THE STORY OF IMAM MAHDI

Among the major signs of Qiyaamat is the advent of Imam Mahdi (Alayhis salaam). Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) predicted the coming of Imam Mahdi towards the end of this worldly existence, i.e. just before The Day of Judgement.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

"If only one day is left for the end of the world, Allah will lengthen that day until a man from my family, whose name will be the same as mine, rules the world.” (Tirmizi Shareef)

This indicates the emphasis, which The Holy Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alayhi wasallam laid on the coming of Imam Mahdi.

This booklet contains all the details about the life and advent of Imam Mahdi, and all these facts are derived from authentic Ahadith on this topic.

There is much speculation nowadays on whether Imam Mahdi has already been born and if so, what would be his present age, and when the impending appearance. Some Ulama have claimed that he is already born.

However, Muslims should realise that mere speculation does not represent concrete evidence upon which any firm and clear-cut ruling could be based. Hence, the best course of action is to believe that Imam Mahdi will appear' before Qiyaamat, but exactly when, only Allah knows. The date and time of his arrival we leave to The Knowledge of Allah. However, Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) did give certain signs, which will herald the arrival of this great Imam. The Ahadith on this issue leave no room for rejecting or even doubting the coming of Imam Mahdi. Neither do the facts leave us in the dark as to recognising this great Imam when he eventually does arrive.


DETAILS OF IMAM MAHDI
The following are facts taken from the Ahadith of Rasulullah( Sallallahu alayhi wasallam):

Name and Title

His name will be the same as that of (Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wasallam), i.e. Muhammad. In addition, his father's name will be Abdullah. His title is Al-Mahdi, meaning the guided one. The Holy Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam also called him Khaleefatullah, meaning "the Deputy of Allah".

FAMILY LINEAGE

Imam Mahdi will belong to the tribe of Quraish and the family of Hazrat Fatima (radiyallahu anha), the offspring of Hazrat Imam Hasan (radiyallahu anhu).

CHARACTER
He will have the character and morals of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). In one night Allah will grant him unique qualities of faith, piety, leadership and knowledge. Hence the title Mahdi.

BIRTHPLACE
He will be born in Madinah Shareef.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
He will have a broad forehead (with not much hair on the front of his head) and the bridge of his nose will be raised.
SIGNS BEFORE HIS APPEARANCE AS THE MAHDI
The world will be filled with a great amount of injustice and oppression. There will be widespread evil in which all people will be heavily involved.
Muslim countries and their people will have become so weak that even animals would defeat them in battle.

Muslims would be totally disunited, hence their state of weakness. On the other hand, the Kuffaar (Jews and Christians) of the whole world would be united under one leader. Their rule would spread over the entire world, and would reach as far as Khaibar, a mere hundred miles from Madinah Shareef. Such would be the dominance of kuffaar during that era.

The Muslims would also be under severe persecution and oppression from the Khaleefah of that time and they will have no place to run.

The Ahle Bait (Family of Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) will experience difficulties and persecution.

Throughout the world earthquakes would occur frequently. Innocent people will be put to death. A man by the name of Haarith Harraath will emerge from beyond the Euphrates river, and before him will be another by the name of Mansoor. The former (i.e. Haarith) will be preparing the minds of Muslims to-accept Imam Mahdi when he comes. He will perform the same task for Imam Mahdi, what the Quraish performed for Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in Madinah before Hijrat. Mansoor will aid him in this direction.

It is wajib upon every Muslim to help this Haarith, or to respond to his call.

The Abdaals and pious leaders will all be on the lookout for Imam Mahdi, knowing that only he could bring relief to the failing Ummat.

There will be a fight in Makkah between three people, each one being the son of a Khaleefah, over leadership of the Muslims. However, none of them will gain the Khilafat. This fight will take place in the month of Zul-Qa'dah, and even in Mina during Hajj, there will be quarrelling. All this will occur in the same year as Imam Mahdi's election.

An army will come from the East towards Arabia. The East here refers to Khurasan, i.e. northeastern Iran, which includes the borders of the Soviet Union and Afghanistan. They will pave the way for the establishment of Imam Mahdi's kingdom. This army will carry black banners. Nothing shall stop their onward march, and eventually they will plant their flag on the soils of Jerusalem.

This army will seek the leadership of Arabia. The current leader will refuse to hand over the Khilafat.

A tremendously fierce battle will ensue, the likes of which Muslims had never yet experienced. The army from Khurasan will be victorious and will eventually be granted the leadership.

IMAM MAHDI'S EMERGENCE AS THE NEW KHALEEFA
Having gained the right to appoint the new Khaleefah, they will nominate a member of their army, a man from The Holy Prophet's family, for this position. This man will be The Mahdi, who had also joined the ranks of this army when they entered Arabia.

He will not accept this post and will fleet from Madinah Munawwarah to Makkah Mukarramah. However, his people will be convinced that this is the only man for, the job. And so consequently, a group of people from Makkah will look for him in The Holy City and find him making tawaaf. They will force him to accept the post of Khilafat. Imam Mahdi will reluctantly agree to this offer. They will actually lead him by the hand towards the Hajare Aswad, where people will then formally pledge their allegiance to him as the Khaleefah. This pledge will take place in front of The Holy Ka 'ba, between the Hajare Aswad and the Maqaame Ibraheem, during or just after the days of Hajj.

At the time of this Bay 'at a voice will call out from the heavens: “This is the appointed Khaleefah of Allah, the Mahdi!”

Initially the number of people to take the bay 'at pledge of allegiance at his hands will be 313, which is the number of Sahaba that took part in the battle of Badr. He will be forty years old at the time of his appointment.

PROTECTION AND ACCEPTANCE BY ALLAH
Immediately upon his appointment as the new Khaleefah Imam Mahdi will witness the direct Help of Allah. A man from the heart of Damascus, known as Sufyaani (from the family of Abu Sufyaan) will begin a horrendous campaign of bloodshed and killing, during which no tribe or community will be left alone. Even women and children will be mercilessly butchered. His chief supporters and followers will be the tribe of Kalb.

When this Sufyaani hears of Imam Mahdi, he will immediately dispatch an army towards Makkah (where the Mahdi will be). This army will be easily defeated by the Imam and his handful of followers. Then this Sufyaani will himself lead a contingent from Syria towards Makkah to fight against Imam Mahdi.

This army will be destroyed by an enormous earthquake at Baidaa, a place just after Zhul-Hulaifa, on the way to Makkah. First the rear