Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the founder of the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam, which is referred to as Qadiyaniat by many scholars and a number of national governments. He was born in Qadian, a village in British India, in 1835. He initially presented himself as a spiritual reformer and a mujaddid (reformer), a figure that appears at the turn of a century to rejuvenate faith. He later claimed to be the Messiah and Mahdi, prophesied to appear in the latter days.
His followers believe that he was a divinely-inspired prophet, though a non-law-giving one, who was sent to revive Islam and counter the rise of Christianity in India. They also believe he came to fulfill the prophecies of the second coming of Jesus (PBUH). This belief is central to Qadiyaniat and the reason for its followers being referred to as Ahmadis. The movement was founded on the principles of pacifism and spiritual revival.
According to his teachings, the era of jihad through the sword was over, and the new form of jihad was to be through intellectual and spiritual arguments. He emphasized the importance of peace, morality, and service to humanity. His life and works are foundational to the beliefs and practices of his followers, and his writings are a primary source of their theological understanding.
