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The Ahmadis are a relatively new (1889) and "heterodox" Muslim community who revere Mīrzā Ghulām Aḥmad as a messianic or prophetic figure. They also believe, as I recall, that Jesus died in India. These beliefs make them highly controversial and they are one of the most persecuted sects/offshoot-religions out there are the moment. They are generally non-violent, although I think they accept some violence in clear cases of self-defense.
Here are some articles on them and their persecution. (Also they are themselves divided into different schools of the faith)
Famous Ahmadis include Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam and jazz musician Yusef Lateef. Lateef is a convert. I'm not Ahmadi myself and have never actually met one. Some of their beliefs sound a bit out there, but mostly I hear of them being persecuted rather than bothering anyone so if that's the case good for them!
Abdus Salam has been in the news due to the Higgs Boson and although I'm the only poster I'm still interested in this topic.
I was reading up on this the other day, due to the Higgs Boson connection. I didn't realize that the Ahmadi sect was as distinct from the other branches of Islam as it appears to be. As best as I can tell, if Sunni and Shia Islam were represented by , say, Protestants and Catholics, then the Ahmadi would be the LDS or JW. It is interesting to me that all three groups can set aside their differences to condemn the Bahai's but that isn't really any different than the way the Christian world works. I too would be interested in hearing how muslims view some of these divergent sects of Islam, like the Ahmadis, Sufi, and Bahai religions.
I was reading up on this the other day, due to the Higgs Boson connection. I didn't realize that the Ahmadi sect was as distinct from the other branches of Islam as it appears to be. As best as I can tell, if Sunni and Shia Islam were represented by , say, Protestants and Catholics, then the Ahmadi would be the LDS or JW. It is interesting to me that all three groups can set aside their differences to condemn the Bahai's but that isn't really any different than the way the Christian world works. I too would be interested in hearing how muslims view some of these divergent sects of Islam, like the Ahmadis, Sufi, and Bahai religions.
-NoCapo
Most of us view Ahmadis, NOI, Ba'hai and Sikhs as not being Muslims. A minority of us accept them as Muslims but consider them in error. They are sort of the Mormons of Islam
Nearly all of us accept Sunni, Shi'a and Sufi as being members of the one Ummah. The conflicts between Sunni and Shi'a in the Mideast, is more related to Iranian and Arab conflicts, not ideology. The majority of Shi'i are Iranian.
At one time the Sufi were considered to be a fifth madhab of Sunni. But they began praying to Saints which to many Muslims, places them separate from Sunni. However I believe the majority of us accept them as being Muslim, but with a deviant practice.
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