By Dr Sarah Harvey, Inform
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) is a millenarian and esoteric new religious movement with roots in Twelver Shia Islam. Members believe — in common with Twelver Shia Islam — that the Twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi (known as the rightly guided one), did not die but rather entered a state of occultation to return at the end times.
However, AROPL members differ in their belief that humankind is now in end times and that the Twelfth Imam has returned. The movement’s literature states that it is the new religion foretold by the Holy Household of the Prophet Muhammad to emerge in end times, that it is the one true universal religion and that its members are God’s chosen people.
It is important to note that the AROPL has no connection to the Sunni-derived Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (sometimes known as Ahmadis) founded and persecuted in Pakistan.
The AROPL began in Iraq and is now active across 40 countries. It estimates that 7,000 people have had contact with the movement. In 2018, the movement had a base in Sweden but, since 2021, it has had its headquarters in England.
Here, 150 adults and children live in a communal setting in a Grade II listed building in Crewe, that was previously an orphanage. In 2024, the AROPL is in the process of acquiring registered charity status with the Charity Commission. In the United States it is treated as a 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit organisation with church status.
How did the movement begin?
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light has its origins in Basra, Iraq, in the late 1990s. In 1999, the founder, Ahmed al-Hassan (born 1968), claimed to have met the Twelfth Imam in person and was asked by him to take on a religious mission. Ahmed al-Hassan became recognised by his followers as the Yamani (right hand to God). In Twelver Shiism, the Yamani is a pre-messianic figure whose role is to support and pave the way for the Mahdi by unifying believers and preparing a community to embrace the Mahdi on his return. In 2002, Ahmed al-Hassan denounced the establishment of Shia Islam in Iran and Iraq, claiming it to be corrupt. He then went into hiding and was last seen in Iraq in 2007.
After this time, al-Hassan’s followers divided into factions. From 2015, the AROPL, also known as the Black Banners of the East, has been the largest faction. Another faction is the White Banners, or the Office of Najaf. AROPL claims that the White Banners are under the control of the Iraqi government; and the White Banners have excommunicated the AROPL. While the different factions believe that Ahmed al-Hassan is the Yamani, they are otherwise separate from one another.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is led by Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq who was born in America in 1983. In 2015, Abdullah Hashem claimed that Ahmed al-Hassan instructed him to spread the word of the appearance of the Mahdi. Abdullah Hashem is recognised in the AROPL as the Qaim or the Riser (who carries the command of God) of the Family of Muhammad. The AROPL draws authority from a document called the Will of Prophet Muhammad (the existence of which is disputed by Sunni Muslims). The AROPL states that in the will, Prophet Muhammad lists his successors after him which will comprise 12 imams and 12 mahdis. The names of the first two of the 12 mahdis are written in the will as “Ahmed” and “Abdullah”. They believe that this refers to Ahmed al-Hassan and Abdullah Hashem, who both pave the way for the next mahdi. There are hence three consecutive figureheads within the AROPL: Ahmed al-Hassan (the Yamani), Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (the Qaim/Riser), and the Imam Mahdi (who is yet to be revealed, but who is known by al-Hassan and Abdullah Hashem).
What do members believe?
The beliefs of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light are contained in their sacred text, The Goal of the Wise: The Gospel of the Riser of the Family of Mohammed, published in 2022. This contains Abdullah Hashem’s revelations and other teachings — many of which were taught to him by al-Hassan, either in physical or spiritual meetings (including dreams and visions). The book includes extracts from Abrahamic scripture, dialogue between Abdullah Hashem and Ahmed al-Hassan, and images. It draws on teachings from Twelver Shia, Gnostic Christianity, western esotericism and more and aims to integrate “the world’s major and minor religious traditions”. It is believed by members to be divinely inspired.
The Goal of the Wise outlines the core beliefs of the AROPL which include belief in the supremacy of God, the Seven Covenants (agreement made with God), the Divine Just State, reincarnation, karma, and more. The AROPL believes in Seven Covenants made between God and Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and Ahmed al-Hassan. Each covenant succeeds the next as, while each was valid at the time, they were broken by humans, for which they were punished, and then a new covenant comes into being. The covenants are considered legal declarations of the will of God. Members believe that the Seventh Covenant will be the culmination of all the efforts of the previous prophets and will involve the formation of the Divine Just State, in which all religions are united.
The AROPL is a progressive millenarian group, believing in imminent salvation in the form of the Divine Just State. The central mission of the group is to build the Divine Just State which will be ruled by a divinely appointed king. This will be a theocratic state with the king appointed by, and a representative of, God rather than through a process of democratic election. While the AROPL is opposed to the idea of democracy, it respects elected governments and does not seek to overthrow them. Followers claim that throughout history, corrupt elites have been able to use democracy to fulfil their selfish desires resulting in the suffering of the people. Their notion of a Divine Just State is based on the utopian state described in Plato’s Republic, led by the Philosopher King. The mahdis are the philosopher kings.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light believes that the Divine Just State will guarantee religious freedom and equality. It will initially be established in one area of the world and then will spread. The group claims that the important countries for the rise of the state include Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Germany, and Sweden. The official language of the Divine Just State will be English, which the movement claims is the easiest language. The community in the UK is living in preparation of the Divine Just State.
The AROPL also has beliefs that could be described as esoteric. For instance, its followers believe that dreams serve important functions such as revealing prophecies, receiving commands from God, warnings and preparations. The ability to interpret dreams is seen as a sign of a messenger from God. Followers believe in different types of reincarnation and that the Shia doctrine of Raj’a (the great return, the return to life of some of the deceased after the reappearance of the Twelfth Mahdi) is the same as reincarnation. They also believe that many humans are the spiritual reincarnations of the Prophets.
Other beliefs held by the AROPL are conspiratorial in nature. The AROPL is creationist, believing that Adam was the first human (although there were other races on Earth before humans), and that the theory of evolution was spread by Iblis (the Devil/Antichrist). Members believe in the existence of both shapeshifting alien-human hybrids on earth and ape-like species that resemble Bigfoot and Yeti that they call the Haytan. They believe that the US president George Washington was actually Adam Weishaupt (commonly believed to be the founder of the Illuminati) and that the American government remains under the control of the Illuminati. This, followers believe, is confirmed by motifs resembling the One Eye (representing Iblis) in American advertisements and currency. The AROPL also believes that modern currency is a scam and will be eliminated in the Divine Just State where everyone will contribute what they can and have their needs met by the community.
What do members practise?
Members’ religious practice includes prayer, both individually and collectively, meditation, studying The Goal of the Wise collectively in sermons or individually — and with others in an attempt to spread the faith. The focus of the movement is on missionary work conducted primarily through media activity.
AROPL Studios Ltd is the official media outlet that propagates the religion and is run from its UK headquarters. Its satellite channel, Black Banners of the East, was launched in 2017 and has produced documentaries and programmes for followers of the movement. In 2024, AROPL launched a second satellite channel, The Mahdi Has Appeared, which broadcasts to Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Other significant media used by the AROPL include its YouTube account comprising videos about beliefs and reports on human rights issues. The outlet also produces short-form content across all social media. Since 2023, it has hosted a podcast series, The School of Divine Mysteries. The faith’s media presence is the main activity in which followers are able to participate, through sharing their experience and reasons for joining. To “join the call”, would-be members need to send a pledge of allegiance to Imam Mahdi on video.
How does the group differ from other Islamic traditions?
The AROPL believes that 99 per cent of every religion is wrong, including Islam. It views itself as the true Islam and universal religion, claiming that the Quran has been corrupted. It claims that many of the beliefs and practices of Islam were valid for the Sixth Covenant but are no longer valid or necessary for the Seventh Covenant. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light has different practices from Islam, most notably its use of the lunar calendar, its religious observance and its social attitudes. Rather than praying five times a day, members have no obligatory prayers but consider prayer as a constant state where believers talk to God from their heart.
Members celebrate Ramadan in December. They believe the true Kaaba is not in not Makkah (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia, but in Petra, Jordan, and followers believe that the tree within the Garden of Eden was Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, in a previous incarnation (a belief considered blasphemous in Turkey). Within the group, headscarves are not obligatory for women and while homosexuality is not encouraged, the group accepts gay people and has demonstrated in support of LGBTQI+ rights. Attitudes towards alcohol is also more relaxed than in Islam. It is arguably its beliefs and practices that diverge from beliefs in Islam that have led to the group’s controversy and religious persecution in many Muslim majority countries.
Where has the religion faced religious persecution?
The AROPL has experienced religious persecution in numerous Islamic-majority countries where its beliefs are perceived as blasphemous by state and religious authorities. In Algeria, in 2022, 18 adult members of the group were arrested and charged with “participation in an unauthorised group” and “denigrating Islam”; charges were dropped later that year after pressure from human rights organisations. However, followers who remain in Algeria have been subject to online monitoring and surveillance of their activities by police. In 2022, 15 members of the group were arrested and mistreated by police in Iran. While these members were detained, they were pressured to recant their faith. The Iranian government has produced documentaries and literature critical of the movement, as has the government in Iraq.
In Malaysia in 2023, the religion experienced persecution because of the group’s involvement in LGBTQI+ protests. Eight followers were arrested; two of those moved to the UK. In May 2023, 104 members in Turkey faced police brutality as they attempted to claim European Union asylum because of religious persecution at the Turkish-Bulgarian border. The United Nations and Human Rights Without Frontiers, as well as other organisations, played a significant role in bringing western media attention to the persecution, as did members who filmed and livestreamed their own detention. Turkey, where the AROPL is considered heretical, released the detained members in October 2023, after holding them for five months.
The religion has also been subject to discrimination by the authorities in Sweden. In 2018, about 170 members, including leader Abdullah Hashem, were living in Sweden, having registered a farm property in Savsjon, Sweden, for training and education. Between 2019 and 2022, the AROPL experienced a series of raids and inspections on the property by Swedish police. No illegal activity was discovered. Swedish authorities continued raiding members’ homes. Although followers were residing in Sweden legally, many applications were rejected by the Swedish Migration Agency and members moved to the UK. Human Rights Without Frontiers suggests these raids were part of a “campaign of persecution” begun by “disgruntled ex-members” and “Islamic extremists” with a view to preventing the AROPL from establishing itself in Sweden.
In July 2024, two members of AROPL were jailed for 30 days on charges of “hooliganism” in Azerbaijan for engaging in missionary work in a public square. At time of writing, they are preparing an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Also in 2024, six members of the faith are on trial in Jordan for “insulting religious feelings of others” and “inciting sectarian strife”. They face jail terms of up to three years. This follows a number of years of persecution in Jordan where members have been interrogated and subjected to violence, their place of worship has been closed, their satellite channel banned, and some members have been forced to flee to other countries.
Further information
From the movement:
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light on YouTube
The Goal of the Wise: The Gospel of the Riser of the Family of Mohammed by Abdullah Hashem. 2022.
The Mahdi’s Manifesto by Abdullah Hashem. 2024.
Academic sources
Introvigne, Massimo, Karolina Maria Kotkowska and Rosita Šorytė. “Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light” (2024). World Religions and Spirituality Project. Available here
Introvigne, Massimo and Karolina Maria Kotkowska. “The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light” (2024). A five-part series in Bitter Winter. Part one available here
Academic experts
Massimo Introvigne, founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions, Turin, Italy, founder and editor-in-chief of Bitter Winter
Karolina Maria Kotkowska, assistant professor in the Department of Comparative Civilisation Studies, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
Sarah Harvey is senior research officer of Inform, an independent educational charity that provides information about minority religions and sects that is as accurate, up-to-date and as evidence-based as possible
