Imam Mahdi (AS)

Ali Azhar Arastu

February 2006
Agenda
 Righteous servants will inherit the earth
 Traditions regarding Imam Mahdi (AS)
 Characteristics of Imam Mahdi (AS)
 Doubts regarding Imam (AS), clarified
 What is Imamat?
 Guide for the community?
 Proof (Hujjat) of Allah – Nucleus of earth
 Incredible? …but its possible, lets look at Quran
 What next…
 Are we ready for him
 Our duties while we wait
Righteous servants inherit the earth…Holy Quran
 "It is He who has sent His Apostle with the guidance and the Religion of truth,
that He may make it prevail over all religions, though the polytheists should be
averse (detest)." (Quran 9:33)
 The earth indeed belongs to Allah. He gives its inheritance to whomever He
wishes of His servants, and the outcome will be in favor of the Godwary."
(Quran 7:128)
 "Certainly We wrote in the Psalms (Zabur) after the Torah: Indeed My righteous
servants shall inherit the earth." (Quran 21:105)
 "Allah has promised those of you who have faith and do righteous deeds that He
will surely make them successors in the earth, just as He made those who were
before them successors and He will surely establish for them their religion which
He has approved for them, and that He will surely change their state to security
after their fear, while they worship Me, not ascribing any partners to Me."
(Quran 24:55)
 "They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah shall perfect
His Light though the faithless may detest." (Quran 61:8)
Traditions regarding Imam Mahdi (AS)

 "There will be twelve Guides after me, the first of whom is you, O' Ali,
and the last one will be the 'Support' (al-Qa'im) who, with the grace of
Allah, will gain victory over the whole east and west of the world."

 As per the 6 famous Sunni books, : Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-
Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud, and Sahih al-Nisa'i :
- al-Mahdi (AS) will come in the last days to make a universal Government,
- al-Mahdi (AS) is from the Ahlul-Bayt of the Prophet (PBUH&HF)
- al-Mahdi (AS) is from the progeny of Fatimah (AS), the daughter of the
Prophet (SAWA)
- al-Mahdi (AS) is different than Prophet Jesus (the Messiah)
- Prophet Jesus (AS) will come as one of the followers of Imam al-Mahdi
and will pray behind him in congressional prayer.
Traditions regarding Al-Mahdi (AS) with references
 The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Even if the entire duration of the world's
existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left (before
the day of judgment), Allah will expand that day to such a length of
time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my Ahlul-Bayt
who will be called by my name. He will fill out the earth with peace
and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny (by then)."
 References:
- Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v2, p86, v9, pp 74-75
- Sunan Abu Dawud, v2, p7
- Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, pp 84,376; V3, p63
- al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn, by al-Hakim, v4, p557
- Jami' al-Saghir, by al-Suyuti, pp 2,160
- al-Urful Wardi, by al-Suyuti, p2
- al-Majma', by al-Tabarani, p217
- Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v9, p144
- Fat'h al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, by Ibn Hajar Asqalani, v7, p305
- al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p249
- al-Tathkirah, by al-Qurtubi, p617
and many more….
More Traditions….
 The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "al-Mahdi is one of us, the members of the
household (Ahlul-Bayt)."
Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4085

 The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: The Mahdi will be of my family, of the

descendants of Fatimah (the Prophet's daughter).
  References: - Sunan Abu Dawud, English version, Ch. 36, Tradition #4271 (narrated by Umm Salama, the wife of the
Prophet)
- Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4086
- al-Nisa'i and al-Bayhaqi, and others as quoted in:
- al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p249

 "al-Mahdi is from our Ahlul-Bayt, no doubt Allah will enforce his

appearance within a night (i.e., his coming is very unpredictable and is
very sudden)."
References: - Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, p269, - Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, as quoted in:
- al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p250
Another tradition…
 Jabir Ibn Abdillah al-Ansari (RA) said: I heard the Messenger of
Allah saying: "A group of my Ummah will fight for the truth until
near the day of judgment when Jesus, the son of Marry, will
descend, and the leader of them will ask him to lead the prayer,
but Jesus declines, saying: "No, Verily, among you Allah has
made leaders for others and He has bestowed his bounty upon
them.“

 Reference:-
Sahih Muslim, Arabic, part 2, p19
Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v3, pp 45,384
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p251
Nuzool Isa Ibn Maryam Akhir al-Zaman, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, p57
Fatwa given in Mecca
 "The memorizers (Huffadh) and scholars of Hadith have verified that
there are authentic (Sahih) and acceptable (Hasan) reports among the
traditions related to al-Mahdi. The majority of these traditions are
related through numerous authorities (Mutawatir). There is no doubt
that the status of those reports are Sahih and Mutawatir. (They have
also verified) that the belief in Mahdi is obligatory, and that it is one of
the beliefs of Ahlussunnah wal Jama'a. Only those ignorant
deny it.

 Reference:A Fatwa in this issue was given in Mecca by "The Muslim World League"
(Rabitatul 'Alamil Islami) on Oct. 11, 1976 (23 Shawwal 1396).
 For the transcription and reproduction of this Fatwa, see, among others, the Introduction of
al-Ganji al-Shafi'i, in the book named "al-Bayan," Beirut, 1399/1979, pp 76-79 and in
Appendix
View of Shafi’ scholars and Ibn Taymiyyah re Al-Mahdi (As)

 Two Shafi'i scholars, Ganji in his book "al-Bayan", and Shablanji in

his book "Noor al-Absar", on the verse 48:28 of Quran: "He is the
One who sent his Messenger (Muhammad) with the guidance and the
true religion that in order to prevail over all the religions" narrated from
Sa'id Ibn Jubair that "this promise to Prophet Muhammad will be
fulfilled by al-Mahdi who is in the progeny of Fatimah (AS)."

 Even Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728/1328), who is acclaimed by the

Wahhabis, wrote in his book "Minhaj al-Sunnah" (v4, pp 211-212)
that the traditions concerning the Mahdi are certainly reliable, and his
student, al-Dhahabi, conformed with him in his summary of his
teacher's book. (See Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Sunnah, pp 533-534).
Characteristics of Imam Mahdi (As)

 The son of Imam Hasan Askari (As) the 11th Imam

 Born on 15th of Shaban 255 H/869 AD
 His father was martyred so he became the Imam in 260 H/874 AD
 Went into minor occultation in 260 H/874 AD
 Went into Major occultation in 329 H/944 AD
 He will reappear when Allah wills
 His title Al-Mahdi “The guided one”
 His name is Muhammed ibn Al Hasan(AS)
 His lineage, traced back to Imam Ali (AS), is: Muhammad Ibn al-Hasan
Ibn Ali Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ali Ibn Musa Ibn Ja'far Ibn Muhammad Ibn
Ali Ibn al-Husain Ibn Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS)
Doubts/Questions regarding Al Mahdi (AS)

 Question 1:
 How can a five year old boy become the Imam of mankind ?
 Answer: “Thereat she pointed to him. They said ‘How can we speak to
one who is yet a baby in the cradle?’ He (Jesus) said ‘Indeed I am a
servant of Allah! He has given me the Book and made me a prophet.
He has made me blessed, wherever I may be, and He has enjoined me
to the prayer and to pay the zakat as long as I live.”(Quran 19:29-31)

 "'O Yahya! Hold on with power to the Book, ' And We gave him the
judgement while still a child." (Quran 19:12)

 The third example is Prophet Solomon (Sulayman) who was appointed

by Allah the heir of his father, David (Dawud), and became the king of
his community while he had not reached the age of puberty.
Doubts/Questions regarding Al Mahdi (AS) (Continued)

 Question 2:
 Every human is mortal. How can Imam al-
Mahdi (AS) live so long?
 Answer: Noah (AS) Prophet for 950 years (Quran
29:14)
 Jesus (AS) still alive 2000+ years
 Khidr (AS) still alive, and on earth more than 3000
years
 People of the cave in the cave for 309 years
 Story of Prophet Uzair (Quran 2:259)
Doubts/Questions regarding Al Mahdi (AS) (Continued)
 Question 3:
 Is Imam Mahdi (AS) in a cave right now? Then where?

 He was last seen in a cave when he disappeared. It does

not mean that he is confined to a cave.

 Its said that Shia’s believe that he is in a cave. This is not

true.

 Imam al-Mahdi (AS) may sometimes live in one place or travel

around the world, just the same as the common belief of
Muslims about al-Khidr (AS).
Doubts/Questions regarding Al Mahdi (AS) (Continued)
 Question 4:
 Why did Imam (AS) disappear? When will he appear?
 The main reason will be disclosed when he reappears
 An easy answer, its Allah’s will and His Will is based on His infinite
wisdom
 It’s a test for us. Allah wants to test us
 He will come when the people are ready for him:
-History tells us that people were never ready
-People killed the Prophets and the Imams
-When people will realize that they need a divinely appointed
leader
-When he has 313 top virtuous helpers & 40,000 pious followers
who will fill the secondary position
Another frequently asked question:
 Question 5 :
 The Shia’s say that the mother of Imam Mahdi(AS) was a
bondwoman. Isn't it shameful that he (AS) should be born to a
slave-girl?
 Prophet Abraham’s (AS) wife Hagar was a bondwoman
 Prophet Ismael (AS) the son of Hagar
 Prophet Muhammed (SAWA) was a direct descendant of Ismael(AS)
 Why should it be shameful for Imam Mahdi (AS) when our Prophet (SAWA)
was a descendant of Ismael (AS) who was the son of a bondwoman
 Aren’t slaves human? In Islam, Piety carries more weight than cast
race creed or color. This is a perfect example
What is Imamat?
 Imam is a human and has authority over other humans by the
permission of Allah SWT
 "And We made them Imams, guiding by Our command and We
revealed to them the performance of good deeds." (Quran
21:73)
 And amongst them We appointed Imams who guide by Our
command when they had been patient and had convictions in
Our signs." (Quran 32:24)
 "O' you who have faith! Obey Allah and Obey the Apostle and
those vested with authority among you” (Quran 4:59)
 Who are those Imams whom Allah gave them
authority and are to be obeyed beside the Prophet?
More on the issue of Imamat

 "Indeed I am all Forgiver toward him who repents, becomes

faithful and acts righteously, and then follows guidance
[20:82]",
-Ibn Hajar mentioned that it is narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS) as
well as Thabit al-Lubnani that, the end of verse refers to the Wilayah of the
Ahlul-Bayt." (al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section
1, p235).

 "(O' Muhammad!) You are but a Warner, and for every

community there exists a Guide." (Quran 13:7).
The Sunni commentators say that ‘Guide’ here is Ali (AS)
- Tafsir al-Tabari, v13, p72;
- Tafsir al-Kabir, by Fakhr al-Razi, on the commentary of verse 13:7
- Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Suyuti, under verse 13:7 of Quran
Guide for the community?
 As per verse 13:7 there is a guide for each
community
 Who is the guide today?
 Its Imam Mahdi (AS)
 If he is in occultation, how do we benefit?
 Imam (AS) wrote while in minor occultaion:
 " As to the benefit of my existence in occultation, it is like the benefit of
the sun behind the clouds where the eyes do not see it”.
 Example of a battle without a commander, Soldiers lose morale
Proof (Hujjat) of Allah - Nucleus of the earth
 Shia belief that ‘Proof of Allah’ should always exist on earth

 Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and many others narrated:  

The Messenger of Allah said: "The stars are amnesty for the
inhabitants of the heavens, and if the stars go away (i.e.,
become non-existent), the inhabitants of the heavens will be
destroyed. And my Ahlul-Bayt are amnesty for the inhabitants
of the earth, and if my Ahlul-Bayt go away (i.e., all die), the
inhabitants of the earth will be destroyed."
Incredible? Its possible by Allah’s leave…
lets look at Quran

 The story of Uzeir (Ezra) (AS) (Surah Baqarah 2:259)

 The story of Abraham (AS) (Surah Anbiya 21:68)
 Chopped up birds came back flying (Surah 2:260)
 Miraculous birth Jesus (AS)
 How Jesus (AS) brought dead to life, healed
 The miracles of Moses (AS)
 Solomon (AS) talked to birds, ants
 Throne of Queen of Sheba brought in a blink
More …. All by Allah’s leave

 People of the cave - Given life again after 309 years

 Khidr (AS) was at the time of Moses (AS) , is still alive
 Noah (AS) lived more than 950 years
 Jacob (AS) regains his eyesight
 Jonah (AS) in a whale’s tummy for number of days
 The story of King Abraha and the elephants
 Adam(AS) and Eve (AS) had no father nor mother
 Satan the accursed is still alive and kicking
What next..
 Imam Mahdi (AS) will not bring a new religion
 He does not change any regulations
 It will seem to some, that he (AS) brings
something new
 Its due to the Pseudo scholars
 Will reject all the innovations
 Will bring a divine Tafsir of Holy Quran
 Will revive the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAWA)
Are we ready for him? Our duties …
 Ready for him:
-Are we performing our wajibat …at least?
-Are we going to accept him?
-Are we ready to do whatever he asks us to?
 Our duties:
-Make ourselves presentable
-Know that he is amongst us
-Live like the way Allah (swt) wants us to