The Jakarta Post:

In reference to the news report “Ministries reaffirm curbs on Ahmadiyah” published in The Jakarta Post on May 31, the report is in connection with an event in which the religious minister witnessed the “conversion” of 20 Ahmadis to the “right path of Islam”.

To become “Muslims”, people had to recite two pledges or two syahadat: There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

This is quite funny because Ahmadis around the world practice not only syahadat but also the other four pillars of Islam and the six components of Iman. It is their opponents who try to force them not to do so.

Moreover, the holy Koran and the Hadith (the sayings of Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him]) are the actual sources to define what Islam is and who is Muslim, not any government or anybody else.

Otherwise, any government of a majority sect in any country of the world may label the minority sect there as non-Muslims. With the same reasoning, they differ in interpretation from the majority of Muslims.

The holy prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) once said, “One who prays like us, facing kiblat (Mecca) and eats our slaughter is a Muslim, whose (being Muslim) is guaranteed by Allah and His Prophet.”

On another occasion he said, “Islam is based on five pillars and iman (faith) has six parts.”

Other than that, Ahmadis around the globe believe that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was last legitimate prophet. They also believe that the holy Koran is the final book of law until doomsday.

Yes, this is their belief too, that Isa, or Jesus, (may peace be upon him) will appear in latter days. But, they are not alone in believing so. A large majority of Muslims worldwide hold this belief.

The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) endorsed this in these words, “ We are bound to believe that Isa [be peace on him] will descend in latter days as Prophet and Messenger, to implement the sharia [law] of Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him].”

This does not mean to challenge Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the final prophet, because Prophet Isa (be peace upon him) (will) only practice the sharia of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as stated in Solusi Hukum Islam, Keputusan Muktamar, Munas dan Konbes NU, (Solution for Islamic Law, Decision of Congresses of NU) page 52.

The only difference between Ahmadis and other Muslims is about the figure of Prophet Isa (be peace on him).

The latter believe that it will be the same “Isa” as the son of Mary who came to the Jews around 2,000 years ago as he is still alive in heaven.

Ahmadis, however, believe that “Isa” the son of Mary has passed away. And, the person to come is just given the title “Isa” by the prophet of Islam, as he will resemble in character Prophet Isa (be peace on him).

In the same manner, sometimes, a good person is called an angle and a bad one a devil. And that person was the founder of the Ahmadiyah Muslim movement.

As far as the coming of a prophet after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is concerned, both hold a similar belief. Then why is just a difference in interpretation highlighted in such a way as if Ahmadis have invented some new religion?

Fazal-E-Mujeeb
Jakarta

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/06/07/your-letters-curbing-ahmadiyah.html