Approaching the West — Page 29
A pproaching the West—29 The A ḥ madiyya Khil ā fat is of interest to study because it is a dynamic, reformist and internationally fast growing movement; while it categorically rejects militant Jih ā d and the use of terror and violence for any reason in any form. It is the only well-knit international Isl ā mic organization that endorses a separation of mosque and state. It does not believe that Isl ā mic life can be enforced by any government over its population. It strives at the grass-root reformation of the Muslims, and believes that religion is a personal choice of individuals, and protection of freedom of religion is the hallmark of Isl ā m. The A ḥ mad ī Muslims believe in a workable possibility of the concept of “separation of State and Church” within Isl ā mic countries. The A ḥ madiyya Muslim Jam ā ‘at started out of a small village called Q ā di ā n, in the Punjab, in India. The founder, Mirz ā Ghul ā m A ḥ mad (1835-1908) claimed to be the awaited Mahd ī and the Messiah of the Muslims. He initiated a Messianic movement to revive the faith of Isl ā m in its moral and spiritual dimensions, and announced, like Jesus Christ did in his time, that there were two main Commandments of God: One was to love and obey God; and the second was to practically demonstrate compassion and love for all mankind. To achieve these objectives, his methodology was also clearly defined: He stated that his course of action was “to work for the betterment of mankind in the manner of the Israeli prophet of Nazareth, the Messiah, with extreme humility, meekness, modesty, love and courtesy” (Tabl ī gh Ris ā lat, Vol. 1, p. 11). He taught his followers to protect the