Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brothers,

As many peoples are saying that it is time for promised massiah will come that is imam mahadi. Please tell me how to know who is the imam mahadi and when the time he will come and is it compolsory to accept him. please guide us.

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Answer:

Is it obligatory to accept Mahdi

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Regarding all the advents of events of the past, present, and the future, we believe with certainty only in what is said by Allah Subhanah in the Glorious Quran, and what is recorded in the authentic narrations of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Although the Holy Quran is silent on this issue, there are several authentic hadiths where the Messenger of Allah (saws) has prophesized the advent of a Righteous Ruler near the end of time, who will unite the believers and rule the world according to the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah. If we combine the hadiths, they reveal that this righteous person will be from the ‘ahle-bayt’ or descendants of the Prophet (saws), and his name will be similar to the Last Messenger of Allah (saws) and he will be known as Al-Mahdi or the Rightly Guided. The scholars have opined that his name will be either Mohamed ibn Abdulla, or Abdulla ibn Mohamed. The era of the anti-Christ and Liar Ad-Dajjal, and the descent of Prophet Isa (a.s.) from the heavens, will also take place during the time of Imam Mahdi.

There are several hadiths recorded regarding the era of Imam Mahdi, as related from the Messenger of Allah (saws). Here are some of them:

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4272 Narrated by AbuSa'id al-Khudri

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘The Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead a prominent nose. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.’

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5455 Narrated by AbuSa'id al-Khudri

The Prophet (saws) said in the course of the story about the Mahdi, that a man would come to him and say, "Give me, give me, Mahdi," and he would pour into his garment as much as he was able to carry.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 6278 Narrated by Ja'far as-Sadiq

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Rejoice and rejoice again. My people are just like the rain, it not being known whether the last or the first of it is better; or it is like a garden from which a troop can be fed for a year, then another troop can be fed for a year, and perhaps the last troop which comes may be the broadest, deepest and finest. How can a people perish of which I am the first, the Mahdi the middle and the Messiah the last? But in the course of that there will be a crooked party which does not belong to me and to which I do not belong."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4271 Narrated by Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘The Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatimah.’

Your Statement: As many peoples are saying that it is time for promised massiah will come that is imam mahadi.

The time of the coming of the righteous leader of the believers Imam Mahdi is known to none except Allah Subhanah. The people who say that it is time for the promised Mahdi to come are only speculating; for none has the knowledge of his coming except the Lord Alone.

Your Statement: Please tell me how to know who is the imam mahadi

Amongst all mankind, only the Noble Prophets of Allah have the right to come and declare to mankind that they have been appointed Prophets by their Lord. Imam Mahdi is not a Prophet, and thus neither he himself will know that he is the promised Massiah, nor will he ever declare that he has been appointed as the Mahdi by his Lord.

Only when Imam Mahdi is chosen the leader of the believers, and the believers in his reign will experience his truthfulness, righteousness, and piety will they realize that this person is indeed the promised Massiah or Mahdi as foretold by the Last and Final Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws). When all the signs foretold by Prophet Mohamed (saws) regarding his reign, his name, his looks, the trials of Ad-Dajjal and the advent of Prophet Isa (a.s.) from the heavens to the earth are fulfilled, the believers will recognize this righteous leader as the promised Massiah or Mahdi.

Your Question: and is it compolsory to accept him

Beloved brother, the belief in the advent of Imam Mahdi before the end of time is indeed compulsory upon the believers, for the coming of this righteous leader has been foretold by none other than the Last and Final Messenger of Allah (saws); and to believe and obey every word of the Messenger of Allah (saws) is absolutely compulsory and obligatory upon the believers.

Although the recognition and acceptance of Imam Mahdi is not prescribed as an obligatory condition of ‘emaan’ or faith, the condition of the Muslim Ummah at the time of the advent of Imam Mahdi will be such that all the true believers will indeed accept him; and only the disbelievers and the hypocrites will reject him.

The current situation and position of the believers must be to strive to obey each and every command of Allah and His Messenger (saws), and strive to make the word of Allah Supreme in the world. Imam Mahdi will come exactly at the time Allah has Decreed, and the events will unfold exactly as prophesized by the Messenger of Allah (saws). Allah has not made it our duty to search for the Mahdi; he will come when Allah has Decreed for him to come. On the Day of Judgment, Allah Subhanah will judge us according to our deeds; neither will Allah question us why we did not appoint a Mahdi, nor will He ask us why we did not wait for Mahdi’s coming! Thus, instead of waiting for Imam Mahdi to come and put things aright in this world; we must strive to do whatever we can to be better muslims, and declare the Message of Allah to all those who care to listen to good caution.

And besides, Imam Mahdi is not a Prophet of Allah, but is a righteous slave of Allah Subhanah. He will not come to mankind and declare that he is the Mahdi, like a Prophet of Allah comes to mankind and declares his appointment to Prophethood. Imam Mahdi will be a political and religious leader of the believers, and from his actions of righteousness the believers will recognize him to be the Mahdi.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan