Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

A chapter (jama'at) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, which describes itself as Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (1835-1908): the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, a prophet subordinate to Muhammad who brought no new law, followed by a spiritual Khilafat. Its motto is "Love for All, Hatred for None"; it rejects violent jihad and holds loyalty to one's country a religious duty. Its first missionary reached America in 1920, and its early converts were mostly African American; today its members are largely immigrants from Pakistan and elsewhere in South Asia, with African American Ahmadis, Africans, and converts, about 20,000 in some 60 chapters. Worship is outwardly the Sunni practice in the Hanafi way: the five daily prayers posted at the mosque, Friday prayer about 1 to 1:30 in the afternoon, with the missionary's khutbah summarising the Khalifa's own Friday sermon, broadcast from London on the community's channel, MTA. Men and women pray in separate halls. Unlike any other Muslim body in America, it is centralised under one living leader: the Khalifatul Masih, elected for life and resident in Britain, and in the United States a national Amir and executive; elected councils (Shura) only recommend. Missionaries (murabbis), trained for seven years at the community's Jamia seminaries and living on a subsistence allowance, are posted and moved by the center; a chapter's elected president and executive run its affairs. Giving is assessed: chanda of a sixteenth of income (a tenth to a third for those who make the Wasiyyat), with a Jalsa contribution and named schemes, all sent to the national headquarters, from which the chapter is given what it needs: the game models this as central funding, with the chapter's budget from above, which is an approximation (how a chapter's budget is set isn't documented). Interest is held forbidden, as the founder taught; mortgages remain, in the Khalifa's words of 2021, under consideration. Everyone belongs to an auxiliary by age and sex (Lajna Ima'illah for women, Khuddam for young men, Ansarullah for older men), and the national Jalsa Salana each July draws about 10,000. Joining is by bai'at, the pledge to the Khalifa. Most Muslims, Sunni and Shia, do not regard Ahmadis as Muslims, and Ahmadis do not pray behind those who reject their founder, so an Ahmadi mosque stands apart from its neighbours' in both directions.

All 80 traditions · its profile in Faiths and traditions, with how to play it and what sets its faith apart; How people feel, what every factor is.

At a glance

Faith	Islam
Its words	chapter, mosque, prayer hall; the missionary leads the prayer; the khutbah; Jumu'ah; the Holy Qur'an
Worship	qibla focus, reserved, high formality (1.00 of 1); seated on floor; women in a gallery or balcony; Asr by the Hanafi reckoning (later)
Music	organ forbidden; gospel organ forbidden; piano forbidden; choir forbidden; band forbidden; brass forbidden; handbells forbidden; song leader discouraged; recorded forbidden
The room's sound	no strong preference
Its year	islamic, ahmadi days; major observance; fasts light
Leans	conservative on moral questions, neutral on economic ones
Polity	hierarchical; leaders come by appointment; property denomination
Leaders	one leader, full time, trained by seminary; marriage any
Belonging	high commitment, formal discipline, admitted by clergy; exclusive
Giving	tithing expected; collected by dues, online
Way of life	alcohol abstinence, dress modest, sabbath relaxed, meat halal, interest forbidden, burial prompt

The week's services

Day	Time	Service	Led by	People look for it
Every day	Fajr + 20 min 6:14 am in January, 4:10 am in July (Chicago)	Fajr (daily prayer, short, and plays quickly: people come 5% as often as to a main service)	the missionary	expected
Every day but Friday	Dhuhr + 20 min 12:22 pm in January, 1:19 pm in July (Chicago)	Dhuhr (daily prayer, short, and plays quickly: people come 5% as often as to a main service)	the missionary	expected
Every day	Asr + 10 min 3:13 pm in January, 6:18 pm in July (Chicago)	Asr (daily prayer, short, and plays quickly: people come 5% as often as to a main service)	the missionary	expected
Every day	Maghrib + 5 min 4:51 pm in January, 8:30 pm in July (Chicago)	Maghrib (daily prayer, short, and plays quickly: people come 8% as often as to a main service)	the missionary	expected
Every day	Isha + 15 min 6:22 pm in January, 10:17 pm in July (Chicago)	Isha (daily prayer, short, and plays quickly: people come 7% as often as to a main service)	the missionary	expected
Every day	Isha + 50 min 6:57 pm in January, 10:52 pm in July (Chicago)	Taraweeh (short, and plays quickly: people come 30% as often as to a main service)	the missionary	seasonal
Friday	1:00 pm	Jumu'ah	the missionary	expected

Leader: a missionary. With none (a vacancy, or no one hired), the services are still held, but each costs everyone at it 0.10; on sabbatical a supply missionary stands in ($800 a month) for a little less. The short daily services go on whether or not anyone leads them, and move no one's satisfaction.
Burial: prompt: the funeral is the next day, or the first after it that isn't a holy day kept free of weddings and funerals.
A halal kitchen: meals cost 1.1× as much; pork is never served.

Rites

Bai'at (per joining, +0.02 to those there): Joining the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: the pledge of allegiance (bai'at) to the Khalifa, made by signing the form with its ten conditions after saying the shahada, and sent to him through the missionary. Each year at the Jalsa in England the Khalifa holds the International Bai'at, and the members of every chapter renew it together as they watch.
Nikah (on request, +0.02 to those there): The Muslim marriage: a contract made with the bride's consent, a gift to her (the mahr), and, in Sunni practice, two witnesses and usually her guardian, conducted by the missionary or another knowledgeable Muslim in the prayer hall or a side room, with a state licence for civil effect. The reception (walimah) follows in a hall, often with men and women apart.
Janazah (on request, +0.02 to those there): The Muslim funeral, held as soon as it can be: the body washed (ghusl) by family or volunteers of the same sex and wrapped in plain white cloth, the funeral prayer said standing with the coffin before the missionary, often straight after a daily prayer or Jumu'ah (four takbirs in Sunni practice, five in Shia), and burial without embalming or cremation, the body laid on its right side facing the qibla. Larger chapters have a washing room and a section of a cemetery.

Joining

Joining: a content regular is received as a member after about 13 weeks.
Joining age: 15.
Kinds of belonging: members (votes, may hold office); received by the missionary.
What it means: being received is worth +0.1 to the person, +0.05 to family there, and +0.03 to everyone else at the service. It roots them: a rooted household drifts away only 0.6 times as often, and if it does fall away, it has a 25% chance of coming home at each of its great days (at most once a month) for ten years.

Giving, and what goes up

How its people give and what else comes in, as Money explains it for every faith.

How it's given: the chanda, by dues, and giving online. With no plate passed, visitors give nothing at the service. Those who give online give whether or not they come (8% more a month).
Tithing is expected: people give 15% more.
Dues: each November member households take up their dues, about 70% of what they could give (±15%), with the chance a pledge would be made (0.9 × engagement), and pay them monthly, nearly always; regulars who haven't joined pay none, so membership is most of the income.
Fundraisers: only the modest ones (below).
Funded from above: each month the offerings go up to the National Jama'at, and a budget comes back, $25 for each active person and the building's costs; its clergy are paid from above.
No interest: its loans are Islamic financing, at 7.5% where an ordinary loan is 6.5%.

The missionary, the staff, and who decides

How the missionary comes: sent by the National Jama'at, which moves them on; you can't advertise for or dismiss one, but can ask for a move.
Paid: full time, at the wider body's scale; housed by the congregation.
Who they are: trained at seminary; men; most married.
Tenure: settled, then may be called elsewhere.
Staff it can hire or name (see Staff and volunteers):
- Bivocational missionary ($22,000–$38,000; cares for 75)
- Missionary ($55,000–$85,000 + $18,000 benefits, full time; cares for 150)
- Associate missionary ($42,000–$62,000 + $15,000 benefits, full time; cares for 100 more)
- Muezzin (unpaid; from the members; leads worship; cares for 20 more)
- Qur'an teacher ($15,000–$32,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
- Caretaker ($18,000–$30,000; slows the building's wear)
- Chapter secretary ($20,000–$35,000; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once))
- Youth director ($20,000–$40,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
- Community outreach director ($25,000–$45,000; cares for 40 more)
- Executive director ($55,000–$95,000 + $15,000 benefits, full time; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once); cares for 30 more)
Its boards: the local amila (deciding, over everything).
Renovations: The local amila votes, then the National Jama'at must consent.
New construction: The National Jama'at decides.
Who votes: members, 16 and over.

Life together

What its Community screen offers it, with the dilemmas only its own faith or family meets; see The congregation in its community.

Ministries of its own: Funeral committee, New Muslims' circle, Open house and interfaith, Qur'an class.
Ministries every tradition can run that it's offered: Blood drive, Food pantry, Health clinic, Preschool, Youth group.
Shared fundraisers it may hold (only the modest ones): Bake sale, Car wash, Rummage sale.
Tenants it can take: A Masonic lodge, A scout troop, A twelve-step group, Parties and receptions.
Auxiliaries: Lajna Ima'illah, Majlis Ansarullah, Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya.
Outreach: invitation Jumu'ah, literature (from a reading room or an office) (Community → Evangelism).
Places beyond the congregation: the Jalsa Salana.
Dilemmas of its own faith (besides those every congregation meets): Jumu'ah parking, The call to prayer outside, Volunteers for the Jalsa.
Dilemmas its code of life brings: A matter of discipline, A raffle for the roof, A recruiter asks for the hall, Champagne at the reception.

What the building needs

required Prayer carpetPrayer is offered standing, bowing, and prostrating, in straight rows on a clean carpet.
required wudu roomWorshippers wash before prayer (wudu): a room with low taps and seats beside the prayer hall.
required the prayer hall facing the qibla (the direction of the Ka’ba in Mecca)Prayer faces the Ka'ba in Mecca: the rows must face the qibla, which from America is to the north-east.
forbidden Drum kitThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Hammond organThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Handbell tableThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Upright pianoThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Pipe organThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
expected MihrabA niche in the qibla wall shows the direction of prayer; the imam leads from before it.
expected MinbarThe Friday sermon, the khutbah, is given from the minbar's steps.
expected Shoe rackShoes come off at the door of the prayer hall, onto racks.
discouraged BannerBanners are not part of this tradition's worship space.
discouraged Oak pewPews leave no room to bow and prostrate: a few chairs at the back serve those who can't.

What people here feel

Architectural style: Colonial brick -0.012; Modern synagogue +0.006; Gurdwara +0.012; Japanese temple +0.024; Islamic +0.03; Shinto shrine +0.03; Chinese temple +0.036; Dravidian temple +0.042; Nagara temple +0.042; Thai temple +0.042; Jain marble +0.048; Gothic +0.054.
Building fit: up to ±0.15 for everyone, the average fit of the characterful items in its worship rooms (the table below).
Acoustics: it wants a room between ringing and dry, about 2.2 seconds of reverberation: neither bare stone nor a carpeted low room. Up to ±0.05.
Seasonal decor: in their seasons, the muharram cloths and ramadan lanterns are worth up to ±0.040 (missing them, the minus); out of season, nothing is called for.
Orientation: facing the way it wants is +0.04, and not, −0.04.
The khutbah lands by its topic and the tradition's leaning (below); the missionary's preaching adds or costs up to 0.08 more.
The daily services move no one's satisfaction: no offering, sermon, or welcome; people come one by one, the retired twice as often, those of working age half as often on a weekday from nine to five.

How each khutbah lands

The topics its leader can choose from (some are only for one faith or family), and what each is worth.

Sanctity of Life+0.06
Faith & Family+0.04
Faith of Our Fathers+0.04
Family & the Ties of Kinship+0.04
Obedience & Discipline+0.04
Personal Holiness+0.04
Resisting Temptation+0.04
Gratitude+0.015
Honesty in Trade+0.015
Hope & Comfort+0.015
Justice (Adl)+0.015
Mercy (Rahma)+0.015
Patience (Sabr)+0.015
Rights of the Neighbour+0.015
Stewardship & Generosity+0.015
The Life of Prayer+0.015
The Prophet's Character+0.015
Unity of the Ummah+0.015
Zakat & Charity+0.015
Care for Creation-0.02
Healing for All-0.02
Welcome the Stranger-0.02
Social Justice Call-0.03
Interfaith Understanding-0.05
Reading Scripture in Context-0.05
Swords into Ploughshares-0.05
Racial Justice & Reconciliation-0.075
Radical Inclusion-0.075

Every item, for this tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); the building fit is the average over the characterful items in the worship rooms. An item with no character (a table, a toilet) has no fit. A rule applies wherever the item is.

Item	Fit	Rule
Seating
Box pew	+1
Meeting bench	no fit
Oak pew	no fit	discouraged Pews leave no room to bow and prostrate: a few chairs at the back serve those who can't.
Prayer carpet	+0.5	required Prayer is offered standing, bowing, and prostrating, in straight rows on a clean carpet.
Row of chairs	-1
Liturgical furniture
Columbarium niches	+1
Lectern	no fit
Mihrab	+0.5	expected A niche in the qibla wall shows the direction of prayer; the imam leads from before it.
Minbar	+0.5	expected The Friday sermon, the khutbah, is given from the minbar's steps.
Pulpit	no fit
Qur'an stands	no fit
Music
Drum kit	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Electronic organ	-1
Grand piano	-1
Hammond organ	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Handbell table	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Pipe organ	0	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Sound system	-1
Upright piano	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Decor
Alam	-1
Banner	-1	discouraged Banners are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Calligraphy panel	0
Chandelier	0
Eternal flame	no fit
Great dome	+1
Memorial plaque	no fit
Minaret	0
Muharram cloths	0
National flag	0
Ramadan lanterns	0
Small dome	no fit
Stained glass window	+1
Furnishings
Alms box	no fit
Coffee pot	no fit
Commercial coffee pot	no fit
Computer	no fit
Crib	no fit
Desk	no fit
Desk chair	no fit
Folding table	no fit
Full-length mirror	no fit
Pillar	+1
Projection screen	-1
Shoe rack	+0.5	expected Shoes come off at the door of the prayer hall, onto racks.
Vestment cabinet	+1
Wooden table	no fit
Utility
A/V rack	no fit
Camera	no fit
Cast-iron boiler	no fit
Central air conditioner	no fit
Commercial HVAC plant	no fit
Commercial stove	no fit
Congregation van	no fit
Ductless heat pump	no fit
Electric wall heater	no fit
Gas furnace	no fit
Ghusl table	0
Hearing loop	no fit
Lift	no fit
Packaged heat pump	no fit
Plumbing stack	no fit
Ramp	no fit
Shuttle bus	no fit
Sink	no fit
Solar panels	no fit
Stairs	no fit
Toilet	no fit
Used school bus	no fit
Wall camera	no fit
Window air conditioner	no fit
Wudu station	0
Grounds
Evergreen tree	no fit
Flower bed	no fit
Fountain	no fit
Garden bench	no fit
Hedge	no fit
Playground	no fit
Shade tree	no fit

Sources

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA (link)
Al Islam library, Welcome to Ahmadiyyat, the True Islam: the Amir (link)
Al Islam library, Wasiyyat Rules (link)
Al Islam, Are women allowed in mosques? (link)
Al Hakam, What is the Jamaat's view on interest? (link)
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Portland: Eid-ul-Fitr; Bait-ul-Aafiyat Mosque, Philadelphia (link)
Al Hakam, 71st Jalsa Salana USA 2019 (link)
Aysha Khan, Ahmadi Muslims Have a Storied American History, Religion & Politics (2018) (link)
Al Islam, I Solemnly Pledge: Connect with Khilafat (link)