I want to marry a girl of Mahdavi sect

I am a male and  follower of sunni Islam (Hanafi). I want to marry a girl of Mahdavi sect based in Hyderabad India. She doesn’t have parents. It is known to me that Mahdavi sect is a misguided sect. So, how to go through? Is it mandatory for the girls to adopt mainstream Islam before marriage just as in case of kafir. If yes then How? Please provide details procedure. 

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The founder of the Mahdaviya sect Sayed Muhammad Jounpuri was born in 847 Hijrī/ September 1443 CE.  In the year 905 hijrī he claimed to be the promised Mahdi of the ummah and he persisted on this claim until his death in 910 Hijrī. Great scholars such as Imam Rabbani Mujaddid Alf Thānī, Shaykh ‘Ali Muttaqi, Shaykh Muhammad Tahir Pattanī and Mulla ‘Ali Qari all refuted his false claims.[1] After his death his followers continued his misguided teachings.

Hereunder are some of the sects misguided claims and beliefs:

1. They believe that he is the promised Mahdi of this ummah. He died claiming this in 910 Hijri without fulfilling any of the prophesised qualities of the true Mahdi.

1. They believe it is fardh to accept Sayed Muhammad Jounpuri as Mahdi. They also claim that  the Mahdavis are the only Muslims and the entire muslim ummah are in fact non- Muslims.

1. They believe that although Sayed Muhammad Jounpuri is part of this ummah he is greater than Hadhrat Abu Bakr, Hadhrat ‘Umar, Hadhrat ‘Uthmān and Hadhrat ‘Ali (Radhiyallāhu ‘anhum).

1. They believe that with the exception of our Nabi Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘Alaihi Wasallam), Sayed Muhammad Jounpuri is greater than all the prophets including Hadhrat Adam, Hadhrat Ibrahīm, Hadhrat Mūsa and Hadhrat ‘Isā (Alaihim Assalām).

1. They believe that Sayed Muhammad follows the religion of our Nabi Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘Alaihi wasallam) but is equal to him in status and rank.

1. He claimed that he is the only complete Muslim and all the prophets were incomplete Muslims. In their book ‘Panj Fazail’ it is mentioned, Shah Dilāwar, a close disciple of Sayed Muhammad Jounpuri, quoted him as follows: “Adam was a Muslim till his nose, Nūh was a Muslim till his nose, Ibrahīm and Mūsa are Muslims till their chests and ‘Isa was a Muslim till his navel and he will become a complete Muslim when he returns. At the moment he is half.”

1. He falsely claimed that his parent’s names were Aminah and ‘Abdullāh in order to further substantiate his claim of being the Mahdi. All the scholar of his time rejected this claim.[2]

1. Many of their sects reject five times Salāh, Ramadhan, Zakat and the Qibla.

The Mahdavi sect are not Muslims (Zindeeq). It is impermissible to marry them or to have any type of dealings with them.[3]

If you wish to marry the girl in reference, then she must adopt the following beliefs  which are encapsulated in the following:

آمنت بالله وملائكته وكتبه ورسله واليوم الآخر والقدر خيره وشره من الله تعالى والبعث بعد الموت

Translation: I believe in Allah, His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, the last day, predestination, the good of it and the bad of it is from Allah almighty and resurrection after death.

As such, she will have to renounce all the beliefs of the mahdavi sect. After believing in the fundamental beliefs of Islam, she should proclaim her belief as follows:

اشهد أن لا إلٰه الا الله واشهد أن محمدا رسول الله

Translation: “I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) is the messenger of Allah”

Once she accepts the fundamental beliefs of Islam and proclaims to be a Muslim, it will be permissible to marry her.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Saleem Khan

Student Darul Iftaa
Bradford, England

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net