ahmadiyyah: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowacademic/religious
Quick answer
What does “ahmadiyyah” mean?
a modern Islamic movement founded in 19th-century India by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the Mahdi and Messiah awaited by Muslims.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a modern Islamic movement founded in 19th-century India by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the Mahdi and Messiah awaited by Muslims
refers to the beliefs, practices, and global community of followers who consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad a prophet and reformer within Islam; the term also denotes the theological system distinguishing this movement from mainstream Sunni and Shia Islam
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling differences; both use 'Ahmadiyyah' or 'Ahmadiyya'. The movement has notable communities in both regions.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries specific religious connotations with little secular usage.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK due to larger Ahmadi Muslim community presence; appears in religious freedom discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “ahmadiyyah” in a Sentence
belong to Ahmadiyyahconvert to Ahmadiyyahstudy Ahmadiyyahidentify with AhmadiyyahVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ahmadiyyah” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Ahmadiyyah community in London organised an interfaith event.
American English
- Ahmadiyyah publications are distributed from their Ohio headquarters.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
The Ahmadiyyah movement represents a significant case study in modern Islamic reformism and religious minority dynamics.
Everyday
My neighbour belongs to the Ahmadiyyah community and attends their local mosque.
Technical
Ahmadiyyah eschatology differs from mainstream Islamic thought regarding the return of Jesus.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ahmadiyyah”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ahmadiyyah”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ahmadiyyah”
- Using lower case 'ahmadiyyah' when referring specifically to the movement
- Confusing Ahmadiyyah with Ahmad Sufi orders
- Misspelling as 'Ahmadiyah' without double 'y'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Ahmadiyyah self-identifies as Islamic, but many mainstream Muslim scholars and countries do not recognise it as part of Islam due to theological differences regarding prophethood.
Derived from the name Ahmad (an Arabic name of the Prophet Muhammad) with the Arabic suffix '-iyyah', meaning 'related to' or 'following the way of'.
Significant communities exist in Pakistan, India, Indonesia, West Africa, and diaspora communities in Europe and North America, particularly in the UK.
The central difference concerns the status of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, whom Ahmadis believe was a promised Messiah and Mahdi, while mainstream Islam awaits these figures in the future.
a modern Islamic movement founded in 19th-century India by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the Mahdi and Messiah awaited by Muslims.
Ahmadiyyah is usually academic/religious in register.
Ahmadiyyah: in British English it is pronounced /ɑːˈmɑːdɪjə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɑˈmɑdijə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the Ahmadiyyah interpretation”
- “in the Ahmadiyyah tradition”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'Ahmad' as the founder's name + 'iyyah' as an Arabic suffix forming nouns of relation.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BRANCH OF ISLAM (Ahmadiyyah is a branch growing from the tree of Islam but with distinct theological fruit)
Practice
Quiz
Which term is often considered derogatory by Ahmadis themselves?