My last post was about a sect that depended solely on the Sword to propagate its version of Islam. This one is about another sect which is diametrically opposite and believes that the time of the Sword is over and the Word has to be solely relied upon to achieve Islam's objectives.
When a Muslim citizen of Pakistan applies for a passport, he has to sign a declaration which states the following:
1. I am a Muslim and believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad the last of the Prophets.
2. I do not recognize any one who claims to be a prophet in any sense of the word or any description whatsoever, after Hazrat Muhammad or recognize such a claimant as a prophet or a religious reformer as Muslim.
3. I consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani to be an impostor nabi and also consider his followers whether belonging to the Lahori, Qadiani or Mirzai groups, to be non-Muslims.
I have been interested in Mirza Ghulam Ahmed for a long time because one of my children shares her birthday with him. He was the founder of the Ahmadiyya movement and declared that he was the “Promised One” of all religions, fulfilling all messianic prophecies found in many major world religions. He gave up the Jihadi Sword and forbade carrying out physical Jihad, either for the sake of religion, or against a government which gives freedom of religion. According to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, their motto is “Love for All Hatred for None”.
The contributions of the Ahmadiyya community to Pakistan have been conveniently forgotten. A case in point is that of Dr. Abdus Salam, who not only happens to be the first Muslim but also the first and only Pakistani to win a Nobel Prize. Instead of celebrating his achievement, he has been conveniently forgotten in Pakistan because of his belonging to the Ahmadiyya sect. Under Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan embraced intolerance and declared Ahmadiyyas to be non-Muslims and since then their persecution has been going on in that country.
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I was not aware that the state of Pakistan expected its citizens to sign such a declaration. I think the text will surprise and dismay many Indians. With so much of intolerance being pursued as state policy in almost everything, I really wonder how anyone can expect that country to live in peace with a secular India which is like a mirror showing it what it does not want to see, every day?
I think the Bahai sect that originated in Iran is another one that rejects the sword and believes in the unity of all. The hold of the mullahs may be strong now in the Islamic world and they may have succeeded in terrorising ordinary Muslims into submission to their view, but eventually, the Word will prevail over the sword.
So, what happens to the non-Muslim minority in Pakistan? How do they get passports?
the above is startling !!!
I thought even Hindu's existed in Pakistan. How can a country force every one to accept one religion ?
@Vinod, Both the Bahais and the Ahmadiyyas originated from Islam. The difference is that the Bahais consider themselves as followers of a new religion, while the Ahmadiyyas consider themselves Muslims. But both abolished Jihad. And the trouble with Pakistan is that they feel that the version of Islam they practice is the only correct one.
@Bones and @hitch writer. My mistake. Only if you are a Muslim, you have to make the declaration quoted in the post. The Pakistani Government designates religion on citizens' passports. To obtain a passport, citizens must declare whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim; Muslims also must affirm that they accept the unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Mohammed, declare that Ahmadis are non-Muslims, and specifically denounce the founder of the Ahmadi movement. Original post edited to reflect this.
So, Ahmadis can't get passports? This is very idiotic...Also, I can't understand why religion should be mentioned on the passport...
@Bones, An Ahmadi applying for a Pakistani passport would have to declare that he is a non-muslim.
wow! you make a point really well. In all your posts, i noticed a consistent excellence in the way you communicate a point.
@How do we know, Thank you very much!
Wow Sagarone! That was a revelation! It is quite shocking that Ahmadis are considered non-Muslims! And even more shocking is that the only Pakistani to win a Nobel Prize, is being 'conveniently forgotten'..
Sagarone,
Wonderful post. While we're all aware about the Ahmediyyas, this little introduction to the founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmed is very interesting. It has piqued my curiousity further & I will read up more about him.
Ditto Dr. Abdus Salam.
Such is the nature of extremist thought...
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