🔥 Examination: Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light

Core Theological Disagreements

The theological differences between Ahmed al-Hassan's claims and traditional Islamic teachings are vast, touching on core beliefs about the finality of prophethood, divine revelation, and the Mahdi's role. Drawing from the Quran, hadith, and centuries of Islamic scholarship, this comparison underscores where his assertions diverge from established Islamic doctrines.

1. Source of Authority

In Islam, religious authority originates solely from the Quran and the Sunnah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the final prophet, and his example is comprehensive and timeless. This concept of Khatm an-Nabuwwah (Finality of Prophethood) is encapsulated in the verse:

In this verse, Allah establishes that the guidance brought by the Prophet Muhammad is final and superior, as no one else is needed to uphold Islam. Mainstream Islamic scholarship, including Tafsir al-Tabari and Tafsir al-Qurtubi, elaborates on this verse to stress that the Prophet completed his mission and that no additional figure or representative is needed to uphold or advance Islam's message.

2. Role of Religious Scholars and Leaders

In traditional Islam, religious scholars and leaders derive authority through rigorous study of the Quran and Sunnah. They are tasked with preserving, interpreting, and applying these teachings within the bounds of established jurisprudence. Religious leadership is grounded in scholarly knowledge, not in claims of divine inspiration. In Surah An-Nahl (16:43), Allah emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge through scholarly guidance:

This verse, along with the hadith from Sahih Muslim where the Prophet says, "Whoever Allah wants good for, He grants them understanding of the religion," underscores that Islamic guidance is derived through knowledge, not through claims of divine roles. Traditional Islamic scholars like Imam Al-Ghazali in Ihya Ulum al-Din and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya in Madarij al-Salikin stress that religious authority must be rooted in the Quran and Sunnah, with no space for unauthorized, self-proclaimed figures.

3. Legitimacy of Eschatological Roles

In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi is anticipated as a divinely chosen figure who will restore justice before the Day of Judgment. Traditional beliefs hold that the Mahdi's appearance will be unmistakable, requiring no intermediary or representative to announce or interpret his mission. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described the Mahdi's role as unmistakable, saying:

In this hadith, the Prophet clarifies that the Mahdi's mission will be divinely directed, and his arrival will be clear without any need for precursors. Kitab al-Ghaybah by Shaykh al-Mufid, a seminal text on Shia eschatology, reinforces that the Mahdi's reappearance will be a unique event that does not depend on human intermediaries or claimants.

4. Claims of Direct Divine Communication (continued)

Islam firmly upholds that revelation concluded with the Prophet Muhammad, a belief reflected in Surah Al-An'am (6:19):

This verse affirms the Quran as the last and ultimate form of divine guidance. Islamic scholars have universally taught that divine communication with humankind ended with the Quran's revelation, a position reinforced by Prophet Muhammad himself, who stated,

By claiming divine communication, Ahmed al-Hassan conflicts with the orthodox belief that revelation ended with the Prophet Muhammad. Classical Islamic scholars, including those from the Hanbali and Maliki schools, argue that divine communication is complete, and any claim to ongoing revelations constitutes bid'ah (innovation), as it suggests new, unneeded alterations to Islam's core teachings.

5. Preservation of Unity and Avoidance of Innovations (Bid'ah)

One of the primary functions of traditional Islamic leadership is to maintain the unity and integrity of the ummah, preserving it from divisive ideologies or unverified claims of divine roles. In Surah Al Imran (3:103), Allah commands:

This verse, emphasized by commentators like Al-Qurtubi, establishes the necessity for Muslims to remain unified under the original teachings of Islam. Innovations, particularly in religious beliefs, are viewed as potential sources of division. In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned,

Islamic scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah in Al-Furqan bayna Awliya ar-Rahman wa Awliya ash-Shaytan stress the importance of avoiding claims that lead to religious innovation or sectarianism. In Shia scholarship, Ayatollah Al-Khoei's Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran similarly warns against alterations to core doctrines, viewing