Not to be confused with Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light
Founder
Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq
Scriptures
The Goal of the Wise (2022)
The Mahdi's Manifesto (2024)
Website
theahmadireligion.org

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL; Arabic: دين السلام والنور الأحمدي), also known as the Ahmadi Religion, is a new religious movement derived from Twelver Shia Islam and founded in 2015.[1] The leader of the religion is Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (Arabic: عبدالله هاشم أبا الصادق), an Egyptian-American who claims to be the Qa'im (i.e. the Mahdi) and to have been appointed by name in the will of the Prophet Muhammad.[2]

It is unrelated to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, a Islamic messianic movement derived from Sunni Islam originating in British India in the late 19th century.

History

Abdullah Hashem was a follower of Ahmed al-Hasan,[3] who claimed to be the prophesied "Yamani"[2] and the first of 12 Mahdis who was appointed in the will of the Prophet Mohammed.[4]

In 2015, Abdullah Hashem announced that he was the Qa'im Al Muhammad ("Second Mahdi") succeeding Ahmed al-Hasan. He then founded the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.[4]

In the United States, AROPL is registered as an organization in Reno, Nevada. It is also registered as a charity in the United Kingdom, where it is headquartered at Webb House in Crewe.[5][6][7]

Beliefs and doctrines

AROPL preaches tolerance and contains features of religious syncretism. Some beliefs and doctrines of Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light are:[8]

  • There are seven covenants, including six historical covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, and the current covenant with Ahmed al-Hasan.
  • Belief in the transmigration of the soul or reincarnation.
  • Ramadan is considered to be identical to December, since the Hijri months are considered identical to the solar Gregorian months.
  • The actual Ka'aba is in Petra, Jordan, rather than in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
  • Friday prayer is not obligatory.
  • Alcohol is allowed if consumed in moderation.
  • Religious head coverings (such as hijabs) are not mandatory.

LGBTQ people are tolerated, and are allowed to join the religion.[9]

Several media sources have reported that the movement also embraces conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and extraterrestrials.[10][11][12] According to the The Telegraph, Hashem has also declared himself the "true and legitimate pope".[13]

Regional leaders

Regional leaders of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light are known as "bishops". They include Kashfullah Amaluddin Ahl Al-Mahdi, Bishop of Malaysia and Indonesia.[14]

Persecution in Islamic countries

Accordng to Human Rights Without Frontiers and the Coordination des associations et des particuliers pour la liberté de conscience, AROPL members have been persecuted in numerous Islamic countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Morocco, and Turkey.[15]

On 24 May 2023, 104 AROPL members seeking asylum at the Turkish border crossing point Kapıkule on the Bulgaria–Turkey border[16][17] were detained and violently harassed by Turkish authorities.[18]

In July 2023, eight AROPL members in Malaysia were arrested by police at an LGBTQ gathering.[19]

AROPL in the United Kingdom

AROPL moved headquarters from Sweden to the United Kingdom in 2021, following an investigation by the Swedish authorities regarding visas.[20]

In March 2026, The Guardian reported that the British Home Office was investigating AROPL Studios, a company linked to AROPL which produced social media and YouTube videos about AROPL, over its use of skilled worker immigration visas. Previously the Swedish migration court had issued 69 deportation orders for AROPL members associated with three AROPL-linked companies. AROPL's lawyers said any suggestion that visas were used improperly was false.[21][22]

On 29 April 2026, 500 UK police officers were involved in raids at three addresses in Crewe, arresting nine people on charges of modern slavery, forced marriage, and sexual offences in 2023, following reports provided by a person in Ireland who was a former member of AROPL. The police operation was stated to be "the outcome of a detailed and robust investigation", and was arresting members and not investigating the religion itself.[7][23][22]

Official scriptures

  • Hashem, Abdullah (2022). The Goal of the Wise: The Gospel of the Riser of the family of Mohammed Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. ISBN 978-1-7392629-0-7.
  • Hashem, Abdullah (2024). The Mahdi's Manifesto. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.

See also

  • Mahdism

References

  1. ^ Introvigne, Massimo; Kotkowska, Karolina Maria (2024-05-10). "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light: An Introduction". The Journal of CESNUR. 8 (3): 33–51. doi:10.26338/tjoc.2024.8.3.2. ISSN 2532-2990.
  2. ^ a b Introvigne, Massimo; Kotkowska, Karolina Maria; Šorytė, Rosita (2024-06-23). "Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light". WRSP – World Religions and Spirituality Project. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  3. ^ Introvigne, Massimo (4 April 2024). "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. 1. A Drama and Its Characters". Bitter Winter. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Introvigne, Massimo (2024-04-05). "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. 2. From Ahmed al-Hassan to Abdullah Hashem". Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  5. ^ "Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light". GOV.UK. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  6. ^ "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  7. ^ a b Price, Richard; Watterson, Kaleigh; Steers, Chris; Maqbool, Aleem (29 April 2026). "Nine held in religious group modern slavery raid". BBC News.
  8. ^ Introvigne, Massimo (2024-04-08). "The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. 4. The Divine Just State". Bitter Winter. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  9. ^ Billson, Chantelle (2023-08-04). "Malaysian official brands gay people 'perverted' after eight protestors detained". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  10. ^ Place, Tom (2026-04-29). "Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light explained as police arrest followers". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  11. ^ "U.K. police arrest 9 in raids on religious sect over alleged modern slavery, forced marriage, sex offenses - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2026-04-29. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  12. ^ McClenaghan, Maeve; Pegg, David (2025-07-01). "'Dad, imam, God': children living with self-declared pope in former UK orphanage". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  13. ^ Silverman, Rosa (4 July 2025). "This man claims to be the 'saviour of mankind'. And he lives in Crewe". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  14. ^ Bernama. "Pahang monitoring 'Ahmadi Religion Peace and Light' deviant teachings". thesun.my. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  15. ^ "Denial of Asylum, Violence, and Deportation amid Rising Religious Persecution" (PDF). digitallibrary.un.org.
  16. ^ "Türkiye must not deport members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light seeking asylum: UN experts". OHCHR. 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  17. ^ "Members of religious minority seeking asylum pushed back at Turkish-Bulgarian border". The Sofia Globe. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  18. ^ Fautre, Willy (2023-06-05). "Turkey, Physical and sexual violence by police against 100+ Ahmadi asylum-seekers". The European Times News. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  19. ^ Times, New Straits (2023-07-31). "Eight men from 'Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light' group detained for LGBT gathering". NST Online. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  20. ^ McClenaghan, Maeve (2026-03-20). "Home Office investigates firm linked to religious sect over immigration visas". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  21. ^ McClenaghan, Maeve (20 March 2026). "Home Office investigates firm linked to religious sect over immigration visas". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  22. ^ a b Price, Richard (2026-04-29). "Crewe religious group raided by police investigating allegations of serious sexual offences". The Guardian.
  23. ^ Gooch, Bryony (2026-04-29). "Several arrested over serious allegations at religious group in Crewe". The Independent. Retrieved 2026-04-29.


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