Question
What is the difference between Sunnis and the Ahmadis? And would you say that the Ahmadis are non-Muslims?
Answer
The major difference between the Sunnis and the Ahmadis relates to the belief regarding the continuation/discontinuation of the institute of prophethood. Muslims, whether Sunnis or Shiites, believe that Mohammed (pbuh) was the last prophet and messenger of God, whereas the Ahmadis believe that the institution of prophethood continues even after the Prophet (pbuh). The Ahmadis further hold that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian was a prophet of God.
As far as whether or not I consider the Ahmadis to be Muslims, please refer to one of my previous answers to a related question1.
August 5, 2000
- Reference is to a previous question titled: “Should We Call Ahmadis Muslims?“, included in volume 1 of this book. [↩]