As for opposition, will not the Imam Mahdi be opposed? Will the Messiah not be opposed? If the lack of opposition to one who is appointed by God is used as a criterion for the truth and veracity of a claimant, then no true claimant will ever appear among these people. History tells us otherwise and their elders also held a different view. On page 224 of Iqtirabus-Sa‘ah, Nawwab Nurul Hasan Khan who died in 1336 A.H., writes:
Should the Mahdi make his appearance, his plight would be the same. The Orthodox brethren will be his most ardent enemies and will seek to kill him and will charge him with distorting their religion.
Similarly, Hazrat Sheikh Muhy-ud-Din Ibn-e-‘Arabi, the renowned Muslim scholar, wrote in Al-Futuhatul-Makkiyyah, volume 3, page 336:
When the Imam Mahdi makes his appearance, none other than the theologians will be his most ardent and open enemies.
The Imam is asserting that open enmity will be shown only by the theologians. Others will be their less vocal followers. Obviously, these ulema will continue to assert that they are doing what they have always done. Then, how can one distinguish between the truthful and the false claimants?
On page 363 of Hijajul-Karamah fi Atharil-Qiyamah, Nawwab Siddiq Hasan Khan writes about the time when the Imam Mahdi will come:
The ulema of the time, having been accustomed to blind following of their theologians and ancestors, will accuse the Mahdi of having come to destroy their religion and nation. They will band together against him and, in accordance with their characteristic, will do their utmost to humiliate and destroy him.
This prediction has been fulfilled word for word. You would note the ‘White Paper’ is entitled Qadiyaniyyat—A Grave Threat to Islam.
I will now present a reference from the well known Mujaddid (Reformer) Alf-e-Thani, Hazrat Ahmad Sirhindi. In his Maktubat, he states in volume 2, page 104:
It will not be surprising if these so called ulema were to reject Jesus(as) based on his insight and deep understanding of Islam and the Shari‘ah. They will adjudge his teachings as contrary to the Book and the Sunnah.
This reference is very significant. We had several references mentioning the opposition the Mahdi would face but this reference specifically mentions the Messiah—Jesus(as)—and the opposition he would face. The ‘ulema’ believe he would descend from Heaven with his hands upon the shoulders of two angels and that he would be clad in two yellow sheets. If this is how the Second Coming is to take place, who would dare reject him? Everything would be very obvious. These ‘ulema’ further claim that the Messiah(as) would join in prayers behind the Mahdi. Thus the problem of accepting the Mahdi is also resolved. There will be no dissension and all will be well. Hazrat Ahmad Sirhindi, an outstanding divine, makes a magnificent point as mentioned above. He notes that these ‘ulema’ will oppose the Messiah(as).