Jump to content

Mirza Tahir Ahmad: Difference between revisions

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
+pic
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
Bots
3,695,952 edits
m Task 20: replace {lang-??} templates with {langx|??} ‹See Tfd› (Replaced 1);
 
(718 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Ahmadiyya spiritual leader (1928–2003)}}
[[File:Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad.jpg|thumb|Mirza Tahir Ahmad]]
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Ahmadiyya|Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad.jpg}}
{{Multiple issues|
'''Mirza Tahir Ahmad''' (Born [[December 18]], [[1928]] in [[Qadian]], died [[April 19]], [[2003]] in [[London]]) was [[Khalifatul Masih]] IV. [[Caliph]] of the [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]] and successor of [[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]]. He was elected to this office on 10th June 1982, the day after the death of his predecessor, [[Mirza Nasir Ahmad]]. He was the son of [[Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad]], the second Caliph and was the [[half-brother]] of [[Mirza Nasir Ahmad]], the third Caliph. He graduated from Jamia Ahmadiyya (Theological Academy) at [[Rabwah]], followed by higher education in Lahore at the [[University of Punjab]], and London at the [[University of London]] [[School of Oriental and African Studies]]. In 1974 he was also nominated the member of the Ahmadiyya delegation which appeared in the Parliament of Pakistan to defend the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Community.
{{More citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Primary sources|date=January 2017}}
}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| name = Mirza Tahir Ahmad
| native_name = {{nq|مرزا طاہر احمد}}
| title = [[Ahmadiyya Caliphate|Caliph of the Messiah]]<br />''[[Amir al-Mu'minin]]''
| image = KhalifaIV Surrey.jpg
| caption = Mirza Tahir Ahmad in 2000
| religion = [[Islam]]
| denomination = [[Ahmadiyya]]
| post = [[Ahmadiyya Caliphate|Caliph]]
| consecration = 10 June 1982
| predecessor = [[Mirza Nasir Ahmad]]
| successor = [[Mirza Masroor Ahmad]]
| spouse = Asifa Begum (m. 1957–1992)
| children = Four
| father = [[Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad]]
| mother = Maryam Begum
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1928|12|18}}
| birth_place = [[Qadian]], [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2003|4|19|1928|12|18}}
| death_place = [[London]], England
| resting_date =
| resting_place = [[Mubarak Mosque (Tilford)|Mubarak Mosque]], [[Tilford]], England
}}
{{Ahmadiyya|Organizational structure}}


'''Mirza Tahir Ahmad''' ({{script|ur-Arab|مرزا طاہر احمد}}; 18 December 1928 – 19 April 2003) was the [[Ahmadiyya Caliphate|fourth caliph]] ({{langx|ar|خليفة المسيح الرابع}}, ''khalīfatul masīh al-rābi'') and the head of the worldwide [[Ahmadiyya|Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]]. He was elected as the fourth successor of the founder of the community, [[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]]. He was elected on 10 June 1982, the day after the death of his predecessor, [[Mirza Nasir Ahmad]].
Mirza Tahir Ahmad returned to [[Qadian]] (the original centre of the community) in 1991 for the 100th annual gathering of the community; which was the first time an Ahmadiyya Khalifa had returned to Qadian since the [[Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad|second Khalifa]] left in 1947.


Following the [[Ordinance XX]] that was promulgated by the government of Pakistan in 1984, which prohibited Ahmadi Muslims from any public expression of the Islamic faith, Tahir Ahmad left Pakistan and migrated to [[London]], [[England]], provisionally moving the headquarters of the community to the [[Fazl Mosque, London|Fazl Mosque]] in London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alislam.org/khilafat/|title=Khilafat}}</ref> He is noted particularly for his question and answer sessions which he held regularly with people from around the world and for his [[Quranic]] discourses. Under his leadership, there was an acceleration in the number of [[Ahmadiyya translations of the Quran|Quran translations]] produced by the Community; and during his caliphate, the Community experienced structural and financial growth on an international level, including the launch of the first Muslim satellite television network, [[Muslim Television Ahmadiyya]] in 1994 through which he could communicate televised messages to the Community globally and have his sermons and other public engagements transmitted throughout the world through this medium.<ref name="No Islam but Islam">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k_amBgAAQBAJ&q=Mirza+Masroor+Ahmad&pg=PA163 | title=No Islam but Islam|page=163| isbn=9781443874045|access-date=20 September 2015| last1=Moon| first1=Farzana| date=12 January 2015| publisher=Cambridge Scholars}}</ref>
He is perhaps best known for his 'Question & Answers' Sessions. The community experienced structural and financial growth during his time. He launched, in 1994, the first Muslim satellite television network by the name of [[Muslim Television Ahmadiyya]].


Tahir Ahmad also authored many books including, ''Some Distinctive Features of Islam''; ''Christianity: A Journey from Facts to Fiction''; ''Murder in the Name of Allah'', and his magnum opus<ref>{{cite book | title=Where the Waters Meet: Convergence and Complementarity in Therapy and Theology | publisher=Karnac Books | first=David | last=Buckley | page=75}}</ref> ''[[Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth]]''.
==Early life==
Mirza Tahir Ahmed was born on 18 December 1928. He obtained his early schooling at Qadian and joined the Government College [[Lahore]] in 1944, a few months after the death of his mother (Maryam Begum). After graduating with distinction from the Ahmadiyya Missionary College [[Rabwah]], he obtained his honours degree in Arabic from the [[University of Punjab]], Lahore.


==Election as Caliph==
In 1955, he visited England for the first time with his father, who advised him to remain there to improve his knowledge of the English language and acquaint him with European social habits. He studied for 2 and a half years at [[SOAS]], [[University of London]]. He returned in December 1957 without achieving any degree. Instead, during his stay in London, he visited different parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and also some parts of Western Europe.
The ''Majlis Intikhab Khilafat'' ([[Electoral College (Pakistan)|Electoral College]]), convened at Mubarik Mosque in [[Rabwah]], [[Pakistan]],<ref>{{cite video | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFIG0jhc_5k&list=PL0D78DA4329855279 | title=The Life of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ra)}}</ref> elected Mirza Tahir Ahmad as the fourth successor to [[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]] and head of the community on 10 June 1982.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.alislam.org/library/tahir1.html | title=Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad | access-date=5 March 2011}}</ref>

Upon his return in 1957 he married Asifa Begum, and was appointed the vice president of the newly founded Waqf-e-Jadid foundation. The main task of the Waqf-e-Jadid was to educate the community members living in rural areas of Pakistan. It was as part of his work in Waqf-e-Jadid that he also started treating poor people with [[homeopathy]].

During the Pakistani parliamentary investigations regarding the status of the Ahmadiyya community, a delegation comprising of 5 members was sent to plead its case. Among the panel Mirza Tahir Ahmad was the youngest member. The Ahmadiyya Community was declared Non-Muslim by the Pakistani National Assembly. This has remained their constitutional and legal position in Pakistan to this day.

==Caliphate==
The Jamaat's electoral college elected Mirza Tahir Ahmed as the fourth successor to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and head of the community on [[June 10]], [[1982]].

After taking office, Mirza Tahir Ahmad worked to restore the Community with a new passion. The Anti-Ahmadiyya ordinance, passed by General [[Zia ul Haq]]'s government on [[26 April]] [[1984]], compelled him to leave [[Pakistan]] immediately, details of this journey can be found in the book ''A man of God'' by Ian Adamson. He decided to come to England where he established his base during his years of [[exile]].

Mirza Tahir Ahmad died from heart failure in 2003. He was buried at community property "Islamabad" in Tilford, Surrey. After his death, [[Mirza Masroor Ahmad]] was elected as the fifth Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

==Return to India==

In 1991 Mirza Tahir Ahmad returned to India to attend the hundredth Annual Gathering of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, India. This was the first time that a Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community had visited India since partition in 1947 and exile to London.


=== Muslim Television Ahmadiyya ===
=== Muslim Television Ahmadiyya ===
{{Main|Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International}}
One of the achievements of his life was the initiation of the [[Muslim Television Ahmadiyya]] (MTA). This satellite based channel was started in 1993 with a weekly one hour program, broadcasting the Friday sermon of the head of the community. The main purpose of the channel at that time was to establish direct contact with the main body of Ahmadies especially in Pakistan. In 1994, the station was established and also in 1996 the area of broadcasting with the start of round the clock broadcasting. It now includes full 24-hour services all over the world and consists of three channels. Important events of the community are televised in most major languages of the world. Mirza Tahir Ahmad had to give long hours of his already constrained time to start the transmissions.
As [[Khalifatul Masih]], Mirza Tahir Ahmad established the Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (commonly referred to as [[Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International|MTA]]). This satellite-based channel broadcast its first program (the Friday Sermon by Tahir Ahmad) on 7 January 1994 from London.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R7sndTccZM&list=PL4586A0A45B37CCE1&index=465&pp=gAQBiAQB | title=Friday Sermon 7 January 1994 | website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>


=== International Bai'at ===
=== International Bai'at ===
In 1993 Mirza Tahir Ahmad started an international initiation ceremony to be held every year at the annual gatherings of Ahmadis in which new converts join the community by pledging their allegiance to the Khalifa. The [[International Baiat|International Bai'at]] ceremony was broadcast live across the world. He often claimed that it was the historical fulfillment of the [[Pentecost]] that was destined to occur at the time of the [[Second Coming]].<ref>First International Baiat, Jalsa Salana 1 August 1993 {{YouTube|f2GFAjUUNfU|First International Baiat, Jalsa Salana 1 August 1993}}.</ref>
Another added feature to the community activities was the international initiation ceremony, which was started by Mirza Tahir Ahmad in 1993 during the [[Jalsa Salana]] of the community in Surrey along with a scheme of propagation. The [[International Baiat]] ceremony was broadcast live across the world and the new converts join the community by pledging their allegiance to the Khalifa. He equated it with the [[Pentecost]] and said that if anything, the original Pentecost must have been a vision prophesying the [[Bay'ah]]. He stated that there is no evidence of it being an historical occurrence but that 'Nobody can deny its factual occurrence in the Bay'ah where millions of people are initiated at the hand of one man simultaneously in every continent in diverse languages through the power of the [[Holy Ghost]]. <ref>Ahmad, Hazrat Mirza Tahir - Khalifatul Masih IV. Address on the occasion of the first International Bay'ah. 1 August 1993, Surrey - United Kingdom.</ref>. This international oath of allegiance takes place every year at the annual gatherings of Ahmadis - The Caliph of the community accepts the oath of allegiance.


==Homeopathy==
==Death==
Mirza Tahir Ahmad died in London on 19 April 2003 from heart failure.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/05/11/hadhrat-mirza-tahir-ahmad-74-spiritual-leader/ | title=Obituaries: Deaths Last Week | access-date=13 March 2011 | date=11 May 2003 | newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> The newly elected [[Caliph]] [[Mirza Masroor Ahmad]], as the [[Khalifatul Masih]] V, led the [[Salat al-Janazah|funeral prayer]] on 23 April 2003, attended by over 40,000 people from around the world.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.asianoutlook.com/articles/April/35.htm | title=Obituary of Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad | access-date=13 March 2011 | publisher=Asian Outlook | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030514203425/http://asianoutlook.com/articles/April/35.htm | archive-date=14 May 2003 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> His successor is his nephew, the son of one of his sisters.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gualtieri |first1=Antonio |last2=Gualtieri |first2=Roberto |date=2004 |title=Ahmadis: Community, Gender, and Politics in a Muslim Society |location=Montreal |publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press |page=157 }}</ref>
Mirza Tahir Ahmad was a world-renowned homeopath. He took interest in the books collected by his father Mirza Basheeruddin Mahmood Ahmad. After trying a couple of remedies for his own migraine and his wife's long-standing ailment, he was fascinated by the efficacy of homeopathic remedies. Before his Caliphate, he was already treating thousands of visitors at the annual conventions. After his election, his expertise was called upon by Ahmadis all over the globe through letters, as well as by leading doctors in London. He embarked upon a program of training others through classes televised on MTA International. These lectures were later compiled in a book (below).


==Writings, Speeches and Question-Answer-Sessions==
==Writings, speeches and Q&A sessions==


=== "Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth" ===
===''Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth'' ===
{{Main|Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth}}
Mirza Tahir Ahmad wrote among many others, a book named “[[Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth]]” which was a further development on a talk he gave in Zurich, Switzerland in 1987. The book is partially a response to [[Richard Dawkins]].
Ahmad wrote a book title ''Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth'', which was a further development on a talk he gave in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1987. It covered many topics relating to the present-day. In this book he argued a rebuttal to the theories of biologist [[Richard Dawkins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/part_5_section_13.html |title=The 'Blind Watchmaker' Who Is Also Deaf and Dumb |publisher=Alislam.org |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref> He argues that [[Socrates]] was a [[prophet]] of the ancient Greeks and that several other prominent figures from history were at the level of prophethood.


===Books===
===Quranic exegesis===
Tahir Ahmad delivered annual commentaries on the [[Quran]] during the month of [[Ramadan]]. He incorporated lengthy discussions of previous commentators as well as the founder of Ahmadiyya and the Ahmadiyya Caliphs that came before him. In addition, he discussed the lexicon of the Quran and refuted many Orientalist ideas about the historicity of the Quran, Islam and the life of the Prophet Muhammad. His commentaries differed significantly from those offered by many of the classical Quranic commentators, placing emphasis on the logical and rational approach to the Quran. For example, he did not believe it was essential to rely heavily on [[Asbab al-nuzul]] (Circumstances of the Revelation) in order to understand the implications of the Quranic verses, presenting strong arguments instead that the Quran offered its own context. He delivered seven discourses on Asbab al-nuzul.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rehanqayoom.com/quranic-exegesis1.html|title=Introduction to the Surahs of The Noble Quran: With Brief Explanatory Notes to Some Verses}}</ref>
* Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth – Examines the relationships between science, philosophy and religion. <ref>English [http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/index.html] | Arabic [http://www.alislam.org/altaqwa/arabic_books/revel/rev_index.htm]</ref>
* Sawaney Fazl - E - Omer - Official Biography of [[Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad]], the second Caliph of the [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]].<ref>http://www.alislam.org/urdu/sf/</ref>
* An Elementary Study of Islam <ref>http://www.alislam.org/books/study-of-islam/index.html (Book)</ref>
* Gulf Crisis and The New World Order <ref>(English [http://www.alislam.org/library/books/newworldorder/]| Arabic) [http://www.alislam.org/altaqwa/arabic_books/gulf/gulf_index.htm]</ref>
* Christianity - A Journey from Facts to Fiction <ref>http://www.alislam.org/library/books/christianity_facts_to_fiction/index.html</ref>
* Murder in the Name of Allah <ref>http://www.alislam.org/library/books/mna/index.html</ref>
* Zahaqal Baatil (<ref>Urdu [http://www.alislam.org/urdu/zb/]|Arabic [http://www.alislam.org/altaqwa/arabic_books/kirtas/kirt_index.html] |English [http://www.alislam.org/library/books/review-of-white-paper.html]) </ref>
* Reality of punishment of apostasy in Islam (Urdu) <ref>http://www.alislam.org/urdu/irtidad/</ref>
* Khatame-Nabbuwat (Urdu pdf) <ref>http://www.alislam.org/holyprophet/KhtmUrdu.pdf</ref>
* Homeopathy <ref>http://www.alislam.org/library/books/homoeopathy.pdf </ref>
* Some Distinctive Features of Islam <ref>http://www.alislam.org/books/distinct/index.html </ref>
* Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues <ref>(English [http://www.alislam.org/books/responce/IslamsResponseToContemporaryIssues.pdf] |Urdu [http://www.alislam.org/urdu/pdf/IslamAurAsreHazir.pdf])</ref>
* Kalam-e-Tahir (Poetry Book)


===Selected Books===
===Majlis-e-Irfan (Question-Answer-Session)===
* Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth – Examines the relationship between science, philosophy and religion<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/index.html |title=Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth |publisher=Al Islam |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref>
* Unity of God [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000028.html]
* Sawaney Fazl – E – Omer – Official Biography of [[Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad]], the second Caliph of the [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/urdu/sf/ |title=Swaneh Fazle Umar – Life History of Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmud Ahmad Khalifatul Masih II – Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Urdu Pages |publisher=Alislam.org |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref>
* Hazrat Imam Mahdi (as) [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/QA_mahdi.html]
* An Elementary Study of Islam<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/books/study-of-islam/index.html |title=An Elementary Study of Islam |publisher=Al Islam |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref>
* Future of Western Society (Majlis Irfan) [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000007.html]
* Gulf Crisis and The New World Order<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/library/books/newworldorder/ |title=Book: The Gulf Crisis & The New World Order |publisher=Al Islam |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref>
* Natural Disasters (Majlis Irfan) [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000018.html]
* Christianity – A Journey from Facts to Fiction – Examines and discusses a variety of current Christian beliefs through logic and reason<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/library/books/christianity_facts_to_fiction/index.html |title=Christianity: A Journey from Facts to Fiction |publisher=Al Islam |date=1928-12-18 |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref>
* Prophet's Guide Mankind to God (Majlis Irfan)
* Murder in the Name of Allah<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/library/books/mna/index.html |title=Murder in the Name of Allah |publisher=Al Islam |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref>
* Investment, Interest and Islam (Majlis Irfan)
* Zahaqal Baatil<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alisl.am/u4090|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004155321/http://www.alislam.org/urdu/zb/|url-status=dead|title=زھق الباطل (حضرت مرزا طاہر احمد، خلیفۃ المسیح الرابعؒ)|archivedate=4 October 2006|website=alisl.am}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alislam.org/altaqwa/arabic_books/kirtas/kirt_index.html |title=سلسلة الخطب ردا على منشور حكومي |publisher=Alislam.org |access-date=2012-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018170245/http://www.alislam.org/altaqwa/arabic_books/kirtas/kirt_index.html |archive-date=18 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/library/books/review-of-white-paper.html |title=A Review of the Pakistani Government's 'White Paper': Qadiyaniyyat – A Grave Threat to Islam |publisher=Alislam.org |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref>
* Gulf War: Quotations from Sermons [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000090.html]
* Reality of punishment of apostasy in Islam (Urdu)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkrwnSYVrdA&list=PLC5FE9BF9B69F6B3E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/HkrwnSYVrdA |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|title=Islam main irtidad ki saza ki haqeeqat – Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Urdu Pages |publisher=Alislam.org |access-date=2012-10-07}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* Natural Disaster or Divine Punishment [Part I [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000032.html]|Part II [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000037.html]|Part III [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000039.html]|Part IV [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000046.html]|Part V [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000049.html]
* Life After Death (Majlis Irfan) [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000146.html]
* Homeopathy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/library/books/homoeopathy.pdf |title=Homoeopathy – Like cures like |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref>
* Some Distinctive Features of Islam<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alislam.org/books/distinct/index.html |title=Some Distinctive Features Of Islam |publisher=Alislam.org |access-date=2012-10-07}}</ref>
* Faith and Reality (Majlis Irfan) [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000157.html]
* Introduction to the Surahs of ''The Noble Quran'': With Brief Explanatory Notes to Some Verses<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rehanqayoom.com/quranic-exegesis1.html |title=Introduction to the Surahs of ''The Noble Quran'': With Brief Explanatory Notes to Some Verses |publisher=rehanqayoom.com }}</ref>
* Lord Krishna and Jesus Christ (Majlis Irfan) [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000158.html]
* The Journey Within (Majlis Irfan) [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000190.html]
* Attainment of Inner Peace (Majlis Irfan) [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000193.html]
* Inspiration, Revelation, and Belief (Majlis Irfan) [http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000194.html]
* The Philosophy of Revival of Religion
* Universal and Moral Values, Politics and World Peace [http://www.alislam.org/library/books/universal/index.htm]
* Finality of Prophethood (English pdf) [http://www.alislam.org/holyprophet/Khatam_english.pdf]
* With Love to the Muslims of the World - The Ahmadiyya Perspective
* The Philosophy of Revival of Religion [http://www.alislam.org/books/revival/index.html]


==Family, Marriage and Children==
== See also ==
*[[Ahmadiyya]]
*[[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]]
*[[Khalifatul Masih]]


==References==
Mirza Tahir Ahmad was the Grandson of [[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]] and the son of [[Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad]], the second Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Community, from his wife Syeda Maryam Begum. His mother Syeda Maryam Begum was daughter of Syed Abdul Sattar Shah, a companion of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
{{Reflist|2}}


== External links ==
Mirza Tahir Ahmad married Asifa Begum in 1957. Asifa Begum died from cancer of the pancreas <ref>Ahmad, Mirza Tahir. Friday Sermon 3 April 1992.</ref> on [[April 3]], [[1992]]. His marriage bestowed him 5 daughters, one of whom died in infancy. His daughters are Shaukat Jehan, Faiza, Yasmin Rehman Mona, Atiatul Mujib Tooba and one daughter who died in infancy. He had no sons but later he took the upbringing and educational training of a boy, Bashir.
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Wikiquote-inline}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/TahirArchive The Tahir Archive].
*[http://rehanqayoompoet.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page_22.html Complete List of the Books of Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad – Khalifatul Masih IV ].
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFIG0jhc_5k&list=PL0D78DA4329855279 A Man of God – (Documentary on Life & Achievements)].
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100318023330/http://www.tahirfoundation.org/index.html The Tahir Foundation].


{{Ahmadiyya topics|state=collapsed}}
== References and external links ==
*[http://www.tahirfoundation.org/index.html Tahir Foundation Website]
*[http://www.alislam.org/library/tahir1.html Life Sketch of Mirza Tahir Ahmad at Official Homepage]
*[http://mta.tv Muslim Television Ahmadiyya's Website]
*[http://store.alislam.org/manofgod.html A Man of God]


{{Authority control}}
== See also ==
* [[Ahmadiyya]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmad, Mirza Tahir}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmad, Mirza Tahir}}
[[Category:Pakistani Ahmadis]]
[[Category:Pakistani homeopaths]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]]
[[Category:Ahmadiyya Caliphate|Tahir Ahmad]]
[[Category:Alumni of the School of Oriental and African Studies]]
[[Category:Family of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad|Tahir Ahmad]]
[[Category:Pakistani Ahmadis]]
[[Category:Alumni of SOAS University of London]]
[[Category:University of the Punjab alumni]]

[[de:Mirza Tahir Ahmad]]
[[Category:People from Rabwah]]
[[Category:Pakistani emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[nl:Mirza Tahir Ahmad]]
[[Category:20th-century caliphs]]
[[Category:21st-century caliphs]]
[[Category:20th-century Islamic religious leaders]]
[[Category:21st-century Islamic religious leaders]]

Latest revision as of 21:44, 23 October 2024

Mirza Tahir Ahmad
مرزا طاہر احمد
Mirza Tahir Ahmad in 2000
TitleCaliph of the Messiah
Amir al-Mu'minin
Personal life
Born(1928-12-18)18 December 1928
Qadian, Punjab, British India
Died19 April 2003(2003-04-19) (aged 74)
London, England
Resting placeMubarak Mosque, Tilford, England
SpouseAsifa Begum (m. 1957–1992)
ChildrenFour
Parents
Religious life
ReligionIslam
DenominationAhmadiyya
Consecration10 June 1982
Muslim leader
PostCaliph
PredecessorMirza Nasir Ahmad
SuccessorMirza Masroor Ahmad
Part of a series on
Ahmadiyya
Beliefs and practices
Distinct views
Days of remembrance
Foundational texts and sciences
Key literature
Organizational structure
Key sites
Hijaz
United Kingdom
Qadian
Rabwah
Miscellaneous

Mirza Tahir Ahmad (مرزا طاہر احمد; 18 December 1928 – 19 April 2003) was the fourth caliph (Arabic: خليفة المسيح الرابع, khalīfatul masīh al-rābi) and the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He was elected as the fourth successor of the founder of the community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. He was elected on 10 June 1982, the day after the death of his predecessor, Mirza Nasir Ahmad.

Following the Ordinance XX that was promulgated by the government of Pakistan in 1984, which prohibited Ahmadi Muslims from any public expression of the Islamic faith, Tahir Ahmad left Pakistan and migrated to London, England, provisionally moving the headquarters of the community to the Fazl Mosque in London.[1] He is noted particularly for his question and answer sessions which he held regularly with people from around the world and for his Quranic discourses. Under his leadership, there was an acceleration in the number of Quran translations produced by the Community; and during his caliphate, the Community experienced structural and financial growth on an international level, including the launch of the first Muslim satellite television network, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya in 1994 through which he could communicate televised messages to the Community globally and have his sermons and other public engagements transmitted throughout the world through this medium.[2]

Tahir Ahmad also authored many books including, Some Distinctive Features of Islam; Christianity: A Journey from Facts to Fiction; Murder in the Name of Allah, and his magnum opus[3] Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth.

Election as Caliph

The Majlis Intikhab Khilafat (Electoral College), convened at Mubarik Mosque in Rabwah, Pakistan,[4] elected Mirza Tahir Ahmad as the fourth successor to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and head of the community on 10 June 1982.[5]

Muslim Television Ahmadiyya

Main article: Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International

As Khalifatul Masih, Mirza Tahir Ahmad established the Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (commonly referred to as MTA). This satellite-based channel broadcast its first program (the Friday Sermon by Tahir Ahmad) on 7 January 1994 from London.[6]

International Bai'at

In 1993 Mirza Tahir Ahmad started an international initiation ceremony to be held every year at the annual gatherings of Ahmadis in which new converts join the community by pledging their allegiance to the Khalifa. The International Bai'at ceremony was broadcast live across the world. He often claimed that it was the historical fulfillment of the Pentecost that was destined to occur at the time of the Second Coming.[7]

Death

Mirza Tahir Ahmad died in London on 19 April 2003 from heart failure.[8] The newly elected Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad, as the Khalifatul Masih V, led the funeral prayer on 23 April 2003, attended by over 40,000 people from around the world.[9] His successor is his nephew, the son of one of his sisters.[10]

Writings, speeches and Q&A sessions

Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth

Main article: Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth

Ahmad wrote a book title Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth, which was a further development on a talk he gave in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1987. It covered many topics relating to the present-day. In this book he argued a rebuttal to the theories of biologist Richard Dawkins.[11] He argues that Socrates was a prophet of the ancient Greeks and that several other prominent figures from history were at the level of prophethood.

Quranic exegesis

Tahir Ahmad delivered annual commentaries on the Quran during the month of Ramadan. He incorporated lengthy discussions of previous commentators as well as the founder of Ahmadiyya and the Ahmadiyya Caliphs that came before him. In addition, he discussed the lexicon of the Quran and refuted many Orientalist ideas about the historicity of the Quran, Islam and the life of the Prophet Muhammad. His commentaries differed significantly from those offered by many of the classical Quranic commentators, placing emphasis on the logical and rational approach to the Quran. For example, he did not believe it was essential to rely heavily on Asbab al-nuzul (Circumstances of the Revelation) in order to understand the implications of the Quranic verses, presenting strong arguments instead that the Quran offered its own context. He delivered seven discourses on Asbab al-nuzul.[12]

Selected Books

  • Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth – Examines the relationship between science, philosophy and religion[13]
  • Sawaney Fazl – E – Omer – Official Biography of Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, the second Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community[14]
  • An Elementary Study of Islam[15]
  • Gulf Crisis and The New World Order[16]
  • Christianity – A Journey from Facts to Fiction – Examines and discusses a variety of current Christian beliefs through logic and reason[17]
  • Murder in the Name of Allah[18]
  • Zahaqal Baatil[19][20][21]
  • Reality of punishment of apostasy in Islam (Urdu)[22]
  • Homeopathy[23]
  • Some Distinctive Features of Islam[24]
  • Introduction to the Surahs of The Noble Quran: With Brief Explanatory Notes to Some Verses[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Khilafat".
  2. ^ Moon, Farzana (12 January 2015). No Islam but Islam. Cambridge Scholars. p. 163. ISBN 9781443874045. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  3. ^ Buckley, David. Where the Waters Meet: Convergence and Complementarity in Therapy and Theology. Karnac Books. p. 75.
  4. ^ The Life of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ra).
  5. ^ "Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad". Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Friday Sermon 7 January 1994". YouTube.
  7. ^ First International Baiat, Jalsa Salana 1 August 1993 First International Baiat, Jalsa Salana 1 August 1993 on YouTube.
  8. ^ "Obituaries: Deaths Last Week". Chicago Tribune. 11 May 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  9. ^ "Obituary of Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad". Asian Outlook. Archived from the original on 14 May 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  10. ^ Gualtieri, Antonio; Gualtieri, Roberto (2004). Ahmadis: Community, Gender, and Politics in a Muslim Society. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 157.
  11. ^ "The 'Blind Watchmaker' Who Is Also Deaf and Dumb". Alislam.org. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Introduction to the Surahs of The Noble Quran: With Brief Explanatory Notes to Some Verses".
  13. ^ "Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth". Al Islam. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Swaneh Fazle Umar – Life History of Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmud Ahmad Khalifatul Masih II – Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Urdu Pages". Alislam.org. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  15. ^ "An Elementary Study of Islam". Al Islam. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  16. ^ "Book: The Gulf Crisis & The New World Order". Al Islam. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  17. ^ "Christianity: A Journey from Facts to Fiction". Al Islam. 18 December 1928. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  18. ^ "Murder in the Name of Allah". Al Islam. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  19. ^ "زھق الباطل (حضرت مرزا طاہر احمد، خلیفۃ المسیح الرابعؒ)". alisl.am. Archived from the original on 4 October 2006.
  20. ^ "سلسلة الخطب ردا على منشور حكومي". Alislam.org. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  21. ^ "A Review of the Pakistani Government's 'White Paper': Qadiyaniyyat – A Grave Threat to Islam". Alislam.org. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  22. ^ "Islam main irtidad ki saza ki haqeeqat – Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Urdu Pages". Alislam.org. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  23. ^ "Homoeopathy – Like cures like" (PDF). Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  24. ^ "Some Distinctive Features Of Islam". Alislam.org. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  25. ^ "Introduction to the Surahs of The Noble Quran: With Brief Explanatory Notes to Some Verses". rehanqayoom.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Mirza_Tahir_Ahmad&oldid=1252997946"