Position Statement regarding Ahmadiyya Community

April 22, 2016

 

In the past few days some members of the Ahmadiyya community are lobbying in different ways to pressurise me to declare and accept them as Muslims. Particularly now when I am engaged in inter-faith work and promoting Peace and understanding, these members of the Ahmadiyya community are trying to undermine my efforts in spreading false information about me.

I hereby would like to express where I stand with regards to the Ahmadiyya community.

I fully subscribe to pluralism and peaceful coexistence and acknowledge the rights of all to believe as they choose without coercion, fear and intimidation.

I affirm the right of Ahmadis to their freedom of belief and reject any attacks on their property or persons. They have the right to live free from discrimination or persecution. The targeting of Ahmadis for their beliefs is totally unacceptable.

I reflect the clear theological position expressed across Islamic traditions: namely that the cornerstone of Islam is to believe in One God and in the finality of the prophethood of the Messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him. I understand that this is not a tenet subscribed to by the Ahmadi community. Given this fundamental theological difference with the Ahmadiyya community, to accept Ahmadis as Muslims, would be to coerce all orthodox Muslims to accept Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a Prophet. Just as we do not want to be coerced into accepting Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a Prophet, we also do not want to coerce the Ahmadis into accepting (believing) our theological beliefs.

My position is a normative theological position on which there is consensus among all Sunni, Salafi and Shia Muslims.
The religious status of Ahmadis in all Muslim-majority countries is non-Muslim. I follow the consensus of the Muslim world. Members of the Ahmadiyya community should understand that this is quite definitely not hate speech.

Despite my clear theological beliefs, I reiterate and accept that Ahmadis have been persecuted. I strongly condemn the persecution of all religious communities including Ahmadis. Theological differences aside, I nevertheless extend my hand of friendship and cooperation for the common good of all to all religious communities.

Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri
Chair Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council.
Imam Al-Mustafa Islamic Centre Ireland.