Why Are Ahmadis Still Being Persecuted?
By Malik Fraz Ahmad
(Bradford)
All around the world, in different religions and societies, we are taught to treat others with kindness, fairness, and respect, regardless of their beliefs. Unfortunately, these values are not always upheld. Many people face persecution, which means being treated unfairly, harmed, or even punished simply because of their beliefs. One such group is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, especially in Pakistan.
Ahmadis believe that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) is the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, sent by Allah to revive the true teachings of Islam. Because of this belief, Ahmadis have become the target of severe persecution, facing discrimination, abuse, false accusations, or even imprisonment for peacefully practising their faith.
You might ask: Why does this happen? And how should we respond?
To find the answer, we must look back through the pages of history, and understand a pattern that has repeated itself again and again.
Why does this happen?
Persecution Has Always Happened to Prophets and Their Followers
Persecution of religious communities is nothing new. In fact, the Holy Qur’an tells us that whenever a prophet is sent by Allah, people mock him and reject his message. Allah says:
“Alas for My servants! There comes not a Messenger to them, but they mock at him.”
(36:31)
Prophets are sent to guide people. But instead of accepting the message, many people feel they already know best. They see the prophet as a challenge to their pride or traditions, and so they reject him, and often persecute his followers.
This is exactly what happened to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). Although he was known as the most trustworthy and kind individual, the people of Makkah rejected his message of peace and unity. They insulted him, attacked his followers, and eventually forced him to leave his home.
The same happened to Hazrat Isa (as). He brought a message of love and righteousness, but the people of his time mocked him, tried to kill him, and refused to listen. Despite the noble mission of the prophets, persecution has been the consistent response of the misguided throughout history to the message of truth.
What About Today?
The same thing is happening in our time. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) was sent by Allah as the Promised Messiah and Mahdi to revive the true teachings of Islam. But people didn’t want to hear that they had moved away from Islam’s true path. So they rejected him and began persecuting his followers.
In Pakistan, the government passed a law officially declaring Ahmadis as non-Muslims. Then, in 1984, Ordinance XX was introduced. This law makes it a crime for Ahmadis to:
- Say “Assalamu Alaikum”
- Refer to their place of worship as a “mosque”
- Say the Kalima (Islamic Declaration of Faith)
- Read or quote the Holy Qur’an in public
Imagine being arrested merely for greeting your fellow Atfal brothers or putting a Qur’anic verse on a wedding invitation. Sadly, this is the reality for many Ahmadis living in Pakistan.
Ahmadis also cannot vote in elections unless they deny their faith. Their mosques have been attacked or sealed off. Even their gravestones are vandalised, just like what happened to Dr. Abdus Salam, Pakistan’s only Nobel Prize winner, whose gravestone had the word ‘Muslim’ scratched out under court order.
This persecution has also sadly claimed precious lives. One of the earliest and most inspiring examples of Ahmadi martyrdom is that of Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Shaheed (ra). He was a highly respected scholar and Royal Advisor to the King of Afghanistan, who recognised the truth of the Promised Messiah (as) and travelled all the way to Qadian to pledge allegiance to him. Upon his return to Kabul, he was arrested and pressured by the King to renounce his faith, but he refused with unwavering courage and deep conviction. As a result, he was publicly stoned to death in 1903, fulfilling a prophecy of the Promised Messiah (as) that a great sign would be shown through the martyrdom of a sincere follower.
Another deeply poignant example is the martyrdom of Sahibzada Mirza Ghulam Qadir Sahib in 1999, the great-grandson of the Promised Messiah (as), who was killed simply for his faith. Tragically, this pattern of violence has not ended. Tragically, this pattern of violence continues to this day. In recent days, father-of-7 Laeeq Cheema Sahib and teenager Muhammad Asif Sahib were martyred, heartbreaking reminders that blind hatred against Ahmadis has tragic consequences.
How Should We Respond?
Yet, despite this injustice, Ahmadis follow the beautiful teachings of the Holy Prophet (sa) and respond with peace and prayer. Our beloved Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), constantly reminds us to act with patience and love towards the perpetrators, and instead to pray for their reformation.
What began with one man in a small village in India has now become a global community with members in over 200 countries. We have translated the Holy Qur’an into more than 70 languages. We have built thousands of mosques and schools. Alhamdolillah, we continue to grow because we believe that Allah is with the truthful. As the Holy Qur’an reminds us:
“…And they planned, and Allah also planned, and Allah is the Best of planners.”
(Surah Al-Anfal, 8:31)
So if anyone ever asks why Ahmadis are persecuted, you can say it is because we follow the same path walked by all the prophets before us. We stay strong in our faith, remain peaceful, and continue to share the message of Islam with love and prayer.
Inshallah, the day will soon come when the whole world recognises this truth.
