Did Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS) declare Jihad Haram?

Introduction

Anti-Ahmadis cherry-pick Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s (AS) passages and claim that he abrogated the commandment of Jihad when it is allowed in Islamic Shariah. Due to this, they claim that the Promised Messiah (AS) brought a new Shariah that contradicts Islam. This is a lie and the Promised Messiah (AS) has himself refuted this allegation 100+ years ago.

Refutation

1) “Sunnis” believe Isa AS will abrogate the Shariah

It is ironic that the “Sunnis” bring this allegation because as per them, Isa AS will not only abrogate Jiziyah but also abrogate many verses in the Quran like “There is no compulsion in religion“¹Quran 2:256.

Promised Messiah (AS) mentions this in his books as well.

So what right will Jesus the Messiah and the Mahdi have to come and begin murdering people? Will they not even accept Jizyah from the People of the Book? As a result they will abrogate the verse:

حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا۟ ٱلْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍۢ وَهُمْ صَـٰغِرُونَ*

What sort of defenders of Islam will they be if upon their arrival they begin to abrogate verses of the Quran which were valid in the lifetime of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him? And yet would such a revolution cast no blemish on Khatm-e-Nubuwwat [Seal of Prophethood]?

* Until they pay the tax with their own hand submissively and acknowledge their subjection (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:29)

[Noah’s Ark Page, pg. 119]

Ahmad AS clearly explains the example of the flawed beliefs of “Sunnis”. How can it be that Hazrat Isa AS, a Prophet of Allah, can abrogate the Qur’an? Another few examples of these extremist views are valid according to “Sunnis”:

“The correct view concerning this is that he will not accept anything from the kaafirs disbelievers but Islam. If any of them offer the jizyah that will not make him stop fighting them. He will not accept anything but Islam or death.”

[Sharh Sahih Muslim, v2, p. 190]

“Eesa ibn Maryam will descend …and refuse to accept their Jizyah. But whosoever accepts Islam from them, it will be accepted from him; otherwise, he will be killed. The same ruling applies to ALL the disbelievers of that time.”

[Book of the End, p151]

2) “Sunnis” believe Jihad against Britain is Haram

Anti-Ahmadis must admit that their revered scholars, such as Muhammad Hussain Batalvi, Nazir Hussain Delvhi & Syed Ahmad Barelvi went against the Sharia since they declared it impermissible to wage Jihad against the British:

“In no way is it obligatory to fight jihad against them. Firstly, we are their subjects. Secondly, they do not interfere with our religious duties. We have every kind of freedom under their rule”

[Hayat-e-Tayyiba (Shah Ismail), pg 462]

Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan – “People who are ignorant of their religious teachings wish to efface the British government to end the current peace and tranquility by disorder under the name of jihad. This is sheer stupidity and foolishness.”

[Tarjuman-e-Wahhabiyyat, pg 10]

3) Ahmad AS Rejects Abrogating Shariah

“We believe that whosoever subtracts the smallest particle from the law of Islam, or adds to it, or lays the foundation of neglecting obligations and indifference towards them, is without faith and is turned away from Islam.”

[Ruhani Khazain Volume 14 Pg 323]

It is clear that abrogating the Shariah even if in the “smallest particle” would turn someone away from Islam. It is completely impossible to say that Ahmad AS could contradict such clear words he himself expressed.

4) Hadith: Messiah abolishes War

Ignorant Non-Ahmadis allude that Ahmad AS abolished Jihad (of any sorts) entirely. The Promised Messiah AS disallowed waging religious warfare based on the narration of the Prophet ﷺ that the Messiah will abolish war.

يَنْزِلَ فِيكُمُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ…ويَضَع الحربَ

“…son of Mary will soon descend amongst you.. and abolish war“

[Sahih al-Bukhari, 3448]

“It has been clearly mentioned in the ahadith of the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that the Messiah would end religious wars when he returns to the world […] Each person who takes the bai‘at [pledge of allegiance] at my hand and believes in me as the Promised Messiah must accept that jihad is totally forbidden in this age because the Messiah has come.”

[The British Governement and Jihad Pg 35]

But this raises the question that since the Messiah will abolish war, how can Dajjal be killed in a war? Prophet Muhammad ﷺ tells us that if The Dajjal was to appear in front of him, he would not fight with the sword but defeat him in debate/arguments. If Dajjal comes after he has died, every Muslim must do the same. This includes the Messiah.

If he comes forth while I am among you, I shall contend with him on your behalf, but if he comes forth while I am not amongst you, a man must contend on his own behalf and Allah would take care of every Muslim on my behalf (and safeguard him against his evil).

[Sahih Muslim, Ibn Majah and Sunan Abi Dawud]

To “contend” means to argue/debate. It is clear that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ tells us that Dajjal will not be defeated by sword/force. How could Ahmad AS contradict the prophecy?

5) Jihad Is Haram as the Conditions are not Applicable

We have already explained from the writings of the Promised Messiah (AS) that he did not declare Jihad Haram. Now we quote his writings to prove that he also explained the reasoning behind why Jihad is not applicable against the British government. This is because the conditions for Jihad to be legitimate did not apply at that time.

Muslims criticize me and allege that the one fault in my mission is that I have abrogated Jihad. Alas, these ignoramuses are simply unaware of the true significance of Jihad. […] Indeed, the hallmark of the arrival of the Promised Messiah was

‘Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged.’ [22:40] . The proof of the authenticity of the Promised Messiah is that he would not wage religious wars. The reason is because today the opponents too have stopped waging religious wars.

[Lecture Ludhiana pg. 33/36]

It has become clear that the true meaning of the descending Messiah is a person granted the traits of the Messiah, and it is he who speaks to you, O people of intellect and true understanding. Know that the time for Jihad of the sword has passed, and nothing remains except the Jihad of the pen and prayer and great signs. Those who believe that Jihad of the sword will be mandatory at the appearance of the Imam are in error. May Allah safeguard us against their errors!

[The True Nature of The Mahdi pg. 50]

6) However if the Conditions Change…

Ahmad AS engaged in Jihad in accordance with the situation of the time. He stated that only Jihad of the pen is required in this period unless the conditions change and it becomes necessary to wield the sword again. It must be remembered that the Promised Messiah (AS), did not forbid Jihad. He explained that Jihad must be carried out at ALL times. He states:

The Jihad of this age is to strive in upholding the word of Islam, to refute the objections of the opponents, to propagate the excellences of the Islamic faith, and to proclaim the truth of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, throughout the world. This is Jihad till God Almighty brings about other conditions in the world.

[Al-Badr 14th August 1903]]

As to the means and arrangements to be used, whether for physical warfare or spiritual warfare, whether the battle is by sword or by the pen, the following verse is sufficient for our guidance: ‘Make ready for them whatever force you can.’ In this verse God empowers us to employ against the enemy all suitable means and to use the method which we consider to be most effective

[Majmu’a Ishtiharat, vol. 1, p. 360]

“Ahmadis will never shy away from Jihad. Today in Bosnia, Jihad with the sword is allowed”

[Khutbat-e-Tahir, vol. 11, pg. 705]

7) Sunnis agree that it’s time for Jihad of the Pen

Even the “Sunnis” of the time believed that the conditions for the Jihad of the sword did not apply at the time of the British Government in India. It is ironic that the ignorant “Sunnis” make allegations against us.

Muhammad Hussain Battalvi, the leader of the Ahl-e-Hadith (Salafi) movement in India also stated the same:

“Brethren! the age of the sword is no more. Now instead of the sword, it is necessary to wield the pen…”

[Isha’at-as-Sunnah, vol. 6, December 1883, pg. 364]

8) Sunnis agree that the conditions for Jihad of Sword didn’t exist

Moreover, “Sunni” scholars of the time also agreed that the conditions for the Jihad against the British did not exist at the time of the British government. This also exposes the ignorance of the so-called “Sunnis” who make this allegation.

“No wise, experienced, and discerning man can for a moment believe that the learned will justify jihád against the British Government, in the present state of India.”

[Tarjaman-e-Wahhabiyyat, Eng. Trans. pg. 86]

Conclusion

• It is now clear that Hazrat Ahmad AS did not abrogate Jihad, but disallowed religious warfare based on the Prophecy made by Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
• He refuted this allegation 100+ years ago, clearly emphasizing that the conditions for Jihad did not apply therefore it did not happen. Instead, as prophesied by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Ahmad (AS) did Jihad of the pen.
• Indian Salafis also agree that Jihad of the sword is not applicable and that Jihad of the pen must occur. “Sunnis” however believe Isa AS will abrogate multiple commandments of the Sharia including verses of the Quran such as “There is no compulsion in religion”.