Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: Community of Muslims who have accepted the claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian. The Community was established by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in 1889, and is now under the leadership of a so-called fifth 'Khalifa', Mirza Masroor Ahmad. The Community is also known as Jama’at Ahmadiyya. Members of the Ahmadiyya Community refer to themselves as Ahmadi Muslim or an Ahmadi.
Ameer: The Leader / President of the Jama’at (community) in a country, province, or Muslim community.
Ameerul Mumineen: Leader of the faithful, the title used for a Caliph.
Amila: Central committee responsible for carrying out the activities of the organisation.
Annual Conference: A conference held annually in a country with anAhmadi populace. The annual conference was initiated by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad 1891. It is usually referred to by its original Urdu name, Jalsa Salana.
Ansar: ‘Helpers’. Refers to the Companions in Medina of the Holy Prophet (saw), that received the Prophet (saw) and the Muslims who migrated from Mecca.
Ansarullah: ‘Helpers of Allah’. (Singular: Nasir i.e. Helper). Refers to the Ahmadiyya Jama’at auxiliary organisation of male members over the age of 40 years.
Atfal: Children (Singular: Tifl i.e. Child)
Atfalul Ahmadiyya: ‘Children of Ahmadiyyat’. Refers to the Ahmadiyya Jama’at auxiliary organisation of male children between the ages of 7 and 16 years.
Bahishti Maqbara: The so-called 'Celestial Graveyard' in Qadian (India) and Rabwah (Pakistan). A graveyard where Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in Qadian, and some of the so-called Khulafa of the Jama’at are buried. A person who joins the institution of Wassiyyat may also be buried in these graveyards.
Bai’at: Taking of the oath of allegiance to the Ahmadiyya Community by reciting the pledge in unison with the Khalifa.
Baitul Maal: State treasury.
Chanda: Giving money to the Jama'at. Some Chanda schemes are obligatory for members of the Jama’at.
Hadhrat: A term of respect used for a person of established righteousness and piety.
Hakeem: A philosopher or a practitioner in natural medicine.
Huzur: Your Honor/Holiness, His Honor/Holiness. It is normally used to address the current so-called Khalifat al-Masih.
Ijtema: Gathering. (Plural: Ijtema’at).
Imam Mahdi: Muslim reformer prophesied by the Holy Prophet (saw).
Jalsa Salana: Annual Conference, or Convention.
Jama’at: Community or organization. Usually used in reference to the Ahmadiyya Community.
Jamia: A theological seminary or training college for Ahmadi missionaries.
Khadim: Servant
Khalifa: Caliph is derived from the Arabic word Khalifa, which herein means the successor. In Islamic terminology, the word righteous Khalifa is applied to one of the four Khulafa (plural of Khalifa) who continued the mission of Muhammad (saw) the Holy Prophet of Islam. Ahmadi Muslims refer to a successor of the Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as Khalifatul Masih.
Khatamun Nabiyyeen: An Arabic term meaning the ‘Last of the prophets’, Ahmadis believe that it translates as 'best of the prophets' – it is a title of Muhammed (saw).
Khuddam: Plural of Khadim i.e. Servants.
Khuddamul Ahmadiyya: Means the ‘Servants of Ahmadiyyat’. Refers to the Ahmadiyya Jama’at auxiliary organisation of male members between the ages of 16 and 40 years.
Lajna: Hand maiden.
Lajna Imaillah: Hand-maidens of Allah. Refers to the Ahmadiyya Jama’at auxiliary organisation of female members over the age of 16.
Mahdi: The Guided One. Many religious groups within their scriptures believe in the coming of a Mahdi towards the End of Time.
Majlise Intikhab: Electoral College - body of people whom elect a Caliph.
Majlis: Association, organization.
Mamoor min Allah: The commissioned one from God Almighty.
Markaz: Central Administrative offices.
Masih-e-Maud: the Promised Messiah.
Musi: A person who has bequeathed 1/10 to 1/3 of his property to the Ahmadiyya Community, and abides by all the conditions laid down in the booklet 'The Will'.
MTA: The Muslim Television Ahmadiyya satellite channel.
Mubahila: Prayer duel to ascertain the truthfulness of one party over the other. Both parties pray to God that whoever is wrong should be ruined in the lifetime of the other.
Mufti: A Jurist. An official who pronounces verdict on an issue from an Islamic point of view i.e. Fatwa. An expounder of Shariah (Islamic law).
Mujaddid: A reformer or re-newer of faith.
Mu’min: Believer.
Murabbi: Patron, a person supporting a cause or a person. Term is also used in reference to the Missionaries of Jama’at Ahmadiyya.
Musleh Maud: A term, meaning' Promised Reformer', applied to Khalifatul-Masih II, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad. Ahmadis call him Musleh Maud because they believe he was born in accordance with a prophecy made by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad about the birth of a righteous son who would be endowed with special abilities, attributes and powers. They believe that the life and works of Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad are a testimony to the fulfilment of the prophecy.
Nasiratul Ahmadiyya: Helpers of Ahmadiyyat (Feminine). Refers to the Ahmadiyya Jama’at auxiliary organisation of female members under the age of 16.
Nizam-e-Jama’at: System of the Community.
Pardah: A veil, curtain, screen or concealing garment used predominantly by Muslim and some Hindu women to conceal their bodies from the gaze of men or strangers. In Islam, men are told to lower/restrain their eyes (ghadd al basr).
Promised Messiah: This term refers to the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian. He claimed that he had been sent by Allah in accordance with prophecies of the Holy Prophet (saw) about the coming of a Mahdi (the Guided One) and Messiah from among the Muslims.
Qadian: A town in North-West India where Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born and lived.
Qaid: Elected Leader of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya at a local level.
Qadhi: A judge in an Islamic court, a title of respect.
Qiadat: Refers to local area. Boundaries set by Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya.
Rabwah: A town in Pakistan established in 1948 by the Second Khalifa, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad where the central administrative offices of the Ahmadiyya Community are located.
Sadr: President of an independent auxiliary organisation such as Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, or President of a local Jama’at comprising of all members of the auxiliary organisations.
Sadr Anjuman: The Central Ahmadiyya Directorate that regulates the administrative affairs of the Community.
Sahib: Mr. or Esquire, added to people as a sign of high respect.
Seerat-un-Nabi: Character of the Prophet (saw). Aa gathering is held by Ahmadis in order to celebrate the life of the Prophet of Islam (saw). It is commonly referred to as the Seerat-un-Nabi Jalsa.
Shura: Consultation. Every year, the various auxiliary organisations meet for a consultation of policies they want to implement in the future. These are discussed and agreed before presenting the report on the discussion to the so-called Khalifa for approval.
Sultanul Qalam: Master of the Pen, a title that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad referred to himself by. The Jama’at has recently setup an organisation by the name ‘Ansar Sultanul Qalam’ i.e. ‘Helpers of the Master of the Pen’.
Tabligh: Preaching the message of Islam
Tajneed: Registration with the Jama’at.
Ta’leem: Education
Tarbiyyat: Discipline. Tarbiyyat department of the Jama’at claims to focus on increasing the moral training of the members as per the injuctions of the Qur’an.
Tehrike Jadid: An organization founded in 1934 that oversees the Ahmadiyya missions established in various countries
Waqfe Jadid: An organization that claims to look after the spiritual upbringing of the members living in the rural communities of the Ahmadiyya Jama’at.
Waqfe Nau: A scheme set up by the ahmadiyya Jama'at, where a child is dedicated to the cause of God before his/ her birth.
Yaum-e-Masih-e-Maud: Promised Messiah Day. Refers to the annual meeting of Ahmadis where they celebrates the establishment of the Jama’at.
Yaum-e-Khilafat: Khilafat Day. Refers to the annual meeting of Ahmadis that celebrates the so-called re-establishment of Khilafat.
Yaum-e-Musleh Maud: Promised Reformer Day. Refers to the annual meeting of Ahmadis that celebrates the fulfillment of the so-called prophecy of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad about a son that would be born to him who would be a source of the manifestation of Divine Majesty.
Zikr-e-Habib: Remembrance of the beloved, which has traditionally been a speech about the personality and qualities of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
