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refer to Jeremy Menchik’s article titled “The origin of intolerance toward Ahmadiyah” (the Post, Feb. 10).

Menchik might be right in his conclusion about the origins of the intolerance toward Ahmadiyah. But, his conclusion about Ahmadiyah beliefs is not true. Some of his findings are totally baseless. Others are the result of not having proper knowledge about Ahmadiyah beliefs.

It seems his study does not include an Ahmadiyah viewpoint. For example, the writer quotes Buya Hamka’s father saying “they [Ahmadis] denied the death of Prophet Jesus”. This is a totally false statement, which is negated even by Professor Hamka himself.

Hamka writes in his famous Tafsir Al Azhar “they [the Ahmadis] also strengthen the view that Prophet Isa is dead. They are ready to debate for days and nights to exchange views to get hold of their belief that Prophet Isa Al-Masih passed away and did not rise to heaven, with the body, alive.”

Another false allegation about Ahmadiyah is that they were “devoted to British imperialism”.

Here are two very simple but logical reasons to prove that wrong.

The ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven is the backbone of Christian faith. On the contrary, Ahmadiyah believe — as mentioned earlier — in the death of Christ. So, how could Ahmadiyah be devoted to British imperialism, whose official religion was Christianity?

Who spent large sums of money to promote Christianity in the subcontinent under their rule? It should also be remembered that Ahmadiyah has always been and is purely a religious movement, not a political one.

Secondly, the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, chose a devout Ahmadi — Muhammad Zafrullah Khan — as the country’s first foreign minister. How come Jinnah, who struggled so hard to be rid of British Imperialism, ultimately selected a pro-British politician for a crucial post in his Cabinet?

He was a real nationalist. Of course, he would not have selected those who were not on his side during the freedom fight.

This is also a misperception that Ahmadiyah “followed a prophet other than Muhammad”. Ahmadis around the world fully obey and follow Prophet Muhammad. They recognize him as the last law-bearing prophet, and the Koran as the last book.

A very large majority of Muslims, including Ahmadiyah, agree that the promised Messiah, or Isa Al-Masih, will appear as a subordinate prophet after Prophet Mohammad and will not bring any new sharia laws. He will follow the Prophet Mohammad. His mission is to spread the true teachings of Islam throughout the world.
Fazal-e-Mujeeb
Jakarta