Glossary

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at—The Community of Muslims who have accepted the claims of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) of Qadian as the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. The Community was established by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) in 1889, and is now under the leadership of his fifth khalifahHazrat 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.

Amin—A term said after a prayer meaning, ‘May Allah make it so.’

Assalamo ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahe wa barakatohu—Traditional Islamic greeting, meaning, may peace be on you, and the mercy of Allah and His grace.

Hazrat—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, Hazrat Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Holy Qur’an—The Book sent by Allah for the guidance of mankind. It was revealed word by word to the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) over a period of twenty-three years.

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.

Mahdi—The literal translation of this word is ‘the guided one’. This is the title given by the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) to the awaited Reformer of the Latter Days.

The Promised Messiah—This term refers to the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at, Hazrat 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.