Glossary of Ahmadiyya

Movement-specific structures, titles, and vocabulary

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A B C D H I J K L M N P Q R T W Z

A

Aml ul Turb عَمَلُ التُرْب: "Mesmerism" — a term MGA coined and claimed was divinely revealed, used to reclassify every miracle of Isa (AS) as a natural human technique of hypnosis. He wrote: "anyone may become proficient in it — whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or atheist." Strategic purpose: if Isa's healings were just a learnable skill, their absence from MGA's career required no explanation.

B

Ba'th بَعْث: "Divine sending" — in Ahmadiyya theology, the concept that Muhammad ﷺ was sent twice: first in Arabia in the 5th Islamic millennium as himself, and second in the 6th millennium through MGA's body via Burooz. MGA declared it "obligatory (farz) to believe" in this second Ba'th (RK 17:254) and claimed the second sending was superior to the first.
Baiat بيعت: The pledge of allegiance taken when joining the Ahmadiyya movement. Members pledge loyalty to the Khalifa.
Burooz بُرُوز: "Reflective manifestation" — an Ahmadiyya theological concept in which a prophet's spiritual essence manifests so completely in another person that the two identities merge. MGA claimed to be the Burooz of Muhammad ﷺ — the Prophet ﷺ himself returning in his body. The Jamaat's own newspaper called this "the main foundational principle of Ahmadiyyat" (Al-Fazl, 17 August 1915).

C

Chanda چندہ: The system of obligatory financial contributions within the Jamaat. Members are expected to give a percentage of income across multiple categories.

D

Dahriyyat دَهْرِيَّت: "Atheism/materialism" — the term MGA used to condemn those who rationalise away Islamic miracles: "Miracle is the first brick of Islam... these ideas are the result of dahriyyat which is spreading dangerously" (Malfuzat 2:345). He then denied every miracle of Isa (AS) using the same rationalist methods he labelled dahriyyat — without acknowledging the self-contradiction.

H

Haqiqatul Wahi حَقِيقَةُ الوَحْي: "The Reality of Revelation" — one of MGA's most important books (Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 22), written near the end of his life. Records claimed divine revelations placing him "in the station of My Throne," calling him "My son" and "My Oneness." Also contains MGA's admission of his takfir contradiction (RK 22:167) and his disparagement of the Companion Abu Hurairah.
Huzur حضور: Honorific ("his holiness"/"presence") used by Ahmadis for the current Khalifa.

I

Ilzami Jawab إِلْزَامِي جَوَاب: "Accusative answer" — a rhetorical device in which one uses an opponent's own binding sources against them. MGA invoked this to defend his attacks on Isa (AS), claiming they were mere counter-arguments against Christian missionaries. He then laid down eight explicit conditions for a valid Ilzami Jawab in his own writings — and violated every single one of them.
Ishtiharat اِشتِهَارَات: "Announcements" — MGA's published public proclamations, compiled in the Majmooah Ishtiharat (Collection of Announcements). The Muhammadi Begum prophecy with its sworn conditions was published here. The Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya fundraising announcements also appear in this collection. A key primary source for Ahmadiyya prophecy and financial history.

J

Jalsa Salana جلسہ سالانہ: The annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, emphasising loyalty to the Khalifa and Ahmadiyya identity.
Jamaat جماعت: "Community." The organised Ahmadiyya movement and its administrative structure worldwide (the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community).

K

Kalimatul Fasl كَلِمَةُ الفَصْل: "The Decisive Word" — a foundational Ahmadiyya takfir document by Mirza Bashir Ahmad MA (MGA's son). States explicitly that any person who does not accept MGA is "not a Muslim," places non-Ahmadi Muslims in the same category as those who rejected Moses and Jesus, and argues the Kalimah suffices because "the Promised Messiah IS Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah." Endorsed by the First and Second Caliphs.
Khalifa خلیفۃ المسیح: "Successor of the Messiah." The head of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, based in London. Ahmadis are expected to obey his directives. The current Khalifa is the fifth.
Khuddam خدام: "Servants." The youth auxiliary organisation of the Jamaat for men aged 15–40.

L

Lajna Ima'illah لجنہ اماءاللہ: The women's auxiliary organisation of the Jamaat.

M

Malfuzat مَلفُوظَات: The multi-volume collection of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's recorded informal sayings and conversations, compiled by the Jamaat. A primary source for his theological positions in their most unguarded form — including his attacks on Isa (AS), his condemnation of miracle-denial as dahriyyat, his evolving claims about his status, and his statements on the finality of prophethood.
Mamoor min Allah مَأمُور مِن اللّٰه: "One commissioned/appointed by Allah" — the title MGA used for himself, describing Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya as written by one "divinely inspired and appointed by God." In the 1974 National Assembly proceedings, this title was central to whether non-Ahmadis who reject a mamoor-min-Allah are thereby kafirs in Ahmadiyya theology.
Masih Mau'ud مسیح موعود: "The Promised Messiah." The title Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed — asserting he was the Second Coming of Jesus and the fulfilment of Islamic prophecies.
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad: Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1839–1908), founder of the Ahmadiyya movement, born in Qadian. His evolving self-claims are documented in his collected works (Roohani Khazain).
MTA: Muslim Television Ahmadiyya — the satellite TV and streaming network operated by the Jamaat from London.

N

Nafs (in Burooz doctrine) نَفْس: In Ahmadiyya's Burooz doctrine, MGA claimed his own nafs (self/soul) had been annihilated into the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: "My nafs is not in between; rather it is Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ who is in between. That is why my name became Muhammad and Ahmad" (RK 18:216). This is the core text of the "MGA is Muhammad returned" doctrine.
Nizam-e-Jamaat نظام جماعت: "The System of the Jamaat." The administrative hierarchy of the Ahmadiyya community, reporting up through a national amir to the Khalifa.

P

Promised Messiah: In Ahmadiyya belief, the dual identity claimed by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad — that he was both the promised Messiah and the Imam Mahdi.

Q

Qadiani قادیانی: Derived from Qadian, MGA's birthplace and the movement's founding centre. Used as a descriptor for Ahmadis, particularly in South Asia.

R

Roohani Khazain روحانی خزائن: "Spiritual Treasures." The ~23-volume collected writings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad — the primary source for analysing his claims, language, and prophecies.
Ruhaniyyat رُوحَانِيَّة: "Spiritual essence/power" — in Ahmadiyya's Burooz doctrine, the inner spiritual reality of a prophet that can descend and manifest in another person. MGA claimed the ruhaniyyat of Muhammad ﷺ descended into him completely: "The spiritual power of the Prophet ﷺ in the 6th millennium is stronger, more complete and more intense than in those years of the 5th millennium" (RK 17:254).

T

Tadhkirah تَذْكِرَة: The official Ahmadiyya compilation of MGA's claimed divine revelations, visions, and dreams. MGA described his revelations as "La rayba fih" — the Quran's own defining attribute. Contains MGA's 1906 revelation declaring every person who received his message and rejected it to be "not a Muslim." A primary source for studying Ahmadiyya theology.
Tahrik-e-Jadid تحریک جدید: "New Movement." A fund established in 1934, primarily for missionary work abroad — one of the major financial schemes members participate in.
Taqdeer-e-Mubram تَقدِيرِ مُبْرَم: "Immutable/fixed destiny" — the term MGA repeatedly used for his Muhammadi Begum prophecy, swearing it was "unchangeable" and that "Allah's words do not change." He made it the explicit criterion of his truthfulness or falsehood. When the prophecy failed, the Jamaat recasted it as "conditional" — directly contradicting MGA's sworn declarations.
Tarbiyyat تربیت: Moral and religious training within the Jamaat, where Ahmadi beliefs and apologetic responses are taught.

W

Waqf-e-Nau وقف نو: "New Dedication." A scheme where parents dedicate a child from birth to the full-time service of the Jamaat.
Wassiyyat وصیت: "The Will." A scheme (introduced 1905) allowing members to pledge a portion of property and income to the Jamaat; participants are buried in the Bahishti Maqbara.

Z

Zilli ظِلِّي: "Shadow" — an Ahmadiyya qualifier for MGA's claimed prophethood, used to argue he was not an independent prophet but a "shadow" of Muhammad ﷺ, and thus the seal was not broken. However, Mirza Bashir Ahmad MA (Kalimatul Fasl) stated that Zilli prophethood is "the crown of all prophethoods" that placed MGA "shoulder-to-shoulder with the Holy Prophet ﷺ" — making it the highest, not a lesser, form.

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