john esposito teaches islamic studies at georgetown university. >> the majority of muslims would view the ahmadiyya -- the ahmadiyya would either be seen as not muslim, or they would certainly be seen as a very, very marginal group you know at best by most mainstream muslims. >> the ahmadiyya muslim community is a reform movement that grew out of sunni islam. it was founded in 1889, in india, by mirza ghulam ahmad, who claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of jesus and the divine guide, whose appearance was foretold by the prophet muhammad. most ahmadis believe he was the long awaited mahdi, or messiah. >> we believe that the promised messiah has come, as he was promised by the holy prophet so many years ago, 14 centuries ago. he came according to all those prophecies at the right time, and we have accepted him. >> naseem mahdi is national vice president anmissionary in charge of the ahmadiyya muslim community usa. he says mirza ghulam ahmad came to bring muslims back to the true teachings of islam. >> according to the prophecies of prophet muhammad, that when the messiah would