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 Hadith: الآيات بعد المأتين 107 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 pro- claim himself in the beginning of the fourteenth. Basing himself upon this and several other indica- tions, Maulavi Nawab Şiddīque Hassan Khān Şāhib 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 four- teenth century. . . A Hadith of Dar Quțnī also proves that the Promised Mahdī would appear at the turn of the fourteenth cen- tury. The Hadith says: ان لمهدينا أيتين. . . . The translation of the whole Hadith is: Our Mahdi has two signs which have not appeared for any Messen- 107 Signs will appear after two centuries. [Translator]