by Dilnawaz
This Lal Masjid (Red mosque), actually a converted old Victorian church, built (originally) in Yorkshire stone is just like the inconspicuous buildings lining the Leeds road Bradford moor, an area famous for posh Asian restaurants competing with wimslow road Manchester for the title of curry capital of the north.
But I am talking about this “red mosque on Bradford moor” ,which looks like any other mosque in Bradford, is no ordinary mosque, certainly not like the RED MOSQUE IN ISLAMABAD. The high security door, wired and reinforced windows are unlike the other mosques in Bradford. Not so long ago, actually just before 9/11 when usama bin laden had not attained his current cult celebrity status, some hot headed young Muslim (born again Tableeghi-read evangelical ) lads used to pump up the music while passing this “Red mosque” their car stereos deafening the street with anthems “ Islam’s hero number one, my leader usa-ma bin laden” just to annoy the gate keeper and the administration of the mosque, but other than that isolated incident this red mosque perfectly integrated into Bradford muslim community, no one can tell the difference between those who visit this “red mosque” or other mainstream mosques in Bradford.
The muslim community does not discriminate against those who worship at this Red mosque. Their common cultural, linguistic reference remains Pakistani Punjabi /mirpuri. their relations ,marriage ceremonies and eid celebrations remain focal point of the community.
Before one might be tempted to think that I am talking about “shia” sect, which is constantly in news in iraq and Pakistan, suffering the attacks perpetrated by “terrorist” clan of wahabi (loyalist Paramilitary of Saudi Royals) and Al qaeda operatives, I am not. its another story how supposedly sworn enemies namely bin laden construction crew and al saud clan with its kick backs of defence deals that stretch from Thatcher to blairite era, can cooperate in iraq and Pakistan to pursue the evil agenda of purifying the muslim world of “infidel” shias and Iranian influence.
Well in bradistan shia are not considered a minority they are part of the mainstream. Contrary to what BNP and NF websites propagate; bradistan is a culturally vibrant, ethnically diverse, and socially more integrated than some other cities of the UK.
Getting back to original discussion about “Red mosque”, which belongs to a religious minority within ethnic minority? Ahmadiyya religious sect, who like the African American “nation of Islam” believe in their own messiah prophet, are being persecuted in their native Pakistan for their non-mainstream religious beliefs. Ahmediya community have found a safe haven in UK and bradistan, the fellow Pakistanis have welcomed them with open hearts despite religious differences. The community now runs a 24 hour satellite channel broadcasting their religious programmes world wide which even the Pakistani government cannot block off airwaves, local community leader Mr Bari Malik a former magistrate is a prominent Pakistani representative in local government and charities in Yorkshire.
While back home in Pakistan they fear prosecution in courts because of performing muslim prayer rituals or identifying themselves with muslim names. Punishments under the anti –ahmadiyya ordinance promulgated by military dictator general zia ul haq in 1984 range from 3 years(for Islamic ritual) to death penalty for blasphemy.
Although Ahmediya community themselves practice a ultra orthodox set of beliefs and believe in 19th century Punjabi- British civil servant turned messiah- folklore prophet, but at same time gave Pakistani nation some of the most renowned international celebrities, like the only Nobel laureate that Pakistan produced Dr Abdul Salam who revolutionised the world of physics by discovering the “weak force theory”.
Dr Salam and many war heroes who sacrificed their lives for Pakistani defense forces and pakistan’s first foreign minister sir zafarullah khan and their legacies were officially Disowned by the state after enacting that draconian law of religious bigotry. surprise surprise the current “enlightened “ modernist Dictator Pervaiz musharraf could not find time even in past seven years to strike the draconian law off the statute books.
Its Ironical that the head of pro Taliban mma alliance in parliament and opposition leader in pakistan Mualana Fazal ur Rehman undergoing angioplasty after a heart attack insisted on being treated by one of the world’s best heart surgeons Dr Mubashar Ahmed – a Pakistani expatriate , a Ahmadi by religion. Fazal Ul rehman and his late father mufti mehmood were instrumental in forcing the state to declare Ahmadiyya as non muslim, sometimes its takes medical science to tear the layers of discrimination and bigotry , I hope Mualana at least sends a thank you note to his doctor after recovery.
Sometimes at summer melas lads weaving Pakistani flags and wearing their Burberry designer hooded tops chant “proud to be Bradistani”
Pak Tea House 
The reason for declaring Ahmediyya as a non-muslim creed is not that he professed himself Massiha but because he declared hiself an altogether new prophet[Naooz bi-Allah]. Even though government has banished them to declare themselves as muslim, but government has still allowed them openly to follow whatever they want to and practice whatever rituals they do… I recently visited Rabwah near Sargodha in Pakistan. I was amazed to see a whole city established their and not a single Muslim or even christian can be seen there.
So that was a proof and a revelation to me as well… WHO SAYS THAT PAKISTAN IS A NON_TOLERANT COUNTRY?? We have even provided a safe haven for one of those who are a major threat to Muslims, what to talk of rest of the non-muslim creeds.
Please ammend my last comment… as I mistakenly wrote another URL in the website box…
Thnx
“The reason for declaring Ahmediyya as a non-muslim creed is not that he professed himself Massiha but because he declared hiself an altogether new prophet[Naooz bi-Allah].”
What is wrong with being a new prophet?
The founder of Darul Aloom Deoband thinks its OK; http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0sw6Qyqjh04
…and so do Imam Raghib and Mawlana Rumi. Some would say even Ibn Arabi; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_of_the_Prophets
Are you better scholar than these people? But even if so, these scholars should be declared non-Muslims first and foremost.
Afaque,
We have even provided a safe haven for one of those who are a major threat to Muslims
How are Ahmedis a threat to Muslims?
Regards
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/3830347.Mosque_is_opened_by_spiritual_leader/
@Majumdar
It seems to me, these days everything’s a threat to Muslims. So the question is, who is NOT a threat to Muslims. They make it sound like Muslims are some kind of endangered species on the brink of extinction. Even Muslims are a threat to themselves. Its like a vicious circle of threats or something.
Enjoyed reading that bit about the maulana, who otherwise has the hobby of hounding the Ahmediyyas, asking for a Ahmediyya surgeon!!
This is a made up controversy. I don’t want to be a part of this but I know Dr. Mubashar for at least 25 years now. Dr. Mubashar is a fine gentleman. He is not a Heart Surgeon. He is a cardiologist and a very good too but not the best in the world. He is at Georgetown hospital in Wash, DC. now. Head of the department of Cardiology.
Parvez Ilahi and Shujaat Ilahi used to stay at his place for treatment. Doctor’s wife was an adviser to Pervez Ilahi and lived in Lahore and that s why Dr. Mubashar travels to Lahore often.
Please refrain from writing abt things you don’t know much about. He is a doctor and his religion has nothing to with his profession.
@ Tahir
God forbid… I even don’t feel comfortable to read what you said. I don’t need a scholar to tell me WHETHER HAVING A NEW PROPHET IS OK OR NOT… coz its a very basic pillar of Islam. Prophet [pbuh] has said in his last address that there would not be a Prophet after me. Tomorrow you will come up with something else [God forbid] and then you will ask people to see even those videos and try to prove your views. But let me tell you, you are profusely wrong. May Allah give you guidance.
@ Majumdar
Ahmeddis can never be a threat to Muslims but they are a threat to Islam. They follow a completely different set of principles and completely opposite ideolgy BUT still they consider and profess them as Muslims. So they are corrupting Islam’s image.
I am an Ahmad Muslim. The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam was not a British Civil Servant. He openly attacked the false Pauline form of Christianity more than any other religion and even invited Queen Victoria to accept Islam.
That Ahmadiyya is an agent of the British is a common false allegation leveled by the ignorant clergy of Mullahs who know nothing of religion. Here are 2 links from the official website that offer rebuttals to this charge:
http://www.alislam.org/books/truth/british.html
http://store.alislam.org/wasahmujaplb.html
pakistanis are famous for unity and diversity, its the dictators and islamist who only have problem with human rights, read the link
http://ghulammustafalakho.blogspot.com/
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wWBBbLLjysY
you need to get your facts straight.
the majority of the uninformed and ignorant people who spout of the same rubbish is laughable.
ahmaddiya jamaat is the true Islam.
dear pakistani-shell, more power to you and your huzoor-e-do-chaar-aalam. don’t have much to say, but i thot your handle was really kool, even though i’m more of a b.p. man meself, nudge, nudge, say no more!
religious tolerance goes out of window when super idiots like zia ul haq,fazal haq, amir liaquat , wasi zafar , israr ullah zehri and hazar khan bejrani have been in power for last thirty years of pakistan
“God forbid… I even don’t feel comfortable to read what you said. I don’t need a scholar to tell me WHETHER HAVING A NEW PROPHET IS OK OR NOT… coz its a very basic pillar of Islam. Prophet [pbuh] has said in his last address that there would not be a Prophet after me.”
@Afaque
You have completely dodged the question that if these scholars (accepted by large number of Muslims) are such deviant then why are they not declared non-Muslim? If however they are still Muslims despite their beliefs then what is your beef with Ahmadis who believe the same as these scholars regarding coming of a new prophet?
What of those Muslims, including a large number of deobandis, who still revere these “deviant” personalities? Are these Muslims deviant too?
Fact is Ahmadis are neither the first ones or the only ones to believe that a prophet can come. This inconvenient fact has been kept hidden form public so far.
@Afaque
“coz its a very basic pillar of Islam”
How did you come to this conclusion? I know of only five basic pillars; Kalima, Namaz, Roza, Haj, Zakat….how did you come up with this sixth one? You may believe what you want but that does not make it a “very basic pillar of Islam”. The idea that Jihad is a “very basic pillar” was also paddled when khudawand US wanted Jihad to be farz on every Muslim but that has nothing to do with real ‘basic pillars’ of Islam and is just politics. Be wary of anything being basic pillar of Islam except the five I mentioned above. God knew what he was doing when he declared only five pillars. The rest are man made.
“coz its a very basic pillar of Islam. Prophet [pbuh] has said in his last address that there would not be a Prophet after me. ”
He did not say anything like that. May be you are confusing it with where he said ‘deen has completed today’ which is wholly different thing from ‘no nabi can come’. Nabi can still come to revive the deen and that is why Hazrat Isa is prophesised to come.
You really need to brush up on your Islamic knowledge.
Ahmaddiyas are ‘kafirs’ they believed dat guy hu died on a toilet is 1 ov d beloved prophets ASTAGHFIRULLAH not only dat buh also d MESSIAH n IMAM MAHDI…. Dis guy deserved wat he got…. U guys r getting mislead buy a british government made n funded false Islamic group… How kan u lot b so stupid to mis-interpret d whole islamic way n teachings ov our Prophet Muhammed (SAW) u al deserve to die d way ur so called leader died…