Ahmadiyya (Australia)
Template:Infobox religious group
The Ahmadiyya sect in Australia is an Islamic sect that was first officially established in the country during the 1980s. Today, across four of Australia's six states, there are at least four mosques where approximately 6,000 Muslims belonging to the Ahmadiyya sect perform their acts of worship[1].
History
The First Ahmadi Muslims in Australia
Officially, the arrival of Ahmadi Muslims in Australia dates back to the early twentieth century. The initial arrival of members of the Ahmadiyya sect in Australia coincides with the period of British colonial engagement in Australia, particularly through connections with British India and interactions with Afghan and Pakistani camel drivers present in Australia from the early to late nineteenth century. Between the 1860s and 1890s, a number of individuals from Central and South Asia arrived in Australia to serve as camel drivers, assisting the government in exploring the arid, waterless deserts of Australia and transporting goods.
Influential Figures in the Sect
Among the notable figures in this regard was Hassan Musa Khan, a Pashtun merchant who arrived in Australia in 1894. Upon settling in Perth, he quickly gained prominence and became a spokesperson for Afghans residing in Western Australia, and at times, for all Afghans in Australia. Khan maintained close ties with prominent and educated Muslims abroad. At a meeting held in England in 1895, organized by the Liverpool Muslim Institute, Khan was selected as one of several honorary overseas vice-presidents of the institute, representing the Afghans of Australia. In 1903, through his two brothers in India, who by then were followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Khan became acquainted with the claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. In September of that year, while still in Australia, Khan wrote to Ahmad requesting acceptance into the Ahmadiyya faith.
Although Hassan Musa Khan was a Muslim and a member of the Ahmadiyya sect, he played a significant role in the history of Muslims in Australia. In 1904, on behalf of the local Muslim community, he raised funds to construct one of Australia's earliest mosques on William Street in Perth, known today as the Perth Mosque. Musa Khan played a pivotal role in promoting and building the mosque, encouraging Muslims throughout Australia and abroad to contribute financially to the project. In 1912, at the request of the Caliph, he returned to India. He devoted much of his life to preaching and disseminating Islam, particularly the Ahmadiyya sect, producing monthly manuscripts containing articles from Ahmadiyya magazines and publications abroad. Furthermore, until 1923, he claimed to have established contacts with 156 different newspapers. During the 1920s and 1930s, Ahmadi literature found a considerable audience among Muslims in Australia. However, in subsequent years, due to increasing opposition from Muslims of other sects toward the Ahmadiyya movement, both within Australia and internationally, the number of followers of this movement continued to decline. Hassan Musa Khan passed away in 1945 after nearly thirty years of service to the Ahmadiyya sect as an "Honorary Missionary" of the Ahmadiyya movement and was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth.
In another instance, Charles Francis Siewright, born in 1862 in Melbourne, was an Australian Catholic who became acquainted with Islam in 1896. A few years later, he came into contact with the Ahmadiyya movement. In late 1903, while serving as a representative of the British Empire in Australia, he visited India to attend the annual session of the Indian National Congress. However, his visit had another objective: to further educate himself about Islam and the Islamic faith. On October 22, 1903, Siewright arrived in Qadian to meet the founder of the Ahmadiyya sect. Describing his meeting as "miraculous," he remained there for several days. Nevertheless, in 1906, shortly after relocating from Australia to New Zealand, following thorough research and investigation, he concluded that he wished to join the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and formally declared his intention.
"I have become a member of the Ahmadiyya Association of Qadian, thereby associating myself with the most advanced sections of Muslim students from all major religious denominations of the world, as well as with a highly active Ahmadi missionary society dedicated to spreading Islamic knowledge." He adopted the name Muhammad Abdul Haq as his Muslim name. Shortly after his conversion, he moved to the United States and, upon the establishment of the Ahmadiyya sect in Australia, maintained close ties with the community.
Establishment
Although the history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community dates back to the early 20th century, the Ahmadiyya movement in Australia was established in the 1980s. On 15 August 1979, Australian Ahmadis obtained permission from the international headquarters, and subsequently from Pakistan, to officially register the movement in Australia. Finally, in 1987, the association was formally registered in Australia.
Beliefs
The beliefs of the Ahmadiyya in Australia are founded upon five fundamental principles: Tawhid (Oneness of God), Salat (Prayer), Sawm (Fasting), Zakat (Almsgiving), and Hajj (Pilgrimage). Followers of this sect do not adhere to several core beliefs held by the overwhelming majority of the world's Muslims (both Sunni and Shia).
Travels of the Caliphs
The first Caliph to visit Australia was Mirza Tahir Ahmad, who officially entered the country via Fiji on 25 September 1983. Five days later, on 30 September, the Caliph laid the foundation stone of the first Ahmadi mosque in Australia. He visited the country a second time in 1989 to celebrate the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. The fifth and current Caliph, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has visited Australia on several occasions. His first visit as Caliph took place in 2006 to attend the community's annual national convention. On 18 October 2013, the Caliph delivered a keynote address at the inauguration of the "Centenary of Khilafat Hall," attended by over 300 guests, including state and federal politicians, academics, religious leaders, and members of the Australian Ahmadiyya Community.
Demographics
Approximately 6,000 Ahmadi Muslims live in Australia, the majority of whom are of Pakistani immigrant origin. However, Ahmadi Muslims from India, Bangladesh, Ghana, and Sierra Leone also reside in the country. In terms of population density across Australian cities, Sydney has the largest concentration with over 1,000 Ahmadi Muslims, followed by Adelaide with approximately 550.
Mosques associated with the Ahmadiyya sect in Australia
In four out of Australia's six states, there are at least four mosques serving Ahmadi Muslims. Baitul Huda Mosque was inaugurated in 1989 in Marsden Park, Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, and was the first of the four Ahmadiyya mosques established in the country. Baitul Masroor Mosque was opened in 2013 in Logan, Queensland, south of Brisbane. Baitus Salam Mosque is located in Melbourne, Victoria, and Mahmood Mosque is situated in Adelaide, South Australia. Meanwhile, there are no Ahmadi mosques in Western Australia or Tasmania. Similarly, no Ahmadi mosques exist in Australia's federal or external territories, although plans are underway to construct another mosque associated with the sect in Canberra, the capital of Australia. In 2013, a complex named the "Centenary of Khilafat Hall" was inaugurated adjacent to Baitul Huda Mosque in Sydney.
Views on the Ahmadiyya Community
The five fundamental principles of the Ahmadiyya Community are: Tawhid (Oneness of God), Salat (Prayer), Sawm (Fasting), Zakat (Almsgiving), and Hajj (Pilgrimage). Since followers of this sect do not believe in several core tenets held by the vast majority of the world's Muslims (both Sunni and Shia), they are regarded as "apostates" and "misguided" by both Sunni and Shia Islam. (For instance, followers of the Ahmadiyya sect do not consider Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) to be the final prophet of Islam and introduce Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as the "Promised Messiah" and "Reformer of Humanity"). In many countries, adherents of this sect are not permitted to carry out religious activities or hold gatherings. Saudi Arabia does not issue Hajj visas to followers of the Ahmadiyya Community, and they are barred from entering Islamic holy sites within Saudi Arabia.
Opinions
Leaders of the Ahmadiyya Community have repeatedly declared their loyalty to Australia. The national spokesperson of the community in Australia stated: "We are loyal to Australia, and we want our children to be loyal to Australia." The Foreign Secretary of the sect stated that there are no individuals suspected of terrorism or extremism within the Australian Ahmadiyya Community, nor have any such individuals arrived from other Ahmadiyya branches worldwide. Furthermore, the Australian Ahmadiyya Community supports the Australian government's efforts against jihadist radicalization and condemns doctrines claiming that seventy-two virgins await Muslim terrorists.
See also
Notes