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Mohammadi Begum (or Muhammadi Begum) (death 1966), a lady from the Punjab region of India, was the daughter of Mirza Ahmad Baig, who was a cousin of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement).

Contents 1 Biography 2 Prophecies Regarding Marriage to Mohammadi Begum 2.1 Critical View 2.2 Ahmadiyya View 3 Sources and references 4 See also

[edit] Biography

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad had also sent a marriage proposal for Mohammadi Begum in fulfillment of what he claimed to be divine instructions delivered to him in one of his revelations. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad also prophecised certain consequences if the proposal was rejected and the family continued in their opposition against him.

This prophecy served to be a point of controversy and contention between followers of Mirza Ghluam Ahmad and his critics. The critics claim that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's intentions were to marry Muhammadi Begum because of her alleged beauty and her father's wealth. While Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's followers claim that Muhammadi Begum was neither beautiful nor wealthy^[1] and the intention behind the proposal was related to reforming Muhammadi Begum's family who were turning away from Islam. The critics also claim that Mirza Baig was a devoted Muslim, and hence had repeatedly refused to wed his daughter to one whom he believed to be a non-believer.^[2] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's followers claim that Mohammadi Begum's family were openly abusive towards Islam and the prophecy containing the proposal was remedial in nature.^[1]

[edit] Prophecies Regarding Marriage to Mohammadi Begum

[edit] Critical View

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's repeated assertions that his marriage to Mohammadi Begum was ordained by God were never fulfilled. He said:

“

"The Almighty God has told me that I should send a marriage proposal to the elder daughter of a Ahmad Baig; he has also ordered you to accept me as your first son in law and derive light from my knowledge and wisdom. Furthermore, I am to inform you that I have been granted the permission to execute the deed of the land you are interested in and bestow upon you additional land and other favors, provided you wed your daughter to me. This is the only treaty between you and I. So, if you accept, I will accept this too. If you do not accept, then God has ordered me to warn you that -- in case the girl is married to someone else -- it will not be auspicious for you or her."[3][4][5]

”

and,

“

"As a token of the Almighty’s favor to this humble person, Allah has ordained that, should Mirza Ahmad Baig refuse to wed his elder daughter to me, he will be considered Allah’s enemy and a disbeliever (Kafir). Additionally, as a punishment for his disbelief, Mirza Baig will die within three years of this refusal and any other man who marries Muhammadi Begum will die within two and half years of the date of his wedding. Muhammadi Begum is destined -- by the almighty Allah -- to ultimately become my wife."[3][4][5]

”

Moreover, he said:

“

I am making not one, but six predictions: (1) I will be alive at the time of the wedding of Muhammadi Begum (2) Mirza Baig will also be alive at the time of the wedding of his daughter (3) Mirza Baig will die within three years of the date of the wedding (4) The Groom will also die within two and half years of the date of the wedding (5) Muhammadi Begum will remain alive until she becomes my wife (6) Despite disagreement of all her relatives, she will finally marry me."[3][4][5]

”

However, Muhammadi Begum married an orthodox Muslim, Mirza Sultan Ahmad. They lived together for forty years after Ghulam Ahmad's death in 1908. Mirza Sultan Ahmad finally died in 1948 and Muhammadi Begum died in 1966, decades after Ghulam Ahmad's prophecies.

[edit] Ahmadiyya View

However, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s followers contend that the historical facts about this particular prophecy are in favour of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^[6] as the Prophecy was in parts and conditional upon the status quo of certain circumstances and hence did not require absolute fulfillment.

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s followers claim that the background of the prophecy was related to the scenario wherein the family of Mohamamdi Begum had begun to turn away from Islam, adopting an atheistic attitude and under influence of Hindu customs had begun to regard marriage among blood cousins as foul. Moreover they had also begun to abuse and denounce Muhammad, particularly criticizing his marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh (daughter of Muhammad’s aunt). Even a book to this effect was distributed widely by these people, about which Mirza Ghulam Ahmad wrote:^[7]

When the scurrilous book came to my hands I read therein such a grossly abusive language against the Most High God and His Holy Prophet as would lacerate the hearts of the believers and rip open and rend the Muslims' minds. The profane words, it appeared to me, would tear asunder the very heavens. So I shut myself in a room and prostrated before the Great God of the heavens and the earth and prayed most humbly: O my Lord, O my Lord, help Your servant and disgrace Your enemy. Respond to me, O Lord resond to me. How long will they mock you and your Messenger?I beseech you of your mercy, O Ever Living, Self Subsisting Helper!

(A'inah Kamalat Islam, page 569)

It is claimed his prayer was answered and God revealed to him^[7]

We have seen their wickedness and transgression, because of which a grievous punishment shall come upon their heads. Their women, We shall make them widows, and orphan their children. Their places of residence We shall destroy and demolish, so that they may bear the fruit of their deeds. But We shall not strike them with a single blow, but slowly that they may turn to the truth and become repentant.

(ibid., page 569-570)

His followers point out the Ghulam Ahmad repeatedly published his prophecies to be conditional upon repentance and 'turning to the truth' and repeatedly admonished Muhammadi Begum's family to seek forgiveness.,^[8]

It is also pointed out that consequently, Muhammadi Begum's uncle, Mirza Nizamud-Din suffered greatly when his twenty five year old daughter died leaving behind an infant child. Then Nizamud-Din died himself leaving behind a son and a daughter, both of whom accepted Islam at the hands of Ghulam Ahmad. Nizamud-Din's brother, Mirza Imamud-Din was also survived by one daughter, Khurshid Begum who, consequently, like her cousins also swore allegiance to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Another brother of Mirza Nizamud-Din, Mirza Kamalud-Din left Qadian to become a recluse and spend the rest of his days in the graveyards of India. He is said to have repented later for his actions.^[8]

It so happened that Muhammadi Begum's father, Ahmad Beg required some assistance from Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in matters of estate, hence he turned to him seeking his assistance. Ghulam Ahmad though willing to assist him, undertook an Istikhara (special supplication) as was his custom, before returning to Ahmad Beg and claimed that "The All Powerful, the All Wise directed me to ask for the hand of the elder daughter of Ahmad Beg in marriage"(Tazkirah, pg.202).^[8]

Muhammadi Begum's brother lost his life at which occasion Mirza Ghulam Ahmad offered his condolences to the boys father, stating:

You might be feeling ruffled at heart on account of me, but the Omniscient knows that the heart of this humble one is absolutely pure and I wish you well in every way. (Life of Ahmad, pg.245)^[8]

Muhammadi Begum's grandmother and one of her sisters are also said to have become the victims of the prophecy. Then shortly after Mirza Ahmad beg married his daughter, Muhammadi Begum to someone else he himself died of typhoid hence fulfilling the prophecy to the effect that he would 'die within three years of the marriage of his daughter'. After his death the family are said to have repented and had ceased to be abusive, and had accepted Ghulam Ahmad.^[8]

Followers of Ghulam Ahmad say that the prophecy was further elaborated as:

I am making not one, but six predictions: (1) I will be alive at the time of the wedding of Muhammadi Begum (2) Mirza Baig will also be alive at the time of the wedding of his daughter (3) Mirza Baig will die within three years of the date of the wedding (4) The Groom will also die within two and half years of the date of the wedding (5) Muhammadi Begum will remain alive until she becomes my wife (6) Despite disagreement of all her relatives, she will finally marry me.^[3][4][5]

His followers claim that the prophecy read in totality shows that it was in parts and with the aim to bring the family of Muhamadi Begum to “turn to the truth and become repentant” (A'inah Kamalat Islam, page 569),^[7] and hence was conditional upon them not repenting. In fact Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was personally averse to the idea of this marriage as he wrote in a letter dated 20th June 1886, “Come what may, I am determined to keep away from and avoid this marriage until I am forced unto it by an express command of the Most High God."^[1] His followers point out that after Muhammadi Begum’s marriage parts 1-3 of the prophecy were fulflled as predicted, culmnating in the death of Muhammadi Begum’s father within 6 months of her marriage. It is claimed that after fulfillment of the 3 parts, the stated conditions changed, i.e., the remaining family of Muhammadi Begum repented from turning away from Islam and hence the remaining parts of the prophecy did not to pass.^[7] In the word of Mirza Ghluam Ahmad:

I have in earlier announcements mentioned some of the letters which reached me from these people [relatives of Muhammadi Begum], expressing repentance, fear and turning to truth. If this principle is not true according to the Quran and the Bible that the period specified in a prophecy of threatened punishment can be delayed, then the objection of every critic is right and justified. But if from the Quran and the Bible it is repeatedly proved that the time of punishment can be postponed if repentance and fear is shown then it is the height of dishonesty for anyone calling himself a Muslim or a Christian to object to this which is proved from the Holy Quran and earlier scriptures....

The matter can be easily decided. Persuade Sultan Muhammad to publish an announcement charging me with falsehood. Then if he should survive whatever term is appointed by God the Most High, I may be condemned as a liar. ... It is essential that the threatened death be withheld from him until that time comes which makes him bold and audacious. If you want to make it come quickly, then go and embolden him and make him a denier and bring an announcement from him, and then see the spectacle of Divine power.

(Anjam Atham, page 29 and 32)^[7]

He also wrote

As to the affair of Ahmad Beg's son-in-law, I have written many times that that prophecy consisted of two branches. One was about the death of Ahmad Beg, the other was about the death of his son-in-law, and the prophecy was conditional. Therefore Ahmad Beg, because of not fulfilling the condition, died within the term, and his son-in-law, and likewise his relatives, benefited from the condition by fulfilling it. It was a natural consequence that the death of Ahmad Beg strike their hearts with terror because both of them were included in the prophecy ... So the death of Ahmad Beg cast such fear upon the other named man and his relatives that they became like dead with fear. The result was that the head of the family, who was the main instigator in this affair [of getting Muhammadi Begum married to Sultan Muhammad], took the Pledge to join my movement.

(Haqiqat-ul-Wahy, pages 132-134)^[7]

The husband of Muhammadi Begum himself wrote in 1921, some years after Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s death.

My father-in-law, Mirza Ahmad Beg, in fact died precisely in accordance with the prophecy. But God the Most High is also the most merciful. He listens to other men also, and showers His mercy on them. ... I state upon my conscience that the prophecy relating to the marriage has not left any doubt whatsoever in my mind. As for the bai`at [i.e. taking the Pledge to join the Movement], I declare upon solemn oath that the trust and faith which I repose in Hazrat Mirza sahib is, I think, not possessed even by you who have entered the bai`at.

(Al-Fazl, 9 June 1921)^[7]

The son of Muhammadi Begum also expressed his acceptance to the fulfilment of the prophecy in the following words:

My grandfather, Mirza Ahmad Beg died as a result of the prophecy and the rest of the family became frightened and hence reformed themselves. An undeniable proof of this is that most of them joined Ahmadiyyat(Al Fazal:26 February,1923)

It is pointed out that amongst those who repented and pledged their allegiance to Islam at the hands of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad were: Omrun Nisa Bibi (widow of Mirza Ahmad Beg and mother of Muhammadi Begum), Inayat Begum and Mahmooda Begum (sisters of Muhammadi Begum) and their brother Mirza Muhammed Beg, Mirza Isaac Beg (son of Muhammadi Begum), Mirza Ahmad Hassan (son in law of Mirza Ahmad Beg), Mirza Gul Muhammad and his sister (the only surviving children of Mirza Nizamud-Din), Hurmat Bibi (maternal aunt of Muhammadi Begum) and her daughter, Khurshid Begum.^[8]

[edit] Sources and references

[edit] See also

• Prophecies of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad