Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at—The Community of Muslims who have accepted the claims of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as of Qadian as the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. The Community was established by Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as in 1889, and is now under the leadership of his fifth khalifah—Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his help). The Community is also known as Jama‘at-e-Ahmadiyya. A member of the Community is called an Ahmadi Muslim or simply an Ahmadi.
Al-Imam al-Mahdi—The title given to the Promised Reformer by the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa; it means the guided leader.
Hadrat—A term of respect used for a person of established righteousness and piety; lit. ‘His/Her Holiness.’
Holy Prophet sa—A term used exclusively for the Founder of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
The Promised Messiah—This term refers to the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as of Qadian. He claimed that he had been sent by Allah in accordance with the prophecies of the Holy Prophet sa about the coming of al-Imam al-Mahdi (the Guided Leader) and Messiah.
Khalifah—Successor. A Khalifah of Allah is a term used for a Prophet. Khalifah of a Prophet refers to his Successor who continues his mission.
Khalifatul-Masih—A term used by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at to denote the Successors of the Promised Messiah as.
Khilafat—The literal meaning of the term is successorship.