Through the words “Be told the glad tidings of the Mahdi” (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 12) our Prophet (saas) has drawn attention to the importance of awaiting the Mahdi’s coming with excitement and enthusiasm, and of preparing for this special individual. Another hadith describes the love and devotion that the believers should feel toward him:
Whoever witnesses him, let him/her go to him, even by crawling over snow. Let him/her join him, because he is the Mahdi. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Fitan, B 34, H 4082; Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 14)
The Mahdi Will Definitely Appear
Even if only one day of the world remained, Allah would extend that day until he (the Mahdi ) takes power. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 10)
If it were the last day of life, Allah would prolong that day until He sends a man (Mahdi) from the Family of my [Muhammad’s] House. (Ibid., p. 10)
The Mahdi will come to my [Muhammad’s] community… In his time, my community will be blessed with a blessing the like of which has never been seen before. He will cause much rain to fall, and the plants of the ground will hold back nothing. ( Ibid., p. 9)
Even if only one night remained for the world, Allah would extend it, so that one from my House would come and rule the world. His name matches mine, and his father’s name my father’s name. Just as the world was filled with cruelty, he will fill it with justice. (Ibid., p. 11)
The Mahdi Will Be Descended From Our Prophet’s (saas) Line
Even if there remains only one day for the world, Allah, the Exalted, will send a man from the Ahl al-bayt (People of the House). (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5:92)
Days and nights will not end until an individual from my Ahl al-bayt rules the world. (al-Uqayli)
The Mahdi is from the line of my daughter Fatima. (Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:348)
Be told the good news of the Mahdi. He is one from the Quraysh and from my Ahl al-bayt. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 13)
The Mahdi is one of my children. His face is like a star shining in the sky. (Ali b. al-Sultan Muhammad al-Harawi al-Hanafi, Risaletul Mesreb elverdi fi mezhebil Mahdi)
All prophets are related to one another. As stated in the hadiths, the Mahdi will also be of that line. These descendants are popularly known as “sayyid,” and so the Mahdi will also be a “sayyid.”
In the Qur’an Allah refers to messengers being descended from one another. These verses may also indicate that the Mahdi will be descended from that line. (Allah knows the truth.)
Allah chose Adam and Nuh, the family of Ibrahim, and the family of ‘Imran over all other beings – descendants one of the other. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 33-34)
Our Lord, make us both Muslims submitted to You, and our descendants a Muslim community submitted to You. Show us our rites of worship and turn toward us. You are the Ever-Returning, the Most Merciful. (Surat al-Baqara, 128)
And some of their forebears, descendants and brothers; We chose them and guided them to a straight path. (Surat al- An‘am, 87)
Allah will Perfect Him in a Single Night
The Mahdi is from us, from the Ahl al-bayt. Allah will perfect* him in a night. (* i.e., will forgive him, or give him success and the inspiration of wisdom and guidance) (Sunan Ibn Majah, vol:10, Bab: 34, p.348)
Islamic scholars have explained this hadith as follows:
The betterment of the Mahdi in a single night refers to his being given eminent status. He cannot obtain this status by work or endeavor. As stated by Almighty Allah in the Qur’an, this blessing bestowed on the Prophet (saas) has also been given to the Mahdi. In verse 52 of Surat ash-Shura, Almighty Allah has said: “Accordingly We have revealed to you a spirit (Ruh) by Our command. You had no idea of what the Book was, nor belief. Nonetheless, We have made it a Light by which We guide those of Our servants We will. Truly you are guiding to a Straight Path.” The Mahdi is the most virtuous and the most perfect person of his time in matters of religion. This shows his greatness, the exalted nature of his status, and the greatness of his rank. (Ali b. al-Sultan Muhammad al-Harawi al-Hanafi, Risaletul Mesreb)
Bediuzzaman Said Nursi refers to the Mahdi in these terms:
In the time of the worst affliction of the End Times, He will send a luminous individual who will, of course, be THE GREATEST JUDGE (a great Islamic scholar to pronounce judgements), and THE GREATEST RENOVATOR (an Islamic scholar sent at the beginning of every century to teach religious truth according to the needs of the age), A RULER, A MAHDI, A GUIDE, A SPIRITUAL MENTOR (a great teacher to whom Muslims devote themselves, the greatest teacher of the age), and he will be from the line of our Prophet (saas). (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Risale-i Nur Collection: The Letters, pp. 411-12)
Mahdi is the People’s Beloved
The Mahdi will not appear until he is the best loved by the people because of the evils that befall them.(Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 27)
He will have the approval of the peoples of Earth and sky. (Haythami, v. VII, p. 313; al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 31)
Allah will sow love of him in the hearts of all people. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 42)
The Mahdi will come to people, and they will embrace him like a new bride, with love and conversation. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 35)
His rule will have the approval of the peoples of Earth and sky, all wild animals, birds, and even the fish in the sea. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 31)
The last of this strife is the killing of the innocent, when the Mahdi will appear in a manner approved of by all. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 38)
Allah will place his words in the people’s hearts. Thus they will be a community who are lions by day and who worship by night. (Al-Uqayli, Al-Najm al-Saqib fi Bayan Anna al-Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Al-i al-Tamam wa al-Qamal)
There will remain no individual who will not be pleased within the Community of Muhammad. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p.163)
He is fair of face, fragrant, imposing, but lovable and close to people. (Mahdi, Dajjal, Messiah, p. 102)
The Mahdi Will Be Spoken of Everywhere
The hadiths mention the time when the Mahdi will be spoken of and for long after he appears. In other words, his name will spread throughout the world.
When a herald from the skies cries out: “The truth is in Al-i Muhammad,” the Mahdi will appear. Everyone will speak only of him, drink of his love, and speak of nothing else. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 33)
After a herald cries out from the sky: “The truth is in the people of Prophet Muhammad (saas),” the love of the Mahdi will enter people’s hearts and there will be no talk of anything else. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20)
The Mahdi be Recognized e Against His Own Wishes
The hadiths reveal that the Mahdi will be recognized, although he will not personally desire this. In other words, he will not openly proclaim himself. Even though people will come to him and say: “The portents are present in you; you are the Mahdi,” he will deny it. Only after being “threatened with death” will he accept people’s recognition.
People will come to the Mahdi, between the Rukun and the Maqam, and take an oath of allegiance to him, against his own wishes. “If you refuse, we will strike you,” they will say. And the peoples of Earth and sky will approve of him. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 31)
There will be conflict at the time of the caliph’s death. One from the people of Madinah will run to Makkah. A group of Makkans will bring him forth (from where he is) against his wishes and take an oath of allegiance to him between the black stone (al-hajar al-aswad) in the Ka`bah and the place of Ibrahim. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5/94; al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20)
… And then he will reluctantly accept their oaths of allegiance. If you witness this, take the oath of allegiance to him, because he is the Mahdi in heaven and on Earth. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 35)
The Mahdi, who is from Fatima’s line, will be brought forth in Makkah, and oaths of allegiance will be offered to him against his wishes. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 52-53)
… They will again find him in Makkah and say: “You are the son of so-and-so, your mother is the daughter of so-and-so, you have the so-and-so portents. You escaped us once, but now hold out your hand so we may swear loyalty to you.” At this, he will say: “I am not he whom you seek,” and will return to Madinah. Sought for in Madinah, he will return to Makkah. In Makkah, they will find him at the Rukun and will say: “If you do not accept our oaths of allegiance, if you do not protect us from the army of the Sufyan that is searching for us and led by one from Haddam, then let our sins be upon you and our blood on your hands.” At this, the Mahdi will sit between the Rukun and the Maqam and hold out his hand to accept their oath of allegiance. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, pp. 39-40)
At a time of bloodshed, people afflicted by strife will come to the Mahdi as he sits at home and say: “Rise for us!” He will refuse, but will eventually rise after being threatened with death. No blood will be shed thereafter. (Ibn Abi Sayba, c. VII, p. 531; Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, pp. 52-53)
We are told in the Surah Yusuf that Prophet Yusuf (as) was also elevated by Pharaoh on account of his honesty, justice, knowledge, and trustworthiness:
When he had spoken with him, he declared: “Today you are trusted, established in our sight.” (Surah Yusuf, 54)
Where the Mahdi Will Be Recognized
… Then the caliphate will pass to the Mahdi, the most auspicious of men, as he sits at home. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 26)
In Makkah, they will find him at the Rukun and will say: “If you do not accept our oaths of allegiance, if you do not protect us from the army of the Sufyan that is searching for us and led by one from Haddam, then let our sins be upon you and our blood on your hands.” At this, the Mahdi will sit between the Rukun and the Maqam and hold out his hand to accept their oath of allegiance. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, pp. 39-40)
The oath of allegiance will be taken to him between the Rukun and the Maqam. The Mahdi will be so merciful that in his time nobody will be woken out of sleep and nobody’s nose will bleed. (Ibid., p. 42)
The Mahdi's Name
O People, it is certain that Allah has forbidden to you the oppressors, the hypocrites and those who abide by them, and has made the Mahdi, the most auspicious of Muhammad’s community, and who is in Makkah and whose name is AHMAD, son of Abdullah, your leader. Join him. (Ibid., p. 31)
The figurative meaning regarding the subject is revealed thus in a verse:
… giving you the good news of a Messenger after me whose name is Ahmad. (Surat as-Saff, 6)
A voice From the Sky (Via Radio or Television) Announces
Mahdi's Coming
... This situation will persist until someone from sky comes and says: “O people, from now on your leader is the Mahdi.” (Ibid., p. 24)
When a voice cries out from the sky: “The truth is in Al-i Muhammad,” the Mahdi will appear. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 33)
When you see a fire from the east for three or seven days, you may expect Al-i Muhammad to appear. By the will of Allah, a voice will cry out from the sky the Mahdi’s name so that all in the east and the west will hear. (Ibid., p. 32)
A voice will say from the skies: “The truth is in Al-i Muhammad,” and a voice will say from Earth: “The truth belongs to the Al-i Isa and Abbas.” (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 33)
When innocent people are killed and his brother is killed in Makkah, a voice will cry out from the skies: “This is your command. This is the Mahdi, who will fill the world with justice.” (Ibid., p. 35)
Widespread strife that seems unlikely to ever end will arise and last until the cry “The Mahdi is the leader, that is the truth” is heard three times from the skies. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 55)
The hadiths state that a voice from the sky will announce the Mahdi’s appearance. In other words, people will learn of this event through radio and television. This voice will reach everyone, in both the east and the west. Indeed, every society will hear this voice in its own language:
A loud voice will come from the skies to the people of Earth, in such a way that everyone will hear it in his/her own language. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 37)
Nowadays everyone can enjoy access to the news by means of radio, television, and the Internet, and these reports are translated into their respective languages. In this way, everyone will hear of his coming.
Prophet ‘Isa (as) Will Perform the Prayer Behind the Mahdi
Prophet ‘Isa (as) will perform the prayer behind the Madhi. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 24)
As the Mahdi was performing the morning prayer with the believers in Jerusalem, he will introduce Prophet ‘Isa (as), who then appears. Prophet ‘Isa (as) will place his hands on his (the Mahdi’s) shoulder and say: “The call to prayer has been issued for you,” and the Mahdi will lead him and the believers in prayer as their imam. (Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 25)
The Mahdi's Intellectual Work Will Cause Islamic Moral Values to Prevail
The hadiths reveal that nobody’s nose will bleed in the Mahdi’s time, that nobody will be harmed, and that even those who are asleep will not be wakened. This shows that the Mahdi will wage an intellectual campaign by which he will silence those movements and systems that are incompatible with religious moral values, and that he will cause Islam’s moral values to prevail.
The Mahdi… will walk in peace. (Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha‘ah li-Ashrat as-Sa‘ah, p. 166)
...in his time nobody will be awoken out of sleep and nobody’s nose will bleed. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 42)
The Mahdi Will Bring Out True Islamic Moral Values
The hadiths reveal that the Mahdi will do away with all superstitions and practices that have been added on to Islam. As we learn from the hadith“He will govern people with the Sunnah of the Prophet (saas),” he will adhere to our Prophet’s (saas) path and, just as in his day, will be a means by which religious moral values are truly lived.
He [the Mahdi] will practice the religion just as [it was practiced] in the time of Our Prophet. He will eliminate the sects from the face of Earth. No sect, except for the original true religion, will remain. (Barzanji, Al-Isha‘, pp. 186-87)
The Mahdi will leaahve no heresy. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 43)
The Mahdi will leave no heresy uneradicated. He will fulfill religious obligations in the End Times just as [they were fulfilled] in the time of the Prophet (saas).(Barzanji, Al-Isha‘ah, p. 163)
Just as our Prophet upheld Islam at the beginning, the Mahdi will uphold Islam at the end. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, 27)
The Mahdi ’s Spiritual Conouest of Istanbul
Allah will conquer Constantinople (Istanbul) for the people of His most loved friends… He will remove illness and tribulation from them. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 181)
Lands will follow his commands. Allah will favor him with the conquest of Constantinople. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 56)
Many scholars from various lands will set out, unaware of one another, to seek the Mahdi, and up to 310 will accompany each one of them. They will all finally meet in Makkah. When they ask one another why they have come, they will answer: “We seek the Mahdi, who will put an end to strife and capture Constantinople, because we have learned the names of his father, his mother, and his army.” (Ibid., p. 40)
The Mahdi will conquer Constantinople and Mount Daylam. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 27)
When no time is left in the world, or even a single day remains, Allah will extend that day so that one of my [Muhammad’s] line may become lord of Mount Daylam and Constantinople on that day. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 74)
The Mahdi Will Appear When There is no Caliph
He will come, when no caliph remains, to write his name in the world. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 54)
The year in which he will emerge, people will perform hajj together and gather without an imam. (Narrated by `Amr ibn Shu`ayb, al-Hakim, and Nu`aym ibn Hammad)
... people make pilgrimage without an imam leading them. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 35)
The Mahdi's Banner
The Mahdi’s banner will be our Prophet’s (saas) banner:
He will emerge with the Prophet’s (saas) woolen banner. This banner is four-cornered and unstitched, black, and has a halo on it. Unopened since the Prophet’s (saas) death, it will be unfurled when the Mahdi appears. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 22)
Other hadiths describe the Mahdi’s banner’s features:
It is certain that in the end times, an individual called the Mahdi will come from the furthest part of the land of the Maghrib. Helpers will walk for forty miles before him. His banners are white and yellow, features stripes, and bear the great name of Allah. No unit under his banner can be defeated. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 438)
“Allegiance is to Allah” is written on the Mahdi’s banner. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 65)
As well as his banner, hadiths also draw attention to the city that he will conquer and plant his banner in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul):
… During the capture of Constantinople, the Mahdi will plant a banner while performing ablutions for the morning prayer. The sea will divide into two, the water will move away from him, and he will follow the path thus opened up to the other shore. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 57)
The Mahdi’s Works Will Contain no Shame or Cruelty
… I find the Mahdi in the books of the prophets as follows: Neither cruelty nor shame will exist in the Mahdi’s practices. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 21)
The Mahdi Will Rule the World, Just Like Dhu’l Qarnayn (as) and the Prophet Suleyman (as)
The Qur’an reveals that Dhu’l Qarnayn (as) and Prophet Sulayman (as) caused Islamic moral values to prevail throughout the world. The hadiths reveal that, just like these two prophets, the Mahdi will do the same:
The Mahdi will rule Earth, just like Dhu'l-Qarnayn (as) and Prophet Sulayman (as). (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 30)
Four people became kings on Earth. Two are believers, two are unbelievers. The believers are Dhu'l-Qarnayn (as) and Prophet Sulayman (as); the unbelievers are Nimrod and Bakhtinasr (Nebuchadnezzar). One from the people of my house (the Mahdi) will come as the fifth, and he will be king on Earth. (al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 10)
The Books Revealed to the Prophets Describe the Mahdi's Features
The Torah and the Bible contain information about the Mahdi’s features and the portents of his coming. For example:
“I find the Mahdi in the books of the Prophets, as follows: Neither cruelty nor shame exist in the Mahdi’s practices.” (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 47)
One verse that refers figuratively to the subject reads:
We wrote down in the Zabur, after the Reminder came: “It is My righteous servants whowill inherit Earth.” (Surat al-Anbiya’, 105)
Islamic scholars interpret this verse as follows:
It is reported from Imam Baqir and Sadiq that “the RIGHTEOUS SERVANTS here are THE MAHDI AND HIS COMPANIONS.”(al-Hussayni al-Shirazi, p. 113)
In the Old and New Testaments we find the following information:
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling [a] together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah, 11:1-9)
In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it one from the house [a] of David one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness. (Isaiah, 16: 5)
… When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. (Mark, 13:5-8)
Angels Will Help the Mahdi
… His commanders are the most auspicious of men. His helpers will be from Yemen and Damascus. Jibrail will be before them, and Mikhail behind. The world will be filled with security, and a few women will even be able to go on the Hajj (pilgrimage) with no men beside them. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 47)
Allah will support him with three thousand angels. (Ibid., p. 41)
The hadith states that the angels Jibrail and Mikhail will be among his assistants. By the will of Allah, angels will help him.
The Qur’an reveals that angels assist true believers. For example, Allah supported our Prophet (saas) and the community of believers with angels:
... and when your Lord revealed to the angels: “I am with you, so make those who believe firm.” (Surat al-Anfal, 12)
... and when you asked the believers: “Is it not enough for you that your Lord reinforced you with three thousand angels, sent down?” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 124)
How Some People Prepare The Way For The Mahdi
Some people will come from the east and prepare the Mahdi’s sultanate. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 21)
A community will emerge from the east and assist the Mahdi’s sultanate. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 60)
They will descend to Jerusalem and prepare the sultanate for the Mahdi . (Ibid., p. 47)
The Companions of the Cave Will Help Him
The Companions of the Cave will be the Mahdi’s helpmates. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 59)
The Mahdi Will Expedite His Activities
This will endure for seven years. But every year of his will cost you twenty years. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 44)
The hadiths reveal that one year for the Mahdi will be the equivalent of 20 years for human beings. He will accomplish quickly that which it took people long years to achieve. He will find and implement very rapid, rational, wise, and permanent solutions to all problems.
The Mahdi's Love of Plants And Animals
When the Mahdi plants a dry tree, it will immediately grow green and give forth leaves. (Ibid., p. 43)
The Mahdi will plant a dry tree, and it will give forth leaves and grow green. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 67)
He will also take an interest in animals, and they will love him:
When the Mahdi points to a flying bird, it will immediately fall to the ground by his command. When he plants a dry tree, it will immediately flourish and put forth leaves. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 43)
The people of Earth and sky, all wild animals, birds, and even the fish in the sea will approve of his rule. (Ibid., p. 31)
Signs in Hadiths Pointing To the Years 1997 And 1999
One hadith dealing with the signs of the Mahdi’s coming draws our attention to the years 1997 and 1999:
Until the 95th year, people will have possessions, in other words, things will go well. Their goods will decline in the 97th and 99th years… (Ibid., p. 54)
It is likely that the expression “the 95th year” refers to 1995. Up until then, people enjoyed lives of relative well-being and conditions had not yet become that difficult. After that, however, a number of problems began raising their heads. Various political difficulties were experienced in 1997. In 1999, the earthquakes in the Marmara region and all across Turkey led to the greatest loss of life and property.
The Mahdi's Wisdom and Power of Comprehension
The hadiths reveal that Allah has bestowed a special power upon the Mahdi:
He is called the Mahdi because he has a secret power that cannot be known by anyone. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi)
Ibn al-Arabi lists nine of his main attributes:
1. He has foresight,
2. He understands the Book,
3. He knows the meaning of its verses,
4. He knows the states and actions of those he will appoint,
5. He will still be compassionate and just even when angered,
6. He knows the classes of beings,
7. He knows the intricate aspects of affairs
A leader who is aware of such things can make no mistakes in his commands. The Mahdi knows how to avoid mistakes because of his comparative knowledge, for his decisions will be directly inspired. In other words, he will rule with the law brought by Prophet Muhammed (saas). For these reasons, our Prophet (saas) said of him: “He will follow my trace and not fall into error.” From this we can see that the Mahdi will implement the Shari`ah, rather than making his own.
8. He has a sound understanding of people’s needs
Since Allah has chosen him, above all other people, to see to all their needs, his behavior and deeds, just like those of a true leader, must be in the peoples’ interests, rather than his own… A leader who engages in activities that are contrary to the public interest and who does not act on their behalf must be removed from office, because there is no longer any difference between him and other people.
9. The manifestation of secret things in his time, which will enable him to resolve all problems that may arise. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 189)
The Mahdi Will Be the Most Auspicious Person of His Time
Join that person who is the best of Muhammad’s nation and who is your protector that clears up the difficulties for you... He is the Mahdi.” (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 57)
He will be the best person on Earth of his time. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 27)
The Mahdi is the best person (of his time). (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 58)
The Mahdi Appears With the Sacred Trusts
The Mahdi will appear in the evening with our Prophet’s (saas) banner, shirt, sword, signs, light, and pleasant expression. (`Ali al-Qari, `Ali b. al-Sultan Muhammad al-Harawi, al-Hanafi, “Risaletul Mesreb )
He will bring forth the Holy Land’s treasures, the Ark of the Covenant, the table of the people of Israel, the tablets of the [Ten] Commandments, the jacket of Prophet Adam (as), the staff of Prophet Sulayman’s (as) pulpit, and the milk-white gloves sent by Allah to the People of Israel. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 33)
The Mahdi Will Be Far From People’s Eyes
At night he will be busy with prayer, his days will be hidden.. (Al-Uqayli, Al-Najm al-Saqib)
The Mahdi Will Encounter Troubles and Difficulties
All of the prophets and messengers sent to warn and call the unbelievers to the true path were rejected by their people and exposed to various attacks and slanders. The Mahdi will also encounter such things. (Allah knows the truth):
“The Mahdi is from one of us, from the Family of my House…” The Messenger of Allah (saas) said: ‘We are such a household that Allah has preferred the Hereafter to the world for us. The Family of my House will surely suffer tribulations, be kidnapped, and exiled after me. The Family of my House will encounter trials and tribulations and be exposed to violence.’” (al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 14)
Our Prophet (saas) refers to this state of affairs in the following hadith:
… The Mahdi will emerge with the Messenger’s (saas) banner when people suffer tribulations one after the other and have given up the hope of his emergence. He will pray two prayer cycles and then go to them and say: “O people, continuous trials came to the nation of Muhammad (saas), especially to the Family of his House, and we have been conquered and wronged.” (Ibid., p. 55)
One hadith reveals that the Mahdi will conquer Istanbul, and his assistants will face various difficulties before that conquest and later defeat them:
… Allah will conquer Constantinople (Istanbul) for the people of His most loved friends… He will remove illness and tribulation from them. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 181)
In the Qur’an, Allah has reveals that many prophets and messengers were rejected by their peoples, accused of being crazy or sorcerers, and were subjected to many assaults and great oppression. But they remained patient in the face of these attacks and responded in the finest possible manner.
Messengers before you were also denied… (Surat al-An‘am, 34)
We will be steadfast, no matter how much you harm us… (Surah Ibrahim, 12)
But then they turned away from him and said: “He is an instructed madman!” (Surat ad-Dukhan, 14)
Equally, no messenger came to those before them without their saying: “A magician or a madman!” (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 52)
But he turned away with his forces, saying: “A magician or a madman!” (Surah ash-Shu‘ara’, 39)
He (Pharaoh) said: “If you take any deity other than me, I will certainly throw you into prison.” (Surah ash-Shu‘ara’, 29)
O you who believe! Do not be like those who abused Musa. (Surah al-Ahzab, 69)
They said: “Build a pyre for him and fling him into the blaze!” (Surah as-Saffat, 97)
Then, after they had seen the Signs, they thought that they should still imprison him for a time. (Surah Yusuf, 35)
Those who do not believe all but strike you down with their evil looks when they hear the Reminder and say: “He is quite mad.” (Surah al-Qalam, 51)
The Mahdi Will Bring The Ark of The Covenant To Light
… He will bring the Ark (the chest containing sacred trusts) to light from a place called Antioch. (Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Al-Hawi li al-Fatawa, II. 82)
He will bring forth the Ark of the Covenant from the cave of Antioch. (Nu`aym ibn Hammad, Kitab al-Fitan)
The Mahdi will bring forth the Ark of the Covenant from the cave of Antioch. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 54)
The Mahdi Will Be a Means Whereby People Enjoy Abundance
… Everyone who goes there (near the Mahdi) will enjoy the divine plenty. (Ibid., p. 26)
He Will Know The Secrets of Sifr (Abjad)
The Mahdi will also know numerological calculations and the secrets thereof. In his work Mevzuatu’l-Ulum, (Vol. 11, p. 246) Taskopruluzade Ahmet Efendi records how he will have this knowledge:
Some said that this book of valuable knowledge is subject to the Mahdi’s appearance, who will come at the End of Time, and he will understand the knowledge of sifr and its secrets. This knowledge has existed since the time before books of the prophets. (Taskopruluzade Ahmet Efendi, Mahdilik ve Imamiye [Mahdism and Imam Mahdi], p. 252)
Observation And Surveillance of The Mahdi
When the Dajjal appears, a man (the Mahdi) of the believers will oppose him. Many armed men watching in the Dajjal’s centers will oppose him. (Mahdilik ve Imamiye (Ibid., p. 37; Sahih Muslim, c. 11, p. 393)
The hadith’s beginning reveals that the Mahdi will be observed and followed by the Dajjal’s armed men. We learn from the Qur’an that in earlier times, certain prophets who struggled on Allah’s path were also watched and that their enemies sought to control them by this means:
He is nothing but a man possessed, so wait a while and see what happens to him. (Surah Al-Muminun, 25)
The Mahdi Will Encounter Negative Propaganda
In one hadith our Prophet (saas) indicates that all the oppression and the attacks against the Mahdi will merely further strengthen the him:
When the believer [the Mahdi] sees the Dajjal, he will say “O people! This is the Dajjal spoken of by the Messenger of Allah.” The Dajjal will immediately issue commands regarding him and will make him lay flat on his belly and cry, “Injure him.” But that individual’s back and belly will be broadened by the blows. Then the Dajjal will seize him by his two hands and feet and cast him away. People will imagine the Dajjal has thrown him into the fire. But he will have been cast into a garden of Paradise. (Mehdilik ve Imamiye [Mahdism and Imamism], Ibrahim Suleymanoglu, p. 40)
This hadith states that the Mahdi will be “broadened by being beaten on his back and stomach.” In reference to this, the author of Mahdism and Imam Mahdi says: “The Mahdi’s fame is constantly announced and spread.” Yet since it is the Dajjal’s supporters who will do this, we may say that the propaganda will be intended to tarnish the Mahdi's reputation. The enemies of Islam at the time of our Prophet (saas) used poets, the publishing organs of the period, to denigrate him. These poets behaved arrogantly toward him at fairs and markets, accusing him of madness and sorcery. In the end times, too, the Dajjal’s supporters will defame the Mahdi and seek to damage his reputation in the public eye.
The hadiths describe how the Mahdi’s early years will be full of struggles, troubles, and difficulties. The “Golden Age” belongs to his final years, for only then will the Mahdi and Muslims achieve comfort, security, and plenty and lead lives based on love, peace, and unity.
The Mahdi Will Have Few Brothers
“He will have few brothers …” (Risalat ul-Mahdi, p. 161)
The Mahdi Will Disappear Twice
Abu Abdullah Hussain ibn Ali reports that the Prophet (saas) said: He (the Mahdi) will disappear twice. The first will be so long that some people will say that he is dead. Others will say that he has gone. Neither those who love him nor anyone else will know where he is, only a very close servant will know. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, )
The Mahdi Will Know What is Lawful and What is Unlawful
Hussain was asked: “By what signs will the Mahdi be known?” He replied: “By his ease of heart and dignity, by his knowing what is lawful and what is unlawful.” (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar)