Ghulam Ahmad, Mirza

Ghulam Ahmad, Mirza

(born c. 1839, Qadian, India—died May 26, 1908, India) Indian Muslim leader, founder of the Ahmadiyyah sect. Born into a prosperous family, he led a life of contemplation and religious study. Claiming in 1889 to have had a special revelation from God, he gathered a small band of disciples. Ghulam Ahmad declared not only that he was the mahdi and a reappearance (buruz) of Muhammad but also that he was Jesus and Krishna returned to Earth. He was opposed by the orthodox Muslim community, but a number of his teachings became the basis of the beliefs of the Ahmadiyyah. He attempted to establish missionary organizations and schools on the Christian model but did not try to reconcile Christian and Muslim doctrine.