The idea of believers gathering together to practice their faith communally is not a novel concept. Early Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims have all embraced communal living throughout history.
Aba Al-Sadiq Abdullah Hashem and his companions have been practicing this way of life for over a decade, founding a tight-knit community back in 2011, rooted in shared beliefs. Currently, more than 250 believers from over 20 different countries regularly frequent the community surrounding Aba Al-Sadiq - with numbers constantly rising.
"We came together in our young twenties, and now our children are growing up as siblings," reflects Alilia Hallal from Pakistan, who joined the original community in Egypt twelve years ago when she was only 18 years old.
Since 2012, Aba al-Sadiq has been uniting believers in Egypt, calling them to work together in the strive to serve God. His vision has always been to create a selfless community where believers live together as one. Over the years, he has gathered believers from all walks of lives - from doctors, to engineers, farmers, teachers and scientists. This community has traveled together, spreading their message and establishing a spiritual haven wherever they go.
In 2015, hundreds of believers gathered in Germany, operating a satellite channel that reached millions across the Middle East and North Africa. Their numbers grew steadily - and so did the nationalities joining them. The gathering included believers from France, Germany, the USA, Sweden, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Bolivia, Columbia and many other nations. Their journey then led them collectively to Sweden in 2018, where they found a home in Sävsjon, Hallefors. Here, the gospel of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, "The Goal of the Wise," was written and edited, and their voices echoed during the Iraqi revolution in 2019, through the Black Banners of the East Satellite Channel.
Since 2022, the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light has been based near Manchester, UK. Hundreds of believers from all around the world regularly visit and receive ministerial training in a former orphanage, now transformed into a bustling center of spiritual growth and communal living.
The community embraces a shared lifestyle, with a communal dining room serving home-cooked meals prepared by volunteers. Remi Sung Sub Hulliet, a professional sushi master from Korea, volunteers his culinary skills, cultivating a sense of togetherness through food.
“I am a professional Sushi chef, but nothing brings me as much joy as helping to serve my brothers and sisters in faith”, he explains.
These shared meals bring everyone together, reflecting their belief that no one should go hungry while others eat. Just as early Christians did after Jesus' ascension. In the Acts of the Apostles, they break bread together and share sincere fellowship.
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” (Acts 2:46)
Beyond spiritual pursuits, the community members contribute their unique skills and talents to maintain and enhance their living space. Johnathan Angella from Switzerland, the head of maintenance, takes care of in-house repairs and landscaping. With his professional plumbing expertise and woodwork experience, he ensures the headquarters is always in top shape. He gathers around himself a group of volunteers that enjoy working with their hands. By working together, the community has been able to tailor the property according to their needs and has been able to achieve astonishing results.
The community's unity and dedication to helping each other, as well as to the well-being of their youngest members are exemplified by their swift construction of a professional playground in the Spring of 2024. Within just three days, all brothers worked together to support Johnathan in this endeavor, creating a safe and enjoyable space for the community’s youngest members.
But that is not all. Yasmin Guisi from Algeria and Aun Haider from the United Kingdom offer self-taught barber services, bringing joy to their fellow community members. Yasmine shares, "I enjoy helping my sisters. Haircutting is my long-standing hobby, and here I can practice it while making them happy."
The community also prioritizes recreational activities and sports for all ages. Australian national Hasan Abdul Razzak, a black belt holder and former professional Jiu-Jitsu contestant, conducts after-hour Jiu-Jitsu classes for children and adults. Ramazan Demirovic, a community member from Brooklyn, New York, attests to the benefits, "I love attending the Jiu-Jitsu classes to stay fit and agile."
The goal of this gathering is the work towards creating a Divine Just State within the boundaries of the property. A little paradise on earth, where no member has to worry what they will eat tomorrow, how their children will pay for their education or where they have to sleep. Only in such an environment free from fear and pressure, can they concentrate on working on their spiritual advancement. This community is a safe space, where members can work on perfecting their morals and manners and become the best versions of themselves.
At the heart of their community life is the Holy Basilica, a central space for congregational worship. The basilica is guarded by the talented painters that made it their mission to eternalise the faces of the members of the community on the walls.
It is here that the members of the community pray, meditate and discuss important community affairs.
Once a week Swiss national Arnaud Balet gathers with those interested for a guided meditation session. “Contrary to the opinion of mainstream believers from Judaism, Christianity and Islam, meditation is well-rooted in the Abrahamic faith and has actually always been part of the true religion of God. Meditation is a tool for the believers in order to know their own selves and know their Lord too; an essential practice when we know the importance of the combat against the self”, he explains.
It is in the Basilica that ordained ministers, future ministers and selected members attend the "School of the Qaim," a series of lectures given by Aba Al-Sadiq Abdullah Hashem himself. This school imparts knowledge to deepen their understanding of religious doctrines and principles, ensuring their spiritual growth and the continuity of their mission. The lectures cover a wide range of topics, like demons and Angels, religious history and secret gnostic narrations.
Some of these lectures have been filmed and widely viewed on YouTube, at the Mahdi Has Appeared Channel, attracting thousands of viewers fascinated by Aba al-Sadiq's profound wisdom and the dedication of his followers. Myrah Batul from the United Kingdom, one of the cameramen for AROPL Studios, the media arm of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, captures these moments.
"I am honored to document Aba al-Sadiq's wisdom for future generations," she explains.
These lectures exemplify one of the core purposes of the gathering, upon which all volunteers and ministers unite; spreading the glad tidings of the appearance of the Mahdi to the world. Egyptian citizen Taymour El-Alfy, a professional journalist, ensures the smooth running of the satellite channel as well as AROPL Studios, which broadcasts in multiple languages and has a presence on various social media platforms.
The “Mahdi has appeared” Satellite Channel broadcasts in Arabic via Nilesat - six days a week from 13:00 - 00:00 and as well as English, French, Farsi, Malay and Spanish on Saturdays; reaching millions of people in the Middle East and North Africa. Through live phone-calls, viewers can ask their questions and seldomly pledge their allegiance to the Qaim on live TV.
Additionally, the AROPL Social Media Outreach team gathers daily in one of the designated Studio rooms, to engage with the religion’s social media followers. The religion's reach is expanding rapidly, with over 300 video pledges received in the last three months alone on various platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook - in over eight different languages, reaching on average twelve to fifteen million collective channel views monthly.
“The interest of viewers online is overwhelming. People request to join the religion on a daily basis…” explains US citizen Mamadou, a longstanding member of the outreach team.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, under the guidance of Aba al-Sadiq Abdullah Hashem, has created a vibrant, inclusive community rooted in shared beliefs and service. Through their communal living, spiritual pursuits, and diverse talents, they embody a way of life that brings people together, fostering growth, unity, and a sense of belonging. Together they try to work to create a place on earth, where everyone works together as one and puts their brother in faith before themselves. It is a practical step towards building a Divine Just State, and a glimpse into what life on earth could be like, if everyone would accept and recognize God's vicegerent as their true ruler and king.