Qadianism – A Critical Study
by Maulana Syed Abul Hasan Nadvi
Translated from Urdu by Zafar Ishaq Ansari
152 pages

Qadianism poses today a great challenge to the world of Islam from within: claiming
to represent the true faith, it even goes a step further to assume itself as the champion
of Islam against the West and Christianity by unfolding the revealed truth, in a way more
rational and convincing. But what does really Qadianism stands for, who was its founder,
what were his objectives, and how far these in variance with the fundamental creed and
practice of Islam were are the few questions dealt with critically in this book.

Written with historical sobriety rather than with a controversialist’s enthusiasm, the book
traces the historical perspective of the rise of Qadianism, the evolution of Qadiani doctrine,
aspects of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani,s life and character and evaluates his contribution
thought and fundamental beliefs of Islam. The book is a must for anyone who desires to
understand Qadianism.

Preface
Part I – The Historical Background of the Rise of Qadianism
Chapter I – Muslim India in the Nineteenth Century
Chapter II – Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani
Chapter III – The Qadiani St. Paul
Part II – On the Road to Prophethood
Chapter I – Mirza as Champion of Islam
Chapter II – The Mirza Becomes Messiah
Chapter III – From Messiah to Prophet
Part III – Some Aspects of Life and Character
Chapter I – Mirza’s Life after the spread of his Message
Chapter II – Seedling of the British
Chapter III – Prophet as Mud-Slinger
Chapter IV – An Unfulfilled Prophecy
Part IV – The Qadiani Movement – A Critical Analysis
Chapter I – Independent Religion and a Parallel Community
Chapter II – Revolt against Muhammad’s Prophethood
Chapter III – The Lahori Branch
Chapter IV – Contribution of Qadianism to the Muslim World

About Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi
During the twentieth century, Muslim India has produced great Islamic theologians,
interpreters of the Quran, scholars of Hadith, Islamic jurists, historians, propagators
of the faith, social reformers and educationists, but one cannot name another Islamic
scholar whose concerns covered the entire spectrum of the collective existence of the
Muslim Indians as a living community in the national and international context, who,
for decades, enjoyed universal respect, and who was accepted by the non-Muslims, at
the highest level, as the legitimate spokesman for the concerns and aspirations of the
entire community.

Maulana Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi was indisputably one of the great exponents of Islam
in the second half of the twentieth century and because of his command over Arabic, through
his writings and speeches, he had a wide area of influence extending far beyond the Sub-continent,
particularly in the Arab World.
The Maulana was a founder member of the Muslim World League (Rabita), a member of the
Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), a member of the World Supreme Council of Mosques,
and a member of the Fiqh Council of Rabita.
He was also a member of Advisory Council of the Islamic University of Madinah al-Munawwarah,
a member of its Supreme Council, and a member of the Academy of Arts and Letters of Damascus,Syria.
He was also a founder member of the League of the Islamic Literature in India. Perhaps better known
as a member and rector of Nadwatul Ulama (India), and president of the Academy of Islamic Research and Publications.