‘Being the Messengers’: Young Ahmadiyya Women Doing Tabligh through Vernacular Theology

This ethnographic study conducted for two years (2022-2024) examines young Ahmadi women's vernacular 'Tabligh” (religious proselytization ) practices in Finland. It maps their religious outreach through street theology methods, such as giving out pamphlets and through smaller community meetings where women gather to learn more about religious doctrine and participate in acts of civic engagement. This study also highlights a critical element in their proselytization, termed ‘silent Tabligh’, which focuses on serving humanity. The Ahmadiyya women consider this an inseparable part of their religious mission. To achieve silent Tabligh- impacting society through their behaviour and character, they are involved in various voluntary works within the Ahmadiyya Jamaat structure. Situated within 'vernacular theology,' the paper examines how these women start weaving their way through religio-civic responsibilities in response to the growing insecurities regarding Islam in Finnish society. This work also contributes to broader discussions about the potential for Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) to encourage youth civic engagement and social cohesion in multicultural societies. This is a first study on Ahmadi women’s Tabligh efforts in Finnish context and it also highlights how young Ahmadi women are redefining the gendered role of religious activism in secular environments by serving faith and humanity. This study adds to the scholarly understanding of the intersection of gender, diaspora, and civic responsibility in religious minority communities.