The Ahmadi minority community in Rawalpindi were restricted from offering Eid prayers at Ewan-e-Tauheed located at E-Block, Satellite Town, Rawalpindi, according to Saleemuddin, spokesperson of Ahmadiyya community.
Saleemuddin said, “Ewan-e-Tauheed is where most of us offered Eid and Friday prayers, however, the situation changed nine months ago when a hate campaign against our community enticed residents of the area to restrict our activities. Prior to the Eid prayers, we sought approval from the local law enforcement agencies to let us pray on Eid or suggest an alternative site where we could congregate.”
According to Saleemuddin, police approved of the idea, however, at the last minute informed Ahmadis that it is best if they offer Eid prayers at Bait-ul-Hamd, Murree Road, which only has a capacity to accommodate 100 worshippers. He said that early in the morning, police officials surrounded Ewan-e-Tauheed to deter Ahmadis from gathering and praying.
“An estimated number of 2,000 Ahmadis were expected to congregate and offer Eid prayers, however, were unable to do so because of the sudden change of events triggered by influence of local powerful businessmen,” added Saleemuddin.
However, Azhar Hamid Khokhar, CPO Rawalpindi, denied the allegations and said, “We had made it clear to the Ahmadis that they will not be able to pray at Ewan-e-Tauheed on Eid and advised them to congregate at Bait-ul-Hamd. This was our understanding from day one”
“Local residents object to their activities and say that Block-E is a residential area and should be treated as one. Since no NOC was obtained from them before constructing this worship site, they do not feel too happy about its existence,” he added.
Sharjeel Mir, President of Anjuman-e-Tajiran Rawalpindi and a local businessman said, “We object to Ewan-e-Tauheed and all that it stands for because it was acquired through illegal means. Fifteen years ago an Ahmadi bought a house and later on donated it to the Ahamdiiya community. Since then it has been used as a praying site despite of the fact that NOC was not obtained from the district government and local residents as is required according to the law of land.”
Mir also said that Ahmadis were given no approval to offer congregational prayers on Eid by local police authorities or government.
Mir went on to add that, “In May of 2010, Ahmadis and their worshipping site were attacked in Lahore enticing people praying at Ewan-e-Tauheed to beef up security. They barricaded all the roads that led to their worshipping site. There are several mosques in the area and most of the time local residents were not allowed to pass through the barriers. Even ambulances transporting patients to and from Holy Family Hospital were stopped and not given free passage.”
Mir went on to say that Ahmadis left them with no option but to report this abuse to the local authorities who then took action against them.
“According to the constitution, Ahmadis are not allowed to call their praying sites mosques and term their call of prayers as namaz. They do not follow the rules and policies which is why we have been taking action against them. We believe in coexistence. In fact countless Christians live in Rawalpindi and we live in harmony, however, we will not have Ahmadis call themselves Muslims and go against the law. They should live like other minorities,” added Mir.
Who is a muslim or not a good muslim is for Almighty to decide. However if anybody does not believe in the finality of Prophet, he is automatically evicted from being a muslim. But this is not the domain of the state. It is between God and his creation. Faith is a matter of the heart,and your deeds, not confined to rituals. In the first instance the state should not have got into this issue, especially a state which cannot deliver even basic needs of its citizens. For a state, even if we are an Islamic state, it is its primary duty and obligation to protect lives, give people freedom to practice their faith. As individuals, we can have our own opinions based on our concept, whether the practices of an individual are in confirmity with our perception of religion, but than we do not have the right to impose our thoughts and choice on others. The Ahmedis, even after being declared as non-muslims have a right to practice their faith and observe their Eid in the manner that they choose.
1. If the state does tackle the issue then the citizens take law into their own hands which is neither desirable nor appreciateable, hence the state did so rightly.
2. They have the right to act upon their faith but as a minority not as Muslims. The problem arises when they try to declare themselves as Muslims and if they do so then we have the examples of treatment given to Muslima Kazzab, Aswad Ansi and many others in the time of our Holly Prophet and his Caliphs.
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Dear Tariq, 100% Muslims (sunnis and Shias) unanimously BELIEVE , Jesus will appear in the later days, Ask any Mullah near your home. At the same time ALL Muslims. (including Ahmadi Muslims) believe in the FINALITY of the Holy Prophet, Interesting hannn !
Jesus will appear as a follower of Muhammad(S.A.W) not as a new prophet and this fact will be established by his prayer behind Imam Mehdi who will also be a follower of Muhammad (S.A.W). Qadyanis dont believe in the finality of Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) bin Abdullah bin Abdulmatlib but they believe in the finality of Mirza Gulam Muhammad Qadyani and call him the Holy Prophet. I think now your confusion must be cleared.
What do you think of Qasim Nanutwi founder of Darulaloom Deoband?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfde2WGvf3w
However the only thing that makes sense is that a place of worship should be constructed with approval of the city district government such as CDA in Islamabad. But these restrictions cannot be imposed on private residences, where citizens can offer prayers and practice their individual faith, without any restrictions.
The sight is registered as non profit and religious sight as its also exempt by tax authorities due to the same reason. The accusation is mere a bogus one.
What a shame; Mullah's should read Prophet (PBUH) teachings on dealings with non-muslims, as Ahmadees are called.
Just read about the treatment given to the claimants of false Prophet-hood and their followers like Muslima Kazzab, Aswad Ansi, Najjah and many others in the time of our Holy Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W). If you are a Muslim and not a Qadyani then you should thoroughly study about the incidents of these people mentioned above in the early period of Islam. The Holy Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W) himself allowed to fight against the false claimant of Prophet-hood and his followers. The case of Qadyanis is different from other non muslims. Other non Muslims do not claim to be the followers of false Prophet-hood.
Then you complain why you are called terrorist. This is 21st century not stone age. Grow up. If you can.
ahmedi r not muslim so no question of eid prayer
ahmedi r not muslim so no question of eid prayer
every one in Pakistan is allowed to offer prayers according to their faith, it is in out Great Religion Islam
very sad
Is there any good deed in it by publishing such news? Unfortunately, our print and visual media now has no ethics at all. They are speedily working on special agenda.
When are they making it compulsory for all the Ahamadis to wear armband bearing star of ……
it is regrettable to hear of such incidents.. and the state as well as people power needs to resolve this
Why dont ahmedis admit the finality of the Prophet (PBUH) of islam and live and let live in piece? Why are the ahmedis creating a social fissure over a non-issue?
Your Deobandi founder says otherwise;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfde2WGvf3w
Who are we to stop anyone from praying? And who were we to declare them non Muslims in the first place??? I wish the mullahs of this country would stop playing god!
That's why PAKISTAN is booted by USA and It deserve that as its becoming one of a kind new Rome where in any hadith or Quran written about not letting people worship and no body learn about there faith even don't know what they believe just believe what so called ulama aboo jahils tell to them.very sad news shame to be from pakistan
we have to stop them because they act as Muslims , their disguise as a Muslim will effect Islam ….media has no ethics at all in Pakistan . media is playing in the hands of traitors they know what they are doing with the image of Pakistan and Islam…any body who restricted them is a true Momin I salute him
QADIYANIS are NOT muslims. end of discussion.
AHMAD
AHMADIYYAT ZINDABAD THIS YEAR IN SEPTEMBER 2011 TO SEPTEMBER 2012 MASHALLAH 5,70,040 NEW BAIT’S (people convert in ahmadiyyat) Mashallah
Absolutely wrong to ban a sect for offering prayers Not acceptable to any muslim in the country They should be allowed to worship the way they wish to do and restricting them is not within the law of the land. All are allowed to worship their Gods Let the God see who is right and wrong. No good imposing and telling someone that he/she is not a Muslim
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