Question map
In which one of the following places was the Ahmadiyya Movement started by Mirza Ghulam 'Ahmad?
Explanation
The Ahmadiyya Movement was founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad [1]. The movement originated in Qadian, which is located in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to be the Messiah and a world reformer, seeking to defend Islam against the polemics of Christian missionaries and the Arya Samaj [3]. While the movement emphasized original Quranic principles, it was considered controversial by mainstream Islam due to Ahmad's messianic claims [1]. The movement also promoted Western liberal education among Indian Muslims and advocated for a 'jihad of the pen' rather than 'jihad by the sword'. In contrast, the Aligarh Movement was founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in Aligarh in 1875, focusing on reconciling modern scientific education with Islamic teachings [3].
Sources
- [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Ahmadiya Movement (1889) > p. 304
- [3] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Savvid Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh School > p. 222
- [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Aligarh Movement (1875) > p. 303