Mirza Imam-ud-Din

This person was a first cousin of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and plays a role at various points in his life:

Probably, he is the 'Imad-ud-Din' referred to as a childhood friend in Seeratul Mahdi and a travel companion

  • He became a spiritual advisor to the local sweeper (chuhra) community and considered himself the re-incarnation of Lal Beg. This might have become the inspiration for Mirza Ghulam Ahmad when the latter came under financial duress when his father died.
  • He organized a Chuhra Mela annually in Qadian, and was most likely the inspiration behind the Jalsa Salana.
  • He was also the uncle of Muhammadi Begum, and thus became embroiled with him in that saga.

Curious Incident

From Seerat-ul-Mahdi:"My mother told me that his holiness, the Promised Messiah, one day, during his youth, went to collect the pension of his grandfather (700 rupees - Seeratul Mahdi, Vol. 1, P. 131). Following him was a person by the name of Imamuddin. When he received the pension, Imamuddin mislead him and took him outside Qadian. They roamed about from place to place. When his holiness had squandered all he had, Imamuddin deserted him leaving him alone and left for some other place. However, his holiness, the Promised Messiah, did not return home for shame and for fear of infamy. And since his grandfather's desire was that he be employed somewhere, he went to Sialkot and got himself employed for a miserably low salary (ten rupees a month)." (Seeratul Mahdi, Vol. 1, P. 43; by Mirza Bashir Ahmad)

Risaldar of British Mounted troops in 1857 War of Independence (Sepoy Mutiny)

Mirza Imamuddin of Qadian 511 served as a Risaldar in Hodson's Horse during the siege of Delhi.

It is possible that he was the commander of the 50 horses and cavaliers raised by Mirza Ghulam Murtaza (father of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad) for the British.

(cited from 'The Sepoy Rebellion of 1857-59 by AH Amin')

(original citation:

Pages-41 & 42-Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab-Volume Two, by Sir Lepel Griffin and revised by W.L Conran and H.D Craik, Civil and Military Gazette Press, Lahore-1910)