Based on a ruling (Fatwa) issued by a Muslim organization, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community had been declared as non-Muslims by a State Waqf Board in India. The Ministry of Minority Affairs intervened in the matter and stated that the resolution is against the law and unconstitutional, for which the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community India expresses its gratitude to the Ministry.
India is a democratic country. It is home to different ideologies, where people of different faiths and religions live together with love and brotherhood. According to the Indian Constitution, every citizen of this country has the right to identify with any religion of their choice. Despite this, some Muslim organizations and Waqf Boards seek to undermine the religious rights of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
This is nothing but an attempt to create disorder in the peaceful atmosphere of the country and to incite people against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
As far as the definition of a Muslim is concerned, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community accepts only such a definition that has a strong basis in the Holy Quran, conforms to the sayings of the Holy Prophet saw, and has been practiced during the time of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs (RashidunKhilafat). The Holy Founder of Islam, Prophet Muhammad saw says:
“Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad saw is the Messenger of Allah, the establishing the Salat (five daily prayers), paying the Zakat (obligatory charity), making the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.” — Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community accepts and practices upon these foundations of the Islamic faith with all heart and utmost sincerity. We are a peace-loving Community that completely abides by the laws of the land. The Community is well-known throughout the country for its various endeavors for the cause of peace.
Similarly, the clerics make many false accusations against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community that we do not believe in the Holy Founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad saw, or that we have a different creed, etc. All these allegations are utterly baseless and false. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes in Prophet Muhammad saw with all sincerity and considers him to be Khatam an-Nabiyyeen (the Seal of the Prophets). We are ever ready to offer any sacrifice to establish and uphold his honor. We pronounce the same Islamic Creed (Kalima) La IlahaIllallahMuhammadurRasulullah, and believe that the Holy Quran is the perfect and final law. Every Ahmadi Muslim abides by the Five Pillars of Islam and sincerely believes in the Six Articles of Faith.
In the 2011 census report, the Indian Government recognized the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community as an Islamic sect.
No one has the right to declare the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community as non-Muslim. Doing so violates the laws of both the Constitution and religion. Similarly, to incite people to socially boycott the members of the Community is tantamount to creating a rift among the people of the nation and disturbing the peaceful atmosphere of the country.
Moreover, issuing press releases calling for the open boycott of Ahmadi Muslims can cause unrest, spread hatred, and demolish the unity of the Indian people. It is truly commendable that the government has taken an immediate step to prevent this. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is grateful to the government for this action.
