Who will be the leader? Mahdi or the Messiah (Jesus AS)?
Introduction
The prevalent belief amongst the general non-Ahmadi Muslims is that Mahdi will lead Jesus (AS) and the other Muslims, despite the fact that Isa (AS) is a prophet and Mahdi is not. They quote the following hadith as a proof of this belief:
لاَ تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يُقَاتِلُونَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ ظَاهِرِينَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ – قَالَ – فَيَنْزِلُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُ أَمِيرُهُمْ تَعَالَ صَلِّ لَنَا . فَيَقُولُ لاَ . إِنَّ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ أُمَرَاءُ . تَكْرِمَةَ اللَّهِ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةَ
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: A section of my people will not cease fighting for the Truth and will prevail till the Day of Resurrection. He said: Jesus son of Mary would then descend and their Ameer would invite him to come and lead them in prayer, but he would say: No, some amongst you are Ameer over some. This is the honour from Allah for this Ummah.
[Sahih Muslim 156]
Explanation
Firstly, this hadith does not mention Mahdi at all. It talks about an Ameer from amongst the Muslim leading the Messiah in prayer. Mahdi is not mentioned in the complete compilation of Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari. Claiming that this hadith is mentioning the Mahdi is a big stretch.
Secondly, Mahdi won’t lead anyone in prayer. Rather, the ahadith mention the Messiah leading the Muslims in prayer and other matters. Here are few such ahadith:
Certainly, the time of prayer shall come and then Jesus (peace be upon him) son of Mary would descend and would lead them.
What would you do when the son of Mary would descend and lead you?
[Sahih Muslim 155e]
What would you do when the son of Mary would descend amongst you and would lead you as one amongst you?
How will you be when the son of Mary descends amongst you and is your imam among you.
Conclusion
All these authentic ahadith are clear that it would be Jesus (AS) that would lead the Muslims. It is upto the Muslims to decide if they want to follow the words of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) or their own desires.