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 Brother

Assalam-alai-kum

In one of your questions & answers you have mentioned the Imam Mahdi. I would like to know what is the relevance of Imam Mahdi according to the Koran and the Prophet and according to the teachings of Islam.

Looking forward to your response.Allah Hafiz

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Answer:

Significance of 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.

We absolutely and positively believe in the advent of this Righteous Ruler near the end of time called Imam Mahdi; because the Prophet of Allah (saws) told the believers about his coming and reign; and we believe with certainty in every word of Allah and His Messenger (saws).

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 (peace be upon him) said: The Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead a prominent nose. He will fill the earth will 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 (peace be upon him) 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.

Tirmidhi transmitted it.

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

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) 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."

Razin transmitted it.

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

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatimah.

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 he comes. 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 promised Mahdi.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan