The Ahmadi Jesus: Ghulam Ahmad's Interpretive Methodology of Jesus' (Non)Ascent

Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Producer
Director
Performer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Music
Videographer
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Crew Member
Funder
Rehearsal Director
Concert Coordinator
Moderator
Panelist
Alternative Title
Department
Haverford College. Department of Religion
Type
Thesis
Original Format
Running Time
File Format
Place of Publication
Date Span
Copyright Date
Award
Language
eng
Note
Table of Contents
Terms of Use
Rights Holder
Access Restrictions
Haverford users only
Tripod URL
Identifier
Abstract
This thesis finds that Ghulam Ahmad's interpretive methodology of arguing against the prevalent Muslim belief in Jesus' physical ascent to heaven is deeply rooted in his use of Islamic texts and resources. This thesis demonstrates that Ahmad builds an interpretive methodology using the Qur'an, the Arabic language, and the ahadith corpus to declare Jesus' (non)ascent and to subsequently substantiate his claims to messianic status. Ahmad can only proclaim messianic status if he rejects Jesus' heavenly ascent and demonstrates that Jesus will not descend bodily from heaven as the messiah. As such, Ahmad develops a general hermeneutics of authority, derived from his application of these authoritative Islamic resources, which allow him to substantiate his claims to messianic status. In establishing this argument, this thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter outlines the manner in which Muslim scholars have prevalently interpreted ambiguous Qur'anic verses concerning Jesus' heavenly ascent, specifically Q.4:158, Q.3:56, and Q.5:118, to substantiate their belief in Jesus' heavenly ascent. The second chapter addresses Ahmad's use of the Qur'an, the Arabic language, and the ahadith corpus to interpret the aforementioned ambiguous verses to invalidate the possibility of Jesus' heavenly ascent and bodily descent thereof, thus substantiating Ahmad's messianic claims. The third chapter offers an examination of the hermeneutics of authority that Ahmad derives from his use of these authoritative Muslim resources, thus giving him the authority to confirm his own messianic status by way of Jesus' (non)ascent. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the need for comprehensive research and clearer understanding of Ahmad's literature and claims, especially in the current wake of religious fanaticism and persecution of Ahmad's followers.
Description
Citation
Collections