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Qadianis (Ahmadis)
are followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
(1839-1908), a Sunni
Hanafi,
born in the village of Qadian in India,
who founded a heretic religious cult
in the late nineteenth century in
South Asia. Mirza Qadiani began to
publish his Barahin-i Ahmadiyya
in 1880. He declared himself a Nabi
(prophet), Messiah, Mahdi and Mujaddid
(a renewer of faith) in 1882 and set
about spreading his message. In 1889,
he claimed that he had received divine
revelation from God authorizing him
to accept the Baya, the allegiance
of the faithful. Then in 1891 he declared
himself the Mahdi, and the promised
Messiah (Masih) of Islam.
Mirza Qadiani ruled out armed struggle
against the European colonial powers
that have occupied the Muslim lands.
Consequently, he received protection,
support and encouragement from the
British colonial government.
When he died Qadianism split into two
sects, the Rabwa
Qadianis and the Lahori
Qadianis . The Rabwa Qadianis
claimed that Mirza Qadiani was a prophet,
and accused all Muslims who did not
accept him, as being Kuffar (non-Muslims).
The Lahori Qadiansi claim that he
was a Mujaddid, Messiah and Mehdi
not a prophet.
Qadianis consider themselves to be Muslim,
but the Muslims hold the opposite
view because of the Qadianis claim
that their founder was a recipient
of divine revelation and a prophet
of God. This claim is believed by
the Muslims and the government of
Pakistan
to violate a basic Islamic tenet regarding
the finality of the Prophet Mohammad.
The Pakistan's constitutional amendment
of 1974 declared the Qadianism
(Qadianis
and Lahoris)
as non-Muslims
Page last updated:
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 12:48:19 -0500 |
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