columns 1 and 2 of the article, side by side. The second page shows columns 3 and 4, side by side. Please observe this order when reading.)

Vilification by label

Submitted by Abdul Momin 

Since being declared non-Muslim, in Pakistan it is fashionable to label someone as Qadiani or Ahmadi even if that person is not even aware of Ahmadi beliefs, in order to defame him. This can happen for any reason, e.g for the purpose of litigation in order to influence a court of law or it could be to prevent appointment of someone to a higher post in a government job. All it takes is for someone to have a present or past (deceased) relative who is or was an Ahmadi, and from time to time the label of being Ahmadi will be applied to that non-Ahmadi person. Such a person has to prove his being non-Ahmadi through constant denials during his lifetime. Were it not such a serious matter and the severe persecution that Ahmadis have faced, one would find this whole matter laughable.

But just as the label “Ahmadi” is used as a weapon to demonise and curse people in Pakistan, it seems that now the label “Muslim” is used by bigoted Christain Evangelists to demonize their opponents in US presidential politics. The ignorance or false propaganda of these Evangelists can only be matched by their anti-Ahmadiyya counterparts.

The leading US presidential candidate Barack Obama has to repeatedly deny that he ever was a Muslim:

“My grandfather, who was Kenyan, converted to Christianity, then converted to Islam,” Obama said Sunday. “My father never practiced; he was basically agnostic. So, other than my name and the fact that I lived in a populous Muslim country for four years when I was a child, I have very little connection to the Islamic religion.”

-A debunked chain e-mail circulating widely on the Internet suggests he is hiding his Islamic roots. It says he was sworn into the Senate on the Quran and turns his back on the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance. He took his Senate oath with his hand on a family Bible, and he says, “Whenever I’m in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. In fact, no candidate could survive if he publicly spurned the pledge.”

-Another false report says he attended a Muslim madrassa school as a child in Jakarta. Obama was born in Hawaii and moved to Indonesia when he was 6 to live with his mother and stepfather. He returned to Hawaii when he was 10 to live with his maternal grandparents.

(From Haaretz, a liberal Israeli newspaper)

Recently a picture of Obama surfaced wearing African tribal clothes, and that was reason enough for him to be labeled “Muslim”!!!

Website calling almost everyone a heretic

It was purely by chance that I came across this website which has an Indian address. In the right hand column of each page, under the title “Guard your faith”, there is a list of movements considered kafir. Click on the movement’s name and you can read the full denunciation.

Ahmadiyya is, of course, top of the list.

Under Shi’ites we read: Shiaism (The Rafidah) and Islam are indeed different religions.

Under Jamaat-e-Islami:  “if you see the Aqeedah and Manhaj of their founding leaders, who are looked upon as mujaddid and great scholars you will be shocked”

Also under the above, Maudoodi is described as:  “A man who reviled many of the Prophets of Allaah and the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger”.

Under Barelwis: “the belief and practices of this sect are founded upon superstition, folklore and many innovatory practices. It is a sad fact that the masses of ignorant Muslims do not know the real meaning of ‘Ibaadah (worship); they address their worship (unknowingly) to other than Allah, thereby committing a kind of shirk (associating partners with Allah), which would drive a person right out of Islam.”

Tablighi Jamaat: “this group has exceeded all bounds in innovations and aspects of shirk, Muhammad Illiyaas, the heretical Deobandee who founded Jamaa’at ut-Tableegh in the 1920s, may Allaah give him what he deserves.”

Under Sufism they mention: “the kufr of Ibn ‘Arabi,”

Under Naqshbandiyya: “The present-day Naqshabandis are determined in their war against Islaam and the Muslims and seek to pull in unsuspecting and ignorant Muslims by their “populist” and cleverly devised approach”.

Under Deobandis, it says (encouragingly) at the top: “The Deobandis are one of the groups of Muslims”.

However, at the bottom of the page we read:

“after reading the writings of the revered scholars and Founder of Deoband one Realizes that the difference between the Barelwis and the Deobandis is Miniscule and they both Share the Same Sufistic Beliefs …”

“Turkey in radical revision of Islamic texts”

Under the above heading there is a news item on the BBC’s news website at this link.

Here are some brief extracts giving its flavour:

“Its supporters say the spirit of logic and reason inherent in Islam at its foundation 1,400 years ago are being rediscovered. Some believe it could represent the beginning of a reformation in the religion.”

“… the task of explaining the original spirit of Islam to remote communities in Turkey’s vast interior…”

And how about this:

They have also taken an even bolder step – rejecting a long-established rule of Muslim scholars that later (and often more conservative) texts override earlier ones.

“You have to see them as a whole,” says Fadi Hakura.

“You can’t say, for example, that the verses of violence override the verses of peace. This is used a lot in the Middle East, this kind of ideology.

“I cannot impress enough how fundamental [this change] is.

This obviously refers to the theory of abrogation.

The work of “recreating” Islam (as it is called in this article) has already been done long ago in the writings of Maulana Muhammad Ali.

Muslims must welcome the Danish cartoons

Muslims must welcome the Danish cartoons

by Maulana Mustapha K. Hydal B.A. Theology (Peshawar)

Lahore Ahmadiyya Imam and Missionary in Trinidad and Tobago

Muslims have insulted the Prophet Muhammad. Their behaviour is a shame and disgrace to the teachings of this ideal Prophet. Yet we do not see demonstrations of Muslims against these Muslims who insult the Prophet Muhammad by their response to the publication of cartoons allegedly offensive to the Prophet Muhammad.

Allah prophesied in the Qur’an: “you will certainly hear from those who have been given the Book before you and from the idolaters much abuse. And if you are patient and keep your duty, surely this is an affair of great resolution.” (The Qur’an 3:186) Thus the correct duty of Muslims is firstly to “restrain (their) anger and pardon people.” (The Qur’an 3:134) and then to “defend themselves after they are oppressed.” (The Qur’an 26:227)

We must recognise and realise that the concept of Islam and Muslims which many persons harbour is a concept of terrorism. Ever since the last century and even before, it was incorrectly stated that Islam was spread by the sword. This wrong concept of Islam and Muslims was and still is fostered and nurtured by Muslims themselves: “whatever misfortune befalls you, it is on account of what your hands have wrought.” (The Qur’an 42:30)

For example, over one hundred years ago Mirza Ghulaam-Ahmad advised Muslims that rather than merely asking governments to proscribe and confiscate the offensive jargon of the objectors of Islam they should all be collected and appropriate replies prepared so that the present and future generations can be spared from these vituperative and poisonous diatribes. But instead of heeding his call Muslims condemned him and developed and advocated violence and terror to him and his followers.

It is amazing that the very first revelation Prophet Muhammad received was not to pray, not to fast, not to give charity or to perform pilgrimage. The first command was to READ and the method of propagating Islam was there and then indicated “Allah teaches by the pen” (The Qur’an 96:4). Later on Prophet Muhammad was also informed: “the pen and that which they write! By the grace of your Lord you are not mad. And surely yours is a reward never to be cut off. And surely you have sublime morals.” (The Qur’an 68:1-4) In other words Muslims must use the pen to promote the sublime morals that they ought to possess.

The Prophet Muhammad, though illiterate, used the pen at least once in his life and that was to delete his Divinely given honorific as the messenger of God to foster peace with his enemies albeit under disgraceful conditions at the truce of Hudaibiyya.

If we ban the cartoons we ban the expression, we do not remove the thinking.

It is only when the opponents of Islam express their thoughts that we can counteract their objections which arise out of either ignorance or fabrication. So rather than insulting the Prophet Muhammad by their truculent behaviour, the Muslims must take on the challenge of one whose head is full of lies with this approach – “let him bring on his brayers we will call up our penpushers.” (The Qur’an 96:17-18)

The Qur’an sets the tone for the appropriate counteracting of objections to Islamic teachings: “say to My servants that they utter what is best.” (The Qur’an 17:53) Yes, the Qur’an teaches: “And the recompense of evil is the like of it; but whoever forgives and amends, his reward is with Allah. Surely He loves not the cruel ones.” (The Qur’an 42:40)

We live in a time when human beings are at a loss – wondering how society can deal with so much violence and hatred pervading all strata of human society yet with little solutions to these challenges. Let there be exception in those “who believe and do good, and exhort one another to Truth, and exhort one another to patience.” (The Qur’an 102:3)

Maulaana Mustapha K. Hydal B.A. Theology (Peshawar)

A Qadiani Jamaat website confirms original news

In the Press Release from the Qadiani Jama`at international centre as well as in the Khutba by Mirza Masroor Ahmad (see posts below in this blog) it is claimed that the Indonesian newspaper had issued a clarification of the original Qadiani Jama`at statement. Yet, it is quite bizarre that another official Qadiani Jama`at website, www.thepersecution.org, quotes later newsreports from the same newspaper to the same effect.

See this link to thepersecution.org.

It reproduces a report from The Jakarta Post, dated 5th February, which is as follows:

Govt to monitor Ahmadiyah sect

JAKARTA: The government has established a monitoring team to supervise the controversial Ahmadiyah sect.

“The team will gather information on to what extent Ahmadiyah has applied its ‘12 points of explanation,’ ” said Religious Affairs Minister M. Maftuh Basyuni during a hearing with the Regional Representatives Council here Monday.

Ahmadiyah was declared heretical by the influential Indonesian Ulema Council because the group recognized Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, its founder, as the last prophet, rather than Muhammad.

After a string of mob attacks on the group’s properties, Ahmadiyah’s leaders issued a statement containing “12 points of explanation”, including their acknowledgment of Muhammad as the final prophet.

The Religious Affairs Ministry on Jan. 24 issued a decree establishing the monitoring team. It includes officials from the Religious Affairs Ministry, Attorney General’s Office, Home Ministry and National Police.

“The team will report their findings to the religious affairs minister at least three months from the time the decree was issued,” said Maftuh. “At the moment, we still consider Ahmadiyah as heretical.” – JP

The newspaper is repeating the same report on 5th February, while the Qadiani Jama`at Press Release from London announces that the newspaper on 23rd January printed a clarification, i.e. that the earlier report of changing beliefs was not true.