Nuzhat J. Haneef Recognizing the Messiah
Assessing Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qaadiyaan: His Claims, His Views, His Character, and His Movement

1.4 THE AHMADIYYA MOVEMENT IN ISLAM


Most readers of this document will probably have some familiarity with the Ahmadiyya Movement and its major beliefs. However, just in case this is not so, and also to provide a ready reference for all readers, I quote below from an Ahmadiyya book:

Ahmadiyyat 4 is a sect of Islam, and not a new religion. It is, in fact, the renaissance of Islam. It is a movement, entirely within the fold of Islam, founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India, in 1889. He claimed to be the Messiah and Mahdi whose coming was foretold by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). His followers are called Ahmadi Muslims.

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There are three areas where the beliefs of Ahmadi Muslims differ from that of other Sunni Muslims [currently the main Muslim sect]. These are:

In 1. The Interpretation of the Finality of Hadhrat Muhammad’s Prophethood

In the Holy Qur’an (see 33:41), Allah bestowed the title “Khatam-al-Nabiyyin” (the Seal of Prophets) on the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Non-Ahmadi Muslims interpret the verse to mean that there can be no prophet of any kind after Hadhrat Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) …

Ahmadi Muslims, on the other hand … interpret “Seal of Prophets” as a mark of distinction which implies great perfection of prophethood. They believe that prophethood will continue, but that there will never be any new law-bearing prophet after the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Any prophet coming after him must be his follower and, therefore, come from the fold of Islam. ...

In 2. Jesus Christ’s Ascension to Heaven

… Many non-Ahmadis believe that Jesus [peace be on him] was never put on the cross … Ahmadis believe that Jesus was put on the cross, but did not die on it. He was unconscious when taken down from the cross, having been nailed to it for only a few hours. He was nursed back to health by his close companions, and then traveled east to Kashmir, a northern province of India. There, he fulfilled his actual mission which was to preach to the lost tribes of Israel. He died a natural death at a considerable old age and his tomb can be found in Srinigar, Kashmir, India.

In 3. The Coming of the Promised Messiah

All Muslims believe that in the Latter days [sic] a Reformer (Messiah and Mahdi) would appear and restore the religion of Islam to its former glory. …

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Ahmadi Muslims … [believe that] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be on him) has come fulfilling the prophecy of the second advent of Jesus (peace be on him). Ahmadis believe the Mahdi and Messiah are one and the same person, and that person is Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian. …

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Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be on him) was the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam and was the Promised Messiah of the latter days. Born in 1835 in Qadian, India, his life greatly mirrored that of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He became acclaimed from an early age for his truthfulness, piety and integrity. … [H]e fulfilled all the existing prophecies concerning the advent of a reformer in the latter days. He also emphasized that his purpose in being appointed by Allah was to bring new life to the religion of Islam, which had become polluted and corrupted over the ages, and to establish its supremacy over all other religions. …

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Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be on him) died in 1908 …

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The institution of Khilafat (successors) was reestablished after the death of the Promised Messiah in the same tradition as the Khilafate Rashida (the Righteous Successors). … [PATHWAY, pp. 17-21]




4 The word “Ahmadiyyat” (with a “t” at the end) is an Urdu word that connotes the Ahmadiyya system of doctrines.