Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement)

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a 19th-century religious leader from India and the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement within Islam. He claimed to be the promised Messiah and Mahdi, figures foretold in Islamic and other religious traditions, emphasizing the peaceful, rational, and reformist aspects of faith. Ahmad advocated for spiritual revival, interfaith understanding, and social justice. His teachings distinguished the Ahmadiyya community as a movement seeking renewal and emphasizing the compatibility of faith with modern knowledge. While widely respected by followers, his claims have been controversial within the broader Muslim community.