Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Indian religious leader (d. 1908)

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad: Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (13 February 1835 – 26 May 1908) was a prominent Indian religious leader and the esteemed founder of the Ahmadiyya movement, a distinct theological branch within Islam. His life and teachings significantly shaped a unique understanding of Islamic eschatology and the role of religious revival in the modern age. Born into a family with considerable aristocratic influence in Qadian, a rural town located in the Punjab region of British India, Ghulam Ahmad initially gained recognition as a proficient writer and debater, passionately defending the tenets of Islam against various critiques.

The Claim of the Promised Messiah, Mahdi, and Mujaddid

At the core of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's mission was his profound claim to have been divinely appointed as the Promised Messiah and the Mahdi. In Islamic eschatology, the arrival of both figures is prophesied to occur in the latter days, signifying a period of spiritual revival and the triumph of truth. Ghulam Ahmad asserted that he represented the metaphorical second coming of Jesus (*mathīl-iʿIsā*), fulfilling prophecies concerning the return of Christ in Islam, not as a physical reappearance, but as a spiritual similitude embodying Jesus' characteristics and mission. Furthermore, he declared himself the Mujaddid (centennial reviver) of the 14th Islamic century. A Mujaddid, according to Islamic tradition, is an individual chosen by God to revive and reform Islam at the turn of each century, purifying it from innovations and re-establishing its pristine teachings.

Establishment of the Ahmadiyya Movement

Ghulam Ahmad's spiritual journey intensified around the age of forty, following the passing of his father, when he reported receiving regular divine communications. In 1889, a pivotal moment in the history of Ahmadiyya Islam occurred in Ludhiana, Punjab. There, he took a formal pledge of allegiance, known as *Bai'at*, from forty of his devoted supporters. This event marked the official establishment of a community of followers, based on what he believed to be direct divine instruction. For initiation into this burgeoning community, Ghulam Ahmad stipulated ten specific conditions, emphasizing moral rectitude, devotion to God, and a commitment to peaceful propagation of Islam. These conditions served as the foundational principles for all who wished to join the newly formed Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Core Teachings and Mission of the Movement

According to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the fundamental mission of the Ahmadiyya movement was multifaceted:

• Reinstatement of the Absolute Oneness of God (Tawhid): To re-emphasize the pristine concept of *Tawhid*, free from any form of polytheism or association of partners with God.
• Moral Reformation of Society: To revive Islam through the moral and spiritual reformation of society, aligning human conduct with true Islamic ideals of justice, compassion, and piety.
• Global Propagation of Islam: To propagate the message of Islam in its pure, original form throughout the world, using peaceful means and intellectual discourse.

A distinctive theological stance of Ghulam Ahmad concerned the fate of Jesus (Isa). Contrary to the mainstream Islamic and Christian belief that Jesus ascended to heaven alive and will physically return, Ghulam Ahmad asserted that Jesus had in fact survived the crucifixion, migrated eastward, and eventually died a natural death in Kashmir. This interpretation became a significant point of divergence from traditional Islamic theology.

A Prolific Author and Advocate for Peaceful Islam

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was an extraordinarily prolific author, penning over ninety books between the publication of the first volume of his seminal work, *Barahin-i-Ahmadiyya* (The Proofs of Ahmadiyya), in 1880, and his demise in May 1908. His extensive writings covered a wide array of religious, theological, and moral subjects. Many of his works adopted a polemical and apologetic tone, seeking to rationally establish the superiority of Islam, often presenting his unique interpretations of Islamic teachings.

A cornerstone of his reformist program was his emphatic advocacy for the peaceful propagation of Islam. He vigorously argued against the permissibility of military Jihad under the prevailing circumstances of his time. Instead, he emphasized the "Jihad of the pen" and the inner spiritual struggle (*Jihad Akbar*) as the primary means of defending and spreading Islam. He traveled extensively across the Punjab, preaching his innovative religious ideas and rallying support by harmonizing a progressive reformist agenda with his personal revelations, which he claimed originated directly from God. This approach attracted a substantial following during his lifetime, though it also generated considerable hostility, particularly from conservative Muslim Ulema who viewed his claims as heretical.

He frequently engaged in public debates and dialogues, demonstrating his intellectual prowess against Christian missionaries, various Muslim scholars, and Hindu revivalists, thereby establishing himself as a significant figure in the interfaith landscape of colonial India.

Growth, Organization, and Succession

By the time of his death in 1908, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad had amassed an estimated 400,000 followers, with significant concentrations in regions such as the United Provinces, the Punjab, and Sindh. He had also successfully built a dynamic religious organization, complete with an executive body for administration and its own printing press, ensuring the systematic dissemination of his teachings. Following his passing, he was succeeded by his close companion, Hakīm Noor-ud-Dīn, who assumed the title of Khalīfatul Masīh (Successor of the Messiah), establishing the institution of Khilafat within the Ahmadiyya Community.

Enduring Controversy: The Nature of Prophethood

While Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is deeply revered by Ahmadi Muslims as the Promised Messiah and Imām Mahdi, it is crucial to understand that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) remains the central and paramount figure in Ahmadiyya Islam. However, Ghulam Ahmad's distinctive claim to be a subordinate (*ummati*) prophet within Islam has remained the most significant point of controversy between his followers and mainstream Muslims. Mainstream Islamic theology firmly holds that Prophet Muhammad is *Khatam an-Nabiyyin*, the Seal of the Prophets, meaning he is the final prophet and no prophet can come after him. Ahmadi Muslims interpret this concept differently, believing that a non-law-giving prophet who is completely subservient to Prophet Muhammad and whose prophethood is a reflection of Muhammad's can still appear, which they believe Ghulam Ahmad to be.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and Ahmadiyya

Who was Mirza Ghulam Ahmad?

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was an Indian religious leader born in 1835, who founded the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam. He claimed to be the Promised Messiah, the Mahdi, and the Mujaddid (centennial reviver) of the 14th Islamic century.

What were Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's main claims?

His primary claims were to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, fulfilling Islamic latter-day prophecies as the metaphorical second coming of Jesus (*mathīl-iʿIsā*). He also claimed to be the Mujaddid (centennial reviver) of his era and, controversially, a subordinate (*ummati*) prophet within Islam.

When and where was the Ahmadiyya movement founded?

The Ahmadiyya movement was formally established in 1889 in Ludhiana, Punjab, when Mirza Ghulam Ahmad took a pledge of allegiance (Bai'at) from forty of his early supporters, outlining ten conditions for initiation.

What is the Ahmadiyya view on Jesus (Isa)?

Contrary to mainstream Islamic and Christian belief, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad asserted that Jesus (Isa) survived the crucifixion and died a natural death in Kashmir, rather than ascending to heaven alive. He believed his own advent fulfilled the prophecies of Jesus' second coming in a spiritual, not physical, sense.

How did Mirza Ghulam Ahmad define Jihad?

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad advocated for a peaceful propagation of Islam and reinterpreted Jihad primarily as a spiritual struggle (*Jihad Akbar*) and an intellectual defense of Islam (the "Jihad of the pen"), strongly arguing against the permissibility of military Jihad under the prevailing conditions of his time.

Why is Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claim of prophethood controversial?

His claim to be a subordinate (*ummati*) prophet is highly controversial because it differs from the mainstream Islamic belief that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is *Khatam an-Nabiyyin*, the Seal of the Prophets, meaning no prophet can come after him. Ahmadiyya Islam interprets this concept differently to allow for a non-law-giving prophet subservient to Muhammad.

What was the mission of the Ahmadiyya movement?

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad outlined the mission as the reinstatement of the absolute oneness of God (Tawhid), the moral reformation of society according to Islamic ideals, and the peaceful, global propagation of Islam in its pristine form.