Approaching the West — Page 30
A pproaching the West—30 sanctity of both religion and government by becoming religious souls as well as loyal citizens. He founded the A ḥ madiyya Muslim Jam ā ‘at in 1889, and soon a vibrant community of believers was established around him. Upon his death, an eminent religious scholar, Al- Ḥā jj Maul ā n ā N ū r-ud-D ī n was unanimously elected as his first Khal ī fah on May 27, 1908, to continue his mission. He was entitled Khal ī fatul-Mas ī h, that is, Successor to the Messiah. On the demise of Al- Ḥā jj Maul ā n ā N ū r-ud-D ī n in 1914, Mirz ā Bash ī r-ud-D ī n Ma ḥ m ū d A ḥ mad (1889-1965) was elected to be the second Khal ī fah of the A ḥ madiyya Jam ā ‘at. However, at the time of his election, a split occurred, and a dissident section of the A ḥ madiyya Jam ā ‘at shifted to the city of Lahore. This group worked under the leadership of Maul ā n ā Mu ḥ ammad ‘Al ī , who was called the Am ī r, instead of Khal ī fah, and the organization is called A ḥ madiyya Anjuman Ish ā ‘at-i-Isl ā m (A ḥ madiyya Association for the Propagation of Isl ā m). The main body of the A ḥ madiyya Community remained loyal and united under the leadership of the Second Khal ī fah, who led it for 52 long years. He passed away in 1965. At the death of each preceding Khal ī fah, elections of the Successors have been conducted in 1965, 1982 and 2003. Presently, Mirz ā Masroor A ḥ mad is the fifth Khal ī fah of the Jam ā ‘at. Khil ā fat through Elections The branches of the A ḥ madiyya Muslim Jam ā ‘at are established in more than 180 countries. Every country elects a national President or (Am ī r) and a National Executive