The Essence of Islam – Volume IV — Page 191
Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama'at, and Instructions 191 [2] The second argument comprises some Aḥādīth and visions of the honoured saints and great divines which indicate that the Promised Messiah and Mahdī would appear at the turn of the fourteenth century. . For instance, the Ḥadīth: 107 الأيات بعد المأتين " 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 Mahdī, 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 Nawāb Șiddique Ḥassan Khān Ṣāḥib has recorded in his book Hujaj-ul-Kirāmah 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 Dār Quṭnī also proves that the Promised. Mahdi would appear at the turn of the fourteenth century. The Hadith says: ان لمهدينا أيتين. . . . . . The translation of the whole Ḥadīth is: Our Mahdi has two signs which have not appeared for any Messen107 Signs will appear after two centuries. [Translator]