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Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (مرزا غلام احمد) (February 13, 1835 - May 26, 1908 corresponding to Shawal 14, 1250 AH - Rabi' al-thani 24 1326 AH). A controversial religious figure from Qadian, India, was the founder of the Ahmadiyya religious movement. He claimed to be the Mujaddid of the 14th Islamic century, the “Second Coming of Christ”, the promised Messiah and Mahdi as well as the likeness of Krishna and other prophets. Though he claimed to raise Islam back to its original form, mainstream Muslims do not accept him or recognize his movement as Islamic due to the complicated nature of his claims and conflict in beliefs/interpretation. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Shawwal ( شوّال ) is the tenth month on the Lunar Islamic calendar. ... AH may mean: After Hijra, refers to the years after Muhammad made the pilgrimage to Medina; used in the Islamic calendar Allah Hafiz, Islamic Good Bye After Hours, in reference to stock trading Adolf Hitler Afghanistan, WMO country code Air Algérie (IATA airline designator) American History Anno Hegirae, indicating... Rabi’ al-thani ( ربيع الآخر أو ربيع الثاني ) is the fourth month in the Islamic Calender. ... , Qadian( ਕਾਦਿਆਂ ) is a small town and a municipal council in Gurdaspur, north-east of Amritsar, situated 18 km east of Batala city in the state of Punjab, India. ... Ahmadi Muslims are followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. ... A Mujaddid (Arabic: مجدد), in Islamic tradition, refers to a person who, Muslims believe, is sent by God in the first half of every century of the Islamic calendar. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... This article refers to the religious usage of the term. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (Hebrew: , Standard  Tiberian ; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , ; the Anointed One) at first meant any person who was anointed with oil on rising to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Muhammad al-Mahdi. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ...

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad urged Muslims to follow the spirit of Islam as well as the form in which according to him the latter was over emphasized in his age.^[5]. It is generally accepted that he was inclined towards the Hanafi school of thought within Islam in matters of religious law and his followers are known often to practice this school of thought in matters pertaining to Sharia or religious law.[7] The Hanafi (Arabic حنفي) school is the oldest of the four schools of thought (Madhhabs) or jurisprudence (Fiqh) within Sunni Islam. ... This article is about Islamic religious law. ...

He declared that Jesus Christ had in fact survived crucifixion and later died a natural death, that he had appeared in the spirit and power of Jesus, and that Messiah and Mahdi are two titles for one and the same person,[8] contrary to the common mainstream Islamic thought of his time which believed that Jesus being alive in heaven will descend himself and that the Mahdi and Jesus are two distinct messianic figures. He travelled extensively across the subcontinent of India preaching what he thought was the true meaning of Islam and defending accusations and criticism levelled against Islam and its founder. He had gathered many followers within his lifetime, declared Islam as the religion of man and promoted the spread of Islam through peaceful means.[9] This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad founded the Ahmadiyya movement 1889. He claimed that the Ahmadiyya Movement stood in the same relation to Islam, as Christianity stood to Judaism at the time of Jesus. The mission of the movement according to him was the propagation of Islam in its pristine form. Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Ahmadi Muslims are followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Between 1889 and 1908, he wrote more than 80 books, largely in Urdu and some in Arabic and Persian. They contain the exposition and explanation of the Gnosis he claimed to have received, a wide range of subjects are also dealt with, from the intricate issues of Islamic theology (often expressing his own interpretation or infusing them with new meanings) and mysticism, as well as repelling attacks and criticism leveled against Islam and its founder Muhammad and authenticating what he saw as the supremecy of Islam. A few of his books were distributed globally during his life-time. His essay entitled "Philosophy of Teachings of Islam" was very well received by many intellectuals, including such names as Leo Tolstoy of Russia.^[6][7] Urdu ( , , trans. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Look up Persian in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Theology finds its scholars pursuing the understanding of and providing reasoned discourse of religion, spirituality and God or the gods. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam is a well-known essay on Islam by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya movement. ... Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy(Lyof, Lyoff) (September 9 [O.S. August 28] 1828 – November 20 [O.S. November 7] 1910) (Russian: , IPA:  ), commonly referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer – novelist, essayist, dramatist and philosopher – as well as pacifist Christian anarchist and educational reformer. ...

Lineage

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's lineage through his forefathers can be traced back to a reputed scholar and chieftain of Persian descent who in 1530 migrated from Samarkand along with two hundred companions and settled in the Punjab, India where he founded the town known today as Qadian.[10] Look up Persian in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Samarkand (Tajik: Самарқанд, Persian: ‎ , Uzbek: , Russian: ), population 412,300 in 2005, is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarqand Province. ... , Qadian( ਕਾਦਿਆਂ ) is a small town and a municipal council in Gurdaspur, north-east of Amritsar, situated 18 km east of Batala city in the state of Punjab, India. ...

Biography

Early life

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born in Qadian, Punjab in India on February 13, 1835^[8] the surviving child of twins born to an affluent family.^[8] As a child, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad received his early education at home. He learnt to read the Holy Quran and studied basic Arabic Grammar and Persian language. In addition Ahmad also studied some works on medicine from his father. Around the age of sixteen or seventeen he also started studying Christianity, particularly with reference to the Christian missionary arguments against Islam. He collected some three thousand articles in criticism of Islam and set out to reply to them which culminated in his book Baraheen-e-Ahmadiyya, this had earned him some fame among the Muslim divines. He married his cousin Hurmat Bibi in 1852 from whom he had two sons. , Qadian( ਕਾਦਿਆਂ ) is a small town and a municipal council in Gurdaspur, north-east of Amritsar, situated 18 km east of Batala city in the state of Punjab, India. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

From 1864 to 1868, he worked in Sialkot as a clerk where he is said to have come in contact with Christian missionaries with whom he would have conversations on religion. After 1868 he returned to Qadian as per his father’s wishes where he was entrusted to look after some estate affairs. During all this time Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was known as a social recluse as he would spend most of his time in seclusion studying religious books. As time passed on he began to engage more with the Christian missionaries and would often confront them in public debates, particularly in defending Islam against their criticism; especially with the Christian missionaries based in the town of Batala, about eleven miles from Qadian in India.^[8] Sialkot (Urdu/Punjabi: سیالکوٹ ) is a city situated in the north-east of the Punjab province in Pakistan at the feet of the snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. ... The history of the town Gurdaspur, the district headquarter,dates back to early seventeenth century. ...

First Revelation

In 1869, Muhammad Husein a leader of the Ahle Hadith sect who had known Mirza Ghulam Ahmad from childhood had come to Batala. Upon Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's visit to Batala he was requested to hold a debate with him. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was not known to debate just for the sake of it but reluctantly accepted. It is said that he sat himself in the mosque opposite Muhammad Hussein where crowds had gathered eagerly awaiting an intellectual exchange between the two. He began by asking him what his position was regarding a certain theological point. Upon hearing his answer and finding that it was in accordance with the Islamic teaching he exclaimed "If that is your view it is most reasonable. There is nothing to be said against it" and left, to the disapproval of his supporters, who thinking themselves humiliated and began shouting. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad however was not moved and upon his return to Qadian claimed that God had revealed to him His appreciation regarding this matter and told him: Ahl Hadith (Urdu: اہل حدیث, ahl-e hadīs) is a Hanbali school of jurisprudence in Pakistan. ...

"God is Pleased with your attitude, He will shower his blessings on you, so much so that Kings would seek blessings from your garments" (Baraheen-e-Ahmadiyya, vol IV pg.520)[11][12]

Prior to His Claim

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to have received true dreams and visions even as a youth,[13]In 1875 he undertook a long fast upon what he considered to be Divine instruction, it is disputed whether this fast extended to six or nine months and he did not advise his followers to undertake such a long fast. During this time he claimed to have received visions of past prophets and saints including Muhammad, and beheld columns of spiritual light of different colours ascending from the heart and descending from above.[14][15]

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's second marriage in 1884 was to Nusrat Jehan Begum, daughter of a Nawab from Delhi. With her he had 10 children, five dying in childhood, and three sons and two daughters living to old age. [16] Nawab (Urdu: نواب ) was originally the subadar (provincial governor) or viceroy of a subah (province) or region of the Mughal empire. ... For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ...

When he was forty years old his father died. At this time Ghulam Ahmad claimed that God had begun communicating with him, with much frequency, often through direct verbal revelation. Initially, his writings from this time were intended to counter what he perceived to be anti-Islamic writings originating from various Christian missionary groups.^[9] He also focused on countering the effects of various groups such as the Hindu Arya Samaj.^[10] During this period of his life he was well received by the Islamic clerics of the time ^[11] including those who would later be his critics, such as Molvi Muhammad Hussain and Mauluna Abul Kalam Azad.^[12] Arya Samaj (Aryan Society or Society of Nobles) is a Hindu reform movement in India that was founded by Swami Dayananda in 1875. ...

Forty days of solitude

In 1886 Mirza hulam Ahmad, seeking further Divine guidance decided to undertake a period of forty days of solitude. He traveled to Hoshiarpur along with three other companions to a small two storied house of one of his followers and was left alone in a room where his companions would bring him food and leave without speaking to him as he prayed and contemplated. He only left the house on Friday's and used an abandoned mosque for the purpose of the Jumu'ah (Friday prayers). It is during this period that he declared God had given him the glad tidings of an illustrious son.[17] Hoshiarpur is a town in Hoshiarpur District, Punjab, India. ... Jumuah (also known as Friday prayer) is a congregational salat (prayer) that Muslims hold every Friday, just after noon. ...

His Claim

Main article: The claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claims were not given all at once but rather developed gradually. He declared that he was the promised Messiah and Mahdi, and that his advent was in fulfilment of the various prophecies regarding the promised reformer of the latter days. This sparked great controversy especially among the Muslim, Christian and to some extent Hindu clergy. However it is worth noting that Ahmad never claimed to be the same physical Jesus who lived 19 centuries before him, as is often misunderstood, but claimed only a spiritual likeness and affinity, and that he had appeared in the same manner and style as Jesus who according to him had died a natural death.^[13] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of Ahmadiyya religious movement in Islam made various claims during his life. ...

In Tazkiratush-Shahadatain he wrote about his fulfillment of various prophesies. In it, he enumerated a variety of prophesies and descriptions from both Qur'an and Hadith relating to advent of the Promised Messiah which he ascribes to himself. These include assertions that he was physically described in the Hadith and manifested various other signs; some of them being wider in scope such as focusing on world events coming to certain points, certain conditions within the Muslim community, and varied social, political, economic, and physical conditions. ^[14]

He was accused of creating a new religion, ^[15] a heretical act in Islam which he repeatedly denied, claiming only an Islamic revival and rejuvenation ^[16] and that he was a Prophet within the Ummah and dispensation of Muhammad just as Jesus was a prophet within the dispensation of Moses. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ...

Post Claim

In time, his claims of being the Mujaddid (reformer) of his era became more explicit.^[17] These writings were compiled in one of his most well-known and praised^[18] works: Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, a work consisting of a number of volumes. In later volumes, he would claim to be the Messiah of Islam.^[19] which has proven a strong challenge for Muslims to accept, since traditional Islamic thought contends that Jesus will return in the flesh at the end of times and preach Islam.^[20] Ahmad, by contrast, asserted that Jesus had in fact survived crucifixion and died of old age much later in Kashmir where he had migrated. According to Ahmad, the promised Mahdi was a spiritual, not military leader as is believed by many Muslims. With this proclamation, he also rejected the idea of militant Jihad, and argued that the conditions for such Jihad are not present in this age which requires defending Islam by the pen and tongue but not with the sword. A Mujaddid (Arabic: مجدد), in Islamic tradition, refers to a person who, Muslims believe, is sent by God in the first half of every century of the Islamic calendar. ... Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya is a book contains a compilation of writings by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (Hebrew: , Standard  Tiberian ; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , ; the Anointed One) at first meant any person who was anointed with oil on rising to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... For other uses, see Jihad (disambiguation). ...

Reaction of religious scholars

These writings began to turn the religious scholars against him, and he was often branded as a heretic. His opponents accused him of working against the British Government as his claims of being the Mahdi were tantamount to claiming rulership and made around the same time as Mahdi of Sudan. Many years after his demise, some accused Ahmad of working for the British to curb the Jihadi ideology of Muslims. Ulema (, transliteration: , singular: , transliteration: , scholar) (The people of Islamic Knowledge) refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. ...

Following His claim to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, his adversary Maulvi Muhammad Hussein of Batala prepared a Fatwa (decree) of disbelief against Ghulam Ahmad, declaring him a Kafir (disbeliever), a deceiver, a liar, and him and his followers to be permissible of being killed. This decree was signed by some two hundred religious scholars from across India. [18] Maulvi (also spelled: Moulvi, Mawlawi and Mawlvi Persian: مولوی) is an honorific Islamic religious title often, but not exclusively, given to Muslim religious scholars or Ulema preceding their names, similar to the titles Maulana, Mullah or Shaykh. ... A fatwā (Arabic: ; plural fatāwā Arabic: ), is a considered opinion in Islam made by a mufti, a scholar capable of issuing judgments on Sharia (Islamic law). ... This article is about an Islamic term. ...

Some years later a prominent Muslim leader and founder of the Barelwi sect, Ahmed Rida Khan was to travel to the Hejaz to collect the opinions of the religious scholars of Mecca and Madina. He compiled these opinions in his work Hussam ul Harmain (The sword of two sanctuaries on the slaughter-point of blasphemy and falsehood)[19], in it Ghulam Ahmad was again labeled an apostate and one inspired by Satan. The unanimous consensus of about thirty-four religious scholars was that Ghulam Ahmad’s Beliefs were blasphemous, tantamount to apostasy, and that he must be punished according to the Shariah Law. It stated: This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Map with the region outlined in red and the 1923 Kingdom in green “Hedjaz” redirects here. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ...

“If these heretics do not resort to repentance after imprisonment, the head of state must order their execution. This is mandatory obligation of the rulers to kill the apostates.” (Husam al Haramain: pg.6)

Journey to Delhi

As Delhi was then considered a centre of religious learning and home to many religious leaders. Ghulam Ahmad traveled to Delhi in 1891 with the intention of distinguishing what he saw as truth form falsehood and thus making it openly manifest for people through these influential divines, and for the completion of proof. He published an advertisement in which he invited the scholars to accept his claim and to engage in a public debate with him regarding the life and death of Isa (Jesus). Particularly one Maulana Nazeer Hussein who was hailed as the greatest shaikh and a leading religious scholar. He also proposed three conditions that were essential for such a debate namely that there should be a police presence to maintain peace, the debate should be in written form and that the debate should be on the subject of the death of Jesus. For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ... Look up isa in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Maulana is a title of respect, technically reserved for Muslim scholars or Ulema (plural of Aalim) who are knowledgable about Islam and have studied under a scholar or at a religious institution, e. ... Shaikh (Arabic: شيخ ),(also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh or Sheikh) is a word in the Arabic language meaning elder of tribe, lord or a revered old man. ...

It is said that after the publication of this advertisement Nazeer Hussein and his associates secretly prepared for debate and then announced that the debate will be in such a place at a certain time and day. Right at the time of debate they enticed the public against Ghulam Ahmad and then, sent for him. unaware of these preparations Ghulam Ahmad sought to leave even in the absence of the conditions laid out, but was deterred because of the mob who had gathered outside his house and posed a danger to his family as some had broken their way in. Upon this his adversaries made out that he has withdrawn from debate and is afraid of the sheikh, at which Ahmad issued another advertisement announcing that he has organized the maintenance of peace and is ready for debate whenever the Maulana wishes who, it is said had been much provoked by Ahmad at this time.

Eventually the debate was settled and Ghulam Ahmad traveled to the Jama Masjid Delhi (main mosque) of Delhi along with twelve companions. Before the debate started there was a discussion on the conditions which led to the conclusion that the debate should not be upon the death of Jesus but upon the claim of Ghulam Ahmad. While Ghulam Ahmad explained that his claim can only be discussed after the death of Jesus is proven, for he (Jesus) is considered by many to be living and the one who will descend to earth himself. Only when this belief is refuted can his claim to be the Messiah be discussed. Upon this there was a clamour amongst the crowds and Ahmad was informed that the other party alleges that he (Ghulam Ahmad) is at odds with Islamic beliefs and is a disbeliever therefore it is not proper to debate with him unless he clarifies his beliefs. Ahmad wrote his beliefs on a peace of paper and had it read out loud but due to the clamour amongst the people it could not be heard. Seeing that the crowd was drifting out of control and that violence was imminent the police superintendent gave orders to dismiss the public and move them on and the debate did not take place. The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa (Hindi: मस्जिद-ए-जहां नुमा, Urdu: مسجد جھان نمہ), commonly known as Jama Masjid जामिया/जामा मस्जिद of Delhi, is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. ...

A few days later however, a debate did take place between Ahmad and Maulwi Muhammad Bashir of Bhopal. Ahmad is known to have traveled extensively across India during this period of his life.

The Heavenly Decree

Following the decrees of religious scholars and the event at Delhi, it is said that his adversaries began turning people away from him by instructing people not to follow him no matter how many signs he shows, for false messiahs are also capable to show such signs and thereby deceive many. Ghulam Ahmad published a book called The Heavenly Decree in which he invited all his adversaries, religious scholars, Sufis, Pir's, hereditary divines and those who had labeled him a disbeliever to a 'spiritual contest' whereby the question whether someone is a Muslim and a true believer or not would be settled by God himself based on the four criteria of a true believer as laid out in the Quran. Namely that a perfect believer will frequently receive glad tidings from God, will be given awareness about hidden matters and events of the future from God, most of his prayers will be fulfilled and that he will excel others in receiving comprehension of the finer points, subtleties and deeper meanings of the Quran which will be new in its nature and not observed by a previous scholar or commentator.[20] Look up pir in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ...

According to Ghulam Ahmad the perfect believer will be dominant and outstanding compared to others in exhibiting these four signs or characteristics. In this book he also laid down the modus operandi for such a contest and it was according to him a perfect way of discerning a true believer from one who is not. Modus operandi (often used in the abbreviated form MO) is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as mode of operation. ...

The sun and moon eclipse

In 1894 about three years after his claim to be the Mahdi and Messiah, both the moon and sun eclipsed in the same month which happened to be the month of Ramadan. Ahmad declared that this was a sign of his truth and was in fulfillment of a tradition or prophecy attributed to the 7th century Shia Imam Muhammad al-Baqir[21] also known as Muhammad bin Ali. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Muhammad al-Mahdi. ... This article is about Islamic religious observances in the month of Ramadan. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Muhammad al-Baqir Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (676 - January 31, 743) was the fifth Shia Imam. ...

This occurrence has faced some criticism, critics of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad assert that this is a weak tradition with unreliable narrators, and one which cannot be traced back to Muhammad himself[22] and that such eclipses have been taking place before. Ahmadis however argue that such eclipses have never taken place as a sign for the truth of any person, and that this sign being mentioned in other religious scriptures such as the Bible[23] and the Quran[24] and the fact that it actually took place while he was the claimant further enhance the reliability of the tradition.

Accusation of murder and trial

Ahmad was involved in many lawsuits against his person after his claim but was never convicted of any criminal or civil offence.[25] One such case was following the events of the debate with Abdulla Atham and the prophecy concerning him, when his opponents, Hindus, Christians and Muslims seeking to silence him, conspired against him.

He was accused of the attempted murder of one Dr Henry Martin Clark of the Church missionary society who had first proposed the above mentioned debate between Ahmad and Atham. The prosecution included Ahmad's most bitter opponents, Dr Henry Martin Clark, Muhammad Hussian, and Pundit Ram Bhaj Dutt of the Arya Samaj. Dr Clark filed a complaint in the court of the District Magistrate that Ahmad had conspired to kill him and bribed a vagabond youth to give evidence, the case was magistrated by Captain M.W. Douglas. The youth had earlier visited Qadian and now resided in Dr Clark's mission. He claimed that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad had sent him to kill Dr Clark but his claims were not consistent while giving evidence, adding to the story each time he was questioned. He later admitted that he was coaxed into this by Dr Clark.[26] Ahmad was found innocent and acquitted.[27]

He was given leave to sue Dr Clark for malicious prosecution but refused saying he did not want to prosecute him under a worldly court but that his complaint was pending before a Higher judge.[28] Years later, back in London Captain Douglas commented "As soon as Ahmad entered the witness box and I looked at his face I began to think there was something wrong with the accusations I was certain that a man with such a good face could not have committed the deeds that he was accused of. His was a smiling, open countenance"[29] This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

The following year Ghulam Ahmad traveled again to Gurdaspur to answer a charge of breach of peace which it was alleged by the police, he had threatened with the publication of certain prophecies.[30] , Gurdaspur is a city in the province of East Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. ...

The Revealed sermon

Ahmad was criticized for his inadequate knowledge of the Arabic language. He in response claimed to have received the knowledge of 40,000 Arabic roots from God in a single night and wrote some 20 books in this language as well as poems upon what he considered was Divine direction. With this he challenged his opponents to produce the like of his Arabic works with as much helps as they wanted.[31]According to Ahmadi sources no one took up this challenge. Along with this he also declared Arabic to be the mother of all languages (Ummul-Lisana) and the original tongue of mankind.[32] This subject he dealt with in detail in his book Minunur-Rahman.

In 1900 on the occasion of the festival of Eid ul-Adha he is said to have delivered an hour-long sermon extempore in Arabic expounding the meaning and philosophy of sacrifice. This is considered from among the important events of the history of Ahmadiyya, it was immediately written down by his companions and came to be known as the Khutba Ilhamiyya the revealed or inspired sermon. It is said that during this sermon there was a change in his voice, he appeared as if in a trance, in the grip of an unseen hand, and as if a voice from the unknown had made him its mouthpiece. After the sermon ended Ghulam Ahmad fell into prostration followed by the rest of the congregation as a sign of gratitude towards God.[33] Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īd al-’Aḍḥā) is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Ibrahims (Abrahams) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael for Allah. ... Trance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Prostration can mean either: the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position (for instance, as part of religious or spiritual observance); or, physical or mental exhaustion (for instance, as part of a medical condition). ...

Ahmad wrote later in his book Haqeeqatul-Wahi:

"It was like a hidden fountain gushing forth and I did not know whether it was I who was speaking or an angel was speaking through my tongue. The sentences were just being uttered and every sentence was a sign of God for me."[34]

Plague and earthquake

Main article: Prophecies of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the founder of the Ahmadiyya religious movement. ...

In 1898 Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to have seen in a vision the imminent plague and warned people against this. This plague took its full toll in 1902-3 and ravaged the Punjab, with an average of forty thousand people dying every week including some of his bitter opponents and killing 10 million people in its wake.[35]He however forbade his followers to use any preventive vaccine and assured his true followers that they will be saved. His community is known to have grown rapidly during this period.[36]

1905 saw a terrible earthquake which Mirza Ghulam Ahmad had claimed to have foreseen earlier killing about 20,000 people.[37]

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad & Dr. Dowie

in 1899 a Scottish born American clergyman by the name of John Alexander Dowie had laid claim to be the forerunner of the second coming of Christ just as John the Baptist according to Christian tradition in his capacity of Elijah[38] had been the forerunner of Jesus. Dowie had been offensive towards Islam and its founder. When Mirza Ghulam Ahmad came to know of him he challenged him to a prayer duel and stated: For the comedian, writer, and musician, see John Dowie (humourist). ...

"The best way to determine whether Dowie's God is true or ours, is that Mr. Dowie should stop making prophecies about the destruction of all Muslims. Instead he should keep me alone in his mind and pray that if one of us is fabricating a lie, he should die before the other"[39]

Dowie however evaded this challenge calling Mirza Ghulam Ahmad the "silly Mohammedan Messiah". He eventually died suffering from paralysis and insanity in the March of 1907.[40]

Encounter with the Agapemonites

In September 1902 a man by the name of Rev. John Hugh Smyth-Pigott proclaimed himself the Messiah and also claimed to be God while preaching in the Church of the Ark of the Covenant in Clapton, London. A church that was originally built by the Agapemonites a sect founded by the Anglican priest Henry James Prince[41]. Though Mirza Ghulam Ahmad did not come to know of him until around October of that year, he had as early as June 1902 published a revelation which he claimed to have received informing him[42]: This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Agapemonites or Community or The Son of Man was a religious sect existing from 1846-1956. ...

Soon he will run away and not be seen again. This is news from Allah who knows that which is secret and most hidden. (Tazkirah, pg.518)

When the news of his claim reached India, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq a follower of Ghulam Ahmad was informed of this and wrote to Pigott informing him of the claim of Ghulam Ahmad and requesting more information about his claim. Pigott however did not reply directly but a letter was received from his secretary along with two advertisements one carrying the title “The Ark of Noah”. When these advertisements and letter was read out in the presence of Ghulam Ahmad he replied:

“Logic is respected and lasts but irrational thought loses its innovativeness in the space of a line. Now our Noah’s Ark will overpower the false one. The Europeans used to say that false Messiahs are about to come, so first these false prophets and Messiahs stepped out in London. After this the voice of the true Messiah will reach London. It is also recorded in the Ahadith that the Anti-christ will claim Godhead and Prophethood for himself, so this nation has also fulfilled this manifestly. Dowie is claiming to be a Prophet in America and Pigott is claiming to be God in London and calls himself God." (Malfoozat; Vol.4, 11 November 1902)

After having prayed about Piggot, Ghulam Ahmad claimed to have seen in a dream ‘some books on which was written three times: 'Holy, Holy, Holy’ followed by a revelation:

Allah is severe in retribution. They are not acting righteously. (Tazkirah, pg.531)

Ghulam Ahmad issued an advertisement forewarning Pigott of the ‘Punishment that awaits him’ if he did not repent of his irreverent claim. Which is said to have been widely publicized in English Newspapers, it is said that thenceforth Pigott became silent and did not repeat his claim. He left London and retreated to a small village in Somerset, changed his name, seeking a life of anonymity and was defrocked by the Anglican Church following the birth of three sons from one of his many ‘brides’. He eventually died anonymous in March 1927.[43] This article is about the county of Somerset in England. ... To defrock a priest is to deprive him of the right to exercise the functions of the priestly office. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ...

A charge of defamation

Another case brought against the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, which is believed to be yet another attempt to disgrace him, was that of defamation by one Karam Din. He had in 1902 written to Ghulam Ahmad pretending to be a sympathizer. When Ahmad included these letters in one of his books and published it, karam Din shifted to outright denial, rejecting that those letters were ever written by him. When Ahmad denounced him as mean-spirited and a liar, he launched a libel action against him. It was a case that lingered on for almost two years.[44]

The story of this case relates that Ahmad traveled to Jhelum in connection with the case but due to the exceeding crowds of thousands that had gathered to receive him both supporters and those who opposed him, astonishing the authorities and because there was danger of violence the case was adjourned and later transferred to Gurdaspur. It is said that nearly one thousand people pledged their allegiance to Ghulam Ahmad on this day.[45] Jhelum or Jehlum may mean: Jhelum River in India and Pakistan Jhelum City in Punjab, Pakistan Jhelum District in Punjab, Pakistan This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... , Gurdaspur is a city in the province of East Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. ...

The Magistrate who happened to be a Hindu, is believed to have been pressurised by the members of the Arya Samaj in that this was an opportune time to have Ahmad arrested and imprisoned. However a Muslim clerk who had contact with the Arya Samaj revealed their intentions to a companion of Ahmad. His companion Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din who was also his lawyer in this case tried to have the case transferred to another town but was not successful. During this time Ahmad took up temporary residence in Gurdaspur, the reason being that the magistrate troubled him by giving hearing upon hearing on short notice often everyday thus trying to occupy much of his time. Arya Samaj (Aryan Society or Society of Nobles) is a Hindu reform movement in India that was founded by Swami Dayananda in 1875. ... Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din (1870-1932), a lawyer by profession, was a member of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement[1], and the author of numerous publications[2][3] about Islam and the Ahmadiyya movement. ...

While in Gurdaspur he was informed by one of his companions of how his opponents had sought to have him arrested upon which he laid out his hands and said “what can I do? I have submitted to God that I am ready to wear bindings of steel on my wrists and feet for the sake of your religion, but He says: No, I shall protect you from abasement and shall acquit you with Honour" Then he began preaching upon Divine love for almost half an hour when suddenly he put his head between his knees and vomited, which was of pure blood. A doctor was called in who advised rest and issued a certificate stating that he was unable to attend court for the next month and upon demand, verified the certificate before the magistrate. Before the day he was to appear in court the magistrate was demoted and transferred to another town. He was replaced by another magistrate who chose a certain date to announce his verdict, then changed it to Saturday, which it was discovered was with the intention of announcing a heavy fine before the court closed so that Ahmad, not being able to pay the sum would be arrested and as the next day was a holiday he would have to spend the rest of the weekend in prison. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

When the day of his hearing arrived the police was ordered not to permit anyone to enter the court except Ahmad, his companion Khwaja Kamaludin (who was not with him at the time) saw him entering the court on his own, he sought to enter but was stopped by guards, he insisted that he was the lawyer of the accused and forcing them out of the way, entered just as the magistrate was imposing a fine of 700 rupees, an extraordinary sum at the time. Immediately he took the amount out from his pocket and placed it before the magistrate thus compelling him to acquit Ahmad. He walked out freely to the bewilderment of the crowds gathered outside the court, who were expecting him to walk out handcuffed and escorted by police. Finally his lawyers took the case to the court of appeal, which overturned the magistrate’s decision, returned the fine, there had been no libel, the Judge justified the criticism of Karam din and expressed his amazement as to why such a minor case had dragged on for so long.[46]

A great part of this period of his life is also known to have been spent in the spiritual training and upbringing of his disciples.

The White Minaret

According to Islamic tradition Jesus, upon his second advent would descend on or near a white minaret disputably to the east of Damascus or in the eastern side of Damascus.[47] Ahmad argued that this Hadith does not explain whether the minaret will be within the eastern side of Damascus or to the eastern side of the city. According to him this prophecy was fulfilled with his advent in Qadian a town situated to the east of Damascus and the significance of the minaret symbolic. The minaret according to him symbolised the spread of the light of Islam, his message reaching far and wide and the supremacy of Islam.[48] He claimed that God had revealed to him: For other uses, see Damascus (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

"Step forth that your time has Arrived and the feet of the Muslims have been firmly planted on a high tower. Holy Muhammad Mustafa Chief of the Prophets." (Tadhkirah, pg.444)

In 1903 Mirza Ghulam Ahmad laid the foundation of a Minaret which according to him will represent the physical as well as spiritual aspects of Islam with a light and a clock fixed on its top symbolising the light of Islam spreading far and wide and so man will recognise his time, and a Muezzin to give the call to prayer five times a day symbolising an invitation to Islam. The construction of this minaret was however completed after his death in 1916.[49] The müezzin (the word is pronounced this way Turkish, Urdu, etc. ...

Last journey

Towards the end of 1907 and early 1908 Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to have received numerous revelations informing him of his imminent death. In April 1908 he traveled to Lahore with his family and companions. Here he gave many lectures. it is said that a banquet was arranged for dignitaries and upon request he spoke for some two hours explaining his claims, teachings and refuting objections raised against his person, here he promoted reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims.[50]

Death

Main article: Controversy surrounding the death of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

While he was in Lahore, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad fell ill suffering form dysentery and passed away on 26th May 1908[51]. Critics of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claim that he suffered a death from cholera which they allege according to his own writings was an accursed death.^[21][22] However, his followers denounce these allegations and instead say that he died in 1908 as a result of complications arising from diarrhea; which was a common mode of death at the time. ^{[23] [24]}. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad founded the Ahmadiyya movement and claimed to be the return of Christ, the promised Messiah, the Mahdi, and Mujaddid of the modern Islamic era. ...

Why the name Ahmadiyya was given

The Ahmadiyya movement was founded in 1889, but the name Ahmadiyya was not adopted until about a decade later. In a manifesto dated November 4, 1900, the founder explained that the name referred not to himself but to Ahmad, the alternative name of the prophet Mohammed. According to him, ‘Mohammed’, which means ‘the praised one’, refers to the glorious destiny of the prophet who adopted the name from about the time of the Hegira; but ‘Ahmad’ stands for the beauty of his sermons, and for the peace that he was destined to establish in the world through his teachings. According to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, these names thus refer to two aspects of Islam, and in later times it was the latter aspect that commanded greater attention. In keeping with this, he believed, his object was to establish peace in the world through the spiritual teachings of Islam. He believed that his message had special relevance for the Western world which according to him had descended into materialism. For other people named Muhammad, see Muhammad (disambiguation). ... In philosophy, materialism is that form of physicalism which holds that the only thing that can truly be said to exist is matter; that fundamentally, all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions; that matter is the only substance. ...

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's Legacy

One of the main source of dispute during his lifetime and continuing since then, is Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's use of the terms “Nabi” (prophet) and “Rasool” (messenger) when referring to himself. Muslims consider the prophet Muhammad to be the last of the prophets ^[25] and believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's use of these terms is a violation of the concept of “finality of prophethood”. ^[26] His followers fall into two camps in this regards, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community who believe in a literal interpretation of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's prophethood (with some qualifications), ^[27] and is currently headed by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's fith Caliph or successor carrying the title of Khalifatul Masih an institution believed to have been established soon after Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's death. While the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement who believe in an allegorical interpretation of these two terms is administered by a body of people called the Anjuman Ishat-e-Islam (Movement for the propagation of Islam) headed by anEmir. ^[28] This among other reasons caused a split in the movement soon after the Mujaddad and Promissed Messiah Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's death. Nabi can refer to the Arabic and Hebrew word for Prophet the Korean word for butterfly one of the Nabis, a group of artists in Paris in the 1890s the 2005 Typhoon Nabi North American Bus Industries, a major transit bus manufacturing company Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, a Biopharmaceutical company based in... The Quran identifies a number of men as prophets of Islam (Arabic: nabee نبي ; pl. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... Khatme Nabuwwat ختم النبوه or finality of Prophet-hood is an islamic belief that Prophethood has come to an end after Muhammad. ... The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Arabic: الجماعة الأحمدية; transliterated: ) is one of two communities arising from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (1835-1908). ... Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya, believe that the elected leader of their community, the Khalifatul Masih, is the second manifestation of the Khalifat (first being the Khilafat e Rashida which ended with Ali the son in law of Prophet Muhammad) and that Allah has assured... The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam (not to be confused with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association), formed as a result of an ideological differences[1] between the Ahmadiyya Community (also known among some Muslim groups as Qadianism), after the demise Maulawi Nur ud-Din in 1914, the first... Entrance to the emirs palace in Bukhara. ...

Followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad are considered non-Muslims in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and have faced relentless persecution of various types over the years.^[29] In 1974, the Pakistani parliament amended the Pakistani constitution to declare Ahmadis as non-Muslims for purposes of the constitution of the Islamic Republic. ^[30] In 1984, a series of changes in the Pakistan Penal Code sections relating to blasphemy that, in essence, made it illegal for Ahmadis to preach their creed, leading to arrests and prosecutions. However, no one has been executed yet, even though it is allowed under the law. Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Bold text Majlis-e-Shoora (Urdu: مجلس شوری) (Council of Advisors in Urdu, although referred to as Parliament) is the bicameral federal legislature of Pakistan that consists of the Senate (upper house) and the National Assembly (lower house). ... This article is about the year. ...

Relative to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, some mainstream Muslim opinion towards the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement has been more accepting^[31], with the Lahore Ahmadiyya Literature finding greater acceptance among the Muslim Intelligentsia^[32][33] and some Orthodox Muslim scholars considering the members of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement as Muslims.^[31] The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Arabic: الجماعة الأحمدية; transliterated: ) is one of two communities arising from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (1835-1908). ... The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam (not to be confused with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association), formed as a result of an ideological differences[1] between the Ahmadiyya Community (also known among some Muslim groups as Qadianism), after the demise Maulawi Nur ud-Din in 1914, the first... The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam (not to be confused with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association), formed as a result of an ideological differences[1] between the Ahmadiyya Community (also known among some Muslim groups as Qadianism), after the demise Maulawi Nur ud-Din in 1914, the first...

A number of modern Muslim scholars and Muslim intellectuals seem to conform to the idea of peaceful Jihad as a struggle for reform through civil means, in accordance with Mirza Ghulam Ahmed's standpoint on the issue. Further, some Islamic scholars have opined that Jesus has died (Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's assertion) or expressed their own confusion on this matter,^[34][35][36] though the majority orthodox position of most Muslims with regard to this issue has not changed.

Sayings

• "“Our God is One Who is living today as He was living before, and Who speaks today as He spoke before, and hears today as He heard before. It is a false notion that in this age He hears but does not speak Indeed, He both hears and speaks. All His attributes are eternal and everlasting.”(Al-Wassiyat,pg.12)

• "God is a lovely treasure. Hold Him dear. He is your Help at every step. You are as nothing without Him. And nothing are your means and methods."(Kishti-i-Nuh, pg.20)

• "The world cannot accept me for I am not of this world. But those whose inherent nature has been gifted with a portion of the knowledge of the other domain are accepting me and will continue to accept me. He who forsakes me indeed forsakes Him Who sent me. He who is grafted onto me is grafted onto Him from Whom I have come. I hold a lamp in my hand. Any person who comes to me will certainly partake of the light of this lamp. But those who flee as a result of delusion and distrust will be thrown into darkness. I am the invincible citadel of this age. Only he who enters therein will be secure from the scourge of swindlers, crooks and ferocious beasts. But he who prefers to stay away from my periphery, will confront death from all directions! Even his corpse will not be secure. Who enters my citadel? Only he who discards all vice and instead embraces the path of rectitude. He who gives up the path of crookedness and treads along the path of truthfulness." (Fat-he-Islam, pg.36)

• ”I want to make it clear to Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Aryas, that I have no enemy. I love all men as a merciful mother loves her children. Nay more. I am enemy only of false beliefs, beliefs subversive of truth. To sympathise with all humans is my duty and to preach against falsehood, disloyalty to God, tyranny, evil conduct, injustice, immorality is my mission.” (Arbain No.1, pg. 2-3)

• "Dissociate yourselves from the commotion of the world and do not give religious complexion to your egoistic disputes. Accept defeat for the sake of God so that you may become heirs to great victories. God will show miracles to those who supplicate and those who ask will be blessed with extraordinary grace. Prayer comes from God and to Him it returns. Through prayer God becomes as close to you as your very life.”(Lecture Sialkot,pg.32)

• "Remember, that no one will descend from heaven. All our opponents who are alive today will die and no one will see Jesus son of Mary descending from heaven. Then their next generation will pass away and no one of them will see this spectacle. Then the generation next after that will pass away without seeing the son of Mary descending from heaven. Then God will make them anxious that though the time of the supremacy of the cross had passed away and the world had undergone great changes, yet the son of Mary had not descended from heaven. Then the wise people will suddenly discard this belief. The third century after today will not yet have come to a close when those who hold this belief, whether Muslims or Christians, will lose all hope and will give up this belief in disgust. There will then be only one religion that will prevail in the world and only one leader. I have come only to sow the seed, which has been sown by my hand. Now it will sprout and grow and flourish and no one can arrest its growth." (Tazkiratush Shahadatain, pg.64-65)

• "Our God is our paradise. Our highest delight is in our God for we have seen Him and have found every beauty in Him. This wealth is worth procuring though one might have to lay down one's life to procure it. This ruby is worth purchasing though one may have to lose oneself to acquire it. Oh ye, who are bereft, run to this fountain and it will satisfy you. It is the fountain of life that will save you. What shall I do, and how shall I impress the hearts with this good news, and by beating what drum shall I make the announcement that this is our God, so that people might hear? What remedy shall I apply to the ears of the people so that they should listen?" (Kishti-i-Nuh,pg.19-20)

• "Islam is the blazing fire that burns up our life and consuming our false deities, presents the sacrifice of our life and our property and our honour to our Holy God. Entering it, we drink the water of a new life and all our spiritual faculties establish such a relationship with God as subsists between kindred. A fire leaps up from our inside like lightning and another fire descends upon us from above. By the meeting of these two flames all our passions and our love for anything beside God are totally consumed and we become dead vis-a-vis our previous life. This condition is named Islam in the Holy Quran." (The Philosophy of the teachings of Islam, pg.85,English translation: 1996)

• "The truth is that Jesus son of Mary is from me and I am from God. Blessed is he who recognises me and most unfortunate is he from whose eye I am hidden." (Review of Religions, Urdu, Vol.I, No.9, pg.348)

• "I am accompanied by that Hand which shall remain faithful to me till the end of time. If your men and your women, and your young and your old, and your insignificant ones and your notables: all committed themselves to praying for my destruction - so much so that your noses get withered and wasted away due to your endless prostrations, and your hands become numb, even then God will most certainly not accept your prayers, and he will not relent until His will is done...God leaves nothing unresolved. I consider as accursed a life which is tainted with falsehood and lies, and which, out of the fear of the creatures of God, evades to comply with Divine imperatives. It is certainly impossible for me to show any slackness - even if the Sun moved from one side and the Earth from the other to crush me between them - in carrying out the duty which God Almighty has at the moment entrusted to me, and for which alone He has sent me. What is man? A mere worm and nothing more than a clot! How then can I, for the sake of this lowly creature fail to abide by what the Self-Subsistent Being has commanded...do mark it for sure that I have neither made a seasonless appearance, nor shall my exit be unseasonable. Don't fight God. It is not for you to destroy me!" (Tohfa Golarviyya, Roohani Khazaa'in, Vol.17,pg 49-50)

Criticism

Due to the nature of his claims he has been subject of criticism throughout his life.

Regarding Prophecies

Criticism on prophecies of Mirza Ghulam Ahmed can be seen in the article Prophecies of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the founder of the Ahmadiyya religious movement. ...

Relationship with British

His critics say that he and his associates went on publishing in favor of British control and even tried to convince Muslims in other Muslim countries that a British government would be in their favor. ^[37] They give reference to one of his letter to Queen Victoria in which he said: Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819–22 January 1901) was a Queen of the United Kingdom, reigning from 20 June 1837 until her death. ...

His followers reject this criticism and point out that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was constantly engaged in controversies with the British missionaries. Western historians have recorded this effort as one of the features of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's legacy^[39]. Francis Robinson states;

At their most extreme religious strategies for dealing with the Christian presence might involve attacking Christian revelation at its heart, as did the Punjabi Muslim, Ghulam Ahmad (d.1908), who founded the Ahmadiyya missionary sect.

His followers also say that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad openly supported the British government in India, and therefore his critic's consideration of this being tantamount to "conspiring" with the British is baseless. ^[40] They further argue that his open support for the British was on account of the religious freedom the British extended to the Muslims as opposed to the preceding Sikh rule in Punjab wherein Muslims were persecuted and their religious freedom curtailed ^[41] It is further argued that the reason for Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's expression of loyalty towards the British was due to him being presented as a threat and danger to the government with rebellious intent by his opponents such as Maulvi Muhammad Hussein who warned the government in the following words:[52]

His deception is proved by the fact that in his heart he considers it lawful to put an end to the authority of a non-Muslim government and to plunder its belongings...Therefore, it would not be proper on the part of the Government to rely on him and it would be necessary to beware of him, otherwise such harm might be suffered at the hands of this Mahdi of Qadian as was experienced at the hands of the Sudanese Mahdi. (Ishaatus Sunnah, Vol VI, 1893)

It is also pointed out by them that many prominent main stream Muslim leaders of the time had also openly expressed similar sentiments for the British rule for the same reasons. ^[42] Such leaders included Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi, Deputy Nazir Ahmad, Leaders of the Deobandi school and members of Anjuman Himayat-i-Islam ^[43] Furthermore the famous founders of the Muslim League had also expressed similar sentiments of Loyalty to the British Government at around the same time as Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^[44] In summary the followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad contend that his views towards the British Rulers at the time were similar to the views of numerous other well regarded Muslim Leaders of the same time ^[45]

Termination of Jihad

His critics allege that he had terminated Jihad which is an important Islamic requirement, to appease the British. For other uses, see Jihad (disambiguation). ...

His followers however argue that he never suspended Jihad in the broader sense of the word but only forbade physical fighting for the sake of religion or against a government which gives freedom of religion. He writes:

"Behold! I have come to you people with a directive that henceforth jihad with the sword has come to an end but jihad for the purification of your souls still remains. This injunction is not from me but rather it is the will of God." (British Government and Jihad pg.15)[53]

According to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad this age did not require defending Islam by the sword but that the Jihad of this age was to be carried out by preaching and defending Islam by speech and pen. In another place he writes:

"The Jihad of this age is to strive in upholding the word of Islam, to refute the objections of the opponents, to propagate the excellences of the Islamic faith, and to proclaim the truth of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, throughout the world. This is Jihad till God Almighty brings about other conditions in the world."[54]

Psychology

His critics allege that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad suffered from various psychological problems suh as melancholia, Manic Depression, hysteria, hypochondria amnesia (forgetfulness) etc., which is not consistent with the Divine status he claimed. Melancholy redirects here. ... Manic depression, with its two principal sub-types, bipolar disorder and major depression, was first clinically described near the end of the 19th century by psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin, who published his account of the disease in his Textbook of Psychiatry. ... Hysteria is a diagnostic label applied to a state of mind, one of unmanageable fear or emotional excesses. ... For the anatomical term, see hypochondrium. ... For other uses, see Amnesia (disambiguation). ...

His followers however do not subscribe to this view and argue that where such terms as melancholia, hysteria and amnesia may have been used they refer not to the generally accepted medical conditions but rather to the general emotion of depression, restlessness, the sharpness of senses and very little concern with worldy matters often experienced by those who are appointed or ordained by God for the reformation and guidance of humanity due to the divine burden of responsibility given to them. It is however established that he suffered from vertigo and diabetes[55] His followers argue that it is not unusual for Prophets to be subject to illness and thus his health does not negate his Divine office and that these two illnesses namely Vertigo and Diabetes he was known to have suffered from were in fulfilment of certain prophecies about the Promised One. For other uses, see Vertigo. ... This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ...

Revelations

His critics accuse him of plagiarising from the Quran, Hadith, Bible and other scriptures and presenting them as his own revelations often presenting Quranic passages along with or mixed with non-Quranic material which he claimed to have received as revelation.

His followers however argue that it is not unusual for God to reveal something which has been said or revealed before and that where he did receive revelation identical in part or full to previous scriptures,he never claimed to change, add, subtract from or replace those scriptures but rather presented them as his own revelations.

See also

• Seal of the Prophets
• Yuz Asaf
• Mohammadi Begum
• Messiah
• Mahdi
• Ahmadi
• Khalifatul Masih

Seal of the Prophets (ar. ... Yuz Asaf (Kashmiri: युझ असफ, یوذسف), Judasaf, Yus Asaph, or Shahzada Nabi Hazrat Yura Asaf is a prophet revered among the Sabians. ... Mohammadi Begum (or Muhammadi Begum) (death 1966), was the daughter of Mirza Ahmad Baig, a cousin of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (the founder of the Ahmadiyya), for whom Mirza Ghulam Ahmad had sent a marriage proposal as part of his prophecy. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (Hebrew: , Standard  Tiberian ; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , ; the Anointed One) at first meant any person who was anointed with oil on rising to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Muhammad al-Mahdi. ... This article is about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. ... Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya, believe that the elected leader of their community, the Khalifatul Masih, is the second manifestation of the Khalifat (first being the Khilafat e Rashida which ended with Ali the son in law of Prophet Muhammad) and that Allah has assured...

Notes

Maulana Muhammad Ali 1874-1951 Amir (1914-1951) Muhammad Ali was born in 1874 in Punjab (India). ... Al-Mawrid is an Islamic research institute in Lahore, Pakistan founded in 1983 and then re-established in 1991. ... Amin Ahsan Islahi (1904–1997) was an Indian/Pakistani exegete of the Quran , who became famous for his Urdu exegeses of Quran, Tadabbur-i-Qur’an—an exegesis that he based on Hamiduddin Farahis (1863-1930) idea of thematic and structural coherence in the Quran. ... Tadabbur-i-Qur’an is a tafsir (exegeses) of the Quran by Amin Ahsan Islahi based on the concept of thematic and structural coherence, which was originally inspired by Allama Hamiduddin Farahi. ...   (Urdu: لاہور, Punjabi: لہور, pronounced ) is the capital of the province of Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ...

External links