May 2, 2020
The Ahmadiyya movement was first established in Punjab state in India by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908), who declared himself as the promised Messiah and Mahdi—the Islamic redeemer and reformer. Ghulam refuted Christian, Hindu and traditional Islamic doctrines about Jesus, which said that He would come back in person as the Madhi.
Ahmadis believe that the anticipated second coming of Jesus took place at the advent of Ghulam. He claimed to receive revelation and was therefore a prophet and a “divine guide” to mankind. Ahmadis have struggled for decades to receive acceptance in the global Islamic community because their doctrine is inconsistent with traditional Islam. Nevertheless, Ahmadiyya is known to be a peace-loving and gentle movement within Islam. The fifth successor and current head of Ahmadiyya worldwide is Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, and the movement’s headquarters are now in London.
Ahmad adopted missionary methods, tradition and terminology from the Christian faith despite his opposition to Christian beliefs. This makes it appeal to poorly discipled Christians and rural poor. Its apologetic nature also attracts educated people.
The sect spread from India to the east and west coast of Africa and has been in Ghana since 1921, with an estimated 635,000 followers there out of the global figure of at least ten million Ahmadis. The movement first made a home among the Akan people, with a Methodist teacher as its earliest convert. It further established itself among a Muslim section of the tribe of the author of this article, the Waala. Ahmadiyya has contributed significantly to national development in Ghana and West Africa.
IDEAS FOR PRAYER
1. PRAY FOR Ahmadis to discern the truth about Jesus and experience His power. (Matthew 16:13–19)
2. PRAY THAT God will use Ahmadiyya’s sociopolitical and economic influence to bring about holistic transformation in developing nations.
3. PRAY THAT the gentle posture of the Ahmadis will influence the Islamic world for peaceful coexistence with other religions.
NOTE
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