Friday, March 28, 2014

Uniting the Muslim Ummah: the Big Question

An Encounter with the Mullahs in Triolet

On Thursday 20 February 2014, I was in the North of Mauritius in one of its biggest villages called Triolet. On the way I met two Mullahs coming from Bangladesh. They presented themselves to me after greeting Salaam, and with very good and sweet words they invited me in the mosque at about 10:00a.m. I met many other Muslims coming from Bangalore and India. They asked me my name and before I have finished giving my full name, when I reached: Munir Ahmad, one of the Mullahs told me that his Burzuq’s name is Munir Ahmed, but then when I gave completed my full name: Munir Ahmad Azim, all of them looked at me with big surprised eyes and they suddenly turned aggressive.

Gone were the good and sweet words! Their tone changed and they immediately asked me: You have proclaimed that you are the Mohyuddin, Khalifatullah etc.”

Without any hesitation and fear to creatures, although they were in great numbers in the mosques, I replied them in the affirmative.

They then asked me a series of questions pertaining to the titles I have received from Allah, wanting to know who told me that I was the Khalifatullah, Mohyuddin etc. I told them that it is my Creator, my Rab, in whose hands my life, health, food, dignity and honour are found.  They did not believe me and called me liar and thus started a debate on the finality of prophethood in which they believe.

Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah as Final Guidance

Among other questions concerning the Mahdi and Messiah to come, they put to me put a question to me regarding a Hadith, “I have left for you the Book of Allah and the Sunnah, if you hold fast to it you will never go astray.”

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Mubahila: Khalifa Sani and the Ahmadiyya Sects

Today, among the followers, or those who have accepted the claims, of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, one can count six different, denominational sects: Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian, Anjuman Ahmadiyya Lahore, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Al Muslemun, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand, Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Haquiqui

The recent Mubahila between two of the Ahmadiyya sects- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand is entering into a different stage now, with the Mujaddid claimant Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib and his Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand declaring for himself a “clear victory” through his recent speeches. The boastful claims from the Janbah Sahib came after the completion of two years of publishing/uploading the official Mubahila Document in the respective official websites.

In contrast to the approach of the Janbah Sahib, Hadhrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba)  and the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam  has taken the position that the Janbah Sahib is gravely mistaken in his approach and perceptions and also in his appreciation for himself in the context of the Mubahila. Janbah Sahib is ignoring a profound fact about the situation: he had entered into the Mubahila, half-hearted and reluctant, as is so apparent from the way he conducted himself and his failure in fulfilling the simple procedural requirements in their full measure. He should not have abused the fact that Allah (twa) is compassionate and overlooks the mistakes and sometimes extends the days of people in His Wisdom. Insha Allah, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is certain to serve the purpose of renewal of faith in our times, and there are glad tidings for those who are steadfast and do good deeds in the path of Allah.

The result/consequences of the Mubahila is itself a trial for the believers, especially for all Ahmadis found in the various sects of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya today. Given that all parties to the Mubahila are alive and positive factors that give personal and subjective satisfaction can be, and had been, shared from both ends, whose claims of decisive victory needs to be accepted may yet remain shrouded for many believers, especially those who have veils over their eyes which haze their spiritual vision. In his Friday Sermon of March 21, 2014 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius spoke about the questions that are most relevant for those who analyse the Mubahila situation.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Nikah-related Sanctions in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya

Ahmadis are among the finest and ardent advocates of freedom of conscience. Yet, the Jamaat today is   practicing thought control through intimidatory strategies of expulsion and boycott. If an Ahmadi today wholeheartedly believes in the continuity of Divine guidance as explained in the tenets of the Promised Massih (as) and acts upon that belief by recognizing and accepting the new Divine Manifestation, he or she could and would be expelled by the Jamaat system. Such a person is further liable to be socially boycotted by the community of his own people. Individual Ahmadis, including close relatives, are obliged by the system to break the ties of kinship with those who accept the new Mujaddid. 

A central offence is deemed to be committed by, or attributed to, a member when he or she invites such a relative to the family functions, including Nikah. The punishment for such independence of thought may range from loss of office functions to even the expulsion from Nizam and the common workers are deprived of their  basic rights and even their very livelihoods. The scales of justice are blatantly uneven and tilted invariably in favour of the elites and their cronies who can and will manipulate the unscrupulous in the system to get out of difficult situations. The situation in Maurititus is illustrative of the wider malaise of thought control, lack of empathy and dreadful intolerance, systemic injustice and mindless nepotism plaguing  the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya today.