International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 10 Issue 11, November - 2020 ISSN: 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 7.077 | Financial System of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Sabahuddin Kabir Independent Researcher And Dr. Kushal De Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce Dhruba Chand Halder College Abstract: The history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community can be traced back to Mirza Hadi Baig who established Qadian in 1530. With its headquarters in UK, the community’s members are spread in more than 220 nations. Broad guidelines for conduct of the members of the community are formed and revised from time to time by the heads and it includes financial commitments as well. The financial system of the Community is based on the principles of equity and even distribution of economic resources. A socio-economic balance between the affluent and the not so affluent is aimed through rigorous economic structures which basically reduces disparity and brings happiness for all. The two primary chandas namely the Obligatory Chandas and Supererogatory Chandas were crafted by various successors keeping in mind the social, cultural, political and economic obligations of the members of the community. Keywords: Ahmadiyya, chanda, economy, justice, system. International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 34 Email:- [email protected], http://www.euroasiapub.org (An open access scholarly, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, monthly, and fully refereed journal.) International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 10 Issue 11 , November - 2020 ISSN: 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 7.077 | Brief History of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Qadian was established in 1530 by Mirza Hadi Baig (belonging to Barlas family), a religious scholar dedicated to Islam. He migrated from Samarkand, also known as Markanda in Sanskrit, a city in southeastern Uzbekistan which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia (Saudagarmal and Tayyaba, 2008). After the conflicts with Timur (Timurid emperor who had made Samarkand his capital), Mirza Hadi Baig migrated to Delhi from Samarkand with 200 people. The Mughal emperor Babur gave Mirza Hadi Baig 85 villages and made him the Qazi (Magistrate) of the area. Being an Islamic Scholar and the first Qazi of the area, he named the region (consisting of 85 villages) as Islampur Qazi and governed from there. Over the time the name of the place changed to ‘Qazi Maji’, and then over the time the name change to ‘Qadi’ and eventually it came to known as Qadian (India). Qadian and the surrounding areas later fell to the Ramgharia Sikhs and in 1834, during the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the region consisting of Qadian was given to Mirza Ghulam Murtaza, father of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in return for military support in Kashmir, Mahadi, the Kullu valley, Peshawar and Hazara (Griffin,1838). Qadian, a remote and unknown town, emerged as a prominent centre of religious learning in 1889, when Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (on whom be peace) (s/o Mirza Ghulam Murtaza from Barlas family) established the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and in 1891, it became the Centre of the community’s annual gatherings. Qadian remained the administrative headquarter and capital of the Ahmadiyya caliphate until the partition of the India in 1947, when many from the community migrated to Pakistan. Following the partition, Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmud Ahmad (may Allah be pleased with him) (s\o Mirza Ghulam Ahmad founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community) and second successor of the community, carefully oversaw the safe migration of Ahmadis from Qadian to the newly founded state, instructing 313 men including two of his own sons to stay in Qadian and guard the sites holy to Ahmadis, conferring upon them the title darveshān-i-qādiyān (The Dervishes of Qadian) and eventually moving headquarter to Rabwah, Pakistan (Molvifazil, 2007). In 1974, the Pakistan government led by Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto passed a resolution declaring members of the Ahmadiyya community as non-Muslims. In 1984 General Zia-ul- Haq passed an Ordinance-XX that prohibited the practice of Islam and the usage of Islamic terms and titles for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Soon after this ordinance was passed, the Ahmadi Caliph (Khalifa) Mirza Tahir Ahmad (may God have mercy on him) 4th successor International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 35 Email:- [email protected], http://www.euroasiapub.org (An open access scholarly, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, monthly, and fully refereed journal.) International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 10 Issue 11 , November - 2020 ISSN: 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 7.077 | of the Community moved to the London Mosque at Gressenhall road in United Kingdom and shifted the headquarters from Rabwah, Pakistan to the United Kingdom (Ahmad and Ahmadiyya, 1939). The Caliph (Khalifa) Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah the mighty help him) became the 5th successor of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on April 22, 2003. He serves as the worldwide spiritual and administrative head of the international religious organization with tens of millions of members spread in more than 220 nations. In 2004, His Holiness launched the national peace symposium in which people from all walks of life come together to exchange ideas on the promotion of peace and harmony. His Holiness has travelled to the world’s greatest nations to address world peace which included the historic addresses at the Capitol Hill in Washington DC, House of Parliament in London, Military Headquarter in Germany, European Parliament at Brussels and New Zealand National Parliament (Ahmad, 2017). The Financial System of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community The financial system of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is very vast and based on one of the most important teachings of Islam. Allah has continuously reminded the believers to spend in this way. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) would regularly urge his companions to fulfill this duty and they would strive in doing so. The Financial System or scheme of the Ahmadiyya community can be divided in many financial heads. These heads or pillars can be said as the main foundation on which the financial system of the community is standing upon. (Anjuman Ahmadiyya, 2005). The Chandas (donations or contributions) which forms the basis of the financial system can be summed under two heads Obligatory Chandas and Supererogatory Chandas. Obligatory Chandas include: • Zakat • Fitrana • Al-Wassiyat ( The Will) • Chanda Aam • Chanda Jalsa Salana Supererogatory Chandas include: • Chanda Tehrik-e-Jadid • Chanda Waqf-e-Jadid • Eid Fund International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 36 Email:- [email protected], http://www.euroasiapub.org (An open access scholarly, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, monthly, and fully refereed journal.) International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 10 Issue 11 , November - 2020 ISSN: 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 7.077 | • Imdad Tulaba and Imdad Maridan (financial aid to students and patients) • Chanda Buyutul-Hamd (to help people build home) • Yatama fund (Orphanage) • Tamir Buyutul Dhikr (Build Mosque) • Sadqa • Mariam Marriage Fund • Sayyidna Bilal Fund • Ishaat-e-Islam The Chandas or contributions which form the backbone of the financial system of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are discussed briefly in the following sections- Obligatory Chandas: Zakat: It is the payment made annually under Islamic law for charitable and religious purposes on certain kind of property, cash, jewellery, animals and crops. It is taken from the rich and given to the poor symbolizing the highest level of human sympathy. According to the Holy Quran one has to pay 2.5% (1/40) of one’s cash, stock and tradable assets, crops, cattle including jewellery in gold and silver on which one has personal possession for one full year, if one had more than assessable limit followed by Islamic law. Zakat is not compulsory on assets like machinery, building, offices, furniture, accounts register etc. and is not obligatory on own house, clothes, household items, furniture, own automobile, books etc. (Anjuman Ahmadiyya, 2005). Fitrana Fitrana has to be paid before Eid and is obligatory on every Muslim, so that the needy can be of grain, which is equivalent (صاع) provided with means to celebrate Eid. Its rate is one saha to 2.5 kilograms. If someone is unable to pay at full rate, he can pay at half rate. The amount for Fitrana is fixed annually at the national level and collected accordingly. 10% of the amount collected is transferred to the Central Reserves while 90% is spent at the national level (Baitul Maal, 2005). Al-Wassiyat (The Will) Al-Wassiyat means a testament made in accordance with rules under the institution of Wassiyat established by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) through his booklet Al- Wassiyat. He quoted in his book for the people of Jamat who will enter the institution of Al-Wassiyat as: “No ignorant person should think that this graveyard and the arrangements for it fall under the International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 37 Email:- [email protected], http://www.euroasiapub.org (An open access scholarly, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, monthly, and fully refereed journal.) International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 10 Issue 11 , November - 2020 ISSN: 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 7.077 | category of Bid‘at (an unwarranted innovation). For this arrangement is in accordance with the divine revelation and there is no element of human involvement in it.” The idea behind it is not that this piece of land will make anyone worthy of heaven; rather the word of God means that only those will be buried here who are already worthy of heaven. It is further said that “Those who do not possess any property but have some means of income should contribute at least one tenth of their income to Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya.