Khalifatul Masih
Caliphate of al - Masih ( Urdu خلیفۃ المسیح, caliph of the Messiah ') is the title of the selected lifetime spiritual leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ( AMJ ). The members of this faith community understand this Kalifentum than one guided by God and follow Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
The Caliphate
In the opinion of the AMJ God has promised in the Qur'an Al -Nur in the Qur'an, to awaken the Kalifentum among men ( new). This is said to have met with the choice Nuur ud- Din's successor Mirza Ghulam Ahmad on 27 May 1908 in Qadian. A wave of persecution in Pakistan Mirza Tahir Ahmad moved in 1984 to relocate the seat of the Caliphate of Rabwah to London.
Although asserts the AMJ that the office of the Caliph was not inheritable, but belonged to the first caliphs far all caliph Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's family. Since 22 April 2003, Mirza Masrur Ahmad, a great grandson of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, al - Masih V. caliphate as the spiritual leader of the AMJ.
Background
The members of the community believe that according to a saying of the Prophet Muhammad, the Ahmadiyya Khilafat is a continuation of the " rightly guided caliphs ".
As justification for the Kalifentum the fear is among the supporters called that after the demise of Ghulam Ahmad might also his belief strength and his teachings disappear. Accordingly, the Khilafat ul- Massih has to continue the mission of the late founder. It follows that he had to perform the same tasks as also formerly the prophets.
Tasks
The duties of a caliph conduct Ahmadi Muslims from from Surat al - Jum ʿ a ( v. 3). The Caliph is to consolidate the religion of Islam through the formation of spiritual unity and transform the fear that is to be created after the death of the founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, in peace.
The Khilafat ul- Massih has the supreme authority over all religious and organizational affairs of the community. Your self-understanding, it is not necessary that the caliph is a head of state, but rather the spiritual and religious significance is highlighted.
Election procedures
The caliphate of al - Masih is elected by an electoral committee for life. An incumbent Caliph can not inherit his title nor otherwise take effect on the election of his successor. The rules for the formation of the election committees have been established in writing by the caliphate of al - Masih II for the first time. When the AMJ spread outside India and Pakistan, Khilafat al - Masih IV took to make changes. The " Khilafat Committee " ( Electoral College ) belong to 600 to 700 members, including emirs are ( Presidents of the National Sections ), missionaries, and chairman of the " Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya ". The election will take place one to three days after the death of a caliph, the choice of the new caliph must be done before the funeral of the late chief. Elected 'll be the one, to the Panel on " pious and devout " hold. The selected candidate must accept the choice and confirm this, run the office with the best of intentions. The Ahmadi Muslims then put the vows of fidelity ( bai'at ) from the new caliph.
100 -year anniversary
The 100 -year anniversary of the Caliphate was accompanied in 2008 by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community around the world with ceremonies and information sessions.