Lebanon: The Second Community of The Qaim

Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, the Riser of the Family of Mohammed, has built a community of believers around him to embody the Divine Just State envisioned by God as the model utopia for mankind to live by and under the banner of ‘Allegiance is to Allah’ ruled by the Divinely appointed King, the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. This model has been replicated in another community living by the same standards and principles in Lebanon under the direction of their King Aba Al-Sadiq. This is the only satellite example of an external community living how the Mahdi and his community live. DJS magazine took the time to learn more about this community and how they are coping in the volatile environment they are established in. Ahmed Hallal is the Messenger to Syria and Lebanon, a deputy in charge of the affairs of the believers delegated this responsibility by Abdullah Hashem himself. DJS took time to speak to Ahmed and a believer, Mais, who came through this community in Lebanon, to gain an insight into their experiences and differing perspectives on matters.

DJS: How long have you been in touch with the community in Lebanon

Ahmed: About 2 years of Lebanon and Syria

DJS: How have you seen it develop?

A: The community was established from nothing as a community, but there were believers there, we had Abdulrahman and Nahid, then Mais came with her brother and it started from there.  

DJS: How many members are there now in the community?

A: Total, about 30 people

DJS: Did this number grow organically on the ground or online?

A: Online dawah. They make contact when they believe and they are added to the group. When and if they make a request to come to the Imam and make Hijra, we start talking to them about how to be as believers and members of a believing community, and the difference of lifestyle that they can expect. They then have to arrange themselves and get to the location of the community in Lebanon from Syria or wherever else they are coming from, whether in Lebanon or elsewhere nearby.

DJS: Out of the 30 gathered in Lebanon how many are Lebanese?

A: Two.

DJS: What about practising their religion freely?

A: They cannot do so publicly. So they stay to themselves when it comes to their faith.

DJS: What would happen if they were discovered?

A: They would most likely be imprisoned and in prison they would most likely be tortured and abused. Then they would be handed over to ISIS or another militant group, which would enact a violent treatment towards them and this would most likely result in their public execution.

DJS: Are there any human rights organisations aware of them?

A: There are only human rights activists or defenders; and yes they are aware of their situation, but they have withdrawn their support. They say we have closed the files on the Syrian refugees due to the end of the war in Syria.

DJS: In terms of local persecution, is anything being done?

A: No, of course not. Syrians have to return back to Syria. They are being sent back from everywhere in the world. If they were sent back they would face imminent danger.

DJS: There’s around 30-35 people right now, are you expecting this community to grow? 

A: It is going to grow for sure due to the fact that there is currently a revolution in Syria and many Alawites are being persecuted which means most of them want to flee.

DJS: Is there anything else you want to add about this community?

A: God bless them, they are being very patient. To leave their homes and move to Lebanon, they are going through a lot to get to their Imam. They know it is very difficult to get to Aba Al-Sadiq.

Aba Al-Sadiq mentioned that this is the only community outside of Crewe where they are living together and sharing all their resources and eating together every day. There are believers in other countries but they are not living together like this.

The Syrians are living in better conditions than they were in Syria, so they are happier and more stable where they are and they are safer. They are grateful and they are being very patient with their greatest ambition, to be with their Imam. 

DJS: Please tell us a little more about the conditions they face in Lebanon.

A: The community in Lebanon is in danger. They cannot open their mouths and they cannot practice their religion openly. The country Lebanon is divided into Christians, Muslims - Shia and Sunnis, Druze, Alawites etc. and all are free to congregate and gather in their communities openly and freely within Lebanese society, without fear of persecution or any form of threat against them, the Lebanese government knows about them and protects them. But they don’t accept The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, they say who are you guys? They will fight them, you know what I mean?

Religious scholars have already attacked us formally and declared fatwas against us, do you think they will leave the believers alone? Think about it, they are openly and brazenly hostile towards us; if they know about the believers living in their midst, they would seek to imprison them, incarcerate them and this is why they are forced to practice dissimulation (taqiyah). They cannot raise their banners or go out and share their beliefs with others, they cannot promote any of their religious literature for fear of a repeat of what happened with the believers in Egypt.

This concludes our dialogue of brother Ahmed Hallal. We continue with sister Mais, a believer who travelled from Syria to Lebanon and then on to the UK to join the community of believers around her Imam, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq.

DJS: Tell me a little about yourself.

Mais: My name is Mais Mahmoud. I am from Syria, from Idlib Governorate. I am 28 years old. I studied Arabic Literature at Tishreen University in Latakia. I come from a Sunni background.

DJS: How long have you been a believer in Aba Al-Sadiq and how did you find his call? Give us an overview of your journey.

M: I believed in the Call in 2021 after my brother informed me about it and told me that I could ask God. I sincerely asked God, and I became convinced that this Call is true. I tried to follow the videos of Aba Al-Sadiq and the related channel, but this was difficult at first due to my father’s opposition, so I followed privately.

I read The Book of Monotheism and The Calf by Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan and The Goal of The Wise by Aba Al-Sadiq. These books changed my life and my way of thinking and revealed to me what I believe to be the falsehood of religious figures not appointed by God. I experienced many years of injustice, including being forced to wear the hijab, and I witnessed cooperation between religious authorities and an oppressive government that caused poverty, hunger, and hardship.

By God’s grace, Aba Al-Sadiq helped me overcome this period. I am now part of his community, where I live in peace, love, and mutual respect with brothers and sisters from different countries. We learned that without love there is no life, and that ethics are more important than knowledge.

DJS: I understand that you had to migrate to Lebanon and live there before you could come and join the community of Aba Al-Sadiq and be with your Imam. When did you decide to migrate and what inspired you to do so?

M: I decided to migrate with my brother, who was 26 years old and had lost his left leg in the war. My decision was based on religious conviction and a sense of duty to support Imam Al-Zaman (the Imam of the time). 

DJS: What were the difficulties you faced when you first migrated and how long did you stay in Lebanon?

M: This was the first time in my life that I visited Lebanon. Due to limited financial resources, my brother and I traveled on foot to Lebanon. The journey took two days and involved crossing mountainous areas. I arrived safely, believing that God was protecting me. Upon arrival, a believing brother and his wife welcomed us and offered us support. I stayed there for one year and then moved to the community of Aba Al-Sadiq.

DJS: What was life like in the community in Lebanon?

M: After my migration, many believers joined, and we lived together with patience and cooperation. I searched for work, and despite many difficulties, I continued with determination. I experienced discrimination in Lebanon due to my Syrian nationality, which affected employment opportunities and access to housing. Nevertheless, I remained resilient, believing that God is always with the believer.

DJS: Were there difficulties you faced as part of your experience in Lebanon?

M: Living within the community was a positive and meaningful experience. It gave me a sense of true family, kindness, and shared responsibility. We always tried to serve one another, as taught by Aba Al-Sadiq.

DJS: How did you leave Lebanon and can you give a brief explanation of your experiences since you made the commitment to migrate to Aba Al-Sadiq? What was the most difficult thing you faced and how did you overcome it?

M: Since my migration, the community leader cared for me and remained in contact with me. I got married to a believer. I now live in the UK with my husband, and we have a son. I am grateful for the safety, stability, and dignity I have achieved, and for the transformation in my life from hardship to peace, justice, and love.

This concludes our dialogue with sister Mais. The community of believers in Lebanon continue to face hardships and struggle silently as they commit to serving their Imam in obedience and complete submission. They live like a beehive, each carrying different responsibilities and serving the whole body together with affection and respect. It is this shining example which makes them something to behold and admire. Their independence and success shows that with divine guidance anything is possible.