Prophecies of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

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Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is known to have made many prophecies during his lifetime. Some were of an intuitive nature, pertaining to everyday matters or events which are said to have been fulfilled immediately after having been foreseen and may be seen as remote viewing. Some of greater significance are believed to have been fulfilled during his lifetime; some, according to his followers, were fulfilled after his death, whilst some await fulfilment. Others, according to his critics, seemed to have been proven wrong.

The Deputy Inspector General of Punjab Police in 1928 stated that Ghulam Ahmad was a cause of great unrest due to the prophecies he made concerning the deaths of his opponents. A commentator even blamed his "uncanny knack of predicting the demise of his key enemies" for making a lot of Hindu enemies. ^[1] One aspect upon which he based the validity of his claims was the fulfillment of prophecies made by him.^{[citation needed]}. These prophecies or 'hidden matters' and the knowledge or awareness of events that had not yet come to pass were, he claimed disclosed to him by God often through visions, dreams and verbal revelation.

While his followers assert the fulfillment of his prophecies confirms his truthfulness, his opponents claim that since some of his prophecies were not fulfilled, this invalidating his claims and truthfulness. His prophecies often caused difficulties for himself; some became the cause of controversy between him and his opponents.

Contents 1 Prophecies 1.1 The revolution of Persia 1.2 The Afghan martyrs 1.3 Prophecy concerning prince Dalip Singh 1.4 Pandit Lekh Ram's assassination 1.5 The Plague 1.6 The great earthquake of Kangra 1.7 Prophecy concerning the Turkish Empire 1.8 The Promised Son 1.9 The World War of 1914 and downfall of the Russian Czar 2 Criticism 2.1 Prophecies and Mubahala concerning Abdullah Atham 2.2 Prophecies regarding marriage to Mohammadi Begum 2.3 Prophecies regarding the birth of sons to his wife 2.4 Prophecies concerning the plague and Qadian's immunity 3 Sources and references 4 See also 5 External links 6 External links

[edit] Prophecies

A selection of prophecies that his followers claim were fulfilled:

[edit] The revolution of Persia

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is said to have prophesied the constitutional revolution of Iran when in the January of 1906 he claimed to have received the revelation[4]:

Shaking in the palace of Chosroes (Tazkirah, pg.724)

As was his practice he published it in both Urdu and English newspapers as well as periodicals of the community. By this time the Iranian Shah, Mozzafar-al-Din was already in a secure position and had accepted proposals for creating a Majles (a National Consultative Assembly or parliament) which proved to be successful and gained the king much popularity. He died soon after and was succeeded by his son Mohammad Ali Shah, the last ruler of the Qajar dynasty of Persia.

This prophecy is believed to have been fulfilled during the reign of Mohammad Ali Shah, when growing tensions began to rise between the parliament and the King leading him to dissolve the Parliament which was shelled and destroyed. These events gave birth to a general rebellion involving many major cities of Iran. The administration was taken over by the Nationalists and democrats. The king began moving the treasury and his personal effects to Russia and the Shah’s palace is said to have been a place of growing anxiety during this period. In time, the Nationalists grew in popularity and formed many alliances while the Kings position was weakened and he was forced to declare his acceptance of parliamentary government. The Cossacks who formed the Shah’s body-guard also joined the revolutionaries. In 1909 the Shah and his family fled the palace and sought refuge in the Russian embassy and autocracy was replaced by democracy.[5]

[edit] The Afghan martyrs

Ghulam Ahmad is said to have foretold the execution or martyrdom of two of his devout followers based on a revelation he claimed to have received:[6]

Two goats will be slaughtered and all those upon it are mortal.

This was interpreted as meaning that two of his followers, distinguished and loyal subjects of a King who will be innocent of any offence, will be killed and that as a result general destruction will overtake the country in which these murders were to take place.

This is believed to have been fulfilled when about twenty years later Ghulam Ahmad’s books found their way to Afghanistan. A chief advisor to the Emir of Afghanistan at that time and a renowned scholar Sayyed Abdul Lateef had, after reading his books decided to send one of his disciples Maulvi Abdur Rahman to Qadian in order to meet Ghulam Ahmad and gave permission to offer his allegiance if he felt convinced. He is said to have met Ghulam Ahmad and taken the oath of allegiance at his hand for himself and his leader Abdul Lateef. He returned to Afghanistan with more of Ghulam Ahmad’s books and decided to go first and acquaint the ruler Emir Habibullah Khan about Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Who it is said was moved against him and coaxed into signing a verdict of death by some individuals. Abdur Rahman was executed by strangling.

A few years later Abdul Lateef who had already expressed his allegiance to Ghulam Ahmad, left Afghanistan himself for Qadian in order to meet him before starting on the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). After having stayed with him for a few months and having converted, he returned to Afghanistan and also decided to acquaint his King with what he had seen and found. Upon reaching Khost he wrote to some courtiers who in return decided to have him arrested and brought to Kabul. The Emir was told that his ideas were detrimental to the concept of Jihad if they were allowed to spread and that would be harmful to the Government of Afghanistan. The Emir asked him to renounce his beliefs and recant, but Abdul Lateef expressed that he was not prepared to do so at any cost. He was taken out and stoned to death before a large crowd. Within one month of the stoning, Kabul found itself in the Grip of an unusual and unexpected Cholera epidemic.[7]

The English traveler, Frank A. Martin, who was for many years Engineer-in-Chief to the government of Afghanistan, recalls this event in his book[8] Under the Absolute Amir thus:

Before being led away from the Amir’s presence to be killed, the moullah (Abdul Lateef) prophesied that a great calamity would overtake the country, and that both the Amir and the Sirdar would suffer. About nine o’clock at night the day the moullah was killed, a great storm of wind suddenly rose and raged with violence for half an hour, and then stopped as suddenly as it came. Such a wind at night was altogether unusual, so the people said that this was the passing of the soul of the Moullah. Then cholera came, and, according to former outbreaks, another visitation was not due for four years to come, and this was also regarded as part of the fulfillment of the moullah’s prophecy, and hence the great fear of the Amir and the prince, who thought they saw in all this their own death and it accounts also for the prince losing control of himself when his favourite wife died. (Under the Absolute Amir, pg.204)

[edit] Prophecy concerning prince Dalip Singh

After the annexation of the Punjub by the British, the young heir to the Sikh throne Duleep Singh was sent away to England, and was to stay there until British rule became established in the Punjab. After the events of the Indian Mutiny of 1857 the young prince decided to return, which was consequentially much anticipated by his supporters. At this time Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is said to have predicted the failiure of his return. He claimed to have received knowledge from God that the prince will not return, and will have to encounter some trouble, and had informed many people about this. This prediction is said to have been fulfilled while the prince was on his journey back to India, the British government decided that the prince’s return may be dangerous for the government and feared trouble. As his ship reached Aden, he was stopped there and ordered back to England.[9]

[edit] Pandit Lekh Ram's assassination

Pandit Lekh Ram, a leader of the Arya Samaj, was a contemporary of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Because of his derogatory characterizations of Muhammad and his anti-Islamic attitude^[2] he was in constant conflict with Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. upon his growing anti-Islamic behaviour and his demand for a sign, Ghulam Ahmad is said to have prayed and thus made aware of the imminent death of Lekh Ram who expressed his fearlessness upon such prophecies and insisted on a time limit.[10]. Ghulam Ahmad withheld the publication of any prophecy for a while in which he is said to have waited for further knowledge. Eventually he announced that Lekh Ram will meet a bitter end within six years from February 20 1893.[11]

In an announcement dated February 22 1893 he stated:

“

"Like the calf of Samiri, lekh Ram shall be cut into pieces."[3]

”

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to have received multiple revelations^[4][5] regarding Lekh Ram's death and his likeness unto the golden calf of Samri was a recurring theme in these prophecies. About one of his visions he wrote:

“

"On April 2, 1893, I beheld in a vision that a stout and sturdy man, frightful to look at, with blood trickling from his face, stood in front of me. He seemed not a creature of this earth but one of the infernal beings whose appearance struck terror into the hearts. Where is Lekh Ram? He growled in a roaring voice and named one more man. I knew that he had been deputed for the chastisement of Lekh Ram and and the other person"[6]

”

He also foretold that his death will take place on a day close to the festival of Eid:

And God gave me the tidings that I will witness a day of Eid, and this day will be close to the Eid. (Karmat-us-Sadiqeen, pg.54)

Followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad believe that this prophecy was fulfilled on Saturday March 6, 1897 which happened to be a day after the festival of Eid, when Pandit Lekh Ram was brutally stabbed with a dagger by a stranger who it is said turned the knife round and round in his stomach thus cutting his entrails thoroughly. Lekh Ram died the next day. It is said that although his family was at home, and there were some men downstairs, near the gate at the time of the murder, no one saw any person entering or leaving the house. ^[7] His body was subsequently cremated in accordance with Hindu custom and the remains dispersed of in a river. There was a police investigation but it failed to apprehend the murderer. A few years after his death the Plague struck the Punjab.[12]

[edit] The Plague

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is said to have made numerous prophecies concerning the plague in the Punjab and issued multiple warnings against it. This plague was an occurrence of special significance within Ahmadiyya as it is believed to have been mentioned by earlier religious scriptures as one of the signs of the promised Messiah.[13]

In his book Siraj-e-Munir Ghulam Ahmad recalls a revelation which he claimed to have received:

O Messiah of mankind. Rid us of our pestilences. (Tazkirah, pg;509)

Commenting upon this he wrote:

Wait and see how and when these warnings fulfil themselves. There are times when prayer brings death. Another time comes when prayer will bring life. (Siraj-e-Munir, pg:70)

He further issued an announcement:

I know that those devoid of spiritual feelings will tend to ridicule my statement. Nevertheless, out of sympathy for them, it is my duty to warn people. The warning is this. Today, February 6, 1898, Monday, I saw in a dream that angels of God were planting black trees in different parts of the Punjab. Those trees were black, ugly, terrifying and of small size. I asked some of those who were planting them: What kind of trees are these? They answered: These are trees of the plague which is about to spread in the country. I am not quite sure whether it was said that the plague would spread during the next winter or the winter after, but it was a terrible sight which I saw. I am reminded also of a revelation of mine about the plague. It said, 'Verily Allah does not change the lot of a people unless they first change their hearts.' It seems that the plague will not disappear unless extreme sin and transgression disappear first.(Ayyam-us-Sulha, pg:121)[14]

By this time the plague had already started in Bombay, but disappeared after a year. Two villages in the Punjab were also affected. Subsequently the plague spread throughout the whole of the Panjab, increasing in severity each year. Various kinds of treatments were tried by the British officials but to no avail. Eventually, Ghulam Ahmad claimed that he had been told in a dream that the Plague has gone but the fever remains after which it began to decline steadily, having raged for nine years.[15]

[edit] The great earthquake of Kangra

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is said to have predicted the great earthquake of Karanga^[8] which devastated the valley of Karanga in 1905.

In 1885 Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to have received the following revelation:

“

"The Most High God shall manifest His glory unto the mountain and crush it to pieces" Barahin-i-Ahmadiyya[9]

”

And in December 1903 he published another revelation in Al-Hakam, December 24, 1903,^[10] warning of an impending earthquake. This was followed by another claiming that the earthquake will affect Punjab.^[11]

On June 8, 1904 the warning was repeated:

“

"Permanent and temporary residences in this part of the country shall be swept out of existence but all those people who shall be within the four wall of your following, We shall preserve and protect in this deadly incident"[12]

”

On April 3, 1905, a day before the earthquake Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to have received a revelation informing him that the hour of destruction that he had been informed about had arrived.^[13]

[edit] Prophecy concerning the Turkish Empire

The Ottoman Empire otherwise known as Ar-Rûm in oriental and Islamic literature ruled over a large part of southern Europe, but having become subject to internal decline, became vulnerable towards the end of the 18th century to the advantage of Imperialist powers, and was called the “Sick man of Europe”. Following the Crimean war and the peace treaty that was made between Russia and Turkey which lasted for several years. In 1904 Ghulam Ahmad claimed to have received the revelation which is identical to the Quranic verse^{[Qur'an 30:02]}

The Byzantines have been defeated in the land nearby and after their defeat they will be victorious.(Tazkira pg.611)

This was published In the monthly magazine Review of Religions. The Quranic verse is believed to have been fulfilled with the Battle of Issus (622). This verse of the Quran which Ghulam Ahmad claimed was also revelealed to him is believed to have been fulfilled with the occurrence of the Balkan wars. When the Balkan league declared war on Turkey, conquered major parts of the Ottoman Empire and then began fighting among themselves over the spoils or the partition of Turkey among themselves. This gave Turkey some respite. It conscequently took advantage of the division among the Balkan league and manged to gain victory over and retake Adrianople along with the subjoining territory.

[edit] The Promised Son

In the early years of the 1880’s certain leaders of the Arya Samaj held discussion and debate with Ghulam Ahmad about the truthfulness of Islam and asked for a sign to prove that Islam was a living religion. In order to dedicate special prayers for this purpose, Ghulam Ahmad travelled to Hoshiarpur where he spent 40 days in seclusion. [16] Subsequently he announced on February 20, 1886 that God had vouchsafed to him the following revelation:

I confer upon thee a Sign of My mercy according to thy supplications. I have heard thy entreaties and have honoured thy prayers with My acceptance through My mercy and have blessed this thy journey. A sign of power, mercy, nearness to Me is bestowed on thee. A Sign of grace and beneficence is awarded to thee and thou art granted the key of success and victory. Peace on thee, O victorious one. Thus does God speak so that those who desire life may be rescued from the grip of death and those who are buried in the graves may emerge therefrom and so that the superiority of Islam and the dignity of God's word may become manifest unto the people and so that the truth may arrive with all its blessings and falsehood may depart with all its ills, and so that people may understand that I am the Lord of Power, I do whatever I will, and so that they may believe that I am with thee, and so that those who do not believe in God and deny and reject His religion and His Book and His Holy Messenger Muhammad, the chosen one (on whom be peace) may be confronted with a clear sign and the way of the guilty ones may become manifest.

Rejoice, therefore, that a handsome and pure boy will be bestowed on thee. Thou wilt receive a bright youth who will be of thy seed and will be of thy progeny. A handsome and pure boy will come as your guest. His name is Emmanuel and Bashir. He has been invested with a holy spirit and he will be free from all impurity. He is the light of Allah. Blessed is he who comes from heaven. He shall be accompanied by grace (Fazl) which shall arrive with him. He will be characterized with grandeur, greatness and wealth. He will come into the world and will heal many of their disorder through his Messianic qualities and through the blessings of the Holy Spirit. He is the Word of Allah for Allah's mercy and honour have equipped him with the Word of Majesty. He will be extremely intelligent and understanding and will be meek of heart and will be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge. He will convert three into four. It is Monday, a blessed Monday. Son, delight of heart, high ranking, noble; a manifestation of the First and the Last, a manifestation of the True and the High; as if Allah has descended from heaven. His advent will be greatly blessed and will be a source of manifestation of Divine Majesty. Behold! a light cometh, a light anointed by God with the perfume of His pleasure. We shall pour our spirit into him and he will be sheltered under the shadow of God. He will advance rapidly and will be the means of procuring the release of those held in bondage. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and peoples will be blessed through him. He will then be raised to his spiritual station in heaven. This is a matter decreed. (The green Advertisement, announcement of 20th February, 1886).

Though Ghulam Ahmad further declared on April 8, 1886 that it was disclosed to him that this son will be born within a period of nine years, however a few days after this announcement his wife gave birth to a daughter and his adversaries began alleging that his prophecy was proved false. Again in the August of 1887 a son was born to him but died in infancy, and again his critics alleged that the prophecy was falsified. Ghulam Ahmad pointed out that this son was the 'guest’ that was promised, and that the prophecy concerning the promised son began from the passage “He will be accompanied by grace (Fazl) which shall arrive with him. On Janauary 12, 1889, Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad was born who is believed by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to be the promised son and one who displayed in his person all the qualities mentioned in the prophecy.[17]

[edit] The World War of 1914 and downfall of the Russian Czar

Followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claim that he predicted the onset of the first world war and the downfall of the Russian Czar in the following prophecy:

“

A sign is going to be manifest some days after this date. The villages and cities and fields shall be in a state of revolution on account of it. All of a sudden all shall severely quake by a quaking, mortal and trees and mountains and seas. In the twinkling of an eye this earth shall turn upside down. Streams of blood shall flow as the water of rivers. Those who don robes white like Jessamine at the night the morning will make them (blood stained) like chanar trees. The travelers shall feel the severity of the hour; those who are on the way shall lose the way losing their senses as it were. The great and the small shall all be in a state of prostration on account of fear. Even the Czar shall at that hour be in a state of utmost distress. That Divine sign shall be a sample of wrath; the heaven shall assault drawing forth its sword (Barahin-i-Ahmadiyya, part 5th, p.120,)[14]

”

“

The date this day is 15th April 1905." and (2) "In the Divine revelation the word Zalzalah (meaning a quaking or earthquake), is repeated again and again.... But I cannot yet with certainty take the word in its literal significance. It might be that it is not an ordinary earthquake but some terrible disaster which should bring about a scene of the judgment Day, and a sever destruction should come upon lives and buildings."[15]

”

[edit] Criticism

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad wrote in his books: To Judge my truthfulness or lies, there is no better test than my prophecies.^[16] His critics claim many instances on which the prophecies were not fulfilled.^[17]

[edit] Prophecies and Mubahala concerning Abdullah Atham

He repeatedly prophesied a miserable death for Abdullah Khan Atham, a Christian, in a debate, which Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's critics claim did not come to pass.^[18]

Ahmadiyya view

Ahmadiyya Muslims answer the critics by claiming that the original prophecy which was published in the book Jang e Muqaddas did not prophesy his death but his being put into the "haavia", which means hell or great torment. They argue that Atham was in constant fear and backed out of his Anti-Islam stance for the 15 months of the prophecy. Ahmadiyya Muslims say that only after much jubilation was shown by the opponents of Ahmad upon Atham being alive once the time limit of the original prophecy expired, did Mirza Ghulam Ahmad prophecise of Atham's death (conditional upon Atham not publicly repenting). They point out that Abdullah Atham eventually died on July 27, 1896 after Mirza Ghluam Ahmad had made the prophecy of his death on September 30, 1895,^[19]

[edit] Prophecies regarding marriage to Mohammadi Begum

See also: Prophecies of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad about Mohammadi Begum

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's critics claim that his repeated assertions that his marriage to Mohammadi Begum was ordained by God were never fulfilled. He said:

“

"The Almighty God has told me that I should send a marriage proposal to the elder daughter of a Ahmad Baig; he has also ordered you to accept me as your first son in law and derive light from my knowledge and wisdom. Furthermore, I am to inform you that I have been granted the permission to execute the deed of the land you are interested in and bestow upon you additional land and other favors, provided you wed your daughter to me. This is the only treaty between you and I. So, if you accept, I will accept this too. If you do not accept, then God has ordered me to warn you that -- in case the girl is married to someone else -- it will not be auspicious for you or her."[20][21][22]

”

and,

“

"As a token of the Almighty’s favor to this humble person, Allah has ordained that, should Mirza Ahmad Baig refuse to wed his elder daughter to me, he will be considered Allah’s enemy and a disbeliever (Kafir). Additionally, as a punishment for his disbelief, Mirza Baig will die within three years of this refusal and any other man who marries Muhammadi Begum will die within two and half years of the date of his wedding. Muhammadi Begum is destined -- by the almighty Allah -- to ultimately become my wife."[20][21][22]

”

he also said:

“

I am making not one, but six predictions: (1) I will be alive at the time of the wedding of Muhammadi Begum (2) Mirza Baig will also be alive at the time of the wedding of his daughter (3) Mirza Baig will die within three years of the date of the wedding (4) The Groom will also die within two and half years of the date of the wedding (5) Muhammadi Begum will remain alive until she becomes my wife (6) Despite disagreement of all her relatives, she will finally marry me."[20][21][22]

”

However, Muhammadi Begum married an orthodox Muslim, Mirza Sultan Ahmad. They lived together for forty years after Ghulam Ahmad's death in 1908. Mirza Sultan Ahmad finally died in 1948 and Muhammadi Begum died in 1966, decades after Ghulam Ahmad's prophecies.

Ahmadiyya view

However, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s followers contend that the Prophecy was in parts and conditional upon the status quo of certain circumstances and hence did not require absolute fulfillment.

Mirza Ghluam Ahmad’s followers claim that the background of the prophecy was related to the secanrio wherein the family of Muhamamdi Begum had begun to turn away from Islam and under influence of Hindu customs had begun to regard marriage among blood cousins as foul. Morevoer they had also begun to abuse and denoune Muhammad, particularly his marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh (daughter of Muhammad’s aunt). Even a book to this effect was distributed widely by these poople, about which Mirza Ghulam Ahmad wrote:^[23]

"When the scurrilous book came to my hands I read therein such a grossly abusive language against the Most High God and His Holy Prophet as would lacerate the hearts of the believers and rip open and rend the Muslims' minds. The profane words, it appeared to me, would tear asunder the very heavens. So I shut myself in a room and prostrated before the Great God of the heavens and the earth and prayed most humbly: O my Lord, O my Lord, help Your servant and disgrace Your enemy."

(A'inah Kamalat Islam, page 569)

It is claimed his prayer was answered and God revealed to him^[23]

"We have seen their wickedness and transgression, because of which a grievous punishment shall come upon their heads. Their women, We shall make them widows, and orphan their children. Their places of residence We shall destroy and demolish, so that they may bear the fruit of their deeds. But We shall not strike them with a single blow, but slowly that they may turn to the truth and become repentant."

(ibid., page 569-570)

Similarly the prophecy was further elaborated as:

"I am making not one, but six predictions: (1) I will be alive at the time of the wedding of Muhammadi Begum (2) Mirza Baig will also be alive at the time of the wedding of his daughter (3) Mirza Baig will die within three years of the date of the wedding (4) The Groom will also die within two and half years of the date of the wedding (5) Muhammadi Begum will remain alive until she becomes my wife (6) Despite disagreement of all her relatives, she will finally marry me."^[20][21][22]

Ahmadi Muslims claim that the prophecy read in totality shows that it was in parts and with the aim to bring the family of Muhamadi Begum to “turn to the truth and become repentant” (A'inah Kamalat Islam, page 569),^[23] and hence was conditional upon them not repenting. In fact Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was personally averse to the idea of this marriage as he wrote in a letter dated 20 June 1886, “Come what may, I am determined to keep away from and avoid this marriage until I am forced unto it by an express command of the Most High God."^[24] His followers point out that after Muhammadi Begum’s marriage parts 1-3 of the prophecy were fulflled as predicted, culminating in the death of Muhammadi Begum’s father within 6 months of her marriage. It is claimed that after fulfillment of the 3 parts, the stated conditions changed, i.e., the remaining family of Muhammadi Begum repented from turning away from Islam and hence the remaining parts of the prohecy did not to pass.^[23] In the word of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad:

"I have in earlier announcements mentioned some of the letters which reached me from these people [relatives of Muhammadi Begum], expressing repentance, fear and turning to truth. If this principle is not true according to the Quran and the Bible that the period specified in a prophecy of threatened punishment can be delayed, then the objection of every critic is right and justified. But if from the Quran and the Bible it is repeatedly proved that the time of punishment can be postponed if repentance and fear is shown then it is the height of dishonesty for anyone calling himself a Muslim or a Christian to object to this which is proved from the Holy Quran and earlier scriptures. ...

"The matter can be easily decided. Persuade Sultan Muhammad to publish an announcement charging me with falsehood. Then if he should survive whatever term is appointed by God the Most High, I may be condemned as a liar. ... It is essential that the threatened death be withheld from him until that time comes which makes him bold and audacious. If you want to make it come quickly, then go and embolden him and make him a denier and bring an announcement from him, and then see the spectacle of Divine power."

(Anjam Atham, page 29 and 32)^[23]

He also wrote

"As to the affair of Ahmad Beg's son-in-law, I have written many times that that prophecy consisted of two branches. One was about the death of Ahmad Beg, the other was about the death of his son-in-law, and the prophecy was conditional. Therefore Ahmad Beg, because of not fulfilling the condition, died within the term, and his son-in-law, and likewise his relatives, benefited from the condition by fulfilling it. It was a natural consequence that the death of Ahmad Beg strike their hearts with terror because both of them were included in the prophecy ... So the death of Ahmad Beg cast such fear upon the other named man and his relatives that they became like dead with fear. The result was that the head of the family, who was the main instigator in this affair [of getting Muhammadi Begum married to Sultan Muhammad], took the Pledge to join my movement."

(Haqiqat-ul-Wahy, pages 132-134)^[23] The husband of Muhamadi Begum himself wrote in 1921, some years after Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s death.

"My father-in-law, Mirza Ahmad Beg, in fact died precisely in accordance with the prophecy. But God the Most High is also the most merciful. He listens to other men also, and showers His mercy on them. ... I state upon my conscience that the prophecy relating to the marriage has not left any doubt whatsoever in my mind. As for the bai`at [i.e. taking the Pledge to join the Movement], I declare upon solemn oath that the trust and faith which I repose in Hazrat Mirza sahib is, I think, not possessed even by you who have entered the bai`at."

(Al-Fazl, 9 June 1921)^[23]

[edit] Prophecies regarding the birth of sons to his wife

He made multiple prophecies regarding birth of sons to his wife. These, his critics claimed, were not fulfilled.^[25]

Ahmadiyya view

The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement believe that the prophecies related to the "promised son" are allegorical in nature,^[26] while the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believe that the prophecy was fulfilled in the person of Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, the second Caliph.

[edit] Prophecies concerning the plague and Qadian's immunity

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad predicted that the plague that became rampant in Punjab will not enter Qadian, the dwelling place of Muhammad. However his critics point out that not only did the plague spread to Qadian, it also took the life of several people in his own house. He said:

“

"Plague has now spared even our own house. The elderly Ghausan (an elderly woman) was afflicted by it. We expelled her from the house. Ustad Muhammad Din was also struck with plague. We turned him out too. Today, another woman who was visiting us and had come from Delhi was also struck with plague. I also fell seriously ill and I felt that between me and death were only a few seconds."[27]

”

Ahmadiyya view

Followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad do not however agree with this view. They maintain that only the true believers in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad were promised protection from the plague according to the prophecy, which they say was the case.^[28] It is also pointed out that the difference between the percentage of victims out of the followers of Ghulam Ahmad and that of other victims was highly significant.

[edit] Sources and references

[edit] See also

• Islam

[edit] External links

Ahmadiyya External links

Non-Ahmadiyya External links