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Imam Mahdi (pbuh)

Chapter 9 

Imam Mahdi (pbuh)

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       All Muslims agree that at the end of time, Imam Mahdi (pbuh) will reappear to make justice prevail on earth after being overwhelmed with injustice, corruption, and tyranny.  However, the dispute between the different schools of thought is as to who he is, and whether or not he has been born yet.  Great scholars emphasize that the Mahdi is coming and is a member of the ahl al-bayt (the Family of the Prophet):

 Imam Bukhari narrates from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hf): "How will you feel once the son of Mary descends among you, and your leader (imam) is from you?"[115]

Imam Muslim narrates from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hf): "A caliph will be appearing at the end of the time of my nation."  Timridhi and Abu Dawud, commenting on this hadith, say that this caliph will be the Mahdi.[116] 

Abu Dawud narrates from the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf): "If there remained but a single day till the end of time, Allah would prolong that day till He sent a man from my progeny whose name will be like mine who fill the earth with justice and equity as it had been filled with oppression and tyranny." [117]

  Ibn Majah narrates from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hf): "We are the ahl al-bayt for whom Allah has chosen the hereafter to this world.  My ahl al-bayt after me will face difficulties, hardships, and persecution in the land until a people will come from the East, bearers of black banners.  They will demand the right, but it will be denied.  So they will fight and emerge victorious.  They will be given what they demanded but will not accept it till they give the right to rule to a man from my ahl al-bayt who will fill the earth with justice as it was filled with oppression."[118]

  Ibn Majah also narrates from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hf): "The Mahdi is from us, the ahl al-bayt.  The Mahdi is among the children of Fatima."[119]

Tirmidhi narrates from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hf): "A man from my ahl al-bayt whose name is like mine will verily rule the world, and if there remains but a single day before the end of time, Allah will prolong that day till he assumes rule."[120]

       According to the Shi'a school of thought, Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Mahdi (pbuh) was born in 255 h. (869 A.D.) on the 15th of the month of Sha'ban in the city of Samarra in Northern Iraq.  His father was Imam Hasan al-Askari (pbuh), whose lineage traces back to Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (pbuh), and his mother was named Narjiss.  He is the last of the imams of the people on earth, and with him the line of succession to the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) ends.  Because of the necessity of having a representative from Allah present on the earth, he still, by the will of Allah, lives in this world - but out of public view.  He will, however, reappear towards the end of human civilization to restore order and justice at a time when the world has been filled with evil and injustice.

       Although the idea of the Mahdi still being alive after nearly thirteen centuries is difficult for some people to handle, the Holy Qur'an sets several examples of prophets who lived even longer than the Mahdi has lived, such as Prophet Jesus (pbuh), and al-Khidr (see 18:60-82 for his story with Prophet Moses (pbuh)).  The Holy Qur'an also gives two other examples about people who died and then were resurrected by Allah.  One is the exapmle of the Companions of the Cave (ashab al-kahf; see 18:25).  The other is the example of 'Uzayr: "Or like the one who passed by the town, and it had tumbled over its roofs.  He said, 'How will Allah ever bring it alive after its death?'  So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years and raised him up again.  He said, 'How long did you remain dead?'  He replied, 'Perhaps I remained dead a day, or part of a day.'  He said, 'Nay!  You have remained dead for a hundred years.  Look at your food and drink.  They show no change'."[121]  Furthermore, if Allah allows Propeht Abraham (pbuh), Prophet Moses (pbuh), and Prophet Jesus (pbuh) to perform certain miracles, then allowing the Mahdi to live for this extended period of time would not be difficult for Him, for He is capable of doing all things.

        Notes:

  [115] Sahih Bukhari, 4:143

[116] Sahih Muslim, vol. 2; Sunan Tirmidhi; Sunan Abu Dawud, 2:421

[117] Sunan Abu Dawud, 2:421

[118] vol. 2 hadith #4082 and 4087

[119] vol. 2 hadith #4082 and 4087

[120] al-Jami'  al-Sahih, Tirmidhi, 9: 74-75.  For more references on this topic, see Fath al-Bari, al-Hafiz, 5:362; al-Sawa'iq, ibn Hajar al-Haythami, 2:212; Muntakab al-Athar, Allahah Lutfullah Safi, which includes over sixty hadith from the Sunni sources and ninety hadith from the Shi'a sources

[121] Qur'an 2:259

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