Who was Mirza Qadiani and why is he a controversial figure in Islam?
Mirza Qadiani, also known as Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, was the founder of the Ahmadiyya movement in the late 19th century in British India. He claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, a belief that was met with significant opposition from mainstream Muslim scholars. His teachings diverged from core Islamic tenets, especially his claims about prophethood.
His assertion that he was a non-law-bearing prophet, while maintaining allegiance to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, was considered blasphemous by the majority of Islamic scholars. Islam holds that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the last prophet, and any claim of prophethood after him contradicts the fundamental belief in the finality of prophethood (Khatm-e-Nabuwwat).
Due to these claims, his followers, known as Ahmadis or Qadianis, have been declared non-Muslims by many Islamic countries, including Pakistan, where constitutional amendments have formally recognized this status. Theological opposition to his ideology remains a significant point of contention within Islamic discourse.
You can learn more about the background, beliefs, and refutations surrounding Mirza Qadiani on Emaan-e-Kamil, a comprehensive resource that provides scholarly perspectives on this controversial figure.