Table Of ContentISLAM AND THE AHMADIYYAJAMA'AT
To
Naheeda
Anam Chara
SIMON ROSS VALENTINE
Islam and the
Ahmadiyya Jama'a t
History, Belief, Practice
Columbia University Press
New York
.. y
Columbia University Press
Pubfuhm Sine< 1893
New York
Copyright © 2008 Simon Ross Valentine
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Valentine, Simon Ross, 1958-
lslam and the Ahmadiyya jama'at : histoiy, belief, practice I Simon Ross
Valentine.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-231-70094-8 (cloth : aJk. paper)
1. Ahmadiyya-Histoiy. 2. Ahmadiyya- Doctrines. I. Title.
BPI9 5.ASV35 2008
297.8'6-dc22
2008016983
e
Columbia University Press books arc printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper.
This book is printed on paper with recycled content.
Printed in India
c 10987654321
References to Internet Web sites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing.
Neither the author nor Columbia University Press is responsible for URI.s
that may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared.
CONTENTS
of
Glossary tmns
Vil
Foreword
Xlll
Preface xv
Introduction: Walking in Another Man's Shoes' 1
1. In Search of the Tomb ofJ esus 11
2. Ahmadiyyat and its Founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad 31
3. The History of the Ahmadiyya Jama'a t 55
4. 'Learn From the Ants': Structure and Organisation' 77
5. 'The Remembrance of Allah': Life in the Mosque 101
6. Ahmadi Belief and Teaching 127
7. Ahmadiyyat: Integration and the Preservation of Faith 151
8. Women and the Family 171
9. 'The Pen is Mightier than the Sword': Ahmadiyyat and Jihad 189
10. Tabligh and Da'wa: Recruiting for Islam 211
11. The Ahmadi: A Persecuted People 227
12. 'In Allah Do We Trust': Conclusions and Comment 241
Bibliography 249
Index 255
v
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Abrogation a literary device used in tafiir, Islamic exegesis,
where a later O!u'anic verse is regarded as more
authoritative than an earlier verse.
Ajle Musamma the decreed time of death for a Muslim.
Al-Baseerat the monthly magazine published by the Ah
f
madi ama'at in Bradford from 1976. The title
means 'in-depth understanding of, and reflec
tion on, religious beliefs'.
'Alim [plural: 'ukma] a learned man in Islam, espe
cially regarding religion.
'Ali ma a learned woman within Islam.
AJ/adhina amanu 'those who believe'.
A/'WQSiyya the Will written by Mirza Ghulam Alunad,
published in 1905, containing his wish to es
tablish the Khalifate to guide the movement
after his death. and the creation of an official
graveyard, Bahishti Maqbara, at Rabwah.
Ami/a monthly business meetings held at each
Jama'at.
Amir commander, leader or head, of a particular
area ofj urisdiction within the movement.
Ansarullah an auxiliary organisation consisting of men
over the age of forty.
Arkan the five pillars, or main religious duties, of
Islam, Viz., shahatill, salat, zahlt, sawm and
hajj.
Alfa/ male member of the ]ama'at under fifteen
years of age.
Azan/adhan the call to prayer made from the mosque.
..
Vll
1
ISLAM AND THE AHMADIYYA JAMA AT
Bai'at oath of allegiance, the formal rite of initiation
and allegiance into Ahmadiyyat.
Bara ka divine blessing gained from holy people or
objects.
Bid'a t innovations and practices, usually regarded as
undesirable, which have been introduced into
Islam.
Biradari extended clan or family system.
Bismillah 'in the name of Allah', the opening words of
Qiran
most of the Surahs [chapters] in the
and words uttered on leaving the house, arriv
ing home, eating, sleeping or before perform
ing other daily activities.
Bukhari the most trusted of the six collections ofh adith
accepted by Sunni Muslims.
Chanda 'contribution', money which every Ahmadi is
asked to give to the cause of God.
Dai ilallahs, a 'caller to God', someone who invites others
to Islam.
Darueshon-e-Qadian the name given to the 313 men who stayed at
at the time of the partition ofP akistan
~dian
and India in 1947 so as to protect the holy
places found there.
Da'wa inviting someone to Islam through one's words
and actions.
Dhikr the rhythmic chanting of Quranic verses prac
ticed by Sufis to enhance spiritual awareness.
Dhu al-hijja the month during which Muslims perform
pilgrimage to Mecca.
Dunya the physical world in contrast to the spiritual.
Fard that which is obligatory.
Fatwa a legal opinion made by a person of authority
within the Ummah.
Fidyah compensation paid by an individual worship
per for not fasting.
Fiqh islamic jurisprudence; the study and under
standing of Divine law.
Hadhrat honorific title meaning 'the respected one'.
Hafiz title given to a person who has memorised the
entire Quran.
Vlll
GWSSARY OF TERMS
Hajj pilgrimage Mecca.
to
Haram that which is forbidden by Islamic law.
Hazoor a tenn of respect used for the Khalifa meaning
'your honour' or 'the honoured one'.
ljtema gathering of the members of ajama'at.
ljtihad personal interpretation of the Quran.
Imam the person appointed to lead worship in a
mosque.
Iman meaning 'faith', refers to belief in God, angels,
Allah's holy books, the prophets and the last
day.
Imh'Allah phrase used repeatedly by Muslims meaning
'God Willing' or 1fit is God's will'.
Isiahi committee the committee responsible for identifying
moral dangers that may affect thcjama'at, and
with prevailing ills amongjama'at members.
Islam meaning 'submission', a religion that demands
submission to the will of God.
Islamabad an Ahmadi centre at Tilford, near Farnbor
ough in Surrey. The centre consists of a school
building, and extensive land, purchased by the
movement in 1984.
jalsa Salana the annual international gathering of the Ah
madi.
jazia'h a tax imposed in an Islamic state on non-Mus
lims so as to ensure their protection.
jihad armed conB.ict against non-Muslims or the
inner struggle of an individual Muslim to gain
personal righteousness [sec chapter nine].
jinn good or bad spirits, that dwell in unclean
places, which influence the lives of men.
Ka.fir a derogatory tenn referring to an unbeliever.
Kalima literally meaning 'the word', and also known
as shahada, is a name used for the testimony of
faith uttered by every Muslim. It states 'I bear
testimony that there is no God but Allah and
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah'.
Khalifa the spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya jama'at.
Kha/iaf te the ideal of the Khalifa, as the ruler over all
Muslims, an idea first introduced after the
IX
1
!SLAM AND THE AHMADIYYAJAMA AT
death of Muhammad in 632 AD and con
tinuing till the fall of the Ottomon Empire in
1924. It is believed by all Muslims that Allah
will restore the Khalifate in the last days and
thus unite all Muslims and restore the strength
of Islam.
Khataman Nabiyeen the belief that Muhammad is the seal, the last
and the greatest, of the prophets.
Khatme Nahuvat a small Islamic political group directly opposed
to the Ahmadi faith, calling for its destruction
and the death of its members.
Khuddam auxiliary organisation for men aged 16-40.
Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya the pledge taken by members of the Khuddam
f
to be loyal to the Khalifa an~ the ama'at.
Lai/atul Qadr the 'night of prayer', the 27"' day of the month
of Ramadan, celebrating the giving of the first
portion of the Qiran to Muhammad.
Lajna /mail/ah the organisation for women between the age
of 16-40.
Ludhiana the place in India where the first hai'at took
place in 1889.
Madrasah school attached to a mosque.
Maj/is Aamala the executive committee of the Ahmadiyya
Jama'at.
Makrooh arabic word meaning 'disapproved of, or
something which, although not haram and
forbidden, is frowned upon.
Maroof a decision made by the Khalifa which is bind
f
ing on all members of the ama'at.
Masjid Sec mosque.
Muhahala a pronouncement made, usually by the founder
oft he movement or one oft he Khalifas, against
an opponent in which it is declared that Allah
should be the judge of the issue at stake, and
as such God will support those who are right
but will punish [usually by death] those in the
wrong.
Mujaddid a reformer believed to be sent by God at the
beginning of each new century:
Murtad an apostate from the faith.
x
