About Ahmadiyyat
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at is a dynamic, fast growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, it spans over 206 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Its current headquarters are in the United Kingdom.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long-awaited Messiah has come in the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) (1835-1908) of Qadian. He claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus (as) of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammadsaw. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at believes that God sent Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), like Jesus (as), to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. The advent of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival. He divested Islam of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings. He also recognized the noble teachings of other great religious founders and saints, including Zoroaster (as), Abraham (as), Moses (as), Jesus (as), Krishna (as), Buddha (as), Confucius (as), Lao Tzu (as) and Guru Nanak, and explained how such teachings converged into the one true Islam.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at is the leading Islamic organization to categorically reject terrorism in any form. Over a century ago, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) emphatically declared that an aggressive “jihad by the sword” has no place in Islam. In its place, he taught his followers to wage a bloodless, intellectual “jihad by the pen” to defend Islam. To this end, he penned over 80 books, wrote thousands of letters, delivered hundreds of lectures, and engaged in scores of public debates. His rigorous and rational defenses of Islam unsettled conventional Muslim thinking. As part of its effort to revive Islam, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at continues to spread Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s teachings of moderation and restraint in the face of bitter opposition from parts of the Muslim world.
Similarly, it is the only Islamic organization to endorse a separation of mosque and state. Over a century ago, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) taught his followers to protect the sanctity of both religion and government by becoming righteous souls as well as loyal citizens. He cautioned against irrational interpretations of Qur’anic pronouncements and misapplications of Islamic law. He continually voiced his concerns over protecting the rights of God’s creatures. Today, it continues to be an advocate for universal human rights and protections for religious and other minorities. It champions the education and social rights of women. Its members are among the most law-abiding, educated, and engaged Muslims in the world.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at is the foremost Islamic organization with a central spiritual leader. Over a century ago, the Promised Messiahas reminded his followers of God’s promise to safeguard the message of Islam through khilafat (the spiritual institution of successorship to prophethood). It believes that only spiritual successorship can uphold the true values of Islam and unite humanity. Five spiritual leaders have succeeded the Promised Messiahas since his demise in 1908. Its fifth and current spiritual head, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, resides in the United Kingdom. Under the leadership of its spiritual successors, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at has now built over 15,000 mosques, over 500 schools, and over 30 hospitals. It has translated the Holy Qur’an into more than 70 languages. It propagates the true teachings of Islam and the message of peace and tolerance through a twenty-four hour satellite television channel (MTA), the Internet (alislam.org) and print (Islam International Publications). It has been at the forefront of worldwide disaster relief through a charitable organization, Humanity First.