The Amritsar Debate of 1893: Mirza Qadiani’s False Prophecy and Humiliation by Hands of Abdullah Atham
The 1893 Amritsar debate between Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani and Christian priest Abdullah Atham marked a turning point in the history of the Ahmadiyya movement—one that exposed Mirza’s claims to devastating scrutiny.
The Failed Challenge
When Christians confronted Mirza to perform miracles like those of Jesus (AS)—reviving the dead, healing the blind, and curing lepers—he faltered. Instead of demonstrating divine power, he resorted to excuses, promising to “consult God” overnight. When even this failed, he issued a desperate prophecy: Atham would die within 15 months.
The Humiliating Outcome
As the deadline approached, Mirza’s followers wept and prayed for Atham’s death—but nothing happened. Instead, Christians celebrated by parading effigies of Mirza, mocking his failed prophecy. Atham remained alive and healthy, living for 22 more years (until 1916). The debacle led to mass defections from Mirza’s movement, with even his closest aides abandoning him.
Mirza’s Last-Ditch Lie: “Atham Secretly Repented!”
Facing humiliation, Mirza fabricated a new claim: that Atham had “repented in his heart” out of fear but refused to admit it publicly. This absurd assertion had no evidence—Atham never showed any such regret and instead mocked Mirza until the end.
If Atham truly feared Mirza’s prophecy, why did he never concede?
Why did Mirza’s own followers lose faith and convert to Christianity?
Why did Mirza resort to black magic (like chanting over chickpeas) if his God was real?
This pathetic excuse was nothing more than a face-saving lie, further proving Mirza’s desperation when his divine pretensions collapsed.
Legacy of a Fraud
The Amritsar debate remains an indelible stain on Mirza’s legacy. His failed prophecy, followed by imaginary tales of repentance, cemented his reputation as a deceiver—one who, when cornered, resorted to fraud, falsehoods, and occult rituals rather than admit defeat.
The lesson was clear: A liar’s “miracles” vanish when put to the test.