Declan Henry vs. Asif Basit - 2024 - ahmadiyyafactcheckblog

Intro
Just a few days ago, Declan Henry interviewed a well-known employee of the Ahmadiyya Movement, Asif Basit. Check out my video response herein.

The interview was conducted at the biggest Ahmadiyya temple in the West, Baitul Futuh in a South London suburb. Declan Henry talks about attending the Jalsa Salana in 2018-2019. Interestingly, Asif said he didn’t know with certainty how many Ahmadi’s there are in the world in 2024, however, he knew specifical details about the amount of Ahmadi’s in Pakistan and the entire continent of Africa. First and foremost, it should be noted that Asif Basit Sahib holds a central position within the Jamaat. He has a close, trusting relationship with Hazoor and frequently receives direct instructions from him, as he has repeatedly emphasized (there are several videos on YouTube regarding this). It is therefore fair to say that he is very high up in the Jamaat’s information hierarchy. Although he is not part of the invisible inner circle of power, which consists exclusively of selected members of the Mirza family with full oversight of finances and figures, he is as high up as one can get without being a family member.

So, when he states that the Jamaat has 12 to 15 million members, one can assume that this represents the official narrative – regardless of the fact that this number is already greatly exaggerated. For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume this number is accurate. Why then does the Jamaat so blatantly deceive? Just yesterday, the German Jamaat issued a press release regarding next week’s Jalsa Salana. In the corresponding tweet, it states:

OV: „… Seine Heiligkeit vereint die weltweit größte muslimische Gemeinschaft von mehreren Zehnmillionen Anhängern aus 205 Ländern der Erde hinter sich.“

English: „… His Holiness unites the world’s largest Muslim community of several tens of millions of followers from 205 countries around the world behind him.“ Source
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At 3:42, Asif Basit alleges that 42k people attended the 2024 UK Jalsa.
At 3:56, Declan Henry says that the 5th Khalifa does almost all of his speeches in Urdu, which is true, all at the Jalsa, and Friday’s. He barely speaks any English. Asif Basit deflected to generalities and conferences.
At 5:04, Mirza Masoor Ahmad speaks in Urdu to the vast majority of his followers (this is because roughly 80%+ are Desi and Urdu is their first language.
At 5:26, Asif Basit alleges that everything that the Khalifa has said in Urdu, he has also said in English, that’s a lie! What about the youth of the community?
At 6:15, Declan Henry wrote that there are 12 million Ahmadi’s in the world.
At 6:29, Asif Basit responds and alleges that he doesn’t work for the department which carries out censuses, and this type of census is not even possible! A total deflection! Asif says that he sticks to the figure of 12-15 million, which is an approximation. This is funny because Mirza Nasir Ahmad was alleging 10 million Ahmadi’s in the world back in 1969.
At 7:03, Asif Basit alleges that the majority of Ahmadi’s per country are in Pakistan in 2024, he said this with certainty. He then alleges that there are more Ahmadi’s on the continent of Africa in 2024 than Ahmadi’s in Pakistan in 2024. However, he doesn’t give any exact figures.
At 7:26 he argues that it is impossible to carry out censuses in Africa.
At 8:20, Declan Henry asks why Africans convert? Is it because of promises of wives, jobs, education and etc.? Asif Basir admits to it. Asif says that Islamic expansion happened without proper research, he cites the battles of the Khalifa Rashidun. He blames Islam!
11:20, wives and asylum! for marketing purposes?
12:00, Declan Henry talks about his book.
12:29, does Declan Henry know the Lahori belief on the birth of Adam (as)? Masroor has never tried to meet any lahori-ahmadi’s.
13:08, they are called Qadiani’s by the Lahori’s.
14:48, Qadiani’s and Lahori’s haven’t spoke for a long time!
15:39, lots of Lahori-Ahmadi’s in Fiji.
17:07, is Ahmadiyya a cult? Asif retorts that all religions are cults. Lahori’s, mainstream Muslims call Ahmadi’s a cult.
19:27, the family blood line, the sons of MGA are Khalifa, whereas Muhammad (Saw) was the son-in-law of Abu Bakr (ra). Umar (ra) was also a father-in-law of Muhammad (saw). Uthman (ra) was a son-in-law of Muhammad (Saw) and Ali [ra] was a cousin-brother of Muhammad (saw) and his son-in-law. He mentioned the bloodline of the prophets.
21:39, the Ahmadiyya Khalifa’s are elected, just like Russian elections. Asif calls it a coincidence.
23:04, what year was MGA born? Even the Lahori’s are ok with 1835. It wasn’t recorded.
25:02, MGA said he was born in the latter days of Ranjit Singh? Kitab ul Barriya.. Then, during the latter part of Ranjit Singh’s rule, my father Mirza Ghulam Murtada returned to Qadian and five of the villages, which had belonged to his father, were restored to him. and I was born around 1839 or 1840, during the latter part of the Sikh rule. In 1857, I was 16 or 17 years of age and had not reached manhood. My father had been beset by great difficulties before my birth and at one time he even had to travel through Hindustan on foot. But with my birth he began to experience a change for the better in his circumstances. It was by the sheer mercy of God Almighty that I did not partake of any of the misfortunes of my father.
26:23, Declan doesn’t know, the Lahori-Ahmadi’s took the info on MGA’s birth year from the Qadiani’s, how ironic is that?
27:18, Mahdi vs. Messah? Unified.
28:00, MGA is the messiah for Christians? 300 years? Pope?
30:15, it’s been 100+ years of Ahmadiyya.
32:11, not a poor community, compared with other NGO’s, MTA is a multi million dollar venture? Who watched Satellite anyways? MTA seems to be expensive, paying the staff and Maulvi’s. Mosque’s and mission houses by Ahmadi’s, all lies!
34:00, Islam is not a terrorist religion. Masroor works hard. Asif has been seeing Masroor work since 2003.
35:00, Muslims will never accept MGA. Asif says Muslims will first reject the physical return of Eisa (as), then eventually join Ahmadiyya, MGA has said this too. Sir Syed?
35:41, Adnan Rashid, Asif Basit says that Ahl-e-Hadith elders of Adnan said that 1850-ish was the time of the descent of the Messiah, this is a lie, this is not accurate.
36:40, he mocks the descent of Eisa (as) on the minaret at Damascus. He says Muslims keep waiting for the Messiah. As says Muslims need to sort out their own problems. Sunni vs. Shia!
38:25, he says even Muhammad (saw) is scoffed at (naozobillah). 1. Ahmadis are defending Islam. 2. They are dispelling misconceptions about Muhammad (saw)(this is a lie). 3. The Message of MGA.
39:36, MGA was a schizo. Asif blames Muhammad (saw), he says that all prophets were called crazy, this is not true, Daud (as) was a king prophet, like many others. 51:52 is for Rasul’s only? But Muhammad (Saw) saw the Angel Gabriel and didn’t have episode’s of epilepsy or something related. This is so disrespecftul. Asif Basit called it Extra Sensory Perception (ESP)=revelations.
40:44, MGA had no resources? He worked as a clerk in the British courts for like 7 years. MGA sent letters to newspapers around the world advertising his Barahin and 10k rupee challenge. Why do Ahmadi’s keep arguing for the spread of ahmadiyya? Is it pride? MGA had the post office.
42:00, Lahori’s are more progressive and allow women. Sakina tun Nisa? First female Ahmadiyya teacher. But MGA’s daughters didn’t go to any school. Begum Shafi Ahmad? What did she do? The brits split the punjab. Khola Hubschin in Germany.
44:00, Jihad and non violence. The mindset.
47:00, Hamas is a terror org. Karim Khan!
49:07, young Ahmadi’s. He admits that there are some challenges.
52:14, Ahmadis that leave are destined to return. Like Boomerangs. Because once you believe that Eisa (as) is dead, you can never recover. Eisa (as) on the right hand of Allah?
53:46, you must follow an Imam. But in the Mughal Empire, it was Hanafi Fiqh which was followed.
54:18, he criticizes Muslims for saying SWT, and eloquently reciting the Quran. He then accuses Muslims of being violent persecutors and at the point of the sword.