The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, a prominent Muslim organization in India, expressed its support for the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board’s decision to consider the Qadianis, or Ahamadiyya Muslims, as non-Muslims. The Jamiat stated that the AP Waqf Board’s stance represents the unified position of Muslims and opposes the recent intervention by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs on behalf of the Ahamadiyyas.
On July 21st, the ministry sent a strongly worded letter to the Andhra Pradesh government, denouncing the Waqf Board’s resolution as a hate campaign with potential nationwide implications.
The Ministry’s letter to Chief Secretary Andhra Pradesh K S Jawahar Reddy, dated 20.7.2023, addressed the opposition of certain Waqf Boards to the Ahmadiyya community, stating that the Waqf Board lacks the jurisdiction and authority to determine the religious identity of any community, including the Ahmadiyyas.
In 2012, the Andhra Pradesh State Waqf Board passed a resolution declaring the entire Ahmadiyya community as non-Muslims, which was challenged in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Despite the court’s orders, the Waqf Board issued a second proclamation in February of the current year, declaring the “Quadiani community” as “kafir” and not Muslim.
The Ahmadiyyas, a persecuted sub-sect of Sunni Muslims, are often derogatorily referred to as Quadianis, particularly in Pakistan where they have been declared non-Muslims.
The Jamiat emphasized that the Union Minister’s differing view on the matter is unwarranted and illogical, as the primary purpose of the Waqf Board is to safeguard the endowments and interests of Muslims. They stated that the properties and places of worship belonging to a community not recognized as Muslim do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Waqf Board. Furthermore, the Jamiat highlighted the fundamental beliefs of Islam, affirming that the beliefs of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani challenge the concept of the finality of Prophethood, making the Qadianism group non-Muslim according to all Islamic schools of thought.
