Time of the Promised Messiah — 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 Time of the Promised Messiah, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 4)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 5: Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama’at, and Instructions
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: Other Similarities Between the Islamic and Mosaic Dispensations | Next: Identification of the Promised Messiah (as) »

Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions people sit and lounge, but the same mansion also contains toilets and lavatories. Now, if the owner of the mansion desires to construct another mansion exactly like the first one, it too would contain all the provisions that existed in the first mansion. This second mansion is the Mansion of Islam, and the first one was the Mansion of the Mosaic dispensation. The second is not in any way dependent upon the first. The Holy Qur’an does not need the Torah, and the Muslims do not need any Israeli Prophet. Every perfect one who appears among the Muslims is nurtured in the spiritual grace of the Holy Prophetsa and his revelation is a reflection of the revelation of the Holy Prophetsa. This is the very point that needs to be understood. It is a pity that our opponents, who want to bring Jesusas himself back to earth, do not realize that the Divine intent is to grant Islam the pride of resemblance, and not to humiliate it by sending an Israeli Prophet to reform it.
[Tadhkirat-ush-Shahadatain, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 20, pp. 13-17]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 189]

The third question is whether or not it is established that the Promised Messiah should have come in our time. The following detailed arguments prove beyond any shadow of doubt that he must appear in our time. [1] The first argument is that it is stated in Sahih Bukhari—known as the most authentic book after the Holy Book of Allah—that the Promised Messiah will come to break the cross at a time when the world would be rife with intemperance in word and deed. It does not require an investigation to find out that hundreds of thousands have been influenced by Christianity and the country is being greatly affected by heretical teachings. Hundreds of people from every family have not only turned away from Islam but have become sworn enemies of the Holy Prophetsa. Hundreds of books have been published in refutation of Islam and most of them are full of abuse and vilification. When we look back in the context of this calamity, we are compelled to conclude that no century has been as harmful to Islam as the thirteenth century or the one which is now passing. Reason requires that in this time of peril, when forces of opposition have erupted in the world and the internal condition of Muslims has seriously deteriorated, some reformer should appear to repel the mischief of the cross and to purify the internal condition of Muslims. Experience of the thirteenth century has shown that it is not an ordinary task to purify the poisonous winds that are blowing fiercely and affecting sections of every town and village. This opposition to Islam and the multitude of objections raised against it is in itself not something that can be taken lightly. The earth is in turmoil at this appointed time and is forcefully throwing out its poisons. Heavenly power is needed to repel this poison because only diamond cuts diamond. All this clearly proves that this is indeed the time of the appearance of the Promised Messiah…. Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions [2] The second argument comprises some Ahadith and visions of the honoured saints and great divines which indicate that the Promised Messiah and Mahdi would appear at the turn of the fourteenth century. For instance, the Hadith: 107 has been interpreted by many of the older and later scholars as meaning that signs would appear after two centuries of the second millennium have passed. This means that the birth of the Messiah and Mahdi, which will be a great sign, will take place in the thirteenth century and that he will make his appearance in the fourteenth century. That is why scholars and divines have held that the Promised Mahdi was bound to be born in the thirteenth century so that he could proclaim himself in the beginning of the fourteenth. Basing himself upon this and several other indications, Maulavi Nawab Siddique Hassan Khan Sahib has recorded in his book Hujaj-ul-Kiramah that he believed on the basis of strong evidence that the Promised Mahdi would appear at the turn of the fourteenth century…
A Hadith of Dar Qutni also proves that the Promised Mahdi would appear at the turn of the fourteenth century. The Hadith says: The translation of the whole Hadith is: Our Mahdi has two signs which have not appeared for any Messenger, Prophet, or commissioned one, since the creation of heaven and earth. The signs are that in the same month of Ramadan, the moon shall suffer an eclipse on the first of the nights peculiar to such phenomenon, and that the sun shall suffer an eclipse on the middle of the days peculiar to these eclipses. This means that at the time when the Mahdi will put his claim before the world and the world will reject it, this sign will appear in heaven in his support, and that this sign would be exhibited in the month of Ramadan which is the month in which the Word of God was revealed. The spiritual significance of the darkness would be that great wrong had been committed on the earth, for the one who had come from God had been deemed an impostor. This Hadith clearly determines the fourteenth century as the time of the appearance of the Mahdi and provides great sign for those who deny him, inasmuch as the eclipses of the sun and the moon took place in this century.
[Tohfah Golarhviah, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 17, pp. 128-133]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 189]

Identification of the Promised Messiahas The next step is to prove that I am the one whose coming as the Promised Messiah was decreed for the beginning of the fourteenth century. This is proved by the fact that the eclipse of the sun and the moon has taken place at the time of my claim; and the mischief of the cross has assumed a special significance in my time. Through me God has established that the Promised Messiah was to appear from among the Muslims.
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 192]

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Introduction