Faith, Division and Persecution Review of The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement: The Truth Will Prevail by Declan Henry
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Abstract
This review examines Declan Henry’s The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement: The Truth Will Prevail (2023), a study devoted to the lesser-known Lahori branch of the Ahmadiyya movement. The book introduces the historical development, theology, and lived experiences of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman-i-Isha’at-i-Islam Lahore (AAIIL), with particular attention to the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan and their subsequent diaspora. Based largely on translated primary texts, interviews, and field encounters in the UK and Lahore, Henry offers an accessible narrative aimed at both Muslim and non-Muslim audiences. While the book does not significantly advance academic debates on Ahmadiyya theology and relies mainly on community-produced sources, its strength lies in its ethnographic sensitivity and its effort to foster understanding of a marginalized and often misunderstood community. Despite concerns regarding impartiality and terminology, the work represents a valuable contribution to a field marked by limited research, especially on the Lahori Ahmadiyya movement.
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