Unprecedented Muslim Unity against Qadianis

In an unprecedented demonstration of unity by Muslims cutting across the lines of sects, in Hyderabad has forced the Ahmadiya (Qadiani) community to go on defensive as 100th anniversary celebrations of their “Khilafat” was cancelled.

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June 20, 2022
In an unprecedented demonstration of unity by Muslims cutting across the lines of sects, in Hyderabad has forced the Ahmadiya (Qadiani) community to go on defensive as 100th anniversary celebrations of their “Khilafat” was cancelled.
In a never before development Muslim organisations representing various schools of thoughts and sects came on a single platform to protest against the plans of Qadianis to organise a conference in the name of Islam and Muslims. The conference was to be held on June 15 at Lalitha Kala Thornam in Public Gardens but its permission was cancelled at the last minute by the administration on “technical grounds”.
Taking note of strong feelings of the Muslim community, the Andhra Pradesh government had earlier refused to grant permission for the meeting. But the Ahmadiya Jamat approached the High Court and obtained permission. The court had directed the government and the police to provide protection for the conference. Even as the Ahmadiya community was making arrangements for the meeting, thousands of Muslims held a night long protest meeting addressed by the prominent religious scholars and representatives of several organisations and threatened to lay a siege to the venue of Ahmadiya meeting.
The protest meeting against “Fitna-e-Qadianiat” was addressed by the leaders of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Amarat-e-Millat-e-Islamia, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Jamiatul Ulema, Majlis-e-Ulema-e-Deccan, Sunni Dawat-e-Islami, Shia Asana-e-Ashari, Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat, Anjuman-e-Qadaria and Anjuman-e-Mehdvia, Khankha-e-Musavia and Jamia Nizamia. This was the first time in Hyderabad’s history that divergent schools of thought of Muslims, who often bicker, were sharing the same dais.
Even as the meeting was on and the organisers were planning a procession in the wee hours to the venue of the meeting, the department of cultural affairs, the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued a notice to the Ahmadiya Jamat cancelling the permission to hold the meeting. The director, Cultural Affairs informed the organisers that the permission was being withdrawn as there was a major breakdown in the electricity supply system not only at Lalitha Kala Thornam but also in all other auditoriums and buildings in the Public Gardens.
After directing Ahmadiya Jamat to vacate the place, armed policemen and the personnel of Rapid Action Force were deployed in and around the Public Gardens to avert any untoward incident.
Meanwhile the protest meeting unanimously passed a resolution demanding the government of India not to treat Ahmadiya community as Muslim because their faith clashes with the basic tenets of Islam. Member of Parliament from Hyderabad and senior leader of MIM Asaduddin Owaisi, who moved the resolution, said that as Ahmadiyas do not accept the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad (may Allah greet and bless him) they cannot be treated as Muslims. “Ahmadiyas should be excluded from the list of Muslims and they should not get the benefits of schemes meant for Muslims such as 4% reservations in Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
He also demanded that website of Ahmadiyas “Al-Islam.org” should be banned as it has been misleading Muslims.
“India is a democracy and everybody is free to do what he wants. Ahmadiays can also hold their meeting but they should not do it as Muslims or in the name of Islam because they have nothing to do with Islam,” he said.
As a precautionary measure, all the Muslim organisations have also filed a caveat in the state High Court pleading that if Ahmadia community approaches it for another permission to hold its meeting, the petitioners should also be informed.
The petition filed by one Muzaffar Hussain Khan told the court that Qadianis were not Muslims and they had managed to obtain permission by misleading the court. “The community believes Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be its prophet, hence it cannot be treated as Muslim. It is misleading Muslims in the name of Islam,” the petitioner said.
Asaduddin Owaisi said that not only the attempt to organise a public celebration by the community had angered Muslims in Hyderabad but the activities of Qadianis to convert the poor Muslims in villages have become a cause of major concern.
The Muslim organisations, which participated in the protest meeting agreed that there was a need for long term plan and to work in the rural areas to counter the activities of Qadianis.
Malik Moatasim Khan, President, Jamaat-e-Islami Andhra Pradesh and Orissa hailed the protest meeting as a demonstration of unity among Muslims. “This is not the end but just a beginning,” he said.
The strong opposition to Ahmadiya Jamat’s programme in Hyderabad was significant because they had organised their conferences in Calicut and Bangalore without any problem. After the cancellation of their programme, the Ahmadia leaders could not even hold their press conference in the city. The protestors had gathered at the Hyderabad press club. Even a five star hotel cancelled their press conference, fearing trouble.