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Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light

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Not to be confused with Ahmadiyya.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light
Founder
Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq
Scriptures
The Goal of the Wise (2022)
Website
theahmadireligion.org

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (also known as AROPL, or simply as the Ahmadi Religion; Arabic: دين السلام والنور الأحمدي) is a new religious movement derived from Twelver Shia Islam.[1] The leader of the religion is Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (Arabic: عبدالله هاشم أبا الصادق), an Egyptian American who claims to be the Qa'im and to have been appointed by name in the will of the Prophet Mohammed.[2][3]

History

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Abdullah Hashem is a follower of Ahmed al-Hassan.[4] In 2015, Abdullah Hashem announced that he was the Qa'im ("Second Mahdi") succeeding Ahmed al-Hassan, whom he considered to be the Yamani ("First Mahdi"). Abdullah Hashem then founded the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.[5]

However, in 2015 and again on 18 April 2023, the followers of Ahmad al-Hassan in Najaf, Iraq, also known as the "White Banners", publicly denounced AROPL (also known as the "Black Banners") and claimed that AROPL was not representative of the true followers of Ahmad al-Hassan.[6]

In the United States, AROPL is registered as an organization in Reno, Nevada. It is also registered in the United Kingdom, where it is headquartered near Manchester.[7][8]

Beliefs and doctrines

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The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light preaches tolerance and contains features of religious syncretism. Some beliefs and doctrines of Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light are:[9]

  • Ramadan is considered to be identical to December, since the Hijri months are considered identical to the solar Gregorian months.
  • LGBTs are tolerated, although not encouraged, and are allowed to join the religion.
  • Alcohol is allowed if consumed in moderation.
  • There are seven covenants, including six historical covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed, and the current covenant with Ahmed al-Hassan.
  • Religious head coverings (such as hijabs) are not mandatory, although they are not forbidden either.
  • The actual Ka'aba is in Petra, Jordan, rather than in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
  • Friday prayers are not obligatory.
  • Belief in the transmigration of the soul and reincarnation

Regional leaders

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Regional leaders of the Ahmadi Religion are known as "bishops". They currently live in exile due to persecution, and include:

  • Hamidreza Saghari, Bishop of Iran and Afghanistan[10]
  • Kashfullah Amaluddin Ahl Al-Mahdi, Bishop of Malaysia and Indonesia[11][12]

Persecution

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The religious group has been persecuted by police and government authorities in Iran,[13] Malaysia,[14][15] Thailand,[16] Sweden,[17] Algeria,[18][19] Azerbaijan,[20] Jordan,[21] and other countries.

On 24 May 2023, 104 AROPL members seeking asylum at Kapıkule on the Bulgaria–Turkey border[22][23] were detained and violently harassed by Turkish authorities.[24][25]

In July 2023, eight AROPL members in Malaysia were arrested by police at an LGBT gathering.[26]

Official texts

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In 2022, AROPL published the official gospel of the religion, titled The Goal of the Wise (Arabic: غاية الحكيم). The book, which has 40 "doors" or chapters, has been translated into Arabic, Urdu, Spanish, French, German, Turkish, Azeri, and Persian.

  • Hashem, Abdullah (2022). The Goal of the Wise: The Gospel of the Riser of the family of Mohammed Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. ISBN 978-1-7392629-0-7. (in English)
  • Hashem, Abdullah (2024). The Mahdi's Manifesto. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. (in English, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Bengali, Azerbaijani, Turkish, Malay, Thai, Korean, Chinese, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovene, German, Spanish, and French)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Introvigne, Massimo; Kotkowska, Karolina Maria (2024-05-10). "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light: An Introduction". The Journal of CESNUR. 8 (3): 33–51. doi:10.26338/tjoc.2024.8.3.2. ISSN 2532-2990.
  2. ^ "Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light". WRSP – World Religions and Spirituality Project. 2024-06-23. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  3. ^ "الشيخ الطوسي". الغيبة (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  4. ^ Introvigne, Massimo (2024-04-04). "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. 1. A Drama and Its Characters". Bitter Winter. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  5. ^ Introvigne, Massimo (2024-04-05). "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. 2. From Ahmed al-Hassan to Abdullah Hashem". Bitter Winter. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  6. ^ "Najaf Office: Declaration of Dissociation". Savior of Mankind. 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  7. ^ "Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light". GOV.UK. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  8. ^ "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  9. ^ Introvigne, Massimo (2024-04-08). "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. 4. The Divine Just State". Bitter Winter. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  10. ^ "Bishop Of Iran Testifies". YouTube. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  11. ^ "Pahang monitoring 'Ahmadi Religion Peace and Light' deviant teachings". thesun.my. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  12. ^ "Official Response To The Minister of Religious Affairs in Malaysia & The Malaysian Government". YouTube. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  13. ^ "IRAN urged by HRWF to release 13 Ahmadis detained for 8 weeks". Human Rights Without Frontiers. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  14. ^ Mail, Malay (2024-03-07). "Ahmadi teachings contradict Islamic law, says religious affairs minister". Malay Mail. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  15. ^ "MCMC blocked individual accounts spreading Ahmadi religion, says Fahmi". The Star. 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  16. ^ Fautre, Willy (2024-02-28). "Thailand persecutes the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. Why?". The European Times News. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  17. ^ "SWEDEN: Persecution of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light". Human Rights Without Frontiers. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  18. ^ "Algeria: Release members of Ahmadi religious minority". Amnistia Internacional. 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  19. ^ "ALGERIA: Fact-finding mission of a UN Special Rapporteur and FoRB". Human Rights Without Frontiers. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  20. ^ "AZERBAIJAN: Fleeing persecution, the plight of Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light members". Human Rights Without Frontiers. 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  21. ^ "JORDAN: Fleeing from Jordan to Greece because of their change of religion". Human Rights Without Frontiers. 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  22. ^ "Türkiye must not deport members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light seeking asylum: UN experts". OHCHR. 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  23. ^ "Members of religious minority seeking asylum pushed back at Turkish-Bulgarian border". The Sofia Globe. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  24. ^ Fautre, Willy (2023-06-05). "Turkey, Physical and sexual violence by police against 100+ Ahmadi asylum-seekers". The European Times News. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  25. ^ "Persecuted Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light minority denied asylum in Europe amidst escalating violence". Global Voices. 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  26. ^ Times, New Straits (2023-07-31). "Eight men from 'Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light' group detained for LGBT gathering". NST Online. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
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