While the informed Muslims always use the words Mirzai or Qadyani for the followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, Qadyanis insist on being called Ahmedi – they never use Mirzai and Qadyani but always use Ahmedi. Pleas note that the followers of Ghulam Ahmed Qadyani should be addressed as Mirzai or Qadyani but not as Ahmedi as ‘Ahmedi’ is associated with ‘Ahmed’. The word ‘Ahmed’ has only been used once in Quran in Surah Saf wherein Allaah has quoted Eesa Alayhissalam: “Eesa Alayhissalam said that O children of Israel! I confirm my first book i.e. Torah and give glad tidings of a great Prophet who will come later to me whose name will be Ahmed.”

Ahmed means Mohammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam in Quran
Muslims and Qadyanis dispute over the word Ahmed in the aforementioned verse from Quran. We, Muslims believe that Ahmed in this verse refers to the messenger of Allaah, Mohammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam and Eesa Alayhissalam has given glad tidings for Prophet Mohammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam in this verse. Therefore, Mohammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam says: “I have many names. I am Mohammad and I am Ahmed.” Hence, Ahmed is Prophet Mohammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam and those associated with him (his followers) are Ahmedi. This is similar to the case where in pre-divided India, the English used to call Muslims as Mohammadi (i.e. those associated with Mohammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) instead of Muslim.

Anyways, contrary to the belief of Muslims, Qadyanis believe that ‘Ahmed’ in the aforementioned verse has been used for Ghulam Ahmed Qadyani (we seek Allaah’s protection from Qadyani heresy). The Quran gives tidings for Ahmed whereas Mirza’s name is ‘Ghulam Ahmed’ and not ‘Ahmed’. In such a case, how can Mirza be the addressee of this verse? The totally non-sensical response of Qadyanis to this is that if the word ‘Ghulam’ is removed then only ‘Ahmed’ remains and therefore this tiding is for Ghulam Ahmed. By using such invalid reasoning, Qadyanis installed Ghulam Ahmed as Ahmed and therefore by virtue of their association with him they became Ahmedis and got their cult registered as ‘Ahmedia party’ by the English imperials in India.

In short, reference to Qadyanis as Ahmedis is a corruption of the aforementioned verse of Quran. In other words, those that address Qadyanis as Ahmedis are in essence approving this heretical belief of the Qadyanis that ‘Ahmed’ in this verse refers to Mirza Ghulam Ahmed Qadyani. Bearing this in mind, let us request our Muslim brothers not to refer to Qadyanis as Ahmedis and instead call them Mirzai or Qadyani (as Mirzai comes from Mirza and Qadyani from Qadyan – both associated specifically with Mirza Ghulam Ahmed).

Mirza says that ‘Ghulam Ahmed Qadyani’ is his revealed name. Similarly, he also asserts that ‘Mirza is his revealed name as well. Therefore he says that it was revealed to me that: “O Mirza! Wait for Us to get free for you.” Bearing in mind these claims of Mirza, we do nothing wrong in referring to followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmed as Mirzai or Qadyani (which associates with Mirza and Qadyani respectively that according to their own belief are the revealed names of their leader). However, those associated with Mirza Qadyani get annoyed on being addressed by any of these names. Regardless of this dislike of theirs, we still won’t call them ‘Ahmedis’ and would persist in calling them as Qadyani and Mirzai. In fact, all Muslims are also requested that they should not address followers of Mirza Qadyani as Ahmedi but as Qadyani or Mirzai.