“Love for All, Hatred for None.” Who could take exception to such a noble sentiment? This is the slogan of the Ahmadiyya movement. Who and what are the Ahmadis? This is not so simple a question as it sounds! Even the name is an issue. While "the Ahmadiyya” is the name they give themselves, the Muslim population as whole calls them “the Qadianis.”
Their movement was founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian who lived in British India 1835-1908. He claimed to be “The Mahdi, The Messiah, the Purifier of Islam.” Their literature and website boldly proclaim that the second coming of Christ has happened through this man. Both Muslims and Christians are taught to expect the return of Christ and this man called both Christians and Muslims to follow him as the fulfilment of their scriptures. Although Ahmadis confess Muhammad, observe the five prayers, keep Ramadan, believe the Qur’an and maintain all the other standard Islamic beliefs and practices, most Muslims simply refuse to accept them as Muslims in any sense. Websites advertising where to find a mosque simply exclude them. And that is something they feel deeply.
The Ahmadiyya is a highly missional organisation. In the parts of the UK where they have a strong presence, South London, parts of Birmingham, and Glasgow for instance we may encounter them manning bookstalls, running poster campaigns and initiating ‘interfaith’ events. They have online outreaches in the form of webinars and courses where they present themselves as the true representatives of Islam. Overseas, they run mission hospitals. Here is an example of one of their promotional videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc1s_o3GBJc&t=86s
The Ahmadis make up only about 1% of the British Muslim population, but because they are so outgoing, where they have a significant presence, they get noticed. They are usually come across as warm, courteous, inviting and easy to engage with. They are ready to use verses from the Bible to support their contention that Jesus was originally only sent to the ‘Lost Sheep of Israel’, that he was crucified but did not die; that he recovered and travelled to Kashmir where he lived to a ripe old age. Jesus, they say, returned ‘spiritually’ to launch his global mission through the Ahmadiyya. The texts they use to support these points are easily accessed on their phones.
It is as well to find out about their beliefs and approaches before engaging with them so as not to be blind-sided. Christian books about Islam often give a few paragraphs to this movement. The best way to find out more about the Ahmadiyya is simply to access their booklets and online messages. Steven Masood and Nabeel Qureshi were both formerly Ahmadis.
Love for all and hatred for none is a great slogan and should be observed by Christians who engage with them.
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