As the end of time comes near, corruption will spread like wildfire. Injustice will be prevalent, the strong will persecute the weak and the evil people will come into power. For the believers, this will be a very tough time and they will wish for something to relieve them of this darkness. It will be at this point that Allah will give permission for Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Hasani, Imam Mahdi, to appear.
Who is Imam Mahdi?
As mentioned in the first paragraph, Imam Mahdi’s full name is Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Hasani. He will be a descendant of the family of Prophet Muhammed SAW from Fatima RA and Hadhrat Hasan ibn Ali RA.
Ibn Masood RA narrates, Nabi SAW said:
Even if only one day was left of this world, Allah would make that day long so that He could send a man who is of me or of my family, whose name is the same as my name and whose father’s name is the same as my father’s name.
Tirmidhi
What does Mahdi mean?
The word Mahdi comes from the Arabic language and means ‘The Guided One’. Someone who will bring justice and peace during his leadership.
40 Minor Signs of the Hour – Day of Judgement
Why will The Mahdi come?
After all the hardship, struggle, corruption and injustice, a pious, righteous man will appear. Through his hands Allah will set right the affairs of this ummah. To those of the Ahl-us Sunnah, he is known as the Mahdi. People will gather around him and he will lead the believers in many battles. For the Muslim ummah, he will be a leader and a ruler.
Description of Imam Mahdi
Narrated Abu Sa’id al-Khudri: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead a prominent nose. He with fill the earth will equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.
Abu Dawud
‘High forehead’ could mean that his hair has receded from the front of his head or that his forehead is wide.
‘Prominent nose’ means that his nose will be long with a pointed tip and bent in the middle; he won’t be flat-nosed.
The length of His rule
As Nabi SAW mentioned in the hadith, Imam Mahdi will rule the Muslims for 7 years. During these years, there will be justice all around and there will no longer be any oppression and corruption. While he rules, the Ummah will enjoy many blessings; the Earth will bring forth its vegetation, the sky will send down rain and wealth will be given without measure.
Abu Saeed al Khudri RA narrates, Nabi SAW said:
“There will emerge among the last of my ummah the Mahdi. Allah will give him rain and the earth will bring forth its vegetation. Wealth will be divided equally among the people, there will be plenty of livestock and the ummah will become great. He will live for seven to eight [years].”
Mustadrak Al-Haakim (Has a Saheeh Isnad)
Where will Imam Mahdi come from?
Imam Mahdi will come from the East. When he emerges, he will not be alone, rather Allah will support him with people from the east who will strive alongside him in order to bring strength to Islam.
When will The Mahdi appear?
There will be turmoil near the end of time. Three sons of a Caliph will fight over the treasure of the Ka’bah, each wanting to capture it for himself, but none will succeed. At this point, Imam Mahdi will appear in Makkah and he will become famous among the people. Allegiance will be sworn to him next to the Ka’bah to follow and obey him.
It was narrated from Thawban that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Three will fight one another for your treasure, each one of them the son of a caliph, but none of them will gain it. Then the black banners will come from the east, and they will kill you in an unprecedented manner.” Then he mentioned something that I do not remember, then he said: “When you see them, then pledge your allegiance to them even if you have to crawl over the snow, for that is the caliph of Allah, Mahdi.”
[Ibn Katheer has said the Isnad is Qawiy Saheeh. Haakim narrates in Mustadrak that it is saheeh according to the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim.]
Ibn Majah (Daeef)
‘Each one of them the son of a caliph‘ – this means there will be three men and each will have followers. The father of each of these men will be a king, so he will seek power like his father’s kingdom.
‘Your treasure’ – refers to the treasure of the Ka’bah, which is gold. It is said that this treasure lies beneath the Ka’bah. On the contrary, it could mean power, namely ruler-ship and the caliphate. Some say this is the treasure of the Euphrates, a mountain of gold that will be uncovered when the water level of the Euphrates drops.
Black flags of Khorasan
Ibn Katheer mentions in Al-Nihaayah, “He [Imam Mahdi] will be supported by people from the east who will establish his authority. Their flags will be black because it is a colour that indicates dignity, as the banner of the Messenger of Allah SAW was also black and it was called Al-Uqaab.”
Hadith regarding Imam Mahdi
It was narrated from ‘Ali that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Mahdi is one of us, the people of the Household. Allah will rectify him in a single night.”
Ibn Majah
‘Allah will rectify him in a single night’ could mean that Allah will prepare him to become the caliph and will guide and inspire him, and give him the attributes of leadership and wisdom. All of which he didn’t possess before.
Dajjal the Antichrist – The End of the World
Mulla Ali Qari says in Al-Mirqaat that this means Allah will prepare him and raise him in status in one night or in one hour of the night, so that the decision-makers will agree upon his caliphate. The Mahdi won’t know that he is the guided one and he won’t be seeking caliphate. The people will swear allegiance to him when he is reluctant.
Zurr Ibn Abdullah RA narrates that Nabi SAW said:
“The Hour will not begin until a man from my family, who will have the same name as mine, takes up a position of leadership.”
Musnad Ahmed
Abu Hurayra RA narrates, Nabi SAW said:
“Allegiance will be sworn to a man between the Rukn and the Maqaam; no one will violate the sanctity of the House except its people (i.e. the Muslims). They will violate it, and do not ask how much destruction will befall the Arabs. Then the Abyssinians will come and demolish it and it will never be rebuilt after that, and they are the ones who will take out its treasure.”
Musnad Ahmed
