Khilafat after the Messiah & Mahdi (AS) | Prophecy of Muhammad ﷺ

Khilafat ala Minhaj al-Nabuwwah | Khilafat of Messiah

The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prophesized that Khilafat would be established in the latter days. This prophecy was fulfilled by the establishment of the Khilafat after the death of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad عليه السلام, who is the Messiah and Mahdi prophesized in the Quran and by Muhammad ﷺ in the Ahadith.

The first Khalifa after the Messiah was Hazrat Hakeem Molvi Noorudin (R.A) and it continues to this day with the current Khalifa as Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (A.T.B.A). The biographies of all Khulafa-e-Ahmadiyya can be found in this article: What is Khilafat?

Quran

Khilafat is a promise of Allah that he will keep Khilafat present in the community which is righteous as explained by the following verse:

وَعَدَ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مِنۡکُمۡ وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَیَسۡتَخۡلِفَنَّہُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ کَمَا اسۡتَخۡلَفَ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ۪ وَلَیُمَکِّنَنَّ لَہُمۡ دِیۡنَہُمُ الَّذِی ارۡتَضٰی لَہُمۡ وَلَیُبَدِّلَنَّہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ خَوۡفِہِمۡ اَمۡنًا ؕ یَعۡبُدُوۡنَنِیۡ لَا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ بِیۡ شَیۡئًا ؕ وَمَنۡ کَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذٰلِکَ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡفٰسِقُوۡنَ

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.

[Quran 24:56]

Hadith

The Messiah is clearly referred to as a prophet as indicated by the words Khilafah ala Minhaji-Nabuwwah (Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood). This nabuwwah is the nabuwwah of the latter-day Messiah. This is the view of all Sunnis and the scan of the hadith below proves that:

“Prophethood would remain among you so long as Allah wills. Then Allah the Exalted would raise it up. Then Caliphate on the precepts of Prophethood would be established and remain among you for as long as Allah wills. Then Allah the Exalted would raise it up. Then despotic rule would remain among you for as long as Allah wills. Then Allah the Exalted would raise it up. Then a tyrannous rule would remain among you for as long as Allah wills. Then Allah the Exalted would raise it up. Then the Caliphate on the precepts of Prophethood would be established again (Khilafah ala Minhaji-Nabuwwah). Then, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) remained silent.”

[Musnad Ahmad, 4/273, #18596]

Muslims have been trying to establish a Khilafat like that of Khilafat-e-Rashida for the last thousand (1000) years, but they could not do it. Many claimed to be ‘Caliphates’ but they were purely political, and we know how all of them ended. Muslims have ruled the world and had access to all the blessings of Allah and there has been no shortage of big and influential scholars and Mujaddadeen in the past. However, all their efforts have been in vain because it is not a man that makes a Khalifa, it is Allah that does so. Allah’s promise is that this blessing is only given to those who “believe” and do “good work”.

Order foretold by Prophet ﷺ

The Prophet ﷺ clearly listed the following order:

• 1) Khilafat ala’ minhaj al-nabuwwah (Khilafat-e-Rashida)
• 2) Despotic rule
• 3) Tyrannical rule
• 4) Khilafat ala’ minhaj al-nabuwwah (Khilafat-e-Masih) [Musnad Ahmad, 4/273, #18596]

The blessing of Khilafat ala’ minhaj al-nabuwwah was only given to the followers of the Messiah and Mahdi (AS). Only Ahmadi Muslims are the group who were blessed with a Khilafat that has been continuing for the last 100+ years. All the enemies of Ahmadiyyat, including the munafiqun (hypocrites), have strived to dismantle this promise of Allah but have failed miserably.

Monarchy Started After Ali (رضي الله عنه)

All the worldly “Khulafa” such as the Umayyads—who ruled between the era of the Khulafaʾ al-Rāshidīn and the coming of the Messiah—were monarchs, not true Khulafa. Even these worldly rulers came to an end after the Messiah and Mahdi came into this world.

The hadith below shows that the Sahaba and Salaf understood true Khilafat to have lasted only 30 years, up to the time of Hazrat ʿAli (RA). After that came monarchies and tyrannies, exactly as the narration of Hazrat Safina (RA) makes clear:

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُرَيْجُ بْنُ النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَشْرَجُ بْنُ نُبَاتَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُمْهَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَفِينَةُ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ الْخِلاَفَةُ فِي أُمَّتِي ثَلاَثُونَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ مُلْكٌ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي سَفِينَةُ أَمْسِكْ خِلاَفَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَخِلاَفَةَ عُمَرَ وَخِلاَفَةَ عُثْمَانَ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَمْسِكْ خِلاَفَةَ عَلِيٍّ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَوَجَدْنَاهَا ثَلاَثِينَ سَنَةً ‏.‏ قَالَ سَعِيدٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ الْخِلاَفَةَ فِيهِمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ كَذَبُوا بَنُو الزَّرْقَاءِ بَلْ هُمْ مُلُوكٌ مِنْ شَرِّ الْمُلُوكِ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عُمَرَ وَعَلِيٍّ قَالاَ لَمْ يَعْهَدِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الْخِلاَفَةِ شَيْئًا ‏.‏ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ قَدْ رَوَاهُ غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُمْهَانَ وَلاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُمْهَانَ ‏.‏

Sa’eed bin Jumhan narrated: “Safinah narrated to me, he said:

‘The Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said: “Al-Khilafah will be in my Ummah for thirty years, then there will be monarchy after that.”‘ Then Safinah said to me: ‘Count the Khilafah of Abu Bakr,’ then he said: ‘Count the Khilafah of ‘Umar and the Khilafah of ‘Uthman.’ Then he said to me: ‘Count the Khilafah of ‘Ali.”‘ He said: “So we found that they add up to thirty years.” Sa’eed said: “I said to him: ‘Banu Umaiyyah claim that the Khilafah is among them.’ He said: ‘Banu Az-Zarqa’ lie, rather they are a monarchy, among the worst of monarchies.“‘

_{[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2226]}

Division into 73 sects | Heavenly Sect = Jama’ah

The Holy Prophet ﷺ clearly stated that the 1 heavenly sect in the latter times will have the following distinction from the 72 hell bound sects:

• Will be a united community (Jama’ah) i.e have a Khalifa
• On the path of me and my Sahaba RA

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“The Children of Israel split into seventy-one sects, and my nation will split into seventy-two, all of which will be in Hell apart from one, which is the main body.”

_{[Sunan Ibn Majah 3993]}

_{Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani}

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“What befell the children of Isra’il will befall my Ummah, step by step, such that if there was one who had intercourse with his mother in the open, then there would be someone from my Ummah who would do that. Indeed the children of Isra’il split into seventy-two sects, and my Ummah will split into seventy-three sects. All of them are in the Fire Except one sect.” He said: “And which is it O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “What I am upon and my Companions.”

 _{[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2641]}

_{Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani}

• Note: Sahaba (RA) had a single Imam. The Prophet ﷺ was the Imam al-Ummah. This principle carried into Khilafat-e-Rashidah, where all Muslims pledged allegiance to a single Khalifa at a time.

Muslim Scholars of the Latter days are responsible for dividing and destroying the Ummah

The following are just a brief list of Hadith listed under this topic from Muhammad (SAW), Sahaba, and the Salaf. For a comprehensive list of Hadith on this, visit our article: State of Scholars in the Latter Days

Prophet ﷺ

 مُسْهِرٍ، وَمَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، وَحَفْصُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، وَشُعَيْبُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَقْبِضُ الْعِلْمَ انْتِزَاعًا يَنْتَزِعُهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلَكِنْ يَقْبِضُ الْعِلْمَ بِقَبْضِ الْعُلَمَاءِ فَإِذَا لَمْ يُبْقِ عَالِمًا اتَّخَذَ النَّاسُ رُءُوسًا جُهَّالاً فَسُئِلُوا فَأَفْتَوْا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ فَضَلُّوا وَأَضَلُّوا ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin ‘As that, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Allah will not take away knowledge by removing it from people (from their hearts). Rather He will take away knowledge by taking away the scholars, then when there are no scholars left, the people will take the ignorant as their leaders. They will be asked questions and they will issue verdicts without knowledge, thus they will go astray and lead others astray.”

_{[Sunan Ibn Majah 52]}

قال: كنت أمشي مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: ” لغير الدجال أخوفني على أمتي ” قالها ثلاثا. قال: قلت: يا رسول الله، ما هذا الذي غير الدجال أخوفك على أمتك؟ قال: “أئمة مضلين “.

“There is something I fear for my Ummah more than Dajjal. Misguided scholars.”

_{[Musnad Al-Imam Ahmad, Part 5, p. 145]
[Al-Mussanaf, by Abdul Razzaq Part 8, p. 647]}

عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ إِنَّمَا أَخَافُ عَلَى أُمَّتِي الأَئِمَّةَ الْمُضِلِّينَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ لاَ تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي عَلَى الْحَقِّ ظَاهِرِينَ لاَ يَضُرُّهُمْ مَنْ يَخْذُلُهُمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ

Thawban narrated that the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said:

“I only fear for my Ummah from the misguiding A’immah.” He said that the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said: “There will never cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest upon the truth, they will not be harmed by those who forsake them until Allah’s Decree comes.”

_{[Jami’at-Tirmidhi 2229]}

Hazrat Umar Ibn Khattab (رضي الله عنه)

عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ حُدَيْرٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه هَلْ تَعْرِفُ مَا يَهْدِمُ الْإِسْلَامَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ يَهْدِمُهُ زَلَّةُ الْعَالِمِ وَجِدَالُ الْمُنَافِقِ بِالْكِتَابِ وَحُكْمُ الْأَئِمَّةِ الْمُضِلِّينَ

Ziyad ibn Hudayr reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said to me,

“Do you know what will demolish Islam?” I said no. Umar said, “Islam will be demolished by the faults of scholars, the arguments of hypocrites over the Book, and the judgment of misguided leaders.”

_{[Sunan al-Dārimī 214]}

عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ رضي الله عنه إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ الْمُنَافِقُ الْعَلِيمُ قِيلَ وَكَيْفَ يَكُونُ الْمُنَافِقُ الْعَلِيمُ قَالَ عَالِمُ اللِّسَانِ جَاهِلُ الْقَلْبِ وَالْعَمَلِ

Abu Uthman al-Hindi reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

“Verily, what I fear most for this nation is a learned hypocrite.” It was said, “How is he a learned hypocrite?” Umar said, “He is learned with his tongue, but he is ignorant of the heart and good deeds.”

[al-Aḥādīth al-Mukhtārah 236]

Hazrat Ali (رضي الله عنه)

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا يَبْقَى مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ إِلَّا اسْمُهُ وَلَا يَبْقَى مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِلَّا رَسْمُهُ مَسَاجِدُهُمْ عَامِرَةٌ وَهِيَ خَرَابٌ مِنَ الْهُدَى عُلَمَاؤُهُمْ شَرُّ مَنْ تَحْتَ أَدِيمِ السَّمَاءِ مِنْ عِنْدِهِمْ تَخْرُجُ الْفِتْنَةُ وَفِيهِمْ تَعُودُ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَان

‘Ali reported God’s messenger as saying,

“A time is soon coming to mankind when nothing of Islam but its name will remain and only the written form of the Qur’an will remain. Their mosques will be in fine condition but will be devoid of guidance, their learned men will be the worst people under heaven, corruption coming forth from them and returning among them.”

_{[Mishkat Al-Masabih 276]}

Muhammad Ibn Wadah Al-Qurtubi (RH) (d. 287H)

A renowned Salaf Andalusian scholar and muhaddith of the 3rd century AH also wrote that it will be the scholars and people of knowledge who bear responsibility for harming the Ummah:

“Banu Isra’il were only destroyed at the hands of their reciters and scholars and this nation [muslim ummah] will likewise be destroyed at the hands of its reciters and scholars.”

_{[Kitab Al-Bida, p. 116] [Book Link]}

He also quotes a hadith from Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As in this book who was one of the first companions to write down the sayings of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. This hadith refers to the latter day scholars as ‘devils’:

“It is near that devils will appear, sitting with you in your gatherings, teaching you your religion and speaking to you and indeed, they are devils.”

_{[Kitab Al-Bida, p. 86] [Book Link]}

When Will 73 Sects Form?

As per ahadith, this great division will happen at the time of the Messiah & Dajjal:

“The one-eyed Dajjal, the misguided messiah, will emerge from the direction of the east in a time of division and conflict among the people.”

_{[Musnad Sahih]}

Stick To Jama’ah & Leave The Sects

The Prophet ﷺ stated that during the time of Ad-Dajjal, Muslims ought to pledge allegiance and faithfully stick to the one Jama’ah and leave all other hell-bound sects:

Narrated Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman:

The people used to ask Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) about the good but I used to ask him about the evil lest I should be overtaken by them. So I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! We were living in ignorance and in an (extremely) worst atmosphere, then Allah brought to us this good (i.e., Islam); will there be any evil after this good?” He said, “Yes.” I said, ‘Will there be any good after that evil?” He replied, “Yes, but it will be tainted (not pure.)” I asked, “What will be its taint?” He replied, “(There will be) some people who will guide others not according to my tradition? You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of some others.” I asked, “Will there be any evil after that good?” He replied, “Yes, (there will be) some people calling at the gates of the (Hell) Fire, and whoever will respond to their call, will be thrown by them into the (Hell) Fire.” I said, “O Allah s Apostle! Will you describe them to us?” He said, “They will be from our own people and will speak our language.” I said, “What do you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?” He said, “Stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam (ruler).” I said, “If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam (ruler)?” He said, “Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite (eat) the roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you are in that state.”

_{[Sahih al-Bukhari 7084]} 

True Jama’ah as Explained by the Sahaba رضوان الله عليهم

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ūd رضي الله عنهما (d. 32 AH), one of the closest and most knowledgeable companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, repeatedly emphasized in various accounts that true Jama’ah is not determined by the majority:

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ūd رضي الله عنهما said:

“The Jamā’ah is (whatever agrees with) the Book and the Sunnah, even if you are alone.”

In another narration:

“The Jamā’ah is the people of the truth, even if you are alone.”

_{[al-Faqīh wa’l-Mutafaqqih, Dār Ibn al-Jawzī edition, p. 303]}

ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd said,

“The Jamāʿah is whoever obeys Allāh, even if they are a single person.”

_{[Aitaqad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, p. 181]}

Definition of Jama’ah According to Scholars

Scholars have made it abundantly clear: there can be no Jama’ah without an Imam and that true Jama’ah is not determined by the majority. By definition, Jama’ah means pledging allegiance to a single Imam and following him fully. That Imam may also be a Khalifa — and as shown below, some scholars actually hold that without a Khalifa, there is no true Jama’ah at all.

Muhammād Al-Hasān bin Al-Diddū

Renowned Sunni scholar, Muhammād Al-Hasān bin Al-Diddū states in a recent viral video that there is no Jama’ah without a Khalifa:

“As for the meaning of Jama’ah, it means those who have given allegiance to the Khalifa. They don’t exist nowadays. There is no Jama’ah.”

_{[Video Link]}

Imam Ad-Dhahabi (RH) (d. 748H)

Revered Sunni scholar affirms that during the time of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (RH), the Jama’ah consisted of only the small number of followers who had pledged allegiance to Imam Hanbal (RH).

“All the people deviated during the time (Mihnat Khalaq al Qur’ãn) of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal except for a small group, they were the Jammah, at that time the Judges, Muftis, the Caliph and his followers were all deviant and Imãm Ahmad alone was the Jamã’ah.”

_{[إعلام الموقعين عن رب العالمين, p. 389]}

Ibn Al-Qayyim (RH) (d. 751H)

Another revered & pious Sunni scholar affirmed Imam Ad-Dhahabi’s statement that during the time of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (RH), the only Jama’ah were the small number of followers who had pledged allegiance to Imam Hanbal (RH).

“All the people went astray during the time of Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal, except for a few individuals; thus, they were the Jamāʿah (the main body of the Muslims), while the judges, the Muftīs, the Khalīfah, and his followers were the ones who deviated and Imām Aḥmad alone was the Jamāʿah.”

_{‏[ 4/399 معلومات للذين يكتبون نيابة عن رب العالمين]}

Additional references for the Definition of Jama’ah According to Scholars can be found in this article: True Jama’ah Is NOT the Majority: Example of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal

ONLY JAMA’AH IS JAMA’AH AL-AHMADIYYA

By definition of the word, the only “Jama’ah” on earth is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community i.e. the only group with a Khalifa. This is explained by the Sunni scholars as well for example:

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is the True Ahlus Sunnah Wa’l Jama’ah that fits this definition, as it is the only Jama’ah today united under the banner of Khilafat for 100+ years.

Hazrat Khalīfatul Masīh I, Maulānā Ḥakīm Maulwi Nūrudīn (رضي الله عنه ) states:

“In this age, there is no Ahlus-Sunnah wa’l-Jama’ah on the face of the earth except [for] the Aḥmadīyyah. The Jama’ah will only be the one with an Imām. If we were to line up our opponent Muslims in one row, would they be able to have one Imām? Absolutely Not! [However], yes, it is the unique characteristic of the Aḥmadīyyah Jama’ah that it has an Imām. Thus, at this time, except for Ahmadis no one [else] is from Ahlus-Sunnah wa’l-Jama’ah.“

_{[Al Hakam, Feb 21, 1910, pg. 3]}

Prophet ﷺ: Pledge Allegiance and Obey the Jama’ah At All Costs

Black Flags from the East (Khorasan)

وَعَنْ ثَوْبَانَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الرَّايَاتِ السُّودَ قَدْ جَاءَتْ مِنْ قِبَلِ خُرَاسَانَ فَأْتُوهَا فَإِنَّ فِيهَا خَلِيفَةَ اللَّهِ الْمَهْدِيَّ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي «دَلَائِل النبوَّة»

Thauban reported God’s messenger ﷺ as saying, “When you see the black standards have come from the direction of Khurasan go to them, for God’s khalifa the Mahdi will be among them.“

_{[Mishkat al-Masabih 5461]}

Pledge Allegiance Even If You Have to Crawl Over Ice

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ الْحَذَّاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَسْمَاءَ الرَّحَبِيِّ، عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏”‏ يَقْتَتِلُ عِنْدَ كَنْزِكُمْ ثَلاَثَةٌ كُلُّهُمُ ابْنُ خَلِيفَةٍ ثُمَّ لاَ يَصِيرُ إِلَى وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَطْلُعُ الرَّايَاتُ السُّودُ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَشْرِقِ فَيَقْتُلُونَكُمْ قَتْلاً لَمْ يُقْتَلْهُ قَوْمٌ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ شَيْئًا لاَ أَحْفَظُهُ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَبَايِعُوهُ وَلَوْ حَبْوًا عَلَى الثَّلْجِ فَإِنَّهُ خَلِيفَةُ اللَّهِ الْمَهْدِيُّ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Thawban that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“[…] Then the black banners will come from the east […].” “When you see them, then pledge your allegiance to them even if you have to crawl over the snow, for that is the caliph of Allah, Mahdi.“

_{[Sunan Ibn Majah 4084] [Graded Sahih by Albani: Silsilah Ahaadeeth ad Da’ifah wal-Mawdu’ah, vol.1, pg. 197]}

Obey Khalifa even if he takes your wealth

Hudhaifa (RA) reports the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:

“If in these times any Khalifa of is found on the face of this [Earth] then you should listen and obey even if he were to cause you injury or take your wealth.”

_{[Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn, 8552: Graded Sahih]}

Death Without Imam = Death of Jahiliyyah

عن معاوية، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ” من مات بغير إمام مات ميتة جاهلية ” .

The Messenger (saw) said: Whoever died without an Imam he dies a death of jahiliyyah

_{[Musnad Imam Ahmad (rh) 16434 7275 – (16876) – (4\96)]}

أَخْبَرَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ الصَّوَّافُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ وَفَارَقَ الْجَمَاعَةَ فَمَاتَ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً وَمَنْ خَرَجَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي يَضْرِبُ بَرَّهَا وَفَاجِرَهَا لاَ يَتَحَاشَى مِنْ مُؤْمِنِهَا وَلاَ يَفِي لِذِي عَهْدِهَا فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَمَنْ قَاتَلَ تَحْتَ رَايَةٍ عُمِّيَّةٍ يَدْعُو إِلَى عَصَبِيَّةٍ أَوْ يَغْضَبُ لِعَصَبِيَّةٍ فَقُتِلَ فَقِتْلَةٌ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: ‘

Whoever parts from obedience, and splits away from the Jama’ah and dies, then he has died a death of Jahiliyyah. Whoever rebels against my Ummah, killing good and evil people alike, and does not try to avoid killing the believers, and does not pay attention to those who are under a covenant, then he is not of me. Whoever fights for a cause that is not clear, advocating tribalism, getting angry for the sake of tribalism, and he is killed, then he has died a death of Jahiliyyah.’”

_{[Sunan an-Nasa’i 4114]}

Muslim Scholars Agree: Khilafah ala Minhaji-Nabuwwah will come after Messiah and Mahdi (AS)

Respected scholars of the past, as well as numerous contemporary scholars accept that Khilafat ala’ minhaj al-nabuwwah prophesied is the Khilafat after the coming of the Messiah and Imam Mahdi (AS).

Sheikh Waliuddin Abu Abdullah Mahmud Al-Tabrizi (RH)

A renown muhaddith (scholar of Hadith) of his time agrees that Khilafat ala’ minhaj al-nabuwwah refers to the time of Messiah and Mahdi:

“And what is meant by it is the time of Jesus (AS), and the Mahdi“

_{[Mishkaat Al-Masaabih, Translation & Commentary, Volume 4, p.711]}

Mulla Ali Qari (RH)

“And what is meant by it is the time of Jesus, peace be upon him, and the Mahdi, may Allah have mercy on him.”

_{[Mirqat al-Mafatih, A commentary on Mishkat al-Masabih pg.564-565]}

Ahmad Raza Khan Barelwi | Video Reference

“[…]Such a caliphate [like that of Khilafat-e-Rashida] will be established by Imam Mahdi as well.”

_{[Proofs of Prophethood of Ahmad (as) : Imam Mahdi will Have Khilafat, Start Time: 2:49]}

Dr. Israr Ahmad | Video Reference

“The Prophet (SAW) gave good news about Khilafat that before the day of Judgement, Khilafat on the Precepts of Prophethood will most surely be established. I have no doubt regarding this […]”

_{[Proofs of Prophethood of Ahmad (as) : Imam Mahdi will Have Khilafat, Start Time: 3:44]}

Asif Hameed | Video Reference

“[…] He (SAW) said there would be a Khalifa in the end times.”

_{[Proofs of Prophethood of Ahmad (as) : Imam Mahdi will Have Khilafat, Start Time: 2:33]}

Dr. Umair Mahmood Siddiqui | Video Reference

“[…] There is also a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that before the Day of Judgement, Khilafat on the Precepts of Prophethood will be established throughout the entire world.”

_{[Proofs of Prophethood of Ahmad (as) : Imam Mahdi will Have Khilafat, Start Time: 2:04]}

Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza | Video Reference

“Preparations have begun for the new [upcoming] Khilafat ala Minhaji-Nabuwwah“

_{[Video Link]}

Conclusion

• Establishment of Khilafat ala Minhaj al-Nabuwwah after the Messiah is proof of the truthfulness of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (عليه السلام)
• The saved sect will be a Jama’ah (i.e have a Khalifa)
• This Jama’ah will exist at a time of great division among the Muslims (i.e during 73 sects)