The Need for the Imam — Page iv
iv Mas ih I. On the death of Hadrat Maulaw i N u r-ud-D i n ra in 1914, Hadrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad ra , who was also the Promised Messiah’s as Promised Son, was elected as Khal i fa. Hadrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad ra remained in office for nearly fifty two years. He died in 1965 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Hadrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad rh , the Promised grandson of the Promised Messiah as. After seventeen years of meritorious services he passed away in 1982. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Hadrat Mirza Ta- hir Ahmad rh as Khalifatul Masih IV who, having led the Community to its present strength and global recognition, passed away on the 19 th April, 2003. Hadrat Mirza Mas- roor Ahmad Khalifatul Masih V at is the present head of the Community and enjoys the distinction of being the great-grandson of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as.