Abdullah Hashem Wins the Best International Book Award 2025 in Italy

Aba Al-Sadiq Abdullah Hashem has been awarded the 2025 Best International Book Award in the category of Religion and Spirituality at the International Book Fair in Turin (Italy) for the gospel The Goal of the Wise.

The award, presented by the interfaith committee Fedinsieme (Faith Together), was handed out on the 19th of May 2025 during a high-profile ceremony at Europe’s second largest and most influential book fair. 

Prior to the ceremony, an honorary session was held in recognition of The Goal of the Wise, drawing a remarkable gathering of high-ranking politicians, academics, and religious leaders who publicly expressed their support for the book. Among those in attendance were Bishop Giuseppe Anfossi, bishop emeritus of Aosta; Laura Pompeo, regional councilor of Piemonte, archaeologist, educator, and public intellectual; as well as Domenico Garcea, Vice President of the Turin City Council. Their presence—and their endorsement—lent additional gravitas to an already significant occasion.

The award was accepted on Abdullah Hashem's behalf by Hadil El-Khouly, who translated the book into Arabic and has been involved in its publication and distribution. Professor Aria Razfar, Professor of Linguistics at the University of Illinois, received the award in person for his role as the main editor of the book. 

The award comes at a pivotal moment, as Aba Al-Sadiq and his teachings have recently gone viral following the passing of Pope Francis. Since the end of April, much of the Christian world has been abuzz with discussion, sparked by Aba Al-Sadiq’s public declaration of himself as the new pope. The timing of the award carries deep symbolic weight—not only recognizing the spiritual scope and theological depth of The Goal of the Wise, but doing so in Italy, the very heart of Catholicism, where these historic events have been unfolding.

Now in its 37th year, the Torino Book Fair has grown into one of Europe's largest and most influential book fairs, drawing more than 1,000 publishers and countless readers into its 137,000 square meter venue at Lingotto Fiere.

The decision to award The Goal of the Wise reflects the book’s significant impact on theology. It stands out by introducing new religious arguments into the debate between Muslims, Christians and Jews. Since its release, the work has sparked widespread debate across numerous social media platforms, where readers and thinkers from diverse backgrounds have engaged with its bold thesis. It is undoubtedly thought-provoking, tackling the issue of religious disputes among the Abrahamic faiths at a time when this topic is becoming increasingly controversial. Over the course of more than 600 pages, the book delivers an in depth-exploration of topics that are typically only briefly addressed by religious authors and scholars.

Some examples of topics covered in the award-winning book:

The Seven Covenants: "The Goal of the Wise" explains the establishment of seven distinct Covenants between God and mankind, drawing on evidence from the Quran, Bible, and Torah. These Covenants are described as binding contracts between God and mankind. According to the book, humanity has broken six of these Covenants, which is why we are now in the final and seventh Covenant.

Each time a Covenant is broken, it is followed by the establishment of a new one. Each Covenant is associated with a specific Prophet, who announces new laws adapted to the needs and circumstances of the time. These teachings offer an unprecedented explanation for the change in religious law over time and the existence of multiple religions, all of which trace their origins back to the same God.

Continuous Successorship: Aba Al-Sadiq cites religious texts to prove that, from Adam all the way to the present, each Messenger and Prophet claimed their authority based on God's direct appointment and the written Will of their predecessor. This guarantees the presence of a Messenger of God in every age, able to instruct and guide the people according to the circumstances of their time.

The Unity of Religions and the Recognition of Unknown Prophets: The book reveals that almost all religions around the world originated from a true Prophet or Messenger of God. It states that God has sent Messengers to every community throughout history and supports this claim through verses in the Bible and the Qur'an. While some Prophets are named and well-known in religious scriptures, many others remain unknown. Examples of such unknown Prophets are Plato, Alexander the Great, and Buddha.

About the Author

Abdullah Hashem, known by his title Aba Al-Sadiq (Arabic for “Father of the Truthful One”), is the effective head of The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL). He is also referred to as Qa’im, meaning “The Riser”—a title rich with eschatological meaning in Islam.

On December 24, 2022, Aba Al-Sadiq Abdullah Hashem released his first book, The Goal of the Wise, now honored at the Torino Fair. This revolutionary work is regarded as the gospel of AROPL and can be downloaded free of charge from their website, ensuring that its knowledge is freely available for everyone. The book is centred around Ab Al-Sadiq's years-long spiritual dialogue with his mentor and soul father, Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan, who is another leading figure in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.

Drawing upon gnostic scriptures, apocryphal texts, and contemporary science and philosophy, The Goal of the Wise has been praised as a revelatory and daring text. Scholars and professionals from various fields have lauded its range and depth:

“A transcendent gospel for apocalyptic times…” — Prof. Aria Razfar, University of Illinois Chicago

“Absolutely unputdownable…” — Dr. Irfan Alamgir, MBBS, BSc, MRCGP

“Mind-blowing conclusions… a revolution in the minds of all who read it.” — Dr. Ali Rauf Khadum, Medical Doctor

The book captures intimate, philosophical conversations between Abdullah Hashem and Ahmed Al-Hassan over several years. Aba Al-Sadiq not only compiled these exchanges but also expanded on them, providing the readers with proofs and explanations of the dialogue. The book is rich with quotes from various religions, citing not only the Bible, Torah, and Qur'an, but also gnostic texts such as the Nag Hammadi Library and the gnostic Islamic manuscript Haft Al-Shareef.

Aba Al-Sadiq Abdullah Hashem is currently working on a new book titled Divine Jurisprudence, which delves deeper into the evolution of laws throughout the seven covenants discussed in The Goal of the Wise. Readers around the world are eagerly awaiting this next masterpiece, which is expected to have a similar impact on the international religious landscape and discussions.