In the Name of Allāh, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful
All praise is due to Allāh, and may peace and blessings be upon His final messenger and the seal of the prophets, Muḥammad the son of ʿAbdullāh, and upon his family and companions.
To proceed:
Around a century ago, a man appeared in Qadian, India, spreading corrupt, deviant and heretical teachings. He claimed to be the mujaddid1 of the 14th Hijri Century, as well as al-Mahdī2, al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd3 and a Prophet of Allāh, all of which are utter lies. This man was Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
The ʿUlamāʾ of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah immediately spoke up—and still do—against this man, declaring him a kāfir. In this piece, we will, in shāʾ Allāh discuss the reasons as to why this man and his followers are considered kuffār.
As previously pointed out, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed four things:
Claim 1: Mujaddid
In 1882, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad made his first claim; he claimed to be the mujaddid of the Muslim ummah. The ʿulamāʾ of the time ignored and disregarded him. He also claimed to be a muḥaddith (scholar of ḥadīth) during this period.
Claim 2: al-Mahdī
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s second claim was of him being al-Mahdī. At this point, the ʿulamāʾ attacked him and refuted his claims. His claim to being al-Mahdī is nonsensical for various reasons, such as:
Claim 3: al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd, ʿĪsā ibn Maryam
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's third claim was of him being al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd, i.e., he claimed to be ʿĪsā ibn Maryam. When he made this point, the ʿulamāʾ again spoke against him, saying that it was impossible for him to be Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) due to a myriad reasons, some of which include:
Claim 4: Nubuwwah (Prophethood)
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's fourth claim was that he was a Prophet of Allāh. At this point, the ʿulamāʾ immediately declared Mirza Ghulam Ahmad a kāfir, deviant, heretic, blasphemer, deceiver and liar.
There are many evidences from the Qurʾān and sunnah to refute and discredit Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claim.
Allāh says in the Qurʾān:
“Muḥammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allāh and last of the prophets.” (Sūrat al-Ahzāb [33]:40)
Allāh also says:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islām as religion.” (Sūrat al-Māʾidah [5]:3)
If Allāh had perfected our religion, i.e. Islām, which was brought to us by Muḥammad ﷺ, and approved it as our religion, why would we need another prophet? Surely, to claim the existence of another prophet after Muḥammad ﷺ is to say that Allāh did not perfect and complete our religion, wouldn't it?
Allāh also says in the Qurʾān:
“And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.” (Sūrat Sabaʾ [34]:28)
If Allāh sent Muḥammad ﷺ comprehensively to mankind, why would another prophet be required?
The following are some aḥādīth that prove the finality of the prophethood of Muḥammad ﷺ:
However, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad did not stop there. He insisted that there were two types of prophethood: non-legislative, subordinate prophethood and legislative, major prophethood. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to be of the former type. He also claimed to be a Ẓillī prophet, meaning he was a "shadow prophet" who reflected the perfect personality and prophethood of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ; as well, he claimed to be a Burūzī prophet, meaning he was the reincarnation of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
Naʿūdhu biLlāhi min dhālik! Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claims of Ẓillī and Burūzī prophethood are nothing but myths borrowed from Hinduism, a religion well-known to be a religion of shirk! Allāh al-Mustaʿān!
In shaʾ Allāh, the above should suffice as evidence that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was nothing but a kāfir, deviant, heretic, blasphemer, deceiver, fraud and liar.
The Verdict Regarding Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's Followers
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's followers, known as the Qadianis, split up into two factions after his successor's death, one being the Ahmadiyya and the other the Lahore Ahmadiyya, otherwise known as the Lahoris or the Lahori Ahmadis. This latter faction was established by Muhammad Ali Lahori.
The Ahmadis believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet. They took Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claims to prophethood literally. The Lahoris however interpret Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claims to prophethood metaphorically, thus, they believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was merely a mujaddid, not a prophet.
Both factions are considered to be kuffār by Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah. The Ahmadis are kuffār as they believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet, which completely goes against the Qurʾān and the teachings of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. The Lahoris are kuffār as they consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad a righteous and godly man, when in fact he was a kāfir, heretic, a blasphemer, fraud and liar.
Many Islamic institutions around the world have declared takfīr on the Qadianis. This includes al-Azhar in Egypt, the Muslim World League, The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' of Saudi Arabia and the Deobandi Movement in India.
Conclusion
To sum up, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a great liar, deceiver and fraud who falsely claimed to be the mujaddid of the 14th Hijri Century, as well as al-Mahdī, al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd and a Prophet of Allāh, all of which are utter lies. ʿUlamāʾ of the past and present have declared takfīr on him and his followers, known as the Qadianis, which includes both the Ahmadis and Lahoris. This is as the claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad clearly contradict the basic principles of Islam, as illustrated in the Qurʾān and Sunnah.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever tells lies about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell.” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī, Muslim, Ibn Mājah, Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī and others)
“And who can be more unjust than he who invents a lie against Allāh, or says: 'I have received inspiration,' whereas he is not inspired in anything; and who says, 'I will reveal the like of what Allāh has revealed.'” (Sūrat al-Anʿām [6]:93)
May peace and blessings be upon the seal of the Prophets, Muḥammad ibn Abdillāh, as well as upon his family and companions. We end by praising Allāh the Lord of the Worlds.
And Allāh Knows Best
1 Mujaddid: A reformer of the ummah. The Prophet ﷺ prophesied that there would be one such reformer every century↩
2 al-Mahdī: The prophesied redeemer who will come at the End of Times to save humanity and establish the justice of Islām on the earth."↩
3 al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd: The Promised Messiah, i.e. Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām), who will return from the heavens to the earth to kill the False Messiah and rule the earth with Islām.↩
4 Rasūl: A messenger of Allāh; a prophet who receives a new set of laws to abrogate the laws of the previous messenger.↩
All praise is due to Allāh, and may peace and blessings be upon His final messenger and the seal of the prophets, Muḥammad the son of ʿAbdullāh, and upon his family and companions.
To proceed:
Around a century ago, a man appeared in Qadian, India, spreading corrupt, deviant and heretical teachings. He claimed to be the mujaddid1 of the 14th Hijri Century, as well as al-Mahdī2, al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd3 and a Prophet of Allāh, all of which are utter lies. This man was Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
The ʿUlamāʾ of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah immediately spoke up—and still do—against this man, declaring him a kāfir. In this piece, we will, in shāʾ Allāh discuss the reasons as to why this man and his followers are considered kuffār.
As previously pointed out, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed four things:
- He was a mujaddid
- He was al-Mahdī
- He was al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd, ʿĪsā ibn Maryam
- He was a prophet of Allāh
Claim 1: Mujaddid
In 1882, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad made his first claim; he claimed to be the mujaddid of the Muslim ummah. The ʿulamāʾ of the time ignored and disregarded him. He also claimed to be a muḥaddith (scholar of ḥadīth) during this period.
Claim 2: al-Mahdī
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s second claim was of him being al-Mahdī. At this point, the ʿulamāʾ attacked him and refuted his claims. His claim to being al-Mahdī is nonsensical for various reasons, such as:
- His name was Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Al-Mahdī will bear the same name as the Prophet ﷺ. ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported, according to the version of Sufyān, that the Prophet ﷺ said:
لاَ تَذْهَبُ أَوْ لاَ تَنْقَضِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَمْلِكَ الْعَرَبَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يُوَاطِئُ اسْمُهُ اسْمِي“The world will not pass away before the Arabs are ruled by a man of my family whose name will be the same as mine.” (Narrated in Sunan Abī Dāwūd) - His father’s name was Mirza Ghulam Murtaza, not ʿAbdullāh, which will be al-Mahdī’s father’s name. ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"لَوْ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ يَوْمٌ " . قَالَ زَائِدَةُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ " لَطَوَّلَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ " . ثُمَّ اتَّفَقُوا " حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ فِيهِ رَجُلاً مِنِّي " . أَوْ " مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يُوَاطِئُ اسْمُهُ اسْمِي وَاسْمُ أَبِيهِ اسْمَ أَبِي"“If only one day of this world remained [(Zāʾidah's version adds:) Allāh would lengthen that day], till He raised up in it a man who belongs to me or to my family whose father's name is the same as my father's. (Narrated in Sunan Abī Dāwūd) - Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born in Qadian, India. al-Mahdī will be born in al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah.
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was not a descendant of the Prophet ﷺ. Umm al-Muʾminīn, Umm Salamah (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhā) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
الْمَهْدِيُّ مِنْ عِتْرَتِي مِنْ وَلَدِ فَاطِمَةَ“Al-Mahdī will be of my family, of the descendants of Fāṭimah.” (Narrated in Sunan Abī Dāwūd) - Mirza Ghulam Ahmad did not resemble the Prophet ﷺ in appearance, whose appearance has been described in many aḥādīth. Al-Mahdī, however, will resemble the Prophet ﷺ.
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad appeared in Qadian, India. Al-Mahdī will appear in Makkah, between the Black Stone and Maqām Ibrāhīm. Umm al-Muʾminīn, Umm Salamah (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhā) reports that the Prophet ﷺ said:
يَكُونُ اخْتِلاَفٌ عِنْدَ مَوْتِ خَلِيفَةٍ فَيَخْرُجُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ هَارِبًا إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَيَأْتِيهِ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ فَيُخْرِجُونَهُ وَهُوَ كَارِهٌ فَيُبَايِعُونَهُ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ“Disagreement will occur at the death of a caliph and a man of the people of al-Madīnah will come flying forth to Makkah. Some of the people of Makkah will come to him, bring him out against his will and swear allegiance to him between the Corner (i.e. the corner of the Kaʿbah on which the Black Stone is located) and the Maqām.” (Narrated in Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
Claim 3: al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd, ʿĪsā ibn Maryam
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's third claim was of him being al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd, i.e., he claimed to be ʿĪsā ibn Maryam. When he made this point, the ʿulamāʾ again spoke against him, saying that it was impossible for him to be Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) due to a myriad reasons, some of which include:
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad had a mother by the name of Chiragh Bibi. ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) had a mother by the name of Maryam, which is why Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) is usually referred to in the Qurʾān as ʿĪsā ibn Maryam, i.e., ʿĪsā the son of Maryam.
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad had a father by the name of Mirza Ghulam Murtaza. Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) did not have a father at all, which is why he is referred to as being the son of his mother, unlike the usual attribution of a person as being the child of his father.
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born in India. Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) was born in Bethlehem.
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born in 1835. Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) was born 600 years before Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was never raised to the heavens during his lifetime. It is a well known fact that Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) was raised up to the heavens. Allāh says in the Qurʾān:
إِذْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَٰعِيسَىٰٓ إِنِّى مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَىَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا“[Mention] when Allāh said, "O ʿĪsā, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify you from those who disbelieve...” (Sūrat Āli ʿImrān [3]:55) - Mirza Ghulam Ahmad appeared in India. Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) will appear in Damascus. al-Nawwās ibn Samʿān al-Kilābi (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
...فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ الْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ فَيَنْزِلُ عِنْدَ الْمَنَارَةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ شَرْقِيَّ دِمَشْقَ بَيْنَ مَهْرُودَتَيْنِ وَاضِعًا كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى أَجْنِحَةِ مَلَكَيْنِ...“...And it would at this very time that Allāh would send the Messiah, son of Maryam, and he will descend at the white minaret in the eastern side of Damascus wearing two garments lightly dyed with saffron and placing his hands on the wings of two Angels.” (Narrated by Muslim; a similar version is narrated by al-Tirmidhī; Abū Dāwūd narrates a similar ḥadīth) - Mirza Ghulam Ahmad never claimed to be a rasūl4. The Qurʾān clearly states that ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) was a rasūl.
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad did not receive a book, nor did he ever claim to. ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) received the Injīl (Gospel).
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad did not resemble the description of Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) which has been described in numerous aḥādīth.
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad never went to Jerusalem, nor did he ever battle anyone in war, let alone physically kill someone. The ḥadīth of al-Nawwās ibn Samʿān al-Kilābī (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) that was quoted above also states that Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) will kill al-Dajjāl (the False Messiah):
...فَيَطْلُبُهُ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَهُ بِبَابِ لُدٍّ فَيَقْتُلُهُ...“He (i.e., Prophet ʿĪsā) will then search for al-Dajjāl until he will catch hold of him at the gate of Ludd (a village near Jerusalem), and will kill him.” - Yaʾjūj and Maʾjūj did not appear during Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's time. The same ḥadīth of al-Nawwās ibn Samʿān al-Kilābī (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) that was quoted above states that Yaʾjūj and Maʾjūj will appear at the time of ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām):
...فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى عِيسَى إِنِّي قَدْ أَخْرَجْتُ عِبَادًا لِي لاَ يَدَانِ لأَحَدٍ بِقِتَالِهِمْ فَحَرِّزْ عِبَادِي إِلَى الطُّورِ . وَيَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ وَهُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنْسِلُونَ فَيَمُرُّ أَوَائِلُهُمْ عَلَى بُحَيْرَةِ طَبَرِيَّةَ فَيَشْرَبُونَ مَا فِيهَا وَيَمُرُّ آخِرُهُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ لَقَدْ كَانَ بِهَذِهِ مَرَّةً مَاءٌ . وَيُحْصَرُ نَبِيُّ اللَّهُ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ رَأْسُ الثَّوْرِ لأَحَدِهِمْ خَيْرًا مِنْ مِائَةِ دِينَارٍ لأَحَدِكُمُ الْيَوْمَ فَيَرْغَبُ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ عِيسَى وَأَصْحَابُهُ فَيُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهُمُ النَّغَفَ فِي رِقَابِهِمْ فَيُصْبِحُونَ فَرْسَى كَمَوْتِ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ...“...And it would be under such conditions that Allāh would reveal to ʿĪsā these words: 'I have brought forth from amongst My servants such people against whom none would be able to fight; you take these people safely to Ṭūr,' and then Allāh would send Yaʾjūj and Maʾjūj and they would swarm down from every slope. The first of them would pass the lake of Tiberias and drink out of it. And when the last of them would pass, he would say: 'There was once water there.' ʿĪsā and his companions would then be besieged here [at Ṭūr, and they would be so much hard pressed] that the head of the ox would be dearer to them than one hundred dinars. So Allāh's Prophet, ʿĪsā, and his companions would supplicate Allāh, Who would send to them insects [which would attack their necks] and in the morning they would perish like one single person...”
None of the above events occurred during the time of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. - Mirza Ghulam Ahmad never went for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah; Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) will. The Prophetﷺ said:
وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَيُهِلَّنَّ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ بِفَجِّ الرَّوْحَاءِ حَاجًّا أَوْ مُعْتَمِرًا أَوْ لَيَثْنِيَنَّهُمَا“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the son of Maryam (i.e. ʿĪsā) will certainly pronounce the Talbiyah for Ḥajj or for ʿUmrah, or for both, in the valley of Rawḥāʾ.” (Narrated by Muslim) - Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is not buried next to the Prophet ﷺ. Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) will be buried next to the Prophet ﷺ.
- Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed that ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām) fled to Kashmir after his “crucifixion”, where he died naturally and was buried. He then claimed that ʿĪsā would not return to the world physically, rather, he would only return spiritually, and that he himself was ʿĪsā's spiritual reincarnation. Both these claims are nonsense, as the Qurʾān states that Prophet ʿĪsā was raised to the heavens and is still alive, a point stated previously. The aḥādīth, such the ones quoted above, also indicate that Prophet ʿĪsā's return to this world would be a physical return, not merely a spiritual return.
Claim 4: Nubuwwah (Prophethood)
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's fourth claim was that he was a Prophet of Allāh. At this point, the ʿulamāʾ immediately declared Mirza Ghulam Ahmad a kāfir, deviant, heretic, blasphemer, deceiver and liar.
There are many evidences from the Qurʾān and sunnah to refute and discredit Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claim.
Allāh says in the Qurʾān:
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ
Allāh also says:
ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَٰمَ دِينًا
If Allāh had perfected our religion, i.e. Islām, which was brought to us by Muḥammad ﷺ, and approved it as our religion, why would we need another prophet? Surely, to claim the existence of another prophet after Muḥammad ﷺ is to say that Allāh did not perfect and complete our religion, wouldn't it?
Allāh also says in the Qurʾān:
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
If Allāh sent Muḥammad ﷺ comprehensively to mankind, why would another prophet be required?
The following are some aḥādīth that prove the finality of the prophethood of Muḥammad ﷺ:
- ʿUqbah (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
لو كان بعدي نبي لكان عمر بن الخطاب“If there was to be a Prophet after me, it would be ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, al-Ḥākim and Aḥmad)
This ḥadīth clearly states that if there was to a prophet after Muḥammad ﷺ, it would be ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb. However, there is no Prophet after Muḥammad ﷺ. - Abū Hurayrah (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
كَانَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ تَسُوسُهُمُ الأَنْبِيَاءُ، كُلَّمَا هَلَكَ نَبِيٌّ خَلَفَهُ نَبِيٌّ، وَإِنَّهُ لاَ نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي، وَسَيَكُونُ خُلَفَاءُ فَيَكْثُرُونَ“The Children of Israel were ruled by the Prophets. When one Prophet died, another succeeded him. There will be no Prophet after me, but there will be caliphs and they will be many." (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim) - Abū Hurayrah (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
فُضِّلْتُ عَلَى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بِسِتٍّ : أُعْطِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ ، وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ ، وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ طَهُورًا وَمَسْجِدًا ، وَأُرْسِلْتُ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ كَافَّةً ، وَخُتِمَ بِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ“I have been honoured over the Prophets with six [things]: I have been given concise speech, I have been aided by [the ability to cause in the enemy] fright, the spoils of war have been made lawful for me, the Earth has been made as a mosque and purifier for me, I have been sent to all creatures, and with me Prophethood is sealed.” (Narrated by Muslim and al-Tirmidhī) - Thawbān (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
...وَإِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ فِي أُمَّتِي ثَلاَثُونَ كَذَّابُونَ كُلُّهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ وَأَنَا خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ لاَ نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي...“...And indeed there shall be thirty imposters in my ummah, each of them claiming that he is a Prophet. And I am the last of the Prophets; there is no Prophet after me. (Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, Abū Dāwūd and Ibn Mājah) - Abū Hurayrah (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ مَثَلِي وَمَثَلَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِي كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ بَنَى بَيْتًا فَأَحْسَنَهُ وَأَجْمَلَهُ، إِلاَّ مَوْضِعَ لَبِنَةٍ مِنْ زَاوِيَةٍ، فَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يَطُوفُونَ بِهِ وَيَعْجَبُونَ لَهُ، وَيَقُولُونَ هَلاَّ وُضِعَتْ هَذِهِ اللَّبِنَةُ قَالَ فَأَنَا اللَّبِنَةُ، وَأَنَا خَاتِمُ النَّبِيِّينَ“My similitude in comparison with the other prophets before me, is that of a man who has built a house nicely and beautifully, except for a place of one brick in a corner. The people go about it and wonder at its beauty, but say: 'Would that this brick be put in its place!' So I am that brick, and I am the last of the Prophets.” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim) - Anas ibn Mālik (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ الرِّسَالَةَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ قَدِ انْقَطَعَتْ فَلاَ رَسُولَ بَعْدِي وَلاَ نَبِيَّ“Messengerhood and prophethood have ceased. There will be no messenger after me, nor prophet.” (Narrated by Aḥmad and al-Tirmidhī) - Abū Hurayrah (raḍiya -Llāhu ʿanhu) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said in a lengthy ḥadīth about the people rushing to different Prophets on the Day of Judgement asking them for intercession:
...فَيَأْتُونَ مُحَمَّدًا فَيَقُولُونَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَنْتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ، وَقَدْ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ، اشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ أَلاَ تَرَى إِلَى مَا نَحْنُ فِيهِ ...“...So they will come to Muḥammad and say, 'O Muḥammad! You are Allāh's Messenger and the last of the Prophets, and Allāh forgave your early and late sins. Intercede for us with your Lord! Don't you see in what state we are?...” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī, Muslim and al-Tirmidhī)
However, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad did not stop there. He insisted that there were two types of prophethood: non-legislative, subordinate prophethood and legislative, major prophethood. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to be of the former type. He also claimed to be a Ẓillī prophet, meaning he was a "shadow prophet" who reflected the perfect personality and prophethood of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ; as well, he claimed to be a Burūzī prophet, meaning he was the reincarnation of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
Naʿūdhu biLlāhi min dhālik! Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claims of Ẓillī and Burūzī prophethood are nothing but myths borrowed from Hinduism, a religion well-known to be a religion of shirk! Allāh al-Mustaʿān!
In shaʾ Allāh, the above should suffice as evidence that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was nothing but a kāfir, deviant, heretic, blasphemer, deceiver, fraud and liar.
The Verdict Regarding Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's Followers
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's followers, known as the Qadianis, split up into two factions after his successor's death, one being the Ahmadiyya and the other the Lahore Ahmadiyya, otherwise known as the Lahoris or the Lahori Ahmadis. This latter faction was established by Muhammad Ali Lahori.
The Ahmadis believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet. They took Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claims to prophethood literally. The Lahoris however interpret Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's claims to prophethood metaphorically, thus, they believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was merely a mujaddid, not a prophet.
Both factions are considered to be kuffār by Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah. The Ahmadis are kuffār as they believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet, which completely goes against the Qurʾān and the teachings of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. The Lahoris are kuffār as they consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad a righteous and godly man, when in fact he was a kāfir, heretic, a blasphemer, fraud and liar.
Many Islamic institutions around the world have declared takfīr on the Qadianis. This includes al-Azhar in Egypt, the Muslim World League, The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' of Saudi Arabia and the Deobandi Movement in India.
Conclusion
To sum up, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a great liar, deceiver and fraud who falsely claimed to be the mujaddid of the 14th Hijri Century, as well as al-Mahdī, al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd and a Prophet of Allāh, all of which are utter lies. ʿUlamāʾ of the past and present have declared takfīr on him and his followers, known as the Qadianis, which includes both the Ahmadis and Lahoris. This is as the claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad clearly contradict the basic principles of Islam, as illustrated in the Qurʾān and Sunnah.
مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ
May peace and blessings be upon the seal of the Prophets, Muḥammad ibn Abdillāh, as well as upon his family and companions. We end by praising Allāh the Lord of the Worlds.
And Allāh Knows Best
1 Mujaddid: A reformer of the ummah. The Prophet ﷺ prophesied that there would be one such reformer every century↩
2 al-Mahdī: The prophesied redeemer who will come at the End of Times to save humanity and establish the justice of Islām on the earth."↩
3 al-Masīḥ al-Mawʿūd: The Promised Messiah, i.e. Prophet ʿĪsā (ʿalayh al-salām), who will return from the heavens to the earth to kill the False Messiah and rule the earth with Islām.↩
4 Rasūl: A messenger of Allāh; a prophet who receives a new set of laws to abrogate the laws of the previous messenger.↩
