Ahmadiyya (Qadiani)

Outside the Fold

الأحمدية

Overview

A religious movement founded in Qadian, Punjab (British India) in 1889 CE by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908 CE), who claimed to be the promised Messiah and Mahdi, and later claimed prophethood. The movement is divided into two factions: Qadiani (claims Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a full prophet) and Lahori (claims he was a reformer, not a prophet). Ahmadis consider themselves Muslim but are officially declared non-Muslim by Islamic law and the Pakistani constitution.

Key Beliefs

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet after Muhammad ﷺ — the Promised Messiah and Mahdi
Jesus did not ascend to heaven but died in Kashmir
Rejection of physical jihad
British colonial rule supported as a legitimate authority for Muslims

Scholarly Evaluation

Outside the fold of Islam by unanimous scholarly consensus across ALL Muslim groups — Sunni, Shia, and Sufi scholars alike. The Quran explicitly states Muhammad ﷺ is Khatam al-Nabiyyin (the Seal of the Prophets) (al-Ahzab 33:40). The Prophet ﷺ explicitly said there is no prophet after him (Sahih al-Bukhari 3455). Claiming prophethood after Muhammad ﷺ is an absolute violation of one of the most fundamental tenets of Islam, on which there is not even a minority scholarly opinion to the contrary. Declared non-Muslim by the Second Islamic Conference in Makkah (1974) and the Pakistani National Assembly (1974). In Pakistan the community is legally prohibited from calling themselves Muslim or performing Islamic practices.

Key Figures

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908 CE)

Sources

Al-Quran 33:40 (Khatam al-Nabiyyin)
Sahih al-Bukhari 3455 (no prophet after me)
Resolution of the Second Islamic Conference, Makkah (1974)

Founder

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

Founded

1306h (1889 CE)