With the help of religious authorities and Sunni Muslim groups, dozens of followers of a deviant group in Indonesia on Thursday, January 17, reverted to Islam.
According to The Jakarta Post, 36 followers of Ahmadiyah sect “converted” to Sunni Islam at an Indonesian grand mosque in Tasikmalaya during a ceremony on Thursday.
“We really appreciate the move from those former Ahmadiyah followers,” said Tasikmalaya Religious Affairs Ministry office head Dadang Romansyah to the Jakarta post.
The ministry expected more Ahmadiyah followers would change religion and turn to Islam by pronouncing the syahadat (creed) as a sign that they acknowledge true Islamic teaching Romansyah said.
Amid rampant persecution against Ahmadiyah followers, who are practicing “deviant” Islam, Dadang claimed that the ministry and social organizations used a friendly and soft approach to persuade them to convert to Sunni.
Ahmadiyyah has been declared a deviant group by the Indonesia Ulemas Council (MUI), the country’s highest Muslim authority and many other countries.
Ahmadiyyah was founded in the beginning of the 20th century by Ghulam Ahmed, from the village of Qadiyan in Punjab.
He claimed to be a Messenger of God and his followers believe Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) was the best but not last Prophet.
In 1914, the sect was divided with the overwhelming majority belonging to the Ahmadiyyah Community, also known as Qadyanis, while the other minor group is known as the Lahore Ahmadiyyah.
The Lahore group does not believe in Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet but rather as Mujaddid (renovator) but still believes Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not the last prophet.
Scholars of Islam unanimously consider the followers of both groups to be non-believers.
Muhammad Sofyan, a figure from the Tasikmalaya branch of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), told JP that the FPI is one of the organizations helping Ahmadiyah followers to turn to Islam.
Sofyan also said that the FPI would give religious counseling and guidance to the converts, who mostly came from Kutawaringin and Tenjowaringin villages in Salawu district.
“We do the counseling in a casual way. I often visit Kutawaringin to preach. Thank God, they were encouraged [to convert to Islam],” he said.
Sofyan said that the FPI would initiate a group called the Association of Ahmadiyah Former Victims (Inkasa).
“We and the ministry promise to give attention to their financial situation,” he said.
He said the FPI and the ministry would give the converts training in animal husbandry, fisheries and agriculture.
A former follower of Ahmadiyah, Rani Rahmawati, 26, said she followed her personal’s desire when converting to Sunni Islam. She said that she only followed Ahmadiyah teachings because her parents are Ahmadis.
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With thanks to The Jakarta Post