severe opposition and often persecution, especially so in the country/society in which they brought forth their religious message. This is in accordance with the history of the prophets and also with the principle laid out in the Qur'an and parts of the Bible to this effect. Prophets as divine magnetizers Prophets, according to the Ahmadiyya Community, inspire humans to such an extent that faith (eiman) translates into practical application of the faith (a'maal). The prophets 'magnetize' and draw humans towards them and as a result of this, true faith – that is, eiman with a'maal (practical application) – is established amongst their followers. It is written, however, that the 'magnetism' which draws forth people that a prophet displays is for a limited time because, within a somewhat long time period after they die, the magnetism that the prophet brought becomes less and less until it is absolutely non-existent. Thus, either God immediately appoints a Successor to the prophet (who may be a prophet himself) that has died or, after hundreds of years, when the magnetism is virtually non-existent, God sends forth another new messenger to display that magnetism once more. It is for this reason that, according to Ahmadiyya belief, followers of all faiths are not drawn to the magnetism of their founding prophets because that has become non-existent over time. This also applies, according to Ahmadiyya belief, to Orthodox Islam because it has been centuries since the founding prophet Muhammad died and centuries still since Muhammad's original Caliphate ceased to exist. Caliphate According to Ahmadiyya belief, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya Community, was the promised messiah, sent by God as a prophet to bring back that magnetism that draws forth humans. After he died in 1908, his first successor was elected and up until today, this Ahmadiyya Caliphate has spanned over century, seen 5 Caliphs and is continuing, in the manner of the first 4 Caliphs of the Pious Caliphate of Muhammad. However, the Ahmadiyya Caliphate is seen as a re-establishment and continuation of the first Islamic Caliphate of Muhammad and the Ahmadiyya Caliphs as successors to the promised messiah as well as to Muhammad. The Rightly-Guided Caliphs of Islam (Pious Caliphs and Ahmadiyya Caliphs) are thought to be chosen by God through the agency of pious believers. The Rightly-Guided Caliphs are considered to be guided by God after their election to this office. Thus, the present