285
The Qadiani belief in Ghulam
Ahmad’s prophethood continues to
incite strong feeling in orthodox Islam,
even leading to occasional public
protests against the movement.
See also: The Prophet and the origins of Islam 252–53 ■ The emergence of Shi‘a Islam 270–71 ■ Striving in the
way of God 278 ■ The rise of Islamic revivalism 286–90
ISLAM
swooned, subsequently recovered,
and went to Afghanistan and
Kashmir in search of the lost
tribes of Israel. Ghulam Ahmad
also challenged Islamic thinking
concerning jihad, claiming that the
only acceptable form was a spiritual
jihad designed to peacefully spread
the message of Islam. This was a
particularly significant idea in the
context of 19th-century India, where
anti-British unrest was growing.
Controversial claims
Ahmad’s claims evolved as his
followers grew in number, and he
declared himself not just to be Islam’s
prophetic reformer, but its redeemer
—a messianic figure known to
Muslims as the Mahdi—and the
spiritual successor of Jesus. For
many Muslims, these claims went
too far and challenged the place of
Muhammad and the revelation
given to him. For these reasons,
Ghulam Ahmad and his followers
were rejected by many Muslims.
Even within his own movement,
Ghulam Ahmad’s assertions
caused controversy. After his death
in 1908, the Ahmadiyyas split into
two factions: Qadiani Ahmadiyyas,
who maintained Ghulam Ahmad’s
teachings, and a new branch
known as Lahori Ahmadiyya.
The Lahori branch accepted
Ghulam Ahmad as a renewer of
the Islam faith, but this was as farMirza Ghulam Ahmad Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born
in 1835 in Qadian, a village near
Lahore in India. His twin sister
died shortly after their birth. In
a society where the majority was
illiterate, Ghulam Ahmad studied
Arabic and Persian, and learned
aspects of medicine from his
father, a physician. As a young
man, he took a position with the
government, while continuing
his religious studies.
He announced his divine
mission in 1882, and in 1888 he
asked his followers to formally
pledge allegiance to him. Some
40 did so, and in 1889 he publisheda set of rules to guide all who
joined his movement. Ghulam
Ahmad traveled widely across
northern India, spreading his
message and debating with
Islamic leaders. He died in 1908,
leaving the leadership of the
Ahmadiyya movement to a
companion, who eventually
passed it to Ahmad’s eldest son.Key works1880–84 The Arguments
of the Ahmadiyya
1891 Victory of Islam
1898 The Star of Guidanceas they were willing to go. They,
too, rejected his claim that he
was a minor prophet.
In Pakistan in 1973, Qadiani
Ahmadiyyas were legally declared
non-Muslims, and, in 1984, an
ordinance was drafted allowing for
punishment of any Qadiani who
claimed to be a Muslim, used
Islamic terminology, or referred to
his or her faith as Islam. The Qadiani
Ahmadiyyas have since moved their
international headquarters from the
Indian subcontinent to London. ■