A Survey of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement: History, Beliefs, Aims and Work pp. 46-47 Summary To summarise, there are several facets to the beliefs and work of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement.

It is a spiritual movement in that it believes spiritual experiences to be actual, objective realities, and it stresses the necessity of man attaining nearness to God.

Yet it is also a rational movement which applies the test of reason in understanding belief. It does not accept blind, unthinking belief nor accounts of ‘miracles’ and supernatural occurrences when these are mere stories without evidence and any deeper lesson.

It is a liberal movement in the interpretation of Islamic teachings and law, but it derives its liberal stance from the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad themselves and firmly believes in totally adhering to their injunctions.

It is a modern movement in that it believes that Muslims must accept all the good that the modern world has to offer and adjust to the new times, not retreat into a closed world of their own. Yet it also preaches most emphatically that the modern world cannot survive unless it accepts Islamic principles for its moral and spiritual development.

It is a peaceful movement which proclaims that violence in the name of religion is prohibited by Islam. It believes passionately in refuting the false portrayal of the Holy Prophet Muhammad and Islam by their anti-Islamic critics, but it equally believes that this must be done only by word and argument, not by rage and threats of violence.

It is a tolerant movement, which believes that Islam allows full freedom of thought, belief, religion and expression to all, to non-Muslims as well as to those within its fold; and it believes in developing dialogue, understanding and cooperation both between Muslims and others, and among Muslim sects.

At the same time, the Movement strives to the utmost to convince others that the truth, in its whole form, is to be found in Islam only, and that the mission of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is the most effective and appropriate way for the progress of Islam in this age. Today, one full century after the death of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a Muslim movement with these qualities is exactly what is required for the right progress of Muslims in the world and for establishing peace and harmony on earth between Muslims and people of other faiths and nations.