And when Allah will say, “O Jesus, son of Mary, didst thou say to men, ‘Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah?’”, he will answer, “Holy art Thou. I could never say that to which I had no right. If I had said it, Thou wouldst have surely known it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy mind. It is only Thou Who art the Knower of hidden things. “I said nothing to them except that which Thou didst command me — ‘Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ And I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them, but since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou hast been the Watcher over them; and Thou art Witness over all things. (Chapter 5 Verses 117-118)
These verses are a dialogue between Allah and Jesus(as) on the day of judgement. Allah asks Isa(as) whether it was his reasoning and teaching and that if he was the one who taught his followers to take himself and his mother as gods. Jesus(as) responded to this by saying : “I was a witness over them as long as I remained among them”. This statement shows that Jesus(As) is taking full responsibility for the people while he was alive and a guardian over them. He assures that as long as he was with the people and among them, they followed they right path and did not commit shirk, rather worshiped on God alone. The next statement of Isa(as) is that he states that he cannot be blamed nor held responsible for what the people did and the misguidance they followed, after Allah caused him to die, since he was no longer among them to guide them. Isa(as) explains this in the next statement where he states: since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou hast been the Watcher over them; and Thou art Witness over all things. It is obvious that in this context tawaffaitani can mean nothing other then death nor in any context can it mean anything other then death (unless sleep or night is mentioned) which will be proven.
These verses also conclude and lead to the conclusion that Isa(As) would not return physically in the latter days as that would contradict the perfect book, the Holy Quran. If we do for arguments sake accept that Isa(As) went into the heavens 2000 years ago and will return, then this statement In the Quran cannot be true as he claims Allah was a watcher after he left them and Allah alone. Either you say the Quran is creating a contradiction God forbid, Isa(As) is lying, or he has died. An open minded person after reading this verse would agree he has died. The Promised Messiah(as) states in the Will :
The meaning [of this verse], in the context of the relevant verses, is that on the Day of Judgement God will ask ‘Isa(as), “Was it you yourself who taught your followers ‘Believe in me and my mother as gods?’ “. To this he will reply, ‘As long as I remained among them I was witness over them and was their custodian, but after You caused me to die, how could I know what the heresy was with respect to which they had gone astray!’ Now, if one desires one can take the verse to mean ‘When You caused me to die;’ or if one so desires, without abandoning one’s unjustified obduracy, one can take it to mean: ‘When You raised me to Heaven with my physical body.’ In any event, this verse proves that ‘Isa(as) will not return to this world. For had he come again to this world and had he [having returned to this world] broken the Cross, then in that case it would not be possible that ‘Isa(as), who is a Prophet(as) of God, should tell such a blatantly plain lie in the presence of God on the Day of Judgment viz., ‘I have no knowledge whatsoever that after me my people adopted a false creed and made me and my mother gods’. Can a person who returns to this world and lives in it for forty years and fights battles against Christians, tell such detestable lie—i.e. ‘I am totally ignorant of it all’—even though he is a Prophet? Thus the above verse prevents the return of ‘Isa(as) because, otherwise, he has to be taken for a liar. If he is in Heaven with his physical body and, as the above verse elucidates, will not descend on the earth till the Day of Judgment, will he die in Heaven and will his grave be in Heaven, while his dying in Heaven is contradicted by the verse He said, “Therein you will live, and therein you will die, and from it you will be brought forth.”. Hence, all this proves that he [‘Isa(as)] did not ascend to Heaven with his physical body but went to Heaven after having died. If to oppose the Book of God, when it has given an explicit verdict, is not a sin, then what else is sin? (The Will page 17-19)
That is the first reason since the dead do not come back and according to the Qur’an Isa(as) has already died. Now one will right away ask that if Isa(as) is indeed dead than did the Prophet Muhammad(saw) give us statements which prove this messiah would be different? Indeed he has. First proof for this is that the hadith quoted above itself used the word nazul. Now one may ask why the word descend has used, and the reason is clear.The word nuzul truly proves a point, as to how important, significant, and far-reaching the specific thing or person, who is supposed to descend really is.
Let us see how the word descend has been used in the Qur’an. Allah states:
Allah has used Descend for clothing:
O children of Adam! We have indeed sent down to you raiment to cover your shame, and to be an elegant dress; but the raiment of righteousness — that is the best. That is one of the Signs of Allah, that they may remember.(Chapter 7 Verse 27)
Allah has also used descend for the cattle:
He created you from a single being; then from that He made its mate; and He has sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, in threefold darkness. This is Allah, your Lord. His is the kingdom. There is no God but He. Whither then are you being turned away?(Chapter 39 Verse 7)
In fact Allah has even used Nazul for the Holy Prophet Muhammad(Saw) which shows us that when Nazul is used on human beings it indeed refers to them being born on earth.
Allah states:
Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment; so fear Allah, O ye men of understanding, who have believed. Allah has indeed sent down to you a Reminder —A Messenger, who recites unto you the clear Signs of Allah, that he may bring those who believe and do good deeds out of every kind of darkness into light. And whoso believes in Allah and does good deeds — He will make him enter Gardens, through which rivers flow, to abide therein for ever. Allah has indeed made excellent provision for him.(Chapter 65 Verses 11-12)
In fact everything from Allah descends:
(Chapter 15 Verse 22)
Now we all know Muhammad(saw) was born on earth and also descended which makes it clear what descending really means. Why use nazul and attribute it to Isa(as) to mean that he would come from the skies, but not for Muhammad(saw), cattles, clothes, and everything else?
Now the next part states “imamukum Minkum”. This is yet another proof in the same exact hadith that shows he would be an imam from amongst ourselves rather than from somewhere else. Qur’an has made it clear that Isa(as) was only sent for the children of Bani Israel rather than for mankind. Allah states:
“And will make him a Messenger to the children of Israel (to say): ‘I come to you with a Sign from your Lord, which is, that I will fashion out for you a creation out of clay after the manner of a bird, then I will breathe into it a new spirit and it will become a soaring being by the command of Allah; and I will heal the night-blind and the leprous, and I will quicken the dead, by the command of Allah; and I will announce to you what you will eat and what you will store up in your houses. Surely, therein is a Sign for you, if you be believers.” (Chapter 3 Verse 50)
Now we know that in Islam the successors would come from amongst us rather than from Bani Israel or any other nation:
Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.(Chapter 24 Verse 56)
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said “How will you be when the son of Mary descends amongst you and is your imam among you.”(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Hadith #658)
The Qur’an has made it clear the The Isa(as) who was sent to Bani Israel was only sent with the Torah. Allah states:
‘And I come fulfilling that which is before me, namely, the Torah; and to allow you some of that which was forbidden you; and I come to you with a Sign from your Lord; so fear Allah and obey me.(Chapter 3 Verse 51)
The ahadith make it clear that this messiah would be an imam from among us and would use the Qur’an to judge:
Narrated by Abu Hurairah(ra):
Allah’s Apostle said “How will you be when the son of Mary (i.e. jesus) descends amongst you and he will judge people by the Law of the Quran and not by the law of Gospel (Fateh-ul Bari page 304 and 305 Vol 7)
This hadith makes it clear that he would be someone else rather than the messiah sent to Bani Israel, and would be from amongst us. Now the prophet Muhammad(saw) has even given us two different descriptions of the messiahs:
Here is the description of the Messiah of the past sent to Bani Israel
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ رَأَيْتُ عِيسَى وَمُوسَى وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ، فَأَمَّا عِيسَى فَأَحْمَرُ جَعْدٌ عَرِيضُ الصَّدْرِ، وَأَمَّا مُوسَى فَآدَمُ جَسِيمٌ سَبْطٌ كَأَنَّهُ مِنْ رِجَالِ الزُّطِّ ”.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I saw Moses, Jesus and Abraham (on the night of my Ascension to the heavens). Jesus was of red complexion, curly hair and a broad chest. Moses was of brown complexion, straight hair and tall stature as if he was from the people of Az-Zutt.” (Bukhari Volume 5, book 55, hadith 648)
Description of the Latter day Messiah(as)
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو ضَمْرَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ ذَكَرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمًا بَيْنَ ظَهْرَىِ النَّاسِ الْمَسِيحَ الدَّجَّالَ، فَقَالَ ” إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِأَعْوَرَ، أَلاَ إِنَّ الْمَسِيحَ الدَّجَّالَ أَعْوَرُ الْعَيْنِ الْيُمْنَى، كَأَنَّ عَيْنَهُ عِنَبَةٌ طَافِيَةٌ ”. ” وَأَرَانِي اللَّيْلَةَ عِنْدَ الْكَعْبَةِ فِي الْمَنَامِ، فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ آدَمُ كَأَحْسَنِ مَا يُرَى مِنْ أُدْمِ الرِّجَالِ، تَضْرِبُ لِمَّتُهُ بَيْنَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ، رَجِلُ الشَّعَرِ، يَقْطُرُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً، وَاضِعًا يَدَيْهِ عَلَى مَنْكِبَىْ رَجُلَيْنِ وَهْوَ يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ. فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالُوا هَذَا الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ. ثُمَّ رَأَيْتُ رَجُلاً وَرَاءَهُ جَعْدًا قَطَطًا أَعْوَرَ عَيْنِ الْيُمْنَى كَأَشْبَهِ مَنْ رَأَيْتُ بِابْنِ قَطَنٍ، وَاضِعًا يَدَيْهِ عَلَى مَنْكِبَىْ رَجُلٍ، يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ، فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا قَالُوا الْمَسِيحُ الدَّجَّالُ ”. تَابَعَهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ عَنْ نَافِعٍ.
Narrated `Abdullah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the Masih Ad-Dajjal in front of the people saying, Allah is not one-eyed while Masih Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a bulging out grape. While sleeping near the Ka`ba last night, I saw in my dream a man of brown color the best one can see amongst brown color and his hair was long that it fell between his shoulders. His hair was lank and water was dribbling from his head and he was placing his hands on the shoulders of two men while circumambulating the Ka`ba. I asked, ‘Who is this?’ They replied, ‘This is Jesus, son of Mary.’ Behind him I saw a man who had very curly hair and was blind in the right eye, resembling Ibn Qatan (i.e. an infidel) in appearance. He was placing his hands on the shoulders of a person while performing Tawaf around the Ka`ba. I asked, ‘Who is this? ‘They replied, ‘The Masih, Ad-Dajjal.’ (sahih Bukhari Volume 4, book 55, Hadith #649)
There have been attempts to state for example there is a saying that the prophet did not mention Isa(as) being of reddish complexion ever but this is totally contradictory to the facts and nor can we attribute it to the sahaba as its clear all the descriptions of the messiah sent to Bani Israel always mention reddish complexion and all latter day descriptions mention brown. There is a clear reason to this and why the Prophet Muhammad(saw) had made this distinction.
Another beautiful point to notice is that all Muslims know that the one to revive Islam in the end times would be this messiah. We all know that Isa(as) was of Bani Israel but the Prophet(saw) made it clear that this person would be of the lineage of Salman Farsi(ra) meaning from the Persian Lineage as Ahmad(as) was
While we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) Surat Al-Jumu’a was revealed to him, and when the Verse, “And He (Allah) has sent him (Muhammad) also to other (Muslims)…..’ (62.3) was recited by the Prophet, I said, “Who are they, O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)?” The Prophet (ﷺ) did not reply till I repeated my question thrice. At that time, Salman Al-Farisi was with us. So Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) put his hand on Salman, saying, “If Faith were at (the place of) Ath-Thuraiya (pleiades, the highest star), even then a man from these people (i.e. Salman’s folk) would attain it.” (Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Hadith #4897)
Imam Bukhari(ra) made it clear himself by arranging these Hadith in this order. The past Isa(As) together after the other and the latter day Messiah(as) ones right after the other. Its clear they refer to two different people or there would not have been two different personalities nor Would Muhammad(saw) ask who the second person was since he had already seen Jesus Son Of Mary many times in his dreams before.
Another interesting thing to note is that When Nabi(saw) mentions the Isa(As) of the past, he mentions his company with the dead which include Moses(As) since he was a prophet in the Ummah of Moses(as). But when Nabi(Saw) mentions the latter day Messiah(as) he mentions its company with dajjal rather then with the dead.
Now we know that firstly this refers to the latter day messiah(as) and we also know that Jesus(as) was not Persian. We also know that yes Ahmad(As) was of Persian lineage which clearly shows us that this Hadith refers to him. Some say that this refers to men but its clear that the Hadith is talking about Muhammad(Saw) coming in the latter days in spiritual sense which shows it is a man since he himself was a man. Even if someone says its men it is still fulfilled as we have khilafat. Secondly some say this was for Imam Abu Hanifa(ra) but by saying this you are only disgracing Islam by claiming that Islam was already at the pleides during the time of Imam Abu Hanifa(ra).
Now some say why Isa(as)?Why did our ummah need someone like him? Well the answer is quite clear. The Prophet Muhammad(saw) stated:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts).(Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 43, Hadith #656)
Now any logical person knows that the breaking of the cross is not physically the latter day messiah running around breaking crosses rather it is metaphorical for breaking the ideology of Christianity and the same with the killing of the swines, the jizya and the money. If you take the whole hadith to be metaphorical what makes you believe the latter day messiah is not metaphorical whom Quran says has already died? This hadith makes it evident that the latter day Messiah would be given the title of Isa ibn Maryam but would not be that same Isa(As) of 2000 years ago who has died.
Another Hadith states:
“… A man from among the people of the Cross will raise the Cross and will say: ‘The Cross has prevailed.’ Then a man among the Muslims will become angry and will go and break the Cross….”( : Sunan Ibn Majah 4089)
This clearly states that a man from among the Muslims would be the one who becomes angry and breaks the cross. In some ahadith the title used is Isa Ibn Maryam, in some Mahdi (who we know would be from the Muslims), and in this hadith it clearly states he would be from among the Muslims. This is clear and sufficient proof. We know that the messiah and mahdi are one person and this has been proven in my flyer below also, which itself proves that the messiah would be from amongst us rather then isa(As) of 2000 years ago who will never return according to the Quran and has died.
There are many resemblances between Jesus(as) who was sent to Bani Israel and the Promised Messiah(as) who was to be born from our ummah.
Here are some similarities outlined by the Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) himself. He states:
In the Mosaic dispensation, there were sixteen distinctions assigned to Prophet Jesus(as). When God Almighty brought the Mosaic dispensation to an end and established the dispensation of Muhammadsa, the All-Wise and All-Knowing designed a perfect resemblance between the beginning and the end of both these dispensations, as had been promised in the scriptures of the Prophets(as). First, He raised the Holy Prophet(sa) and described him as the like of Moses(as), as is evident from the verse:
Verily, We have sent to you a Messenger, who is a witness over you, even as We sent a Messenger to Pharaoh.(Chapter 73 Verse 16)
…But it was necessary that the last Khalifah of the dispensation of Muhammad(sa) should also resemble the last Khalifah of the Mosaic dispensation, so that the saying of God Almighty that the dispensation of Muhammad(sa)—with regard to both its Founder and its successors—would have a close resemblance with the Mosaic dispensation, may be fulfilled. Resemblance is always sought between the beginning and the end, for the middle period is a long one and cannot be analysed in detail. But similarity between the beginnings and the ends shows that there must also be similarity in the intervening periods, though the eye of reason may not fully comprehend it.
As I have already said, Jesus(as) possessed sixteen religious qualities which must also be found in the last Khalifah of Islam, so that a perfect resemblance may be established between the two.
The first similarity between the two is that that they are both promised. There have been thousands of saints and men of God in Islam, but the advent of not even one of them was promised. It was only the advent of the one who was to come with the name of the Messiah that was promised. In the same way, before Jesus(as) there was no Prophet in Israel whose advent was promised, only the Messiah’s advent had been promised.
The second similarity is the loss of kingdom. There is no doubt that a short while before the advent of Jesus son of Mary(as), the Israelite kingdom had been lost. In the same way, before the birth of the last Messiah, the Islamic kingdom in India had disappeared from this country due to all sorts of misconduct, and the British kingdom had been established in its place.
The third similarity is that in the time of the first Messiah(as) the Jews had become divided into many sects and were in need of an Arbiter who would decide between them. Likewise, at the time of this last Messiah, the Muslims have become divided into many sects.
The fourth similarity is that just as the first Messiah(as) was not commissioned to fight with the sword, the last Messiah has also not be commissioned to fight with the sword. In fact there can be no question of such a thing when the age has shown that no heart can be convinced with the sword and no civilized person now takes up the sword for the sake of religion….
Fifth: In the time of the first Messiah(as), the character of the Jews had become thoroughly corrupt. Their divines in particular were deceitful, worshippers of the world, and greedy for worldly gain and honour. The same is the case with common Muslims and the majority of the Muslim divines in the time of the last Messiah. This needs no detailed exposition.
Sixth: The first Messiah(as) was raised under the Roman Caesar. This distinction is shared by the last Messiah, in that I too have been raised under Caesar—only this Caesar is better than the Caesar who ruled in the time of the Messiah(as) ….
Seventh: The Christian faith ultimately penetrated into the people of Caesar. I too partake of this inasmuch as I perceive that both in Europe and America great interest is taken in my claim and arguments. Hundreds of journals and newspapers have published my claim and the reasons in support thereof. Some of them have said things in my support which it is difficult for a Christian to say, so much so that they have clearly said concerning me that to them I appear to be true…
Eighth: A comet had appeared in the time of Messiah(as) and the same comet has appeared again in my time. Some European newspapers have referred to this as evidence that the time of the advent of the Messiah is near.
Ninth: When Jesus the Messiah(as) was put upon the cross, the sun suffered an eclipse. Likewise, when I was denied, not only did the sun, but the moon also suffered an eclipse in the month of Ramadan, and not once but—in accordance with the Hadith—twice. These eclipses were mentioned in the Gospels, the Holy Qur’an, as well as Ahadith (e.g. in Dar Qutni).
Tenth: After the persecution of Jesus(as) by the Jews, there was a severe outbreak of the plague among them. Likewise, there has been a severe outbreak of the plague in my time.
Eleventh: The Jewish divines tried to condemn Jesus(as) as a rebel. He was persecuted and the Jews sought to have him sentenced to death. The Divine decree has associated me with him in this regard as well. I too was charged with conspiracy to murder and attempts were made to show that I was a rebel. This was the case in which Maulavi Abu Sa‘id Muhammad Hussain of Batala appeared as a witness against me.
Twelfth: When Jesus(as) was put upon the cross, a thief was also put upon the cross at the same time. I have been associated with him in this incident as well. On the day that I was discharged from the case of conspiracy to murder, in accordance with a categorical prophecy that I had published widely in advance, a Christian thief had also been produced in the same court. This thief was a member of the Christian Salvation Army who had stolen some money. He was sentenced to a three months’ imprisonment, and not to death, like the companion of the first Messiah(as).
Thirteenth: When Jesus(as) was produced before Pilate and it was demanded that he should be sentenced to death, Pilate declared that he had not found any sin in Jesus(as) which should make him deserving of death. In the same way, Captain Douglas, the District Magistrate, in answer to one of my questions told me that he did not charge me with any offence.
It appears that Captain Douglas was more steadfast and had greater regard for justice than Pilate, inasmuch as in the end Pilate exhibited cowardice and became afraid of the vicious divines of the Jews, but Captain Douglas showed no such fear…. My Jama‘at and I will always remember these good qualities of Captain Douglas and his name will always be mentioned with honour till the end of time.
Fourteenth: Jesus(as), having been born without a father, was not an Israelite and yet he was the last Prophet in the Mosaic dispensation who appeared in the fourteenth century after Moses(as). I too am not one of the Quraish and have been raised in the fourteenth century after the Holy Prophet(sa) and have appeared at the end.
Fifteenth: The world in the time of Jesus(as) had taken on a new aspect. Roads had been built, the mailing system had been regulated, the military structure had been improved, facilities had been created for travellers, and the system of justice had been made much more transparent. Similarly, in my time, life has become much more comfortable. Railways have also been built, an indication of which is given in the Holy Qur’an. I leave the rest to the reader to understand.
Sixteenth: Jesus(as) resembled Adam(as) as he was born without a father. I also resemble Adam(as) as I was born a twin. Muhy-ud-Din Ibn-e-‘Arabi has recorded that the last Khalifah in Islam would be of Persian origin (i.e., would be a Mughal) and would be born a twin. A girl would be born first and then he would be born. That is how I was born, on a Friday morning. A girl was first and I was born after her. I am not aware of the source upon which this prophecy of Ibn-e-‘Arabi, which has been fulfilled, is based, but it is to be found in his books to this day
These are the sixteen resemblances between me and the Messiah(as). It is obvious that had my claim been the product of my own imagination, there would not have been so many resemblances between the Messiah son of Mary(as) and myself. Denial of truth has, from ancient times, been the characteristic of those who have not been blessed with good fortune, but my denial by the Maulavis of this age is simply beyond comprehension. I am the one who has appeared right on time and for whom the sun and the moon were eclipsed in the month of Ramadan in accordance with the prophecies of the Qur’an, the Hadith, the Bible and other Prophets(as). I am the one in whose time, according to the prophecies of all the Prophets(as) and of the Holy Qur’an, the plague broke out in this country in an extraordinary manner. I am the one in whose time the pilgrimage was stopped in accordance with true Ahadith. I am the one in whose time the comet appeared which has appeared in the time of the Messiah son of Mary(as). I am the one in whose time the advent of the railway caused camels to be discarded as a means of transportation. The time is approaching, indeed it is very near, when the railway will run between Mecca and Medina and all those camels will be discarded which have performed this blessed journey for thirteen hundred years. Then will be fulfilled this Hadith of Sahih Muslim:
ليتر كن الثلاث فلا يسعي عليها
which means that in the time of the Messiah camels will be discarded and no one will travel by them. I am the one at whose hands hundreds of signs have been shown. Is there anyone alive who can compete with me in the exhibition of signs and defeat me? I call to witness God, in Whose hand is my life, that more than two hundred thousand signs have been exhibited at my hands. Approximately ten thousand people or perhaps even more have seen the Holy Prophet(sa) in their dreams and he confirmed the truth of my claim. Some well-known persons in this country who had experience of visions and the number of each of whose followers exceeded three hundred thousand, were informed in their dreams that I had been sent by God….
Despite all this testimony and miracles and extraordinary signs, the Maulavis call me false and it was necessary that they should do so, so that the prophecy implied in the verse: Those who have not incurred Thy displeasure.— Al-Fatihah, 1:7 may be fulfilled. At the root of all this opposition is the stupid desire of the Maulavis that all the signs of the Promised Messiah, which they find set out in their books and which are a mixed bundle of truth and falsehood, should be fulfilled; and that no one claiming to be the Messiah or Mahdi should ever be accepted if he is not borne out by each of the many Ahadith they possess, although such a proposition has always remained an impossibility. The signs which the Jews had announced and formulated in their books concerning the advent of Jesus(as) were not fulfilled. Then the same wretched people formulated a number of signs for the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa), and only a few of them were fulfilled. For instance, they had imagined that this last Prophet would be from among the Israelites…but the Holy Prophet(sa) appeared from among the Ishmaelites. Had God Almighty so willed, He could have recorded in the Torah that the name of that Prophet would be Muhammad and that the name of his father would be ‘Abdullah and that the name of his grandfather would be ‘Abdul Muttalib and that he would be born in Mecca and would migrate to Medina. But God did not record all this, because such prophecies have to be the test of faith.
It has been specified for the Promised Messiah in advance that he would be an Arbiter between the different sects of Islam. Now, when each sect has a collection of its own Ahadith and how can it be possible for him to conform to the ideas of everyone? If he confirms the Ahl-e-Hadith, the Hanafis would be disgruntled, and if he confirms the Hanafis, the Shafi‘is would be annoyed, and the Shi‘as would insist that he should have appeared in accordance with their doctrine. How could he please everyone? The very word ‘Arbiter’ indicates that he would arrive at a time when all sects would have departed from the truth to some degree. In these circumstances, it would be a great folly for each sect to test him on the touchstone of its own Ahadith. The right course would be to take advantage of those signs and conditions which are fulfilled in his time and to reject the others as false and human fabrications. This is the course that was followed by the righteous Jews who became Muslims. They accepted those traditions of the Jews which confirmed the truth of the Holy Prophet(sa) and rejected the rest as false. Had not this been done, neither the Prophethood of Jesus(as) nor that of the Holy Prophet(sa) could have been established satisfactorily for the Jews. Those of them who became Muslims had to reject hundreds of false Jewish traditions. When they found that some of the conditions laid down had been fulfilled and that there was an ocean of Divine support for the Holy Prophet(sa), they took advantage of those traditions which had been fulfilled. Otherwise, not one of them would have become a Muslim…
Now comes the question of my claim. This is supported by so many reasons that unless a person is altogether without shame, he has no way open to him other than to accept my claim in the same way as he has accepted the advent of the Holy Prophet(sa). Are these arguments not enough proof of my claim that the Holy Qur’an has given so many signs and indications concerning me that it has virtually specified my name, and the Ahadith mention Kad‘ah as the name of my village. The Ahadith also show that the Promised Messiah would be born in the thirteenth century and would appear in the fourteenth. Sahih Bukhari gives my full description. With regard to the first Messiah(as), his great centre is described as in the East, i.e., India. It is also related in the Ahadith that the Promised Messiah will appear East of Damascus; and Qadian is to the East of Damascus. The following signs and conditions should be enough for a Godfearing person to accept my claim:
The eclipse of the sun and the moon occurred in the month of Ramadan after the announcement of my claim, but people rejected this sign; the plague spread over the country; the railway was started in accordance with the prophecies in the Ahadith and the Qur’an; camels were discarded; the Pilgrimage was stopped; the time came for the spread of the doctrine of the cross; hundreds of signs were shown at my hands; the time of my appearance was appointed by the Prophets(as); I was raised at the beginning of the century; thousands of pious people saw dreams confirming my claim; the Holy Prophet(sa) and the Holy Qur’an announced that the Promised Messiah would appear from among the Muslims; I have been accorded the support of God Almighty; approximately two hundred thousand people have made covenant of Bai‘at with me and have become righteous and purehearted; the Christian faith has been shaken in my time so much so that the magic of the Trinity is melting like snow; Muslims have gone into decline having been divided into many sects; the world has undergone a revolutionary change in which innovation, idolatry, drunkenness, illicit sex, dishonesty, and lying have become rife; in every aspect this world has undergone a tremendous change; according to the testimony of every wise person the world needs a reformer; my victory against everyone through miraculous writings and heavenly signs and the fulfilment of hundreds of thousands of Divine prophecies in my support.([Tadhkirat-ush-Shahadatain, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 20, pp. 30-41]