The Truth Unveiled — Page 55
55 55 Isl Iamns terliolP and no one from any other people can be a Khalifah. ’ It must then be pondered how he can suggest that the Messiah would be a king at the time of his second advent—because he is an Israelite and not from the Quraish. Furthermore, in the absence of the Khalifah, how can wars be waged? Therefore, all of the Muslim clerics have been forced to accept that at the time of the second advent of the Messiah, it is essential that there should be a Khalifah from the Quraish who should be a king of the time. If the coming of the Awaited Mahdi were to be denied, all of the beliefs of these peo - ple would be shattered. The descent of the Messiah from the heav - ens would also become futile because there would be no rightful Khalifah on earth in whose company the Messiah, peace be upon him, would fight the disbelievers. It is for this reason that Muhammad Husain firmly believes that when the Messiah descends, the Promised Mahdi will surely be raised from among the Quraish; he will be the Khalifah of the age and the Promised Messiah will serve him along with those who pledge allegiance at his hand. For this reason, in their view the Hadith in Sahih Bukhari , i. e. 1 ْ اِمَامُکُمْ مِنْکُم , alludes to the Promised Mahdi due to the words ْ اِمَِام [ imam ] and ْ مِنْکُم [ min - kum ]; whereas, in my estimation, the word imam here refers to the Messiah who has been conferred spiritual authority. My view on this stands in stark contrast to that of Muhammad Husain and all his like-minded clerics who reside in the Punjab and through - out India. According to them the word imam in this Hadith alludes to the Awaited Mahdi who will be from the Quraish and who will wage war; and the Promised Messiah will serve him as 1. He will be your Imam from among you. [Publisher]