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Ahmadi Muslims are members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association (not to be confused with the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam), an Islamic sect created in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the Messiah and Mahdi prophesied in the Qur'an, the Hadith, Bible, and all the books of other major and minor religions. The movement has met with great resistance as it differs from the common belief amongst most Muslims that Muhammad was the 'seal' of prophets of God. Ahmadis counter that Muhammad, whom Muslims believe to be the greatest of all Prophets, was the last law-bearing prophet and that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad did not create a new religion, but revived and rejuvenated the teachings of Islam. In the same way that Jesus (subserviant prophet) was the successor of Moses (the law giver). Ahmadis teach that:
Figures for the total numbers of adherents vary greatly between different sources. Figures range from around 10 million (In 1980), to over 200 million (In 2003) members, in over 176 countries and represent 1 in 10 Muslims.
The supreme head currently is Mirza Masroor Ahmad , given the title Khalifatul MasihThe Ahmadiyya Khilafat is the second manifestation and Allah has assured Ahmadi Muslims that this Khilafat will endure to the end of time. Khilafat provides unity, security and progress for the Jama’at-i-Ahmadiyya. No other sect in Islam has such a strong Khamis (Khamis = fifth).
The Head Quarters was originally in Qadian in Punjab, India; then in 1947 it was moved to Rabwah, Punjab, Pakistan. Initially it was secure in Pakistan but, in the time of President Zulfikar Ali BhuttoZulfikar Ali Bhutto ( January 5, 1928 April 4, 1979) was a Pakistani politician who served as President, from 1971 to 1973, and as Prime Minister, from 1973 to 1977, of Pakistan. He has the rare distinction of being a civilian Chief Martial Law Administra, a law was passed stating that Ahmadis were a non-Muslim sect, and this was followed by persecution. During the dictatorship of General Muhammad Zia ul-Haq, the situation deteriorated, and following the general's death, the operation of the Community was so bad that it moved to its present location in south London.
On January 9, 2004, Bangladesh banned books published by Ahmadis. According to the consensus of objecting Islamic scholars, Ahmadis are considered ' kafirs' because they seem to contradict some of the basic Islamic tenets of faith.