Introduction
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, made several prophetic claims during his lifetime. Among the most well-known and controversial was his prophecy concerning his marriage to a woman named Muhammadi Begum. This claim became a significant test of his truthfulness, and the outcome of the prophecy has since been a point of major criticism and debate.
Background of the Prophecy
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad expressed a desire to marry Muhammadi Begum, the daughter of his relative Ahmad Baig. According to him, this desire was supported by divine revelations which he claimed to have received. He made it publicly known that this marriage was destined by God and prophesied that if her family refused the proposal, they would face divine punishment. Specifically, he stated that if Muhammadi Begum was married to someone else:
➊ Her father, Ahmad Baig, would die within three years.
➋ Her husband would die within two and a half years of marriage.
➌ Ultimately, she would become a widow and would be married to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
Events Following the Prophecy
Despite the threats and repeated assertions, Muhammadi Begum’s family rejected the proposal. She was married to a man named Sultan Muhammad. While her father, Ahmad Baig, died shortly after the marriage, Sultan Muhammad lived a long life, far beyond the prophesied period. He remained married to Muhammadi Begum until his death. Muhammadi Begum herself lived into old age and never married Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
Attempts to Fulfill the Prophecy
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad tried multiple methods to bring the prophecy to fulfillment. He sent letters, offered wealth, and even involved his relatives in efforts to pressure the family. He also issued repeated warnings and divine threats, claiming that God would remove all obstacles and bring Muhammadi Begum into his wedlock. He referred to this future marriage as a divine certainty and declared it a "takhdeer-e-mubram" (irrevocable destiny).
The Aftermath
As time passed and the prophecy remained unfulfilled, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad continued to assure his followers that the marriage would occur. Even in his final years, he reiterated his conviction that the prophecy would come true. However, he died in 1908 without ever marrying Muhammadi Begum. She continued her life peacefully with her husband and children, outliving Mirza by several decades.
Conclusion
The prophecy regarding Muhammadi Begum is often cited as a clear example of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s failed predictions. Despite his repeated claims of divine inspiration and the inevitability of the prophecy’s fulfillment, the events unfolded contrary to his assertions. This episode serves as a significant point of contention in assessing the legitimacy of his prophetic claims.
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, made several prophetic claims during his lifetime. Among the most well-known and controversial was his prophecy concerning his marriage to a woman named Muhammadi Begum. This claim became a significant test of his truthfulness, and the outcome of the prophecy has since been a point of major criticism and debate.
Background of the Prophecy
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad expressed a desire to marry Muhammadi Begum, the daughter of his relative Ahmad Baig. According to him, this desire was supported by divine revelations which he claimed to have received. He made it publicly known that this marriage was destined by God and prophesied that if her family refused the proposal, they would face divine punishment. Specifically, he stated that if Muhammadi Begum was married to someone else:
➊ Her father, Ahmad Baig, would die within three years.
➋ Her husband would die within two and a half years of marriage.
➌ Ultimately, she would become a widow and would be married to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
Events Following the Prophecy
Despite the threats and repeated assertions, Muhammadi Begum’s family rejected the proposal. She was married to a man named Sultan Muhammad. While her father, Ahmad Baig, died shortly after the marriage, Sultan Muhammad lived a long life, far beyond the prophesied period. He remained married to Muhammadi Begum until his death. Muhammadi Begum herself lived into old age and never married Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
Attempts to Fulfill the Prophecy
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad tried multiple methods to bring the prophecy to fulfillment. He sent letters, offered wealth, and even involved his relatives in efforts to pressure the family. He also issued repeated warnings and divine threats, claiming that God would remove all obstacles and bring Muhammadi Begum into his wedlock. He referred to this future marriage as a divine certainty and declared it a "takhdeer-e-mubram" (irrevocable destiny).
The Aftermath
As time passed and the prophecy remained unfulfilled, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad continued to assure his followers that the marriage would occur. Even in his final years, he reiterated his conviction that the prophecy would come true. However, he died in 1908 without ever marrying Muhammadi Begum. She continued her life peacefully with her husband and children, outliving Mirza by several decades.
Conclusion
The prophecy regarding Muhammadi Begum is often cited as a clear example of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s failed predictions. Despite his repeated claims of divine inspiration and the inevitability of the prophecy’s fulfillment, the events unfolded contrary to his assertions. This episode serves as a significant point of contention in assessing the legitimacy of his prophetic claims.
