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Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi

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Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi
ریاض احمد گوہر شاہی
Gohar Shahi during an event held in Pakistan
Born(1941-11-25)25 November 1941
Dhok Gohar Shah, Rawalpindi, British India (now Pakistan)
Disappeared2001
OrganizationMessiah Foundation International

Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi (Urdu: ریاض احمد گوھر شاہی) (born 25 November 1941) was a spiritual leader and founder of the spiritual groups RAGS International (now known as Messiah Foundation International)[1][2][3] and Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam.[4][5][6]

He is the author of a number of Urdu books on topics relating to spirituality, the most successful among these being Deen-e-Ilahi "The Religion of God" (2000), which was republished by Balboa Press, a division of Hay House and translated into English and other languages by Messiah Foundation International in 2012.[7][8]

RAGS International was renamed to Messiah Foundation International in 2000.[6] MFI reports that Shahi claimed to be the Mahdi, Messiah, and Kalki Avatar.[9][10][11] Shahi disappeared from public view in 2001. There have been claims that he died in that year or in 2003, but these are unconfirmed.

Biography

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Early life

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Shahi was born on 25 November 1941 in the village of Dhok Gohar Shah in the district of Rawalpindi of British India. He is a fifth generation descendant of the Sufi Baba Gohar Ali Shah.

At the age of twenty, when he was the owner of F.Q. Steel Industries, Shahi began to search for spirituality. Eventually he became disillusioned in this search and returned to work. Shahi then married and had three children.[12]

In 1975, he went to Sehwan for self-mortification; he spent a period of three years in the mountains of Sehwan Sharif and the forest of Laal Bagh in self-purification, "for the sake of God's love".[13]

Career as spiritual leader

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Messiah Foundation International
Formation1980
TypeNon-profit organisation
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Official language
Urdu & English
Co-Founder
Younus AlGohar
Websitehttp://www.goharshahi.us/
Main article: Messiah Foundation International

Shahi became popular as a Sufi preacher in Pakistan during the late 1970s. He formed RAGS International and Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam in 1980.[14] Of the two organisations, RAGS International is still active as Messiah Foundation International whereas Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam was reported to have been dissolved and banned in Pakistan in 2011.[15][16][17]

Shahi at an event at Imam Bargah-e-Noor-e-Iman Mosque, in Karachi, Pakistan. He is seen here speaking to two religious clerics from different sects within Islam: Shia Islam and Sunni Islam.

The CEO of Messiah Foundation International is Younus AlGohar. Shahi claimed to have met with Jesus Christ in 1997.[18]

Lebanese American mystic Hisham Kabbani has sat at his feet, learned from him, and praised him.[19] Singers such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Ghulam Farid Sabri have been presented[according to whom?] the message of Shahi.[citation needed] Some singers such as Aziz Mian and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan have performed at Shahi related events.[20][21][22]

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He and many of his followers[23] have been convicted under Islamic blasphemy laws[24] by an antiterrorist court in Sindh.[25] After he fled to England, Shahi was convicted in absentia,[23][25] receiving sentences that totaled approximately 59 years.[24]

Disappearance

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Shahi was reported to have disappeared in 2001, in London; afterwards, sightings of him were reported around the world of people claiming to have met and received spiritual guidance from him.[26]

In February 2002, prior to any decision on appeals filed with the High Court of Sindh, Ardeshir Cowasjee claimed in an article he wrote for the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, that unnamed people who identified themselves to him as office-bearers of the All-Faith Spiritual Movement told him that Gohar Shahi died abroad, but this report was unconfirmed.[24]

There have been rumours of him dying, with some sources reporting that he died in 2001 and others saying he died in 2003. According to the Pakistani Press Foundation Shahi died in 2001.[9] An article from 2006 in the Sunday Telegraph reports that Shahi died in 2003,[9] and a 2009 article in Your Local Guardian also says that he was reported to have died in 2003.[27] However, none of these reports have been confirmed, as there is no body.

On the other hand, the Indian news agency PTI reported in 2008 that Shahi was based in the United Kingdom after being convicted of blasphemy by the High Court of Sindh.[9] This view is supported by the Indian Express which reported in 2008 that Shahi had fled to the United Kingdom and was presently based there.[28] Zee News also supported this claim.[14] The Hindustan Times has reported that he is "serving a life term".[29] The Sunday Leader in Sri Lanka stated that Shahi disappeared in 2001 and sightings of him were thereafter reported around the world.[26]

Of the two factions of Shahi's followers, the Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam had asserted that Shahi died, and built a tomb for him at the Markazi Aastana in Kotri, where devotees performed pilgrimage.[24] The MFI, in contrast, declares that he merely disappeared.[27]

Shahi's family, including his wife, five sons and a daughter, still resides in Kotri.

Claims and criticism

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Pakistani followers of Shahi burning passports during a protest in India during April, 2007.

The teachings of Gohar Shahi have been a source of controversy. Many mainstream Muslim scholars have condemned his teachings as blasphemy.[30]

Claims made by Shahi and his followers have been strongly opposed by orthodox Islamic theologians in Pakistan and abroad.[24] Shahi has been accused of claiming the status of a prophet.[4][24] His teachings have been condemned by Muslim religious leaders and the Pakistani government.[30][31]

Shahi also predicts that the world would end in the year 2026 due to a comet heading towards earth.[1][2][3] He claims the comet will be the cause of "total destruction" though mentions that "in order to intimidate [mankind]… God plans destruction on a small scale".[32]

Many attempts were made on the lives of Shahi and Younus AlGohar including a petrol bomb thrown into AlGohar's residence in Manchester, where Shahi stayed when he toured the United Kingdom.[33][34] A man attempted to attack him with a hand grenade during a discourse at his home in Kotri, Pakistan.[34] A bounty was put on his head in Pakistan.[34]

Shahi's books have been banned by the government of Pakistan,[30] and his followers are not allowed to meet in public.[35]

Gohar Shahi claimed to have met with Jesus in America.[18] Shahi's supporters claim that his face became prominent on the Moon, Sun, nebula star and the Black Stone in Mecca,[25] and that these appearances are signs from God that Gohar Shahi is the awaited Imam Mahdi, Messiah, and Kalki Avatar.

The alleged images induced greater legal and religious opposition.[35] Shahi has also supported this claim, saying that God had revealed the images of Shahi on the Moon and various locations, for which Shahi himself was not responsible, and if questions should be raised, they should be raised to God.[36] Messiah Foundation International asserts the alleged images to be signs from God, pointing to Shahi being the awaited Mahdi; they quote religious texts[37] as well as sayings from the likes of Nostradamus,[38] and Ja'far al-Sadiq to support it.

Journalists in Pakistan asked Shahi,

"Many believe that you are the Mahdi, and God has revealed signs unto them which say that you are the Mahdi, but you do not officially announce that you are the Mahdi. Why?" Shahi gestured towards himself and answered, "Does Imam Mahdi not know the law of Pakistan? He knows that the law of Pakistan declares that 'whosoever claims to be the Mahdi, put him in jail'. I have given the signs of his [Mahdi's] characteristics, which the Mahdi knows and none other. Now, it is up to people to recognise him and believe him".[36]

On 18 November 1997, after appearing in court before Justice Rasheed A. Razvi of Sindh High Court Hyderabad Circuit, Shahi said, "The only justification to be Hazrat Imam Mahdi is the mark on [one's] back which can prove his existence".[4]

Of the groups following Shahi, Messiah Foundation International claims that Shahi is the awaited Mahdi, Messiah, and Kalki Avatar while Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam did not. According to MFI's website, Shahi is the Awaited Messiah, but they deny the notion that Shahi is another form of Jesus and claim that Jesus has also returned to support the Mahdi.[39]

Bibliography

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Gohar Shahi authored a number of books, including one based on Sufi poetry known as Taryāq-e-Qalb which translates to the "'Cure of Hearts'". One of his most prominent books is Deen-e-Ilahi (The Religion of God), which is banned in Pakistan.[30][40]

Works by Gohar Shahi include:

Title Urdu Translation Date Content
Taryāq-e-Qalb تریاقِ قلب The Cure of Hearts 1976 Sufi poetry
Menāra-e-Noor مینارہِ نور The Minaret of Light 1980 mysticism, spiritualism
Roshnās روشناس The Induction 1982 mysticism, spiritualism
Rouhani Safar روحانی سفر Spiritual Journey 1986 autobiography
Tohfa-tul Majālis تحفةُ المجالس The Gift of Congregations 1988 mysticism, spiritualism
Deen-e-Ilāhi دینِ الٰہی The Religion of God[41] 2000 mysticism, spiritualism

On 17 May 2012, Messiah Foundation International republished The Religion of God with Balboa Press.[42] As of 1 June 2012, it was #5 on the publisher's Best Sellers' List.[43]

Messiah Foundation International considers Shahi to be the author of the "Goharian Philosophy of Divine Love", a set of principles upon which the organisation is founded.[6] Shahi has also authored a monthly magazine, Hatif-e-Mahdi, which is banned in Pakistan for allegedly containing material offensive to the religious feelings of Muslims there.[40]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b End Of The World 2015: NASA Slams Conspiracy Theorists' Apocalypse Threats, Says No Scientific Basis For Imminent Mass Destruction, 1 October 2015, retrieved 2 October 2015
  2. ^ a b Gabbatt, Adam (28 September 2015), "Apocalypse now and again … your choice of dates for the end of the world", The Guardian, retrieved 1 October 2015
  3. ^ a b End of the world: The apocalypses that await us if we make it through today, 7 October 2015, retrieved 7 October 2015
  4. ^ a b c "Gohar Shahi, chief of Anjuman-e-Sarferoshan-e-Islam". Karachi News. Karachi. DAWN. 18 November 1997.
  5. ^ Perera, Suresh (24 December 2011), "The practice of rituals alone does not initiate the heart with divine love", The Island, retrieved 13 July 2013
  6. ^ a b c "Foreword". Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Deen-e-Ilahi by R.A. Gohar Shahi". Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  8. ^ The Religion of God (Divine Love), retrieved 29 June 2012
  9. ^ a b c d Structure and objective of the Mehdi Foundation and the perception of this movement in Pakistan (PDF), 5 December 2008, retrieved 9 October 2009
  10. ^ "Jail upon burning the Pakistani Passports". British Broadcasting Cooperation (Urdu). 25 April 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Jail upon burning the Pakistani Passports page 2". British Broadcasting Cooperation (Urdu). 25 April 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  12. ^ Gohar Shahi, Riaz Ahmed (2000). The Religion of God. United States: Balboa Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-45254-908-8. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  13. ^ Gohar Shahi, Riaz Ahmed (2000). The Religion of God. United States: Balboa Press. pp. xi. ISBN 978-1-45254-908-8. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  14. ^ a b Bureau Report (17 December 2008). "Delhi HC seeks response from Centre on Pakistan nationals' plea". Zee News. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  15. ^ (Translation) Unknown individuals shoot President of ASI and escape?, 16 December 2011, retrieved 16 December 2011
  16. ^ (Translation) Hyderabadi Man dies in Feud over Organisation's Funds, 16 December 2011, retrieved 16 December 2011
  17. ^ (Translation) Man from Hyderabad Buried, 17 December 2011, retrieved 17 December 2011
  18. ^ a b "Return of Lord Jesus: Lord Jesus meets Lord Gohar Shahi in America". Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Shaikh Hisham's Meeting with Gohar Shahi". via Google videos. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  20. ^ Gohar Shahi, Riaz Ahmed (2000). The Religion of God. United States: Balboa Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-45254-908-8. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  21. ^ "Aziz Mian Qawwal in Jashn e Gohar Shahi". via YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  22. ^ "Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at the 1998 birthday celebrations". via YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  23. ^ a b "Int'l Religious Freedom Report – May 2001". The Persecution.org. 1 May 2001. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Ardeshir Cowasjee (10 February 2002). "The Man in the Moon". Dawn newspaper. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  25. ^ a b c "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices by United States of America". U.S. Department of State. 23 February 2003. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  26. ^ a b "Spreading Divine Love Messiah Foundation International". Sunday Leader. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  27. ^ a b Whalley, Kirsty (30 September 2009). "Croydon religious leader faces life in Pakistani jail for his beliefs". Your Local Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  28. ^ "HC stays deportation of 67 Pakistani nationals", The Indian Express, New Delhi, 19 November 2008, retrieved 9 October 2009
  29. ^ Abhishek Sharan (27 November 2008). "67 Pakistanis in Tihar who don't want to return home". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  30. ^ a b c d "Pakistan's Supreme Court upholds ban on a Shahi disciple's book". The Daily Times. 8 July 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  31. ^ "Chai with...His Holiness Younus AlGohar of Messiah Foundation International" (PDF), Asia Today, September 2014, archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2014, retrieved 7 October 2014
  32. ^ Gohar Shahi, Riaz Ahmed (2000). The Religion of God. United States: Balboa Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-45254-908-8. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  33. ^ Gohar Shahi, Riaz Ahmed (2000). The Religion of God. United States: Balboa Press. pp. xi. ISBN 978-1-45254-908-8. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  34. ^ a b c "Who is Holiness". via Yahoo Geocities. Archived from the original on 23 November 2001. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  35. ^ a b "10 held for raising slogans in favour of Gohar Shahi". Dawn. Pakistan. 26 June 2002. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  36. ^ a b "Gohar Shahi interview with Scholars". via YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  37. ^ 'We are spiritually connected to the Awaited Ones'-Messiah Foundation Intl, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2010, p. 4{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  38. ^ "The Man on the Moon that Nostradamus Prophesized". Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  39. ^ "About Imam Mehdi". Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  40. ^ a b "Banned magazines to be seized", Pakistan Press Foundation, Karachi, 20 August 2005, archived from the original on 27 July 2011, retrieved 16 July 2013
  41. ^ Staff. "The Religion of God – Divine Love". Balboa Press. Retrieved 29 June 2012. Page directing to e-book, version for iBooks, softcover and hardcover version of the book.
  42. ^ The Religion of God (Divine Love), retrieved 29 June 2012
  43. ^ Balboa Press Best Sellers, archived from the original on 1 July 2012, retrieved 1 July 2012
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