Friday, November 23, 2018

Social Boycott in the Ahmadiyya Community


The Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International has just published a new book in Malayalam, entitled Boycott? Or, No Boycott?’. Originally written by Hadhrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, the present Malayalam translation is by Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of Mathra. Written almost five years ago, the Book remains as relevant and topical as ever, discussing the official policy of of the Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya vis-a-vis the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, especially the arrogant institutional decision by the Nizam-e-Jamaat leadership to socially boycott all those who believe or support Hadhrat Munir Saheb (atba) -a Muslim believer who claims he is a recipient of Divine messages in our times.

The Boycott Policy calls for profound spiritual reflections on the part of common Ahmadis as it touches upon, and has grave implications for, their foundational beliefs and personal convictions. Do they plan to behave unjustly and arrogantly in the times of a Divine Elect among them? As the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya is premised on the continuity of Divine revelations within the Muslim Ummah in every era, it is astonishingly ironical to see how the Nizamis seek to dispute God’s messages in this era, with no authority to do so. How can they be so deluded when they can still read the Qur’an?

Indeed, the Holy Qur’an advices humility, openness, caution and wisdom- rather than expulsion and boycott induced by power and hubris- to people who encounter God’s servants in their midst, by referring to the sojourn of Moses (as) among the Pharoah’s people:

How can you expel a man just for saying, ‘My Lord is Allah,’? He has brought you clear signs from your Lord- if he is a liar, on his own head be it- and if he is truthful, then at least some of what he has threatened will happen to you. Allah does not guide any rebellious, outrageous liar. 

My people, as masters in the land you have the power today, but who will help us from the punishment of Allah if it comes upon us?” (40: 29-30)

Reproduced below is the text of the Introduction to the Malayalam Translation:

The present book entitled ‘Boycott? Or, No Boycott?’, written by Hadhrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius in 2014, makes an important contribution to the debates around the anti-Islamic policy of “social boycott” being aggressively implemented by the Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in recent times. The profound forensic examination and clinical arguments of Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba), unravelling the roots and branches of this anti-human policy of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, is compulsory reading for all Ahmadi Muslims who care about their foundational beliefs and the ‘directions’ of their Jamaat in recent times.

As most Ahmadis know, despite preaching ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ to the world; the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya (Qadian), in Mauritius, India and beyond, has a standing official policy of socially boycotting all those who accept or support the Divine servant Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius. Ever since the official expulsion of this recipient of Divine Revelations in the year 2001, the Nizam-e-Jamaat has been hell-bent on dissuading common Ahmadis from taking spiritual benefit and solace from recognizing this Elect of Allah (swt). 

The policy in practice has meant that members of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya are to break up the ties of blood and of family and kinship with their close relatives and family friends, only because the latter chose to follow and thereby, exercise their freedom of conscience, personal conviction, and individual choice on a question of profound spiritual import for all Muslims- the Islamic duty and spiritual obligation to recognize and accept and work with the Divine Elect of their times.

Indeed, by applying the policy of social boycott on fellow Ahmadis, the Nizam-e-Jamaat today seeks to defend the indefensible. They mix and blur the legitimate and the prohibited- to make it look like the good and the bad are indistinguishable. The duplicity, stupidity, hatred and sectarian prejudice behind the social boycott agenda is self-evident in its contradictory strands and ironic implications. 

Ahmadis who boycott their fathers and brothers and sisters for accepting the Divine Manifestation display sectarian bigotry and mindless prejudice. Those who incite people to apply social boycott against fellow beings take themselves as lords beside Allah. Instead of reforming morals and redeeming social fractures; they divide people to further their narrow agenda. Such hubris will bite the dust, today or tomorrow: the common folks will eventually see through the gaping holes, break the ranks and join the onward march of the Divine plans for our times, Insha Allah, Aameen.

The present Malayalam translation of the Book by Mukarram Amir R. Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of Mathra is a welcome addition to the growing literature of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in Kerala, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah.

To read the Malayalam Book, click here