The Divine Just State magazine received a report from Mohammad Hashem Bazrafshan in which he briefly accounted his ordeals since believing in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. Mohammed is an Iranian national forced to flee his country for holding on to a belief deemed unacceptable by the religious authorities. We take this opportunity to share his story in his own words. “I seek refuge in God from Satan, the accursed. In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise be to God, Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon you.  My name is Mohammad Hashem Bazrafshan. I am from Shiraz, Iran. Date of birth: May 5, 1980.  Around the year 2017, I became acquainted with the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light through one of my friends, and after research, I embraced it. After that, the Islamic Republic created severe problems for me. At first, they began threatening me through Telegram, saying that they would arrest me and that I must stop my activities, otherwise I would face dangerous consequences.  Before that, several members of our religion had already been arrested, including Mohammadreza Shakerian. Because we believed in our religion and it is one of our religious duties to promote it, we lived under very difficult conditions, constantly being threatened and living in fear. They repeatedly threatened us on social media with arrest, torture, imprisonment, and execution.  In Iran, anyone who leaves Islam is considered an infidel, and their blood is considered permissible (halal). After many threats and arrests of members of our religion, and realizing that I could no longer practice my faith in Iran, because I was being threatened daily, I decided to leave the country. I took steps to leave, but at Imam Khomeini Airport, after purchasing a ticket, paying the fees, and passing through inspection, my name was called over the loudspeaker. Security officers came and told me that I was banned from leaving the country. They confiscated my passport and did not return it. They gave me an unstamped letter stating that I had to go to the Special Clerical Court in Tehran to resolve my case.  Unstamped letter of appointment to Special Clerical Court in Tehran Knowing what awaited me based on previous arrests, after a few days I attempted to escape Iran with some fellow believers. Mohammad Hashem Bazrafshan attempting to escape Iran However, while we were still inside Iran, near the city of Khoy, we were attacked. They treated us as if we were ISIS terrorists, opened fire on our car, arrested us, and in the freezing midnight air held us in an ambush post and tortured us. We were kept in extreme cold and treated very badly, and afterward we were transferred to a detention center in Khoy. There, we were interrogated daily, threatened, shouted at, and accused without any evidence. They told us we were infidels and spies for Israel. After two days in detention, while continuing to threaten us, they loaded all of us - including women and children - into a van. We were blindfolded, shackled, and handcuffed, thrown into the van, piled on top of each other, and transferred to Tehran. On the way, intelligence agents - who called themselves the “unknown soldiers of the Imam of the Time” - severely beat two of our friends, even though their hands were tied. One of them, Mohammadreza Shakerian, protested their behavior. They slammed his head against the metal frame of the vehicle, threw him to the ground while chained, and beat him so severely that he lost consciousness.  Women and children were screaming, but they paid no attention and continued shouting at all of us. After that, we were handed over to Evin Prison, which belongs to the Ministry of Intelligence, where we were severely tortured. They punched me in the head until I lost consciousness. The atmosphere was filled with fear and terror. All that could be heard were the screams and cries of prisoners and the terrifying shouts of guards. We were subjected to both physical and psychological torture. We were kept blindfolded, facing a wall in the cold, beaten, insulted, humiliated, and mocked.  I was taken for interrogation about twelve times. Their main method was lying and threatening. When I insisted on my right to have a lawyer, they mocked me and said such things only exist in movies, and that I had no right to a lawyer. They did not respect my legal rights as stated in their own criminal procedure laws. I was held in Evin Prison for two months. We were arrested on December 12, 2022, kept in detention for two days, and then transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran. They constantly intimidated and threatened us.  Due to the chaotic situation in Iran at the time, especially the protests following Mahsa Amini’s death and the hijab issue, many people were arrested and brought there. The prison was extremely crowded, and torture was widespread. Before entering prison, detainees had been severely beaten in houses. Some of those in my cell could not walk for up to a month. Electric shock devices were used on their genitals, backs, and entire bodies repeatedly. Their condition was unimaginable. On the last day of interrogation, the interrogator whispered in my ear: “Do whatever you want in private - have illicit relationships, drink alcohol - but no one should find out. Just never oppose our government and abandon your beliefs.” They pressured and tortured me and forced me to sign a document stating that my beliefs were misguided and that I repented. This showed their hypocrisy.  Because of the overcrowding, they temporarily released prisoners on bail until their cases could be processed later. I was also released on bail on February 12, 2023. However, I was in a very poor condition. My right hand had become partially paralyzed due to torture, and I had to undergo physiotherapy for a month.  Before my release, they threatened me, saying they would monitor me closely and that if I continued my activities, they would destroy my life and possibly kill me. Due to the extremely dangerous conditions and constant fear, on March 6, 2023, I was forced to leave my wife and three beloved children behind without support and flee through the mountains and wilderness of Iran. After enduring great hardship and crossing deadly valleys and mountains covered with several meters of snow, I finally managed to leave Iran and enter Turkey on March 18, 2023.  Mohammad Hashem Bazrafshan holding a walking stick The picture on the left is me with the walking stick in my hand. I had fled through the impassable snowy mountains of Iran into Turkey. The bruising under my left eye is still visible. While crossing the border, a smuggler attacked me with a stick, and I fell on a rock, which caused my eyebrow to split open and led to the bruising around my eye. Unfortunately, since Turkey is also an Islamic country, it does not accept my beliefs. I decided to go with fellow believers - who had also fled from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Palestine, and Azerbaijan - to the official Turkey/Bulgaria border to enter Bulgaria, a European country where our religion is officially recognized as a religious organization and minority in the EU, USA, and the UK. However, Turkey did not allow us to leave. We were beaten and transferred to the Edirne Removal Center for deportation.  Mohammad Hashem Bazrafshan attempting to enter Bulgaria I was held there for five months, from 24/05/2023 to 06/10/2023, and I was subjected to severe psychological and physical pressure. Before entering the deportation center, some of us, myself included, were taken to a police station where we were detained and beaten daily, fists, kicks, and batons were all used, we were also subjected to abusive language. They accused us of causing unrest in their country. At the Kapıkule border, due to the election period and shortage of security forces, they reportedly encouraged truck drivers to help suppress us, some made horrific threats about violence against our women. At the border, I was punched in the eye, I still suffer from vision problems, seeing floating objects in my sight. On another day, they beat me so severely that four of my teeth were broken. My other teeth were also badly damaged and I had to undergo surgery to remove the broken teeth. I currently have no upper teeth, and my lower teeth are also in poor condition. At the police station, after beating us, they took us to a doctor and forced us to say we had no problems. The doctor was cooperating with them. When we initially said we had injuries, they threatened to keep beating us until our death. Out of fear, we were forced to say we were fine.  I do not know if you are aware of the conditions in detention camps in Turkey. Although they are called camps, they are more like dungeons - terrifying and inhumane. Guards constantly shout at and beat detainees. The drinking water is dirty and discolored, they only change it temporarily when inspections occur. I became ill there, suffered from digestive problems, and lost about 10 kilograms due to the poor quality of food. Now my situation is extremely critical.  My family is left behind in Iran without support, and I am in a country where we are treated worse than animals. Even animals have safety in the streets, but we are detained, tortured, and imprisoned simply because of our beliefs. After being released from the camp, it has now been over a year that we have been scattered across different cities. The cost of living here is very high, I have a severe back injury and cannot work. Life here is extremely difficult.  Mohammad Hashem Bazrafshan's son, Hussein Here is a picture of one of my children, Hussein, whom I haven't seen for more than three or four years and I don't know what happened to them.” The harrowing stories of the persecuted believers in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light continue to expose the tyranny of the oppressive governments of the so-called Muslim countries like Iran and Turkey. This magazine will persevere to make these stories public and to bring to light all the crimes committed by these regimes in order to hold them to account for their violations.

Tehran — March 1, 2026  — Iran's state television confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei early on March 1, 2026, following a massive attack by the US and Israel on his compound in Tehran. The announcement was made at 5:00 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. GMT), marking a significant moment in Iranian political history. Khamenei rose to power as the Supreme Leader of Iran in 1989 and was a significant figure in Iranian politics for over 40 years. His death raises concerns about potential instability in the region and a leadership vacuum in Iran. According to multiple reports, the strike was conducted jointly by U.S. and Israeli forces using intelligence supplied by the CIA. Reaction within Iran appeared mixed, with some citizens reportedly celebrating the news while others gathered in mourning. In recent months, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq had repeatedly criticized Iran’s leadership, referring to it as the “Shah of Persia.” A February 25 article  published by the Divine Just State Magazine examined the history of Iran’s government and its treatment of followers of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. The article also referenced a sermon delivered on January 23, 2026 in which Aba Al-Sadiq predicted the destruction of Iran and denounced Khosrow, whom he associated with Khamenei. The sermon included the following passage: “And the Prophet Mohammed said, “May God curse Khosrow” the Shah of Persia, “verily, the first of the people to be destroyed is Persia and then the Arabs.” And that's what you see coming to pass. Today, Persia is about to be destroyed, and tomorrow after that will be the Arabs. So today I have conveyed what I was commanded to convey. I have reminded you of the covenant, and I have recited to you the Will. I have named the proof of God upon you. And I have warned you of the consequence of turning away. There is no compulsion in religion and there's no compulsion upon you, but there is accountability, and there is no excuse after knowledge. O Allah, You are my witness that I have delivered, O Allah, You are my witness that I did not conceal.” Khamenei’s death marks a major turning point for Iran’s stability and future. This story is still developing.

Crewe — February 28, 2026  — A small local protest was held on Saturday, 28 February, at the gate of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. The protest was organised by a local resident who appears to have been motivated by concerns about the activities of the believers in January. There also appears to be a connection to Tommy Robinson posting  about the January march held on the grounds of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light headquarters on X.  For full details on that story please read the article published by the Divine Just State magazine, entitled   When a Religious March at Webb house in Crewe Went Viral .  In response, anti-racism protestors came to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light Headquarters to stand against hatred, intolerance and racism.  Activists from “Stand Up to Racism” and “Women Against the Far Right” joined us in our stand, as well as members of NORSCARF - “North Staffordshire Campaign Against Racism and Fascism”. The day began calmly at around 9:20 a.m., with protesters gathering slowly to observe the site and report by phone outside Webb House. Meanwhile, local residents who had arranged to counter-protest began arriving, including a member of the Cheshire East Council office. Councillor Ben Wye was thanked by organisers for showing support for the counter-protest on Saturday. Heavy rain began around 10:00 a.m., falling steadily and stopping only intermittently until about midday. When a coach arrived carrying members of the two groups that had expressed interest in counter-protesting — Stand Up To Racism and Women Against the Far Right — the sun emerged, shining on the counter-protesters gathered inside the gates of the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. Part of the event was broadcast live on TikTok from an attendee’s account, reaching approximately 7,000 views within one hour and 247 concurrent viewers during the broadcast. Placards and banners were clearly displayed inside the gates, calling for unity, humanity and a rejection of racism. On the other side of the gate, a single worn sign expressed the view of the original protest. The now well-known robot security dog also appeared before the musical portion of the counter-protest began. Hashem’s Choir performed songs promoting peace and unity, including “We Are the World,” “What a Wonderful World,” and “Stand By Me.” The performance appeared to affect people on both sides and helped set the tone for the day. Those who had come to protest the presence of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light at Webb House departed shortly afterward. The day concluded with a tour of the Hall of Mysteries. Counter-protest attendees were given a first glimpse of the Museum of Mohammed and his Household, followed by a final performance from Hashem’s Choir, after which participants shared a meal together, reflecting on the day’s events.

In the most recent lecture from The Hall Of Mysteries , Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq addressed an issue that has been a contentious and often unclear concept, and that is the subject of Karma. The episode with the title Karma Is The Ultimate Proof God Exists  delves into a detailed explanation of how Karma plays out and exactly what the consequences are of certain actions we choose to pursue. What makes this episode particularly hard-hitting is the fact that it gives the explanation that every aspect of our world is encompassed in Karma. Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq takes from the Gnostic text Al-Haft Al-Shareef and breaks down the conversation between the sixth Imam, Ja’far Al-Sadiq, and his close companion Al-Muffadal ibn Omar, to give a detailed explanation of how all things in this world are potentially hosting souls. This includes inanimate objects. Which brings us on to our headline and the relevance of gold in reality. According to the episode from The Hall Of Mysteries  with the title The Islamic Caste System Exposed , gold is representative of the second caliph Omar ibn Al-Khattab, who opposed Mohammed declaring his final will and testament during the event most famously known as the Calamity of Thursday by objecting to his leaving a statement for the Muslims while he was on his deathbed. Omar ibn Al-Khattab also caused the miscarriage of the third son of Fatimah Muhsin, resulting in the eventual death of Fatimah Al-Zahra as well due to the injuries she sustained when he forced the door of her house on her, trapping her behind the door and piercing her belly with a nail embedded in the door.  The most recent episode gives a further explanation of why some people like to adorn themselves in gold and jewellery, connecting it to Karma and how, in actuality, some souls incarnate as these objects and become adornments themselves. This relegation seems very appropriate for the one who seeks to be adorned with such objects, sometimes at the cost of starving themselves in order to show the world their adornments. Their return as an item that they adorned themselves with seems very apt. Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq made a very profound statement before and has given us to quote here today, and that is:  “Fatimah did not wear gold, and the believing women of this dawah do not wear gold.” The importance of this statement makes it clear that gold is not acceptable for believers in this religion due to the stance of the Mistress of the Women of Paradise. With the context explained in the most recent episodes from The Hall of Mysteries, we have a very clear and concise understanding of the reasons, and so we call upon all those who possess gold today to donate it in the name of God so that God may make use of it appropriately through His True appointed representative, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq. "Allah has indeed purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah and kill or are killed. This is a true promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. And whose promise is truer than Allah’s? So rejoice in the exchange you have made with Him. That is ˹truly˺ the ultimate triumph." (Qur’an, 9:111) There is no greater honour or responsibility than to support the cause of God on this Earth. Support the Mahdi movement and establishment of the Divine Just State, by donating your gold today. Contact us at outreach@theahmadireligion.com & title the subject "Gold Drive."

The Malaysian persecution of believers in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light continues unabated, with a new twist now being utilised to bring additional pressure and abuse. The Divine Just State magazine highlighted the case of Security Guard Mohammad Shahirman  on the 13th of February 2026. This innocent man was forced to pay a fine of RM2500, worth around a month and a half of his wages, simply for possessing materials in his home about the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. This story takes a severe turn now, because we have just been informed by the Messenger of Malaysia that he received communication on the 11th of March from Mohammad Shahirman Akbar Ali Khan, along with another believer, Muhammad Farid Arsyad, who had both been sentenced to nine months in prison after being summoned to another court in the state of Johor. They have been taken to Kluang Prison to begin serving their sentences while awaiting further trials on other alleged civil crimes. As detailed previously, the specifics of Mohammad Shahirman’s arrest and subsequent sentence to pay a fine in the state of Malacca were reported in this magazine last month, while the circumstances of the second detainee, Muhammad Farid Arsyad, had not been reported due to his disappearance at the time. It transpired that Arsyad had been detained under severe circumstances on the 12th of February, whereby up to 30 police officers raided his home, seizing his phone and other possessions as evidence against him; he was transported to the Sharia Kadhi Office in Muar in the state of Johor. The police confiscated Muhammad Farid Arsyad's mobile phone and instructed him to attend a trial at the Johor Syariah Court on the 11th of March, 2026. On the 13th of February, both subjects were produced at the Melaka Civil Court, shortly after they were remanded for four days at the Jasin District Police Headquarters (IPD Jasin) lock-up in the state of Malacca. They were investigated for allegedly committing several civil offences, including those under Section 298 of the Malaysian Penal Code. Definition of Section 298 “Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person.” This includes: Saying insulting words about a religion Making offensive sounds or statements Using gestures meant to mock a religion Showing objects or symbols intended to insult someone’s religion Punishment for this offence: if found guilty, the offender may face up to 1 year in prison, a fine, or both. The police submitted full reports to the federal attorney's office, and both detainees were to await being summoned to the civil court. Special Branch (SB) officers also questioned them. On the 15th of February, statements were recorded by multiple police departments. During the inquiry, authorities said they had identified several members of AROPL as persons of interest in connection with a mass vehicle convoy incident in Kuala Lumpur. On the 17th of February, bail was granted to both individuals by Investigating Officer (IO) Mr. Idris after secondary statements were taken from them. They returned to their respective residences. Alone and isolated due to the fear generated by their prosecutions, Muhammad Farid Arsyad contacted the Messenger of Malaysia to notify him of the impending court attendance on the same day, the 11th of March. He told him that he would inform him once they had been sentenced.  Later that day, Muhammad Farid Arsyad sent several audio recordings to the Messenger of Malaysia, informing him that the judge had sentenced both of them to nine months in prison for committing two Sharia offences. Both offences fall under the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997. They are: Going against the fatwa decreed by the mufti.  Publishing and distributing of religious materials that are contrary to Sharia Law They are both now sentenced to three months' imprisonment for the first offence and six months for the second, bringing the total to nine months. The police transported them to Kluang Prison in Johor, where their sentence began. They join another believer in that very prison, Muhammad Hisyam Fikri Bin Mohd Sarif, who is currently serving his prison sentence since the 4th of September, 2025. Both detainees will soon face trial for allegedly committing several civil offences, and their imprisonment will be further extended. Johor state in Malaysia is immersed in a concerted effort to show force in the name of rehabilitating “deviants, those who contradict Islamic faith.”  This endeavour is now expected to become a primary weapon in the state-sanctioned fight to criminalise belief in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. Mohammad Shahirman Akbar Ali Khan had already been sentenced and paid the fine as required.  All of this, of course, is a complete violation of the most basic of human rights afforded by the United Nations in the UN Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief, as articulated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees everyone the right to hold and change their religion or beliefs, and to practice them freely, either alone or in community with others. Malaysia became a member of the United Nations on the 17th of September 1957 and has affirmed acceptance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which outlines fundamental rights and freedoms for all individuals. As such, the United Nations and the rest of the free world must take action against this unacceptable conduct.

On this day, the day of the Return of Al-Hussain and the birth of the Promised Yamani from the family of Mohammed, we celebrate the mission of Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan. In 1999, a transformative voice emerged from the city of Basra, Iraq, shaking the foundations of religious thought and signaling the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. This man, Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan, who had previously studied to be an engineer, was chosen for a divine mission that would unite the three major Abrahamic faiths. He testified that his journey began through momentous spiritual encounters with the Twelfth Imam, Mohammed ibn Al-Hassan Al-Mahdi. After experiencing visions in Samarra at the mausoleums of the Tenth and Eleventh Imams, he met Imam Mahdi physically in Karbala, where he was enlightened to his identity as the Promised Yamani and the first of the twelve Mahdis mentioned in the Holy Will of the Prophet. The Cornerstone: The Holy Will and the Supremacy of Allah Central to Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan’s call is the restoration of the Holy Will of Prophet Mohammed (pbuhahf), dictated on the night of the Prophet's passing as a permanent protection against misguidance. This document, referred to as the "Holy Grail of Islam," identifies twelve Imams followed by twelve Mahdis, naming the first three Mahdis as Abdullah, Ahmed, and Al-Mahdi. Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan was the only individual in 1,400 years to claim his rightful place in this Will as "Ahmed," the successor and messenger of Imam Mahdi. He emerged as the champion of the Supremacy of Allah, teaching that only God has the divine right to appoint the ruler and representative of mankind. By raising the banner of "Al-Bayaa Lillah" (Allegiance is to Allah), he rejected the "supremacy of the people" found in modern democracy and the religious authority of non-working scholars. He challenged the global religious establishment to debates, demonstrating unmatched divine knowledge by decoding the inner meanings of the Quran, the Torah, and the Gospels. Hidden Truths and the Great Return Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan brought forth a "new matter" that included the reality of the Raj'a, or the Great Return, where the souls of prophets and messengers reincarnate to support the establishment of the Divine Just State. He revealed himself to be the reincarnation of Imam Al-Hussein, returning to seek vengeance for the blood of the prophets and to finally establish God’s kingdom on Earth. His revelations extended to the "soul world," identifying soul lineages and the true "hashemite" identity of the believers, which is based on spiritual loyalty rather than mere biology.  A Global Movement and the Raising of the Black Banners A historic turning point occurred with the appointment of Aba Al-Sadiq (Abdullah Hashem) as the "Abdullah" mentioned in the Will and the Qaim (Riser) of the Family of Mohammed. On January 23, 2015—the very night of the prophesied death of King Abdullah of Hijaz (Saudi Arabia)—the Black Banners of the East were raised. This signaled the end of the age of occultation and the emergence of a global community dedicated to the Divine Just State. Today, the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light has grown into a vast international movement of believers from all nations and backgrounds, officially recognized by governments such as the United States. Dedicated to the principle of "Humanity First," the movement provides refuge for the marginalized and seeks to restore the original, uncorrupted religion of all prophets. Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan remains the "fortified Cave" for those seeking salvation from the tyranny of the End Times, leading a spiritual revolution to unite humanity under the banner of the Creator.

In Iran, believing in divine appointment over clerical rule can cost you everything. Members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light face brutal beatings, skull-cracking torture, sexual assault, and fatwas declaring their blood 'halal.' Children jailed in Evin Prison. Families too terrified to speak. This is state-sponsored persecution. Members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light have faced systemic and brutal persecution in Iran, where the government and religious scholars consider the movement heretical and a significant threat to their authority. The Iranian state has produced and televised propaganda documentaries and programs specifically designed to slander the religion, using images of the believers without permission to frame them as heretics and apostates. Religious scholars in the country have gone as far as issuing fatwas declaring the blood of the believers to be "halal," effectively legitimizing their murder. The physical persecution has been severe, with reports of believers being brutally beaten, tortured, and sexually assaulted by security forces. In one instance, an undercover police officer used a stick to crack open the skull of a member who was sharing his faith. A group of 15 believers, including minors and young children, were arrested and detained in the notorious Evin Prison, where they were subjected to harsh conditions and pressured to give false confessions against the faith. Currently, there are reports of believers in Iran who have gone missing, with their families being too terrified by the authorities to provide any information regarding their whereabouts. The motivation for this crackdown stems from the Iranian regime's adherence to the doctrine of Wilayat Al-Faqih, which claims that scholars are the legitimate representatives of the Mahdi. Because the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light teaches that only God can appoint a ruler and that the current Iranian leadership is illegitimate, the state views the movement as an "enemy of the state". Scholars in Iran have even stated publicly that if the true Imam Mahdi were to emerge and oppose the Iranian government, he should be fought and killed. Consequently, the practice of the religion is officially banned in Iran, and hundreds of its members have been forced to flee the country to seek asylum elsewhere. https://www.en-hrana.org/tag/ahmadi-religion-of-peace-and-light/

The 2026 Annual Report  was released for public consumption on the 4th of March 2026, with a summary press statement titled USCIRF Releases 2026 Annual Report: Exposes Egregious Religious Freedom Abuses From Key Nations  made available on the official USCIRF website . This report has been picked up by several publications, including The Divine Just State, due to the significance of its content in terms of religious freedom around the world. The freedom of belief is a basic human right and this is documented in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The report is generally seen as having influence on foreign policy in the United States of America because the government is forced to assess the relationship it maintains with foreign governments based on their application of human rights within their countries. A list of 29 countries were highlighted and categorised as either being recommended for designation as  “Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs)” or being placed on the “Special Watch List (SWL)”.  The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light was mentioned in the report several times due to the documented persecution in the past year faced by believers for no other reason than believing in their chosen faith. Countries like Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria are currently embroiled in legal cases where believers have had their human and civil rights revoked for no other reason than believing in this religion. We thank the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for highlighting the struggles and plights of those who hold firm to the religion of their choice, and we here at The Divine Just State affirm the human right to freedom of belief.

An official statement issued by the Chairman of the Johor State Islamic Affairs Committee, Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, has renewed debate over the limits of religious freedom and intellectual discourse in Malaysia. Under Malaysian law and administrative practice, individuals born into Muslim families are automatically registered as Muslims. They are required to adhere exclusively to the Ahlul Sunnah wal Jama'ah school of thought and are not legally permitted to study, question, or critically examine alternative Islamic interpretations or religious beliefs. Critics argue that this framework stands in tension with the Qur’an, which affirms that there is no compulsion in religion and emphasizes the obligation to investigate, study, and freely choose the truth. The controversy has intensified following the declaration of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light as deviant through a fatwa and its subsequent ban. Observers have questioned whether this designation implies that other religions—such as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism—would also be considered deviant from the perspective of Malaysia’s religious authorities. These faiths, however, continue to be practiced openly in the country and have not been formally declared deviant by state institutions. This disparity has prompted accusations of double standards and selective enforcement in Malaysia’s religious governance. Supporters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light maintain that the movement’s emphasis on humanity, peace, and universal justice has drawn scrutiny precisely because of its theological claims and its challenge to established religious authority. The issue underscores broader tensions in Malaysia between constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and the regulatory role of Islamic institutions in defining orthodoxy and belief. As reactions continue to emerge, the broader implications for religious freedom in Malaysia remain unresolved.

The Incident in Marrakech On the 10th of February, a middle-aged man from Morocco was arrested by police in Marrakech. Fateh Benaiss, born on the 10th of January 1969, was detained simply for handing out leaflets and preaching peacefully on the streets. He has been a devoted follower of The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light for nearly a decade. This incident is not isolated. Over the years, Benaiss has faced multiple arrests by the Moroccan police for sharing his beliefs with the public in a peaceful manner. Typically, he is confined to a local mental asylum, where he is injected with tranquilizers and subsequently labelled a mental patient for his preaching. This treatment exemplifies the broader pattern of how authorities treat believers in Morocco. Previous Cases of Persecution The stories of Yahya Marfouq and Huzaifa Azuz have also been reported by The Divine Just State magazine. Both were apprehended by Moroccan intelligence services, with Huzaifa cruelly subjected to confinement in a mental asylum. These cases highlight a disturbing trend of religious persecution faced by members of The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Morocco. A Message from Fateh Benaiss Recently, we received a voice note from Fateh while he was at the police station. In his message, he conveyed the following: “Assalam alaikum wa rahmat Allahi wa barakatuhu, how are you? All good? I couldn't get hold of you on WhatsApp. Anyway, I'm at the police station; they've arrested me, so you know, don't be alarmed. Everything is okay, and it will be okay, Inshallah.” His message reflects a calm resilience in the face of adversity. Despite the challenges he faces, Benaiss remains steadfast in his beliefs. The Broader Context of Religious Persecution The persecution of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is not confined to Morocco. There has been increasing attention on the oppression faced by this faith in majority Muslim countries, such as Egypt and Malaysia. Reports published by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have highlighted the oppressive measures taken against this community, particularly in Egypt. As these stories gain traction, they serve as evidence against authoritarian regimes that oppress the human rights of their citizens without justification. The international community must take note of these violations and advocate for the rights of individuals to practice their faith freely. A Call for Action We urge the Moroccan government to drop all charges and intimidation programs directed at the believers in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. It is essential for the government to allow them to practice their faith in peace, as is their right under international law. This right is articulated in the UN Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief, specifically in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Importance of Religious Freedom Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. It allows individuals to express their beliefs without fear of persecution. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light advocates for peace, tolerance, and understanding among all people. It is crucial that governments respect and uphold these principles. In conclusion, the arrest of Fateh Benaiss is a stark reminder of the ongoing persecution faced by members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. As the world becomes more aware of these injustices, it is imperative that we stand in solidarity with those who seek to practice their faith freely. The fight for religious freedom is a collective responsibility that transcends borders and cultures. Let us continue to advocate for the rights of individuals like Fateh Benaiss, who courageously stand for their beliefs in the face of adversity.

Updated 1 March 2026:  This article has been updated to include the latest developments in Iran. On the 23rd of January 2026, the Mahdi Abdullah Hashem gave a very powerful sermon from his pulpit  at the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light headquarters to commemorate the Festival of the Will. During this historic speech, Aba Al-Sadiq made a very clear prophecy in which he declared that Iran is in imminent danger of annihilation along with the Arabs. For the purposes of this article, I will focus on the part of the sermon where Aba Al-Sadiq declares his warning after giving the context for the coming punishment. “God is punishing you, O Arabs, through Israel and the United States as He punished Israel before through the Romans and the Babylonians. The exact same thing also happened before in 1999 when Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan the Yamani proclaimed the Will and called towards the Supremacy of God. He warned of a punishment to come if you rejected him and indeed you rejected him and you tried to imprison and kill him. A few years later, Iraq was conquered by the United States and Saddam Hussein became the first of many Arab leaders, Lanatullah Alayhum (May Allah Curse Them), and governments in the region to fall. The fact of the matter is that God established His proof upon the Arabs and He sent multiple warners and warnings to them, but they refused to listen. They traded in Mohammed and the Family of Mohammed, Fatimah and her children, for Pharaoh, Nimrod, Yazeed and Abu Sufyan. They rejected Jesus and they chose Barabbas and Caesar instead. And for that reason, God has turned His face from them and no longer considers them to be the ummah of Mohammed, the true chosen people of God. But rather God's chosen people are those who uphold the Will of Mohammed. That's why Mohammed and his family said “with the Qaim are very few Arabs”. And the Prophet Mohammed said, “May God curse Khosrow” the Shah of Persia. “Verily, the first of the people to be destroyed is Persia and then the Arabs.” And that's what you see coming to pass. Today, Persia is about to be destroyed and tomorrow after that will be the Arabs. So today I have conveyed what I was commanded to convey. I have reminded you of the covenant and I have recited to you the Will. I have named the proof of God upon you. And I have warned you of the consequence of turning away. There is no compulsion in religion and there's no compulsion upon you, but there is accountability and there is no excuse after knowledge. O Allah, You are my witness that I have delivered, O Allah, You are my witness that I did not conceal. O Allah, You are my witness that I called to You alone, to Your authority alone and to those that You appointed. So whoever responds, responds for his own soul. And whoever turns away then Allah is not in need of the worlds.” I will break down this quote later on, but for now we need to examine the reaction of the Iranian authorities to this Holy call since Ahmed Al-Hassan proclaimed himself in Iraq in 1999, before the fall of Saddam Hussein. Ahmed Al-Hassan joined the Hawza of Najaf (the Islamic Seminary) in 1999 upon instruction of his father and master Mohammed ibn Al-Hassan Al-Askari. With this instruction came a direct order to notify the world of his call. He sent several letters to world leaders. One of his letters was addressed to the “supreme leader” of Iran, Ali Khamenei in which he demanded that he turn over the leadership of the republic of Iran to Imam Mahdi. Another letter was addressed to the former U.S. president George Bush warning him of the consequences of his actions in Iraq. Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan also addressed the people of Iraq asking them for support. For several years Ahmed Al-Hassan continued with his work, calling the Shia of Najaf to the obligation within their doctrine, that of recognising the spiritual and political authority of the Ahlul-Bayt. As his message grew in support, so did the agenda to bring him down. Saddam commissioned the Qur ’ an to be written in his blood and this act was condemned by Ahmed Al-Hassan as soon as he had emerged with his call. Saddam had his forces arrest individuals who were in contact with Ahmed Al-Hassan in the Hawza of Najaf. In his condemnation of the abominable act of having the Qur ’ an written in blood by Saddam, Ahmed Al-Hassan proclaimed this to be the act for which Allah would bring about the downfall of Saddam. Ahmed Al-Hassan continued his call after the fall of Saddam and as his following grew the religious authorities became more and more threatened as he was exposing the corruption of their methods, including the abuse of the financial system of the Ahlul-Bayt for their own benefit and the fact that they were no longer teaching from the Qur ’ an in their curriculum instead focusing on the linguistics. They had abandoned the teachings and explanations of the Qur ’ an from the Ahlul-Bayt and instead been using their own opinions for many rulings; most of all, the curriculum and its proponents had completely abandoned the Supremacy of God and advocated for the supremacy of the people. The religious institutions of Iraq were no longer calling the people to the support and allegiance to the Imams from the Family of Mohammed and instead were now proclaiming the so-called ayatollahs as the Imams who must be obeyed. The threat posed by his exposure of their methods necessitated a counter reaction and so they began to publish books against Ahmed Al-Hassan. The Hawza of Najaf collaborated with the Hawza of Qom along with the intelligence agencies of both countries to bring about the downfall of Ahmed Al-Hassan. This culminated with the attempted plot to assassinate Ahmed Al-Hassan in 2007; in 2003 Ahmed Al-Hassan made a public declaration and prophecy in one of his sermons where he declared his innocence from them and his occultation, but he warned that he will return with his father Mohammed ibn Al-Hassan Al-Askari in The Sermon of the Meeting of Imam Al-Mahdi . “Do not be happy by me leaving you and migrating from your lands for it won’t be long before I return, with my father Mohammed Ibn Al-Hassan Al-Mahdi, who shall not give you except the sword and death under the shadow of the sword!” (Sermon of the Meeting of Imam Al-Mahdi, Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan) The Sermon of The Story of Meeting of Imam Al-Mahdi is incredibly detailed and full of what may be construed as warnings to the people of Iraq. It is a recommended read, saying 209 from the book Sayings of Ahmed Al-Hassan .   Translation: ‘Demand for a technocratic government!!’ After 2007 and the disappearance of Ahmed Al-Hassan from Iraq, various movements emerged proclaiming themselves as being directed by Ahmed al-Hassan, most notably the Najaf office of the White Banners which was officially established in approximately 2006, while the Facebook page was established at the end of 2012. It was after this period that both the office and Facebook page were met with approval from the Iraqi authorities. The White Banners were originally raised by Ahmed Al-Hassan and he had even established several hussainiyas in Iraq, these were simple places of worship and they proudly displayed the banner of the Yamani. Using a falsified voice of Ahmed Al-Hassan they began manipulating followers and corrupting the essence of his call as exemplified by their declaration and approval of the elections when  they advocated for a government composed of technocrats  which is a blatant contradiction to the core of Ahmed Al-Hassan’s message of Supremacy to God. How can a representative office speaking in the name of a man condemning elections and all forms of secular government call for a “technocratic” government? Many saw the contradiction in this act because Ahmed Al-Hassan stood for the Supremacy of God, i.e. only God can appoint the leader. Ahmed Al-Hassan later began his interaction with the splinter group of the faithful led by Abdullah Hashem communicating with them regularly; and this was intensified officially when in 2015 Abdullah Hashem emerged as instructed declaring the end of the occultation of the Twelfth Imam, Mohammed ibn Al-Hassan Al-Askari, confirming the prophecy from Mohammed in which he states: “There shall rule Hijaz a man whose name is the name of an animal, if you look at him from afar you will think that he is cross-eyed but if you come close to him his eyes seem normal, he will be succeeded by a brother named Abdullah, woe to our Shia from him (he repeated this thrice), give me glad tidings of his death and I shall give you glad tidings of the appearance of the Hujjah (Imam Mahdi).” (250 Signs until the Appearance of Imam Mahdi , Muhammad Ali Tabatabai, Sign No. 88, p. 136) This was an incredibly pivotal moment due to the fact that the Shia world had been waiting for this prophecy to come true since Abdullah bin Abdulaziz came to rule over Saudi Arabia in 2005, it was widely discussed in Shia circles all over the world as the sign for the emergence of the long awaited 12th Imam from the family of Mohammed, Mohammed ibn Al-Hassan Al-Askari. Unfortunately, when it came to pass and the lone voice of Abdullah Hashem announced that it had come true, the clerics of Shia Islam began to distance themselves from it and weaken this particular narration. Fortunately, the Sixth Imam confirmed this specific prophecy when he said: “Whoever guarantees for me the death of Abdullah, I shall guarantee for him the Qaim.” Then he said: “After the death of Abdullah, the people will not have consensus on any person after him and this matter will not end except with your Companion, God willing. The kingdom running into years will end and the kingdom running into days and months will begin.” I (the narrator) asked: “Would this matter be prolonged?” He replied: “No.”  (Ghaybat Al-Tusi , Al-Shaikh Al-Tusi, Vol. 1, p. 467) This confirmation endorses the validity of the original prophecy by the prophet Mohammed. Nobody else on Earth has come forth to confirm the fulfilment of this prophecy other than Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq. Since this proclamation, the religious authorities in Iraq and Iran have intensified their aggression towards this claim and call. The Najaf office has clearly been allowed to operate in Iraq freely with approval from the government and this is confirmed in a statement made by a government official  at 4:29 of the video in the link and therefore no longer posed a threat and hence the permission for it to continue operating unabated and with funding. The literature published by the various religious authorities in Iraq to discredit Ahmed Al-Hassan and his movement, especially the Black Banners movement, reached over seventy-five books and that number continues to rise.  Iran took a less covert approach when they began their oppression of believers in Iran since 2019 due to their online activity declaring their faith and promoting it innocently through social media; Iranian authorities have ramped up efforts to identify and prosecute members of this faith, whose teachings oppose the principle of "Wilayat Al-Faqih" (Rule of the Jurisprudent), a core element of the Iranian regime. This opposition has led to their classification as "enemies of the state" and their religion as a "hostile and deviant group." That year three believers were arrested and imprisoned in the notorious Evin prison where they were subjected to all kinds of abuse in the name of interrogating them. The state’s efforts intensified when ‘The Goal of the Wise’ was published in 2022. Iranian state-media produced a defamatory propaganda documentary portraying the faith as a Mossad-backed, anti-Islamic movement, and its followers as “Agents of the West”. It called on Iranian citizens to take action against the faith in Iran. The documentary was aired on national television, prompting family members to report members of the faith to the religious authorities and this resulted in their imprisonment and persecution. The authorities had produced a television series in which the aim was to expose false mahdi claimants and a minimum of two episodes targeted both Ahmed Al-Hassan and Abdullah Hashem. Since 2022 various reports have documented the detention of believers in Iran by the authorities in the name of the state and protecting the state from this so-called “hostile and deviant group”. One such report by CAP Freedom of Conscience  provided some details of the persecution faced by fifteen members of the religion in Iran: “Among the religious minorities that are severely persecuted in Iran, there is the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light community, whose concerns I will be raising today: Members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Iran endure severe state-sponsored religious persecution. They are unable to freely practice their faith and live in constant fear for their safety and lives. The Iranian authorities label them as “heretics” and “infidels,” branding their religion as a “misguided movement” and “hostile and deviant group.” Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) reported on the detention of thirteen believers in Iran  in 2023; along with the United States Office of International Religious Freedom . This story was covered by various Human Rights Organisations and press outlets. Tragically two of those incarcerated were minors under the age of thirteen. The Iranian state-sponsored media continued to undermine and discredit both Abdullah Hashem and Ahmed Al-Hassan through the use of various members of the clergy in Iran like the so-called “Ayatollah” Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Qazvini   and media personalities like Ali Sharifi . Qazvini has gone as far as declaring that the leader of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light deserves death. In fact, television presenter Ali Sharifi dedicated an entire section on his website  to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light with the aim of describing the faith as blasphemous bolstering the statement by Qazvini. In Iran, blasphemy is often criminalized under Article 262 of the Islamic Penal Code. Iran treats blasphemy as a serious crime and may apply the death penalty to those accused of this crime. Iran also has a law against “spreading corruption in the land” (Mofsed-e-filarz) which is a carte blanche to criminalise anything which can include political dissent and any actions deemed undesirable by the state. Punishment for this crime includes anything from imprisonment to execution thus reflecting the strict control exercised by the Iranian government over political or social behaviour.  This channel has since been closed down by YouTube, most likely for political reasons. Some of the stories of the persecuted believers in Iran are heart-wrenching. One story is of a small business owner who made his living from making wedding videos. His shop was stormed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. They broke everything destroying tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment solely because he had produced some work promoting Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq online. They grabbed him by his neck and took him to his home and forced him to repent and renounce his faith with the threat of marrying his daughters who were minors and this inhumane method of intimidation worked. He lost his family due to pressures from these experiences and now has been sleeping in his car for the past seven years.  Another believer, Mohammedreza Shekariyanasl, who was one of the thirteen believers imprisoned in Evin prison has been missing, feared dead, since the beginning of December. He was in regular contact with family members in Iran and abroad; he had reported some of the methods used by the regime in Evin prison including sleep deprivation through the use of glaring lights. One fifty year old has been under pressure and ostracised by his family due to their experiences with the government solely for his belief in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. Due to security concerns, some of the names of the believers mentioned have been withheld for their own safety as they remain in Iran and their situations remain precarious.  Some of the measures used to eliminate the presence of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Iran has been to force those captured to publicly renounce their faith after being arrested, threatened and tortured in Evin prison. Prisoners are forced to pay bail only to attend court with some bails costing a preposterous $120,000.00 per person. Many of the believers in Iran were forced to escape to Turkey where they faced further persecution when they attempted to cross over to Bulgaria in 2023. During their detention they faced deportation back to Iran and this was documented at the United Nations Human Rights Council in a press release on the 4th of July 2023 , this was followed up by an officially recognised report submitted  by the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light highlighting in particular the persecution faced in Iran. Why highlight all of this persecution by the Iranian regime?  “Whoever chooses to be guided, it is only for their own good. And whoever chooses to stray, it is only to their own loss. No soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another. And We would never punish ˹a people˺ until We have sent a messenger ˹to warn them˺.” ( Qur ’ an 17:15) This verse clearly indicates that God does not send a punishment upon a people unless He sends a Messenger with a warning beforehand and this has clearly repeated throughout history. Punishment would only strike a nation after a Messenger had warned them of the impending punishment. So in that context we see that during his sermon published on the 23rd of January, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq clearly reminded the world of the warnings, plural, which came before in the names of Ahmed Al-Hassan and Aba Al-Sadiq himself. In reference to Ahmed Al-Hassan, he said: “He warned of a punishment to come if you rejected him and indeed you rejected him and you tried to imprison and kill him. A few years later, Iraq was conquered by the United States and Saddam Hussein became the first of many Arab leaders (May Allah Curse Them) and governments in the region to fall.” It is widely known and documented that Iraq has been unstable and in turmoil since 2003, a short while after Ahmed Al-Hassan had delivered the Sermon of Meeting Imam Al-Mahdi. Between the end of 2003 and 2007, before Ahmed Al-Hassan left Iraq, there was ample time for those who had heard his call to take heed of his warnings. Alas, they ignored the warner and calamities befell them. Iran is well known for being a repressive regime in the Middle East and this has never before resulted in more than sanctions and public condemnation by globally recognised bodies over the past twenty five years usually in response to some repressive activity within Iran or some other geopolitical decision which does not sit well with the Western superpowers. The odd skirmish here and there by various nations including the USA and Israel would result in the assassination of key players in roles of leadership, or some infrastructure being damaged. Since December 2024, Aba Al-Sadiq Abdullah Hashem has posed a direct challenge and warning to the most eminent cleric in Iran - Ali Khamenei - when he addressed him and Ali Al-Sistani in an episode of The School of Divine Mysteries directly with a warning entitled The Mahdi Aba Al-Sadiq responds to ‪Al-Sistani . This address to the two most eminent clerics in Shia Islam was largely ignored and trivialised by anyone who attempted to challenge the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light from the Shia school of thought. Iran has been the subject of much attention since the economic protests began at the end of December 2025. This was exacerbated when the Iranian authorities began to clash with the protesters necessitating the intervention of foreign powers on the global arena resulting in several stories reporting on Iran in the press daily since the 6th of January. As hostilities grew in the country with protesters resisting the repressive regime with violence, Donald Trump became the voice of the main threat to Iran with Israel and the EU in support of the protesters, while Ali Khamenei spoke defiantly with very few impartial supporters who only seem to call for de-escalation rather than make escalatory statements for the purpose of regional stability. With all the tensions over the past decade there was never a clear and direct warning like this before from a Messenger from God. Aba Al-Sadiq Abdullah Hashem spoke candidly during his most recent sermon when he addressed Iran and said: “And the Prophet Mohammed said, “May God curse Khosrow” the Shah of Persia. “Verily, the first of the people to be destroyed is Persia and then the Arabs.” And that's what you see coming to pass today. Persia is about to be destroyed and tomorrow after that will be the Arabs.” Here he referred to a narration by prophet Mohammed in which he cursed Khosrow and prophesied the demise of Persia and the Arabs. The narration is quoted in several books but weakened through the chain of narrators according to the opinion of the authors. Sa ’ d approached the Prophet. When the Prophet saw him, he said,  “There is good news in Sa ’ d ’ s face.” Sa ’ d said, “Khosrow has been killed.” The Prophet said, “May God curse Khosrow! The first people to perish will be the Arabs, then the Persians.” ( Al-Haythami, Majma` Al-Zawa`id (7/293) Ahmad (10654) He said: Sa ’ d approached the Prophet. When the Prophet saw him, he said,  “There is news in Sa ’ d ’ s face.” He said, “Khosrow has been killed.” He said: The Messenger of Allah said: “May Allah curse Khosrow. The first people to perish will be the Arabs, then the Persians.” ( Shu'ayb al-Arna'ut, Takhrij al-Musnad li Shu'ayb (10655); Ahmad (10655); Al-Haythami, Majma` Al-Zawa`id (7/293) The fact that such a narration exists is significant. The fact that it is weakened through the opinions of the so-called scholars of Islam shows just how necessary it is for an individual with actual authority from God to determine the reality of the narration for the rest of the people. The reasons for weakening the narration are unclear, regardless, it is clear that there is a deeper function behind it and its relevance only becomes clear when it is explained in the appropriate context.  The importance of this specific quote by Aba Al-Sadiq during the sermon is very clear in the backdrop of what is currently going on with Iran; and more specifically what he has previously revealed during an episode of The School of Divine Mysteries on The Mahdi Has Appeared channel titled Body, Self, Ego & Soul , at 36 minutes onwards he reiterates a revelation from Ahmed Al-Hassan where he declared Ali Khamenei as the return of Khosrow, the Persian king who lived in the time of the Prophet Mohammed; also in another episode from Answers To Your Questions titled The Israel-Iran War and the Fate of The Muslims , at 12 minutes onwards he states that Khamenei is the return or reincarnation of Khosrow. In this context the narration becomes a prophecy which nobody has ever been able to decipher and put in the correct context until now with the Qaim, the Riser from the Family of Mohammed. The destruction of the Persians and the Arabs is imminent and it has never been so inevitable as it is now; and in particular in light of the excessive oppression towards those who happened to believe in the call of the Mahdi through his messengers, namely Ahmed Al-Hassan and Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq. The attacks directed at the Messengers themselves just enacts a repetition of history as documented in the various scriptures and stories of the Prophets and Messengers known to the masses around the world. After the sermon of Aba Al-Sadiq was uploaded on the 23rd on the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light YouTube channel , several articles appeared that very day and the following few days after declaring that president Trump had sent out the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group towards Iran in the Middle East. Then, on 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated air and missile strikes against targets across Iran, hitting military infrastructure, nuclear-related facilities, and leadership compounds in what officials described as a pre-emptive operation against perceived security threats. The strikes triggered immediate regional repercussions, with Iran launching retaliatory attacks and tensions spreading across multiple countries in the Middle East. Airspace closures, mass mobilisations, and emergency measures underscored the seriousness of the confrontation, while global leaders warned that the conflict risks igniting a wider regional war. In the aftermath of the opening strikes, international media outlets reported that Iran’s so-called Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed when his compound in Tehran was struck . In the days ahead, these developments would represent one of the most consequential shifts in Middle Eastern geopolitics in decades, with uncertain implications for regional stability, global energy markets, and the future political direction of Iran. With the circumstances surrounding Iran worsening, it seems like it is merely a matter of time before the entire world will acknowledge the prophecy and warning stemming from Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq come to pass. When it does, and it will, maybe then those who oppose him will recognise the Divine authority manifested within him.

Some readers may flinch at a title like “Becoming Like God.” It can sound impossible—even offensive—because it seems to cross a sacred boundary. Yet across religious history, the idea is presented in many forms, not as a claim to divinity, but as a call to divine likeness: holiness, mercy, restraint, and self-mastery. A shared Theme Across Traditions One of the clearest examples of a religion that explicitly engages this concept is Latter-day Saint theology. The theme is stated plainly: through exaltation, faithful people may ultimately become like God. A Church publication describes this human “divine potential” in striking words: people are children of God “in a full and complete sense,” “divine in origin, nature, and potential.” According to their beliefs, they could become gods and creators—not only sharing divine qualities, but also gaining the power to create. We can see this as one of the strongest examples of this idea. Other traditions express a similar aspiration in different language. In Buddhism, practitioners seek to cultivate qualities associated with the Buddha and, through discipline and insight, aim for Nirvana—freedom from this material world and the attainment of enlightenment. This links to another lecture of Aba Al-Sadiq. You can also try to find out online about the possibility of other creators. What Scripture, Tradition, and Discipline Teach What about other faiths, like Christians and Muslims? The Bible speaks to the same aspiration, but in a more veiled way, through character and transformation, with the invitation: “Be holy… for I am holy.” (Bible, Book of Leviticus, 19:2) And Jesus presses the standard higher: “Be perfect… as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Bible, Book of Matthew, 5:48) The journey is not about becoming God in essence, but becoming godlike in conduct—a life shaped by the Highest. That is why the body cannot be ignored. The soul does not bloom in a vacuum; it grows within a human vessel. Scripture ties spiritual formation to appetite. The Psalm declares: “You are ‘gods’… sons of the Most High.” (Bible, Book of Psalm, 82:6) and Jesus redirects attention to evidence—works, not slogans: “Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.” (Bible, Book of John, 10:37) We have to take care of these human vessels and, at the same time, find time to know God, to praise Him, and to become more holy, as the scriptures invite us to do. When Jesus begins his ministry, he begins with chosen hunger: forty days of fasting, then temptation, then clarity (Matthew 4:1–2). Food sits close to the human heart because desire sits close to the human heart. To train one is to train the other. The Qur’an echoes the same balance with one line that cuts through excess: “Eat and drink, but do not waste.” (Qur’an, 7:31) And the Prophet Mohammed gave a practical measure against overeating: one-third for food, one-third for drink, and one-third for breath. In the lecture of Aba Al-Sadiq, these teachings become a map: lessen attachment to the body, and the spirit rises—not by rejecting the body, but by ruling it, and by doing so gaining the elevation of the soul. Many religions speak—each in its own dialect—about a single ascent: rising toward divine likeness. Different roads, one horizon, one God. Beneath the theology lies a shared intuition: God is constant, and it is the human being who must change—until the soul begins to carry a trace of holiness. The practical steps have a huge impact if we decide to follow them. “How can ‘rest’ apply to the Creator?” Genesis says God “rested” on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). Yet the cosmos does not feel like a finished machine; it feels vast, living, unfolding. So the question is not whether God grows tired, but what we project onto God when we hear the word “rest.” In the lecture of Aba Al-Sadiq, this question becomes a doorway: he points to the possibility that the maker of this “matrix” is not the Absolute God Himself. Think about it. If the universe stops, it will collapse; even your own body never really rests. Even when you are sleeping, it is restoring your cells and cleaning. Through the circadian cycle, you release different hormones, such as growth hormone, and regain balance that makes sleep a necessary part of our life. It even helps reduce stress and can support a longer life. Then the mirror turns toward us. The real battlefield is not in heaven—it is within the human self that clings to the material world. There is a lower self—nafs—that wants to consume, to take, to satisfy: the stomach, the will, the desires. The body is not evil; it is part of our test and can help our purification, but it can become an anchor when it rules the soul. History repeats the pattern on a grand scale. Empires rise with discipline and purpose, and they decay when craving becomes culture—when rulers serve pleasure instead of people, and restraint becomes a joke. Even Rome, once radiant with roads, law, and order, is remembered not only for its glory but for the shadow of excess: banquets and spectacles that became a symbol—whether fully fair or not—of a civilization losing its inner rule before it lost its outer walls. And decline is rarely sudden. It is usually slow—transgression by transgression—as the physical self is fed and the inner self is neglected. In the lecture, the hunger of the belly was described as “the greatest evil,” the leader that pulls other evils behind it. That may sound like hyperbole, but the warning is not new; it has roots in a book considered sacred by many. Then, when we read the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed, we find: "A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one third for food, one third for drink, and one third for air.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 3349, Book 29, Hadith 99) Part of the food industry focuses more on flavors than on nutrition, so governments in different countries are creating rules and regulations to avoid misleading propaganda. But if human beings do not control themselves, it doesn’t matter how much you restrict propaganda or inform people about the dangers. In a society filled with junk food, it becomes part and parcel of an always-busy consumer society—always rushing, with little time or interest in spiritual life, in others, or in God. We have seen this before. Cigarette packages carry graphic images and clear warnings, and still people keep buying them. Contradiction becomes a normal habit—exactly the kind of cognitive dissonance I explored in a previous article: knowing the harm yet choosing it anyway. The benefits of moderation have been taught by various religions, including those presented in the lecture of Aba Al-Sadiq. The Prophet Mohammed also taught that eating little leads to an easier reckoning. The Qur’an and the Bible contain many references to the spiritual value of fasting, and in the time of Mohammed, fasting was established as an important part of the religion. Buddha reminds us of the importance of the Middle Way, avoiding both extremes. That is why moderation is not merely “healthy.” Across religions, it is treated as spiritual training. In the lecture of Aba Al-Sadiq, the message is consistent: discipline lightens the heart. In Islam, fasting is not an accessory to faith—it is a pillar of spiritual formation. The Bible repeatedly highlights fasting as a path of humility and purification. And in Buddhism, the Middle Way warns against both indulgence and self-destruction, insisting that wisdom grows where extremes are refused. In India, sages teach disciplined awareness. The Bhagavad Gita ties spiritual success in yoga to moderation: yoga is not for one who “eats too much or too little,” nor for one who sleeps too much or too little (Bhagavad Gita 6:16–17). It also links the practice to a “controlled mind and body,” describing meditative discipline in seclusion as a classic road to inner realization. Indigenous traditions honor alignment with the natural order. Greek philosophers such as Plato and Socrates emphasize self-mastery and virtue. And Prophet Mohammed calls humanity to restraint, purification, and accountability. One of the key pathways toward nearness to God is knowledge. Throughout history, knowledge has sometimes been preserved carefully within institutions or sacred spaces. Certain traditions maintain restricted teachings, accessible only through specific rites or preparation—for example, in the temples of the Latter-day Saints. In some cases, access may be limited because individuals are considered unprepared. In other cases, one may question whether access is intentionally restricted. Maybe some people just do not want to give you the knowledge because they do not want you to achieve certain goals. As Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Bible, Book of John, 8:32) Yet a distinctive feature of this teaching is its openness: it offers references to multiple traditions, encouraging deeper exploration rather than limiting inquiry. When practical steps are presented—moderation in food, disciplined exercise, and control of appetite—they may appear simple. But as a physician, I have observed how deeply people become attached to their habits: their eating patterns, their sedentary routines, their resistance to change. Some patients see the doctor primarily as a provider of medication that will solve all medical issues without the need for personal transformation—as if taking a pill were sufficient. Yet the human body is far more complex. Modern culture reinforces this attachment. We live in a world that constantly invites consumption. Restaurants promote challenges that reward excess: “Eat all you can.” “Eat for free if you consume a certain amount.” Online personalities compete in displays of speed-eating and indulgence. Excess is not merely tolerated—it is celebrated on social media. History offers symbolic parallels. Rome is often remembered not only for its architectural and legal brilliance, but also for imagery of decadence and excess. Whether fully accurate or partly symbolic, the metaphor persists: civilizations weaken when appetite replaces discipline. Banquets became a symbol of excess and status. Throughout history, we can see this clearly in the Roman elite: eating was not only nutrition but a social ritual. In the triclinium, diners often reclined on couches—a physical posture that signaled rank, leisure, and prestige. As archaeologist Michael MacKinnon notes, Roman dinner parties were a way for the aristocracy to display wealth and social standing through presentation, rare ingredients, and spectacle. Meals could last for hours, so they could eat, rest, and continue eating, with guests reclining while servants served, swept away scraps, and maintained the atmosphere of luxury. Women’s participation also reflected social boundaries. In earlier periods, Roman women often sat upright on chairs while men reclined; later, especially in imperial elite settings, some women also reclined. This contrast—luxury meals as status displays while many others simply ate to survive—has repeated across different eras of history. And when we contrast it with our world today, the issue is not only physical illness; excess can also harm us spiritually. As Imam Ja’far Al-Sadiq said: “Nothing harms the believer’s heart more than overeating; it produces two things: hardness of the heart and the stirring of lust.” (Al-Kafi, Al-Shaikh Al-Kulayni Vol. 6, p. 269) In contrast, moderation is often viewed with suspicion—dismissed as restrictive, joyless, or extreme. Yet across civilizations, moderation has consistently been framed not as deprivation, but as strength. When Moderation Fails: Chronic Overconsumption and Its Health Consequences One important aspect to consider is that the Prophet Mohammed linked eating less with an easier reckoning. The moral and the physical were never separated in his teaching. Modern medical research appears to echo this connection. The 2020 Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care identified obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking, hypertension, depression, low social contact, and limited education among major modifiable risk factors associated with dementia. In other words, chronic excess and lifestyle imbalance are not merely spiritual concerns—they are medical ones. When these findings are examined alongside the teachings of Aba Al-Sadiq, interesting parallels emerge. Obesity is strongly associated with overeating; physical inactivity is another major factor, and both will be analyzed later in this article. The convergence between spiritual discipline and metabolic health becomes difficult to ignore. In addition, the teachings of Ahmed Al-Hassan explicitly prohibit smoking, which modern medicine clearly identifies as harmful. The Lancet Commission likewise lists smoking as a significant risk factor for cognitive decline. Aba Al-Sadiq has also emphasized the importance of social connection, while contemporary research identifies social isolation and low social contact as risk factors for dementia. Loneliness is not only emotional—it carries measurable biological consequences. Further evidence appears in diabetes research. A pooled analysis published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology  (2016) demonstrated that type 2 diabetes is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing dementia. Even more striking are the findings of the DiRECT trial (Lean et al., 2018), published in The Lancet . This open-label, cluster-randomized study examined individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the previous six years and with a body-mass index between 27–45 kg/m². Participants who achieved a weight loss of approximately 15 kg showed remarkable outcomes: 46% of those in the intervention group achieved remission of diabetes, compared with only 4% in the control group. The implication is profound: metabolic disease, often assumed to be irreversible, may in many cases be significantly improved through disciplined weight reduction. For me, as a physician, this is particularly striking. For years I have explained to patients that lifestyle change is foundational—not optional. Yet many people expect medicine alone to resolve conditions rooted in long-term habits. There is sometimes an assumption that religious belief belongs to the realm of myth, while medicine belongs to evidence. But when viewed carefully, the two are not always in opposition. What spiritual traditions frame as moderation and restraint, medicine increasingly describes as risk reduction and metabolic regulation. The language differs. The warning converges. Physical Discipline and Intellectual Elevation To cultivate the mind and expand our understanding is, as we have seen, an essential goal in seeking harmony with the Perfect One. Some traditions speak of God “resting,” yet the universe itself does not pause: atoms vibrate, planets orbit, hearts beat, neurons fire. If even for a moment this movement ceased, we would not be here to read these words.   Plato understood this principle. In The Republic  (Book III, 410c–412a), he argued that education must harmonize gymnastic training and intellectual cultivation, warning that devotion to one alone produces imbalance in the soul. Too much physical training without philosophy breeds harshness; too much intellectual refinement without bodily discipline breeds weakness. Harmony, for Plato, required both. The principle of balance can be observed even in nature. Horses run, wolves hunt, birds migrate, swans glide, butterflies move from flower to flower. Motion is not disorder; it is structure in action. From the smallest atomic interactions to the vast movement of galaxies, the cosmos operates through regulated activity. Modern neuroscience increasingly supports this ancient insight. Regular physical exercise has been associated with improvements in executive function, mood regulation, and cognitive performance. A landmark randomized controlled trial published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences  (Erickson et al., 2011) demonstrated that aerobic exercise training increased hippocampal volume by approximately 2% in older adults, effectively reversing one to two years of age-related loss. The hippocampus, a structure essential for memory, typically declines in late adulthood and is implicated in dementia risk. In that study, 120 older adults without dementia were randomly assigned either to an aerobic exercise group or to a stretching control group. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that aerobic exercise selectively increased the volume of the anterior hippocampus, accompanied by measurable improvements in memory performance. Further research supports these findings. Meta-analyses indicate that physical activity increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein central to neuroplasticity and neuronal survival. Systematic reviews also associate regular exercise with improved executive function and a reduced risk of cognitive decline. While causation in complex diseases must be interpreted carefully, the convergence is striking. What Plato described as harmony between gymnastic and reason now finds measurable correlates in neurobiology. For us, this harmony is not merely philosophical. Plato is regarded in our tradition as one of the unknown prophets, and the integration of body and intellect forms part of a prophetic lineage of wisdom. The teachings of Aba Al-Sadiq revive and illuminate these principles, showing that what appears ancient is not obsolete, but enduring. The language of prophecy speaks of balance and self-mastery. The language of neuroscience speaks of hippocampal volume and BDNF expression. Yet both point toward the same truth: disciplined movement strengthens not only the body, but the mind. Discipline as Devotion: Where Traditions Converge We can see many religious traditions converging on a single discipline: lowering desire so that the inner life becomes more audible. In the speech of Aba Al-Sadiq, numerous texts and traditions are cited—so if you listen attentively, you find an ocean of knowledge. Even if your interest is only wellbeing, the evidence is broad. Fasting and moderation have been associated with improved metabolic regulation: reducing insulin spikes, improving glucose tolerance, supporting weight loss, and lowering risk factors linked to cardiovascular disease. Some studies also suggest links between metabolic health and cognitive outcomes such as memory and dementia risk—areas we have reviewed earlier in this article. To summarize just a few examples, we can find this pattern across many religions. Latter-day Saints observe Fast Sunday (usually the first Sunday of each month), abstaining from food and drink for two meals and giving a fast offering to help those in need—stepping away from worldly appetite in order to remember God and serve others. In Islam, Ramadan is a month of fasting from dawn until sunset, paired with prayer, reflection, Qur’an recitation, and a strong emphasis on charity and moral restraint. Seeking nearness to God through worship, remembrance, and self-discipline. In Hinduism, Navratri is a nine-day season of devotion in which many people pray and fast, often simplifying the diet (commonly vegetarian/sattvic) as a form of spiritual cleansing and focus. In Buddhism, Uposatha observances often emphasize sermons and meditation; many lay practitioners take additional precepts, including refraining from eating after noon, to support inner clarity and discipline. If we want to understand the roots of depression, psychology also points to rumination—repetitive negative overthinking—as a factor strongly associated with depressive symptoms across studies. This is one reason many traditions value stillness, mindfulness, and training attention. The complete picture, then, is balance across the whole human being: discipline the body, avoid the excesses of this life, and draw nearer to God not only by words but by actions—especially by abstaining from what weakens the heart and traps us in purely material concerns. When the body’s grip is loosened, the soul can rise. Light flows best where there is less resistance. Inactivity and sedentary living can become another form of drift; many traditions respond with movement (for example, yoga in Hindu contexts) and with meditation to calm the mind. When the body is governed and the mind is steadied, we become more receptive to knowledge—and more capable of living it. There is a saying attributed to the Prophet Mohammed that captures the spirit of this path: “Whoever frequently glorifies and praises God, and keeps his food, drink, and sleep to little—the angels long for his company.” (Tanbih al-Khawatir, 2/116) This world will always offer you something—another craving, another purchase, another distraction. But the clean cup is not the one that is endlessly filled; it is the one kept pure enough to hold light. Information gives you power only if you apply it. Will you apply it?