A man of God, God’s man on earth, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (Mir-za Mas-roor Ah-mad), is the fifth Khalifa (Caliph) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Elected to this lifelong position on 22nd April 2003, he serves as the worldwide spiritual and administrative head of an international religious organisation with membership exceeding 10’s of millions spread across over 200 nations and territories.
Peace Initiatives
His Holiness is the world’s leading Muslim figure promoting peace and inter-religious harmony. Through his sermons, lectures, books, and personal meetings, His Holiness has continually advocated the worship of God Almighty and serving humanity. He also continually advocates for the establishment of universal human rights, a just society and a separation of religion and state.
Since being elected Khalifa, His Holiness has led a worldwide campaign to convey the peaceful message of Islam, through all forms of print and digital media. Under his leadership, national branches of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community have launched campaigns that reflect the true and peaceful teachings of Islam. Ahmadi Muslims the world over are engaged in grassroots efforts to distribute millions of ‘Peace’ leaflets to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, host interfaith and peace symposia, and present exhibitions of The Holy Qur’an, to present its true and noble message. These campaigns have received worldwide media coverage and demonstrate that Islam champions peace, loyalty to one’s country of residence and service to humanity.
In 2004, His Holiness launched the annual National Peace Symposium in which guests from all walks of life come together to exchange ideas on the promotion of peace and harmony. Each year the symposium attracts many serving ministers, parliamentarians, politicians, religious leaders and other dignitaries. In 2009, His Holiness also launched the annual ‘Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace‘; an international peace award for individuals or organisations that have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment and service to the cause of peace and humanitarianism.
In 2012, both the United States Congress and the European Parliament benefited directly from His Holiness’s message of peace, justice and unity.
On 27 June 2012, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad was welcomed to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. where he delivered a keynote address entitled, ‘The Path to Peace – Just Relations between Nations’, to an audience filled with more than 30 members of the United States Congress. In conjunction with this historic event, a bi-partisan resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives in honour of His Holiness’s visit.
On 4 December 2012, His Holiness delivered a historic keynote address at the European Parliament in Brussels to a packed audience of more than 350 guests representing 30 countries, including the President of the European Parliament. During his thirty-five minute address, His Holiness called on the European Union to preserve its unity and called for equality and justice in international relations.
On 11 February 2014, His Holiness delivered the keynote address at ‘The Conference of World Religions’ held at the Guildhall in London. During his address, His Holiness outlined Islam’s commitment to promoting mutual understanding, tolerance and respect based on the teachings of the Holy Quran and the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Public Service
His Holiness has travelled globally to promote and facilitate service to humanity. He regularly meets presidents, prime ministers, other heads of state, parliamentarians and ambassadors of state.
His Holiness takes a particular interest in alleviating the suffering of developing nations, by helping to improve their agriculture and facilitating access to food, clean water and electricity. He oversees the work of the International Association of Ahmadi Architects and Engineers (IAAAE), an organisation briefed with leading various humanitarian and development projects, in remote areas of the world. The scope and expertise of this organisation has grown at a rapid rate under his leadership. Likewise, His Holiness supports the work of “Humanity First“, an international non-profit disaster relief and development charity and other such organisations.
Under the leadership of His Holiness, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has built a number of schools and hospitals that provide high class facilities in remote parts of the world. And through various schemes of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness has funded the tuition and education of numerous underprivileged students around the world, irrespective of their religious background.
Communication with Ahmadi Muslims
His Holiness receives thousands of letters every day from Ahmadi Muslims worldwide, seeking his guidance and prayers. As well as responding to all such letters, His Holiness meets with individual members of the Community, on a daily basis.
Every week, His Holiness delivers a Friday Sermon in which he addresses all members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide. The sermon is broadcast globally live on MTA International, an Ahmadi Muslim satellite television station established in 1994, and translated into various languages. MTA International is also streamed live on mta.tv and YouTube. The Friday Sermon is available in over 18 languages in Video on Demand format. His Holiness uses his sermons to counsel Ahmadi Muslims about various issues of importance.
Response to Persecution
Following his election in 2003, His Holiness was forced into exile from Pakistan, his native country. Pakistan’s Constitution and Penal Code restricts members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community from practising or associating with Islam, or from even identifying themselves as Muslims. Violations of these repressive laws results in fines, imprisonment, and potentially capital punishment. Consequently the legislation prevents His Holiness from fulfilling his duties as Head of the Community and accordingly he is unable to return to Pakistan.
Despite the continued sectarian persecution that Ahmadi Muslims are subjected to in various Muslim majority nations, His Holiness expressly forbids any violence. On 28 May 2010, anti-Ahmadiyya terrorists attacked two mosques belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Lahore, Pakistan. 86 Ahmadi Muslims were martyred during their Friday Prayers, whilst scores more were injured. Despite the barbaric nature of this pre-meditated crime against humanity, His Holiness instructed Ahmadi Muslims worldwide to respond only through prayers and entirely peaceful means.
Personal Biography
His Holiness was born on 15th September 1950 in Rabwah, Pakistan to the late Mirza Mansoor Ahmad and the late Nasira Begum Ahmad. Upon completing his Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics in 1977 from the Agriculture University in Faisalabad, Pakistan, His Holiness formally dedicated his life to the service of Islam.
From 1977 to 1985, His Holiness served in Ghana, engaged in social, educational and agricultural development projects. He is accredited with successfully growing wheat on Ghanaian soil for the first time in the nation’s history. His Holiness returned to Pakistan in 1985 and served in various senior administrative posts within the Community during the next 18 years, including as Chief Executive of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan from 1997 until his election as Khalifa.
His Holiness resides in Islamabad, Tilford, UK with his wife, Amtul Sabooh Ahmad. He has two children and five grandchildren.
His hobbies include gardening, reading, photography and walking.
Related websites: Khalifatul Masih V and Urdu website