Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ismail (ra) — Page 60
60 Regarding t he Awaited Mahdī as , the Holy Prophet s as is reported to have said: "A party would defend the Faith in India. This party would accompany the Mahdī , whose name shall be Ahmad. " 37B What does this Hadith prophesy? Firstly, that there would be a party of bel ievers who would strive to defend Islam in India. Secondly, that this struggle would be performed by a party of believers, who would be in the company of the Mahdī , or in more simple words, would be the Companions of the Mahdī. Thirdly, the name of the Pro mised Mahdī would be Ahmad. In fulfilment of this prophecy, it was in 1889, upon Divine instruction, that the Promised Mahdī whose name was Ahmad, laid the foundations of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, in India. The following words were revealed by God t o the Promised Messiah, as an annunciation: "O Mankind, indeed I am the Messiah of Muhammad sa , and most certainly I am Ahmad the Mahdī. " 38