The Qadianiya sect
Question
My husband embraced the Qadianiya sect almost one year and 4 months ago. He believes in this faith and has invited me to embrace it. My questions are as follows:
- What is the ruling on our marriage?
- Does this take him out of Islam?
- Is it permissible for him to take our two daughters from me after they reach the age of custody?
- What are my legal rights?
Answer
The Qadianiya is a [religious] sect named after Qadian, one of the villages in the Punjab area, India. It is founder is Ghulam Ahmad al-Qadiani.
Ghulam Ahmad 's birth and lineage
Ghulam Ahmad was born in 1839 CE in the village of Qadian and died on 26 May 1908 in the city of Lahore. He is buried in Qadian. It was said that his parents came from Samarqand; his lineage can be traced back to Mogul or Persian descent.
He was born into a family loyal to their British colonialists; his father, Ghulam Murtada, forged close relations with the British government and occupied a position in the imperialist British government in India. In 1851, his father helped the British government against his country and fellow Muslims by providing the colonialists with 50 soldiers and horses.
Intellectual background and movement
After studying Urdu and Arabic books and reading on law, Ghulam Ahmad occupied a job in Sialkot.
In 1877, Ghulam Ahmad embarked on his evil mission and published his book, Baraheen Ahmadiyya, in several volumes.
In 1885 he claimed that he was the mujaddid (En. divine reformer) and in 1891 claimed to be the Anticipated Mahdi and the Promised Messiah. He said, "I am the Messiah, I am the word of God and I am both Muhammad and Ahmad". He claimed to be the best of all prophets.
Ghulam Ahmad was cunning. When he started the movement, he did not explicitly antagonize Islam or declare his diversion, but adopted the guise of reformation and development. He delivered his message in stages. He first claimed to be the Anticipated Mahdi and then claimed to have received Divine revelations, not as a law-bearing prophet, but as a deputy prophet like Haroun was to Musa. He distorted the meanings of the noble Qur`an to fulfill his ambitions. He cooperated greatly with the colonialistsand issued his condemnable legal verdict on jihad claiming that this duty has been abrogated and, for this reason, it is impermissible for Muslims to go up in arms against the British colonialists in India considering that they are Allah's vicegerents on earth.
His son and successor, Mahmud, continued propagating his father's [fraudulent] claims and pursued his course of disbelief. He said, "We consider anyone who does not believe in Qadianiya a disbeliever. The Qur`an says that whoever denies any of the messengers, is a disbeliever. Based on this, whoever denies that Ghulam Ahmad is a prophet and messenger is a disbeliever."
Qadiani books claim that Allah sent a revelation to Ghulam Ahmad saying, "It is obligatory upon anyone who loves Me [i.e. Allah] and obeys Me to obey and believe in you [i.e. Ghulam Ahmad]; otherwise, he will not love me but will be my enemy. We will reward those who deny and harm you with a grievous penalty—the abode of Hellfire."
Tenets and Beliefs
-The Qadianiya sect denies that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the seal of prophets and maintains that Allah continues to send messengers to reform this community and guide it whenever necessary. This claim is an explicit declaration of disbelief and contradicts the words of Allah Almighty Who says,
Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah , of all things, Knowing. [Al-Ahzab: 40]
Moreover, it contradicts the words of the Prophet who said, "There is no prophet after me" [Bukhari].
-The corruption of this sect led its followers to attack and disrespect the lofty status of the prophets, messengers, rightly guided Caliphs and the pure Companions of the Prophet . Moreover, they dishonor the great masters of the youth of Paradise, al-Hasan and al-Hussein. Ghulam Ahmad wrote, "They say that I claim to be better than al-Hasan and al-Hussein. Indeed, I am better than them and Allah will manifest this virtue of mine."
Distortion of Qur`anic verses
The Qadianis distorted the meanings of the Qur`an. These distortions are too numerous to mention. Following are some examples:
The first verse
Exalted is He Who took His servant by night from al- Masjid al-Haram [sacred mosque in Mecca] to al-Masjid al-Aqsa [al-Aqsa mosque in Palestine], whose surrounds We have blessed, to show him of our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, The Seeing. [Al-Isra`: 1].
In their interpretation of this verse, Qadianis claim that Masjid al-Aqsa mentioned in this verse does not refer to the Holy Mosque in Jerusalem as agreed by exegists and historians but refers to the Masjid of Qadian. To substantiate their claim, they cited [erroneous] evidence—namely, that the destination of Prophet Mohammed's night journey was their mosque which lies in east Qadian. Ghulam Ahmad claimed that the words of Allah "And whoever enters it shall be safe" [Al-'Imran: 97] refers to it.
The second verse
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. [Al-Fat-h, 29]
Ghulam Ahmad claimed that to be the prophet mentioned in this verse. He said, "Muhammad here [in this verse] refers to me, because Allah referred to me, in this and many other places, as Muhammad and Messenger." He was not reluctant to write this in his book Tableegh al-Risalah.
The third verse
He also claimed that the following verses were addressed to him:
And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds [Al-Anbiya`, 107].
…and bringing the good tidings of a messenger to come after me [Al-Saff, 6].
Introduction of New Doctrines
- The Qadianis sought to turn their devotees away from Allah, the Ka'ba, and the Sacred Mosque in Mecca. They took the city of Qadian as their qiblah (En. direction of prayer) and Ka'ba. Their misguided faith teaches them that their annual conference in Qadian is the pilgrimage. Their leader, Ghulam Ahmad, said, "Coming to Qadian is pilgrimage."
- The Qadianis established a small city "Rabwa" in Western Pakistan and made it the sacred center for their call; they venerate and sanctify it.
- Ghulam Ahmad claimed that he received a Qur`an from Allah which he called Al-Kitab Al-Mubeen and [revelations] exceeding the number of revelations of all the other Prophets.
Books authored by Ghulam Ahmad
- He published a number of condemnable books full of delusions and fabricated claims. These include: Baraheen Ahmadiyyah, Izalat Al-Awham, Haqiqat Al-Wahy, Safinat Nuh, Tabligh Al-Resalah, and Khutbah Ilhamiyyah.
- Qadianis mask their reality and call their sect "Al-Ahmadiyyah" to falsely attribute themselves to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) — Ahmad being the alternative name of prophet Mohammed when, in fact, they attribute themselves to the liar "Ghulam Ahmad".
Abrogation of jihad
Ghulam Ahmad sought to debilitate Muslims in the face of their British colonialists by prohibiting jihad against them. For this reason, he proclaimed that jihad has been abrogated as of that time. He justified his stance, and said, "Allah gradually prohibited jihad in His cause. He permitted the killing of children during the time of Musa but abolished the killing of children, women, and the elderly during the time of Muhammad. Allah completely abolished jihad in my time."
"As of today, there shall be no armed jihad. Whosoever shall take up arms against a disbeliever and calls himself a ghazi, disobeys the Messenger of Allah who, 13 centuries earlier, proclaimed that jihad will be prohibited with the advent of the Promised Messiah. I am the Promised Messiah! There shall be no jihad in my time—we raise the flag of reconciliation and benevolence."
"I have spent the greater part of my life supporting the British government and opposing jihad. I will persevere until the Muslims become sincerely loyal to this government."
- Ghulam Ahmad claimed that it is impermissible to pray behind any Muslim; prayers must only be performed behind a Qadiani. He said, "This is my well-known madhab; it is not permissible for you to pray behind other than a Qadiani, whatever his status may be and however much he is praised. This is the ruling of Allah and His will. Those who are dubious or of faltering faith, are considered disbelievers. Allah wants to distinguish you from them."
- Qadianis practice religious dissimulation and deception. They sometimes permit prayers behind a non-Qadiani to serve their interests, but stipulate the repetition of the prayer.
Islamic scholars and the Qadianiya sect
- In the mid-1930's, the poet of Islam, Mohammed Iqbal wrote a series of articles about the Qadianis, exposing their falsehoods and deception. Similarly, scholars, researchers and preachers also wrote against the them. However, the sect persisted in its evil path and transgressions supported by imperialism. Qadianis also exploited the people's prevailing ignorance [of the Islamic] religion and found a congenial social setting which provided a fertile environment for accepting its myths, ignorance, and delusions.
- The Qadianiya sect is nothing more than a vicious imperialistic ploy that deceitfully claimed affiliation with Islam when Islam is free from its claims. The imperialists managed to utilize this misguided and misguiding sect to achieve their goals, mainly defaming Islam and debilitating the Muslims. But, Islam will remain firm despite its enemies; Allah Almighty says,
And Allah has full power and control over His affairs. [Yusuf, 21].
- There is a consensus among Muslims that the Qadianiya is not an Islamic ideology and that whoever follows it is not a Muslim but an apostate — who forsakes Islam for another religion. Allah Almighty says,
And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever-for those, their deeds have become worthless in their world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the fire, they will abode therein eternally. [Al-Baqarah, 217]
- Muslim scholars have unanimously agreed that the marriage of a person who apostates from Islam is invalid, whether he marries a Muslim or non-Muslim. This is because Islam does not acknowledge such a marriage unless he repents and reverts to Islam and renounces the creed he embraced.
- The Islamic Research Assembly of al-Azhar issued a declaration during Sheikh Gad al-Haqq Ali Gad al-Haqq's tenure stating that the Qadianiya is among the sects that bear no connection whatsoever to Islam but only assumes the guise of Islam.
- In August 2007, the Islamic Research Assembly renewed its declaration on the Qadianiya sect. It explicitly stated that the followers of this sect are non-Muslims and that it has nothing to do with Islam. The declaration maintained this opinion in spite of the new amendments introduced into the sect by Ghulam Ahmad's followers in new publications expounding the differences between Ahmadiya and Qadianiya. The Islamic Research Assembly also indicated that some people [mistakenly] consider Qadianiya an Islamic sect — a claim that followers of the Qadianiya strive to propagate to achieve their interests.
- Adherents of the Ahmadiya sect claim that the points of difference between them and Muslims concern only subsidiary matters. This is false in its entirety since the beliefs of the Ahmadiya/Qadianiya as expounded in their books contravene categorically established religious doctrines.
- In its 2nd meeting held on 10-16 Rabee' al-Akhar 1406 AH/22-28 December 1985 CE in Jeddah, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, a subsidiary organ of the Organization of The Islamic Conference issued a statement on the ruling for Qadianiya and its off-shoot known as the Lahoriyah, and whether or not they should be counted as Muslims. They concluded that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claim to prophethood or his claims of inspiration by Divine Revelation are an explicit repudiation of categorically established religious doctrines concerning definitive [proof] of Prophet Mohammed's seal of prophethood and that there is no revelation after him. The said declaration from Mirza Ghulam Ahmad makes him, along with all of those who accept his claims, apostates who have left Islam.
- The ruling for the Lahorites is the same even though they describe Ghulam Ahmad as the shadow and incarnation of our Prophet Muhammad .
-The Islamic Jurisprudence Council, a subsidiary body of The Muslim World League issued resolution no.3 of its first session stating that it is unanimously agreed upon that the Qadianiyah — also known as Ahmadiya — totally contravenes Islam. Its followers are disbelievers and apostates from Islam who only pretend to be Muslims to deceive and delude people. All Muslims — governments, scholars, authors, intellectuals, preachers and others — should strive against this deluding and misguided sect and its followers worldwide.
- The Permanent Committee for Scientific Research and Fatwa in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued a legal verdict on this issue and declared Qadianis disbelievers.
The ruling
If the case is as mentioned in the question, and if your husband does not repent from the belief he adopted, he is then considered an apostate. You must therefore immediately refer the matter to the courts in order to urge him to repent. If he concedes, Allah Almighty will forgive him and the bond of marriage will still be effective. Otherwise, you must be separated at once from your husband since the marriage contract will then be considered corrupt.
It is impermissible for your husband to take your daughters from you after they reach the legal age of custody because he may influence them by his corrupt beliefs. Allah Almighty says,
If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah) never will be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost. [Al-Imran: 85]
You are entitled to your all of your legal rights including the dowry, shabka, the items listed in the registry of furniture, and marital movables except for his personal belongings such as his books and clothes. You are entitled to receive the full deferred dowry, waiting period expenses and private expenses as the custodian of his two daughters. Furthermore, he must provide you, the custodial parent, with lodgings suitable to your social status and pay your daughters the full expenses of food and drink, education, marriage and the like.
Allah Almighty knows best.