Did Promised Messiah (AS) prophecize about Khilafat after him?

Introduction

Some anti-Ahmadis claim that the Promised Messiah (AS) did not believe Khilafat will be established after him or that he was clueless about it, or that he did not hint at all about it. They also claim that we Ahmadi Muslims are following innovations and contradicting the command of the Promised Messiah (AS) by having a Khalifa.

Refutation

This allegation just showcases the ignorance of the person that raises it. In the book, The Will, Promised Messiah (AS) clearly calls Khilafat a second Manifestation of the Power of Allah. He cannot be more clear than that. To be precise, he even mentioned the Khilafat of Abu Bakr (RA).

Thus He manifests two kinds of Power. (1) First He shows the Hand of His Power at the hands of His Prophets as themselves. (2) Second, when with the death of a Prophet as, difficulties and problems arise and the enemy feels stronger and thinks that things are in disarray and is convinced that now this Jama‘at will become extinct and even members of the Jama‘at, too, are in a quandary and their backs are broken, and some of the unfortunate ones choose paths that lead to apostasy, then it is that God for the second time shows His Mighty Power and supports and takes care of the shaken Jama‘at. Thus one who remains steadfast till the end witnesses this miracle of God.

This is what happened at the time of Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq ra, when the demise of the Holy Prophet sa was considered untimely and many an ignorant Bedouin turned apostate. The companions ra of the Holy Prophetsa, too, stricken with grief, became like those who lose their senses. Then Allah raised Abu Bakr Siddiqra and showed for the second time the manifestation of His Power and saved Islam*, just when it was about to fall, and fulfilled the promise which was spelled out in the verse:

وَلَیُمَکِّنَنَّ لَہُمۡ دِیۡنَہُمُ الَّذِی ارۡتَضٰی لَہُمۡ وَلَیُبَدِّلَنَّہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ خَوۡفِہِمۡ اَمۡنًا

“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” 24:56

[The Will, pg 5-6]

Moreover, he quotes the famous Ayat-e-Istikhlaf to prove that the Khilafat of Abu Bakr RA is the fulfillment of the promise of Allah in 24:56. Therefore, just as it was a proof of the Khilafat-e-Rashida, it will be a proof of Khilafat-e-Masih-e-Maud (Khilafat after the Promised Messiah).