The Status of the Messiah and Mahdi — Essence of Islam Vol. 4

14 Sep, 2026 Essence of Islam 0

Essence of Islam Book Cover by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS)

Introduction

In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 4), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon The Status of the Messiah and Mahdi, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 4)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 4: The Purpose of the Promised Messiah’s Advent
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The Purpose of the Promised Messiah’s Advent be a living religion which is able to exhibit God through living and fresh demonstration of His powers. A mere claim on behalf of a religion is vain and without basis.
[Chashma-e-Ma‘rifat, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 23, p. 428]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 123]

Although I have explained in various books that my claim of being Jesus the Messiah, and Muhammad the Mahdi, does not mean that I am actually the same person as Prophet Jesusas or the Holy Prophetsa, yet those who have not read my books with care might fall into the error that I have put forward this claim in the context of the transmigration of souls, and that I claim that the souls of these two holy Prophetsas have actually entered my body. This is far from the truth. The fact is that past Prophetsas had made a prophecy with regard to the latter days, according to which it would be a time when the world will be replete with two kinds of errors; one that will relate to the rights of the creatures and the other will relate to the rights of the Creator. The wrong relating to the rights of creatures would be that blood of man will be shed under the pretence of Jihad, so much so that one who kills an innocent person would be under the illusion that by this shedding of blood he has acquired great merit. Many other injuries will be inflicted upon mankind through such fanaticism merely on the basis of religious honour…The second type of wrong, which concerns the Creator, is the doctrine of modern day Christians which has reached the height of exaggeration. There is no doubt that Jesusas was a great Prophet, and he certainly was the beloved and chosen one of God and was the light of the world and the sun of guidance and was close to God and has a station near to His Throne. Millions of people who love him sincerely and follow his guidance will be delivered from hell; yet, it is a great mistake and is sheer infidelity to deify him…The truth is that when spiritual and heavenly matters fall into the hands of the multitude they are unable to penetrate to their reality and thereby fall into grave error, partly through perversion and partly through literal interpretation of the metaphorical. Christian scholars of this age have fallen into this error and are trying by all possible means to deify Prophet Jesusas. This amounts to usurping the rights of the Creator and…it was to establish this right and to establish the Unity of God in the hearts of people, that a great Prophet arose in Arabia, whose name was Muhammad and Ahmad, countless greetings of peace be bestowed upon him by Allah. The Islamic law was divided into two parts, the greater part was: 75 which signifies the Unity of God. The second part was sympathy for mankind so that one should desire for others what he desires for himself. Out of these two, the Messiahas emphasised sympathy for manThe Purpose of the Promised Messiah’s Advent kind, for his age was in need of such emphasis. The other part, which is greater and is the fountainhead of the Majesty and Unity of God, i.e., 76

was emphasised by Muhammad, the Chosen Onesa because in his age emphasis was needed on that part. Now it is our time and in this age both these wrongs had reached their climax; contravening the rights of people and slaying innocent persons had become part of the Muslim belief and, in consequence of this false doctrine, thousands of innocent people had been put to sword by the savages. On the other hand disregard of the rights of the Creator had also reached its climax and had become a part of Christian doctrine… Thus in this age God, in view of the disregard of human rights, has named me the Messiah and sent me as the Avatar of Jesus the Messiahas; in the same way, in respect of the disregard for the rights of the Creator, God has named me Muhammad and Ahmad and, for the spreading of Divine Unity, He made me the like of Muhammadsa and his Avatar. In this sense, I am both Jesus the Messiah and Muhammad the Mahdi. Messiah is a title that was bestowed upon Jesusas, which means he who touches God, partakes of the favour of God and is His vicegerent and adopts truth and righteousness. Mahdi is also a title which was bestowed upon Muhammad, the Chosen Onesa. It means

one who by his very nature is rightly guided, is heir to all guidance, and is an embodiment of the reflection of God’s attribute Hadi [the Guide]. The grace and mercy of God Almighty has made me an heir to both these titles in this age and has combined these two titles in my person. In line with these meanings, I am both Jesus the Messiah and Muhammad the Mahdi. In Islamic idiom, this kind of advent is called Buruz.77 I have been bestowed two types of Buruz, the Buruz of Jesusas and the Buruz of Muhammadsa. By way of Buruz, therefore, my being is a combination of the beings of these two Prophets. In my capacity of Jesus the Messiah, it is my function to restrain the Muslims from wild attacks and bloodshed. The Ahadith set forth clearly, that when the Messiah comes back to the world, he would put an end to all religious wars. This is now being done… In my capacity as Muhammad the Mahdi, it is my function to re-establish the Unity of God with heavenly signs, for our lord and master the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa had established the Majesty and Power and Might of God in the hearts of the idolaters of Arabia through heavenly signs. I have been helped by the Holy Spirit in the same manner.
[Government Angrezi aur Jihad, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 17, pp. 23-29]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 123]

The Purpose of the Promised Messiah’s Advent
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 126]

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Introduction