Caliphate-ul-Masih ( Arabic خليفة المسيح ; Urdu خلیفہ المسیح ; English Successor of the Messiah , “Successor of the Messiah”), sometimes simply called the Caliph (often latinized with the word caliph ), is the elected spiritual and administrative leader of the world-wide Ahmadi Muslim community and successor to Mirza Gulam Ahmad of Qadian . According to the beliefs of the Ahmadiyah Muslim community , the Caliphat-ul-Masih is elected by Allah Almighty. Members of the Community call him “Amirul Muminin” (Lord of the Faithful). The current Caliphatul Masih is Mirza Masrur Ahmad.
After the death of Mirza Gulam Ahmad, his successors led the Ahmadi community from Kadian , which remained the center of the community until 1947. Since the founding of Pakistan, the main center of the Ahmadiyah Muslim community has been in Rabwa, a city built on land purchased by the Ahmadiyah community in Pakistan in 1948. In 1984, the Government of Pakistan promulgated Decree No. XX, due to which Khalifatul Masih was unable to fulfill his duties. During this period, the Caliphate-ul-Masih Institute itself was in danger. Due to these circumstances, Caliphatul Masih IV emigrated from Pakistan to London , England . Thus, the main center of the Ahmadiyah Muslim community was temporarily relocated to London , England , to the location of the Al-Fazl mosque [1]
Content
Overview
Members of the Ahmadi community believe that the Ahmad Caliphate is a renewal of the righteous Caliphate (Rashid). According to them, the righteous Caliphate was restored with the advent of Mirza Gulam Ahmad , who, according to the beliefs of Muslims - Ahmadi, is Caliphate-ul-Maasih. [2] Ahmadi Muslims claim that according to the Quranic verses (Quran 24:56 [55]) and the numerous hadiths on this subject, the Caliphate can be established only by Allah . He is a divine blessing given to those who believe and uphold the unity of God through their righteous deeds. But the attempts of those who, without Divine direction, are trying to establish the Caliphate by human efforts, simply by choosing the caliph , are unable to obtain long-term success. Their fate is similar to the fate of false prophets and their supporters.
According to Ahmadi thought, the Caliph does not have to be the head of state. This is, first of all, a spiritual and religious order, in order to support, strengthen and spread Islam , as well as cultivate high spiritual and moral standards within the framework of the world community (ummah) established by the Prophet Muhammad , who, in turn, was not just a political leader, but above all, a religious leader. If the Caliph has to bear the burden of state power as the head of state, then this will be only an addition to his general function as the Caliph [3] [4] .
According to the beliefs of Muslims - Ahmadi , God assured them that this Caliphate would last until Judgment Day , depending on their righteousness and faith in God. The Caliph provides unity, security , and moral instruction for the progress of the entire Community. It is necessary that the caliph fulfill his duties on the basis of consultations and taking into account the opinions of the Shura participants (deliberative body). However, it is not necessary for him to accept the opinions and recommendations of its participants. Khalifatul Masih has authority on all religious and organizational matters. He is obliged to make decisions and act in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah .
Kudratu s Saniyya (Second Manifestation of God's Power)
The activities of the Caliph of the Promised Messiah , as considered by Ahmadi Muslims, is the second manifestation of God's power, which Mirza Ghulam Ahmad wrote about in his last testament, Al-Wasiyyat (Testament) [5]
Oh my dear! Since ancient times, it has been customary in God that He manifests two of his powers in order to destroy the two false joys of his opponents. So it is impossible for the Most High God to suddenly stop observing his old custom. Therefore, do not be sad for what I said. Your hearts should not worry. It is also important for you to see the second manifestation of God's power, and it will be beneficial for you, because it is eternal and its chain will not be interrupted until the Day of Judgment . This second power cannot come until I leave. When I leave, then God will send you this second power, which will always be with you, according to the promise of the Most High God in the book "Barakhine Ahmadiyya." And this promise does not apply to me, it applies to you. The Most High God told me: “I will grant victory to the Community of your followers until the Day of Resurrection. So you need the day of separation from me to come that day, which is the day of the eternal promise.
- Al Wasiyat
However, the Lahore Movement of Ahmadiyya does not support this principle, and believes that they should obey the governing council, which was described in the same book.
Foundation in the Qur'an and Hadith
According to the beliefs of Muslims - Ahmadi, God in the Holy Quran promised to appoint his successor among the righteous. In this regard, verse 56 [55] of the An-Nur Surah [6] utters:
Allah promised to those of you who believed and did good deeds, that He would surely make them successors on earth, as He made successors of those that were before them, and, of course, He would strengthen for them their faith, which He wished for them, and, undoubtedly, He will give them in return, after their fear, peace. They will worship Me, and will not partake in Me. Who, after this, will be ungrateful (to Me), it is they - the wicked.
- Holy Quran Surah An-Nur verse 56
Muhammad 's prophecy about the restoration of a righteous Caliphate is narrated in “ Musnad Ahmad ” [7]
The prophecy will remain with you as long as Allah wishes. Then Allah Almighty will take it, and a caliphate will be established, begun by the prophecy, it will exist for as long as Allah wishes; then Allah will take it and this is good; then the era of a strong and powerful kingdom will come, it will persist until Allah wishes, then He will take this kingdom too, and then the time will come for cruel and oppressive rule, after which the era of the caliphate, begun by the prophecy, will come again. Then he fell silent.
Election System
According to the belief of the Ahmadian Muslim community , the institution of the Caliphate is not hereditary , although all the successors, except the first Caliph , were descendants of Mirza Gulam Ahmad . The Caliph is elected by voting by members of the board of the election commission, which was established for this purpose by Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmoud Ahmad . During the life of Khalifa, the board of the election commission acts under his leadership. However, after the death of an official, the board of the election commission becomes completely independent and elects the next Caliph of the Promised Messiah . During the election, names and appointed members of the collegium of the election commission are proposed, they vote for the proposed names by raising their hands.
Caliphs of the Ahmadiyah Muslim Community
| name | a photo | Life span | Management Time | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caliphatul Masih I. Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin | 1841-1914 | 1908-1914 | A prominent associate of Mirza Gulam Ahmad , he sent the first Muslim missionaries, Ahmadi, to the UK . He also successfully dealt with the internal divisions of the community. [8] [9] [10] | |
| Caliphatul Masih II. Mirza Bashirudin Mahmoud Ahmad | 1889-1965 | 1914-1965 | The son of Mirza Gulam Ahmad, was elected by the Caliph at the age of 25, and is believed to be the Promised Son. ” He created the organizational structure of the Ahmadiyah Muslim Community , and was known for his extensive missionary work outside the Indian subcontinent . [11] [12] | |
| Caliphatul Masih III. Mirza Nasir Ahmad | 1909-1982 | 1965-1982 | He spoke on behalf of the Ahmadi community in the National Assembly of Pakistan . He laid the foundation of the first mosque, in Spain [13] , 750 years after the expulsion of Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula. He collected dreams, visions, revelations, and dialogues of the founder of the Ahmadiya Muslim Community Mirza Gulam Ahmad [14] . | |
| Caliphatul Masih IV. Mirza Tahir Ahmad | 1928-2003 | 1982-2003 | He led the Ahmadian community during the period of severe persecution, temporarily moved the center of the community from Rabwa to London . Launched the first Muslim satellite TV channel MTA International (Ahmadiyya International Muslim Television). [15] | |
| Caliphatul Masih V. Mirza Masrour Ahmad | 1950- | 2003- present | Currently, it leads the community through a period of global skepticism towards Islam , regularly holds peace conferences and symposia. Launched the same type of channels MTA 2 and MTA 3. [16] |
Century of the Ahmad Caliphate
On May 27, 2008, members of the Ahmadiyah Muslim Community celebrated the centenary of the establishment of the Ahmadiyah Caliphate. [17] On this occasion, the current head of the community, Hazrat Mirza Masrur Ahmad, made a speech at a large meeting of members of the Ahmadiyah Muslim Community at the Excel Center [18] in London , England . At the same place, a ceremony was held to bring the international vow of fidelity to Muslims - Ahmadi from around the world. [19] [20] This ceremony was broadcast worldwide through the Muslim Television Ahmadiyah International, with lively links to Rabwa, Pakistan and Kadian , India , the homeland of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and its global headquarters until the partition of India in 1947. [21] [ 22] [23]
See also
- Caliph
Notes
- ↑ Khilafat, the Successorship of Prophethood - The Guided Khilafat - Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya
- ↑ Hilafat initiated by the Prophecy. youtube.com
- ↑ http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Khilafat-e-Rashida.pdf Khilafat-e-Rashidah
- ↑ http://www.alislam.org/egazette/updates/the-islamic-khilafat-its-rise-fall-and-re-emergence/ The Islamic Khilafat - Its Rise, Fall, and Re-emergence
- ↑ Ahmad, Ghulam. The will .
- ↑ A Passage from the Quran on Khilafat Neopr .
- ↑ Prophecy of the Holy Prophet Muhammad .
- ↑ Hazrat Al-Haaj Hakeem Maulana Nooruddin
- ↑ Review of religions - V75 p172 1980 “The Promised Messiah passed away in 1908 and was succeeded by his foremost votary and closest companion, Hazrat Hafiz Haji Hakim Maulvi Noor-ud-Din as Khalifa-tul Masih I. After his death in 1914, the Promised Son of the Promised Messiah ... “
- ↑ Hazrat Al-Haaj Maulana Hakeem Nooruddin (1841-1914)
- ↑ Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad (1889-1965)
- ↑ Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad | Islam Ahmadiyya
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basharat_Mosqu
- ↑ Hazrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad - Khalifatul Masih III | Islam Ahmadiyya
- ↑ Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA) Live Streaming
- ↑ MTA International | MTA3 Al-Arabia daily program schedule
- ↑ Independent Archived on April 24, 2009. , UK - 27 May 2008
- ↑ ExCeL London - Wikipedia
- ↑ Cover (PDF). Date of treatment November 20, 2012.
- ↑ Century of the Ahmadic Hilafat (05/27/2008). Vow of allegiance ceremony. youtube.com
- ↑ Return of the Caliphate , Times Online, 27 May 2008
- ↑ Times Online , UK - 26 May 2008
- ↑ Birmingham Post , UK