Younus AlGohar

Younus AlGohar
Younus AlGohar (یونس الگوہر)

Younus AlGohar in London, 2006
Born June 16, 1970 (1970-06-16) (age 41)
Karachi, Pakistan
Other names Sayyedi (Honourable), AlGohar, Mohammad Younus
Alma mater Manchester University, Cambridge University
Organization Messiah Foundation International, مہدی فاونڈیشن انٹرنیشنل, Interfaith Institute of Divine Love, Kalki Avatar Foundation
Influenced by Ra Riaz Gohar Shahi
Influenced Hazrat Muhammad Saeed Siddiqui Shaheed (R.A)
Awards 'Man of Valour', 'Universal Peace Ambassador'

Younus AlGohar (یونس الگوہر, born Mohammad Younus; 16 June 1970) is the leader of Messiah Foundation International (also known as Kalki Avatar Foundation and Mehdi Foundation International), a spiritual organisation claiming that Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi is the Messiah (Mahdi) and which also claims to advocate Shahi's spiritual teachings. He is also the managing director of the Interfaith Institute of Divine Love. He has authored the books Mysterious Horizons - Beyond God (2007), and Nisāb-e-Mehdi (2010).

AlGohar was interviewed by Sri Lankan newspaper Island in 2008, and was featured by the Your Local Guardian website in 2009 as the "leader of an obscure religious organisation living in Croydon". Mehdi Foundation was mentioned by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in a February 2008 addendum to her report as “a multi-faith institution utilizing mystical principles of Mr. Ra Gohar Shahi”.[1]

Contents

Biography

Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi and Younus AlGohar during a program in the UK

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, AlGohar grew up practicing Islamic Sufism. He met Gohar Shahi at the age of 15 and spent 24 years as his disciple, until Shahi's disappearance in 2001.

AlGohar was named an "Ambassador for Peace" by the Universal Peace Federation in 2005. He studied at Karachi University.

Messiah Foundation International

After the disappearance of Gohar Shahi, AlGohar gathered a portion of the following of Gohar Shahi under the platform of Messiah Foundation International (MFI), previously known as RAGS International. It was renamed in 2002. The first centre for MFI was established in London, which is also the headquarters of MFI.[2] Today, the organization has grown to include centres in Canada, USA, South Korea,[3] Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, India, Greece, Thailand, Bangladesh, Taiwan and Pakistan.

Beliefs and views

Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi and Younus AlGohar at an event held in USA, 1999

AlGohar states that he is a "devout servant" of Gohar Shahi, and he practises what he considers the latest religion, "the Religion of God", which AlGohar says Gohar Shahi has introduced to the whole of humanity. He says that he does not reject any religion but believes that the spiritual system in all the religions has diminished now, and that humanity needs fresh guidance.[4] According to AlGohar, he believes in all the Prophets, the Messengers and the saints no matter what religion they come from. He says that he does not hate or reject any religion, but asserts that the religions have been modified with the passage of time, and this alteration in the religions have caused them to fade from their original glory, which helped humanity find God.[5] [6] According to him, his goals include preaching spirituality irrespective of religious or cultural boundaries, revolutionizing humanity by reviving spiritual insight, establishing inner and outer peace and eliminating hatred in society, enlightening hearts with divine energy, and heralding the second coming of Jesus Christ and Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi.

Legal persecution

An interview of Younus AlGohar in a Sri Lankan newspaper

The Pakistani government has instigated cases of blasphemy against AlGohar, though the details on how he blasphemed have not been specified. The penalty for blasphemy under the laws of Pakistan is death. According to AlGohar, if he were to return to Pakistan he would face a life sentence for blasphemy.[4] In addition, the belief that AlGohar is the only appointed representative of Shahi is not held by Anjuman-e-Serfroshan-e-Islam.

He has openly challenged the Islamic Scholars to have “a healthy debate on this topic should it arise a theological reservation among the minds of petty scholars.”

In particular, AlGohar has challenged Tahir-ul-Qadri to debates on spirituality, saints, and Islam. AlGohar also controversially declares that the world is in the end times.

Bibliography

Name of Book In Urdu Translation Year of Publication Content
Rukhsār-e-Riaz رخسار ریاض The Face of Riaz 2002 Poetry
Malfoozāt-e-Mehdi ملفوظات مہدی Sayings Pertaining to the Mehdi 2002 Educational Book
Dastoor-e-Riaz دستور ریاض The Riazian Constitution 2002 Educational Book
Mysterious Horizons - Beyond God - - 2007 Educational Book
Nisāb-e-Mehdi نصاب مہدی The Chapter of the Mehdi 2010 Educational Book
Imam um Mubeen امام مّبین The Elusid Imam 2011 Educational Book

References

External links

"Direct Challenge to Tahir ul Qadri". April 17, 2010. http://goharshahi.com/urdu/latestnews/2010/apr/17/index.htm. Retrieved May 17, 2010. 


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Messiah Foundation International — Abbreviation MFI Formation 1980, renamed in 2002 Type Organisation …   Wikipedia

  • Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi — RAGS International redirects here. For the organization previously called RAGS International, see Messiah Foundation International. Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi ریاض احمد گوہر شاہی …   Wikipedia

  • 1970 — This article is about the year 1970. Millennium: 2nd millennium Centuries: 19th century – 20th century – 21st century Decades: 1940s  1950s  1960s  – 1970s –  1980s   …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”