Ali bin Isa Irbili has narrated that in the book Kashful Ghummah, forty traditions were compiled by Hafiz Abu Naeem Ahmad Ibne Abdullah with respect to the Mahdi (as).
Prosperity during his time
Abu Saeed Khudri narrates that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “From my Ummah will be the Mahdi. If his life is short, [his reign] will be seven years, otherwise eight, or otherwise nine. My Ummah will enjoy blessings in his time, the like of which no virtuous or evil person has ever enjoyed. The heaven will be showering over them abundantly and the earth will not withhold any of its plants.”
Justice of Mahdi
Abu Saeed Khudri narrates that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “The earth will be full of oppression and tyranny. Then a man from my household will rise and make it full of equity and justice. He will rule for seven or nine years.”
The Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “The Hour (Qiyamat) shall not come until a man from my Ahle Bayt rules over the earth, filling it with justice and equity as it shall be full of oppression. He will rule for seven years.”
Mahdi is from the progeny of Hazrat Fatemah (sa)
Imam Sajjad (as) narrates from his father (as) that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said to Hazrat Fatemah (sa), “The Mahdi is from your progeny.”
Mahdi is the chosen one of Allah
Ali Ibne Hilal narrates from his father, I came to the Messenger of Allah (sawa) as he was in his terminal illness. Fatemah (sa) was at his head and she was crying profusely until her sobs rose. The Messenger of Allah (sawa) raised his head to her and said, “My darling, what is making you cry?” She said, “I fear the loss after you.” He said, “My darling, don’t you know that Allah, the Exalted, looked down on earth and selected your father. He sent him with His message. Then he looked down and selected your husband and sent me revelation to marry you to him.
O Fatemah (sa), Allah, the Exalted, has given us, Ahle Bayt, seven characteristics, which He has not given to anyone before us nor will He give to anyone after us. I am the Seal of the Messengers and the most dignified of the apostles before Allah, the Exalted, and the most cherished of the creation to Allah, the Exalted, and I am your father.
My successor is the best of the successors, and the most cherished of them to Allah, the Exalted, and he is your husband.
Our martyr is the best of the martyrs and the most cherished of them to Allah, the Exalted, and he is Hamzah Ibne Abdul Muttalib, your father’s and your husband’s uncle.
Ours is the one who has two wings and flies in Paradise with angels wherever he wishes, and he is the cousin of your father and the brother of your husband.
Ours are the two princes of this Ummah, and they are your sons, Hasan and Husayn, and they are the chiefs of the youths of Paradise-dwellers, and their father, by the One Who sent me with the Truth, is better than them.
O Fatemah (sa), by the One Who sent me with Truth, from their offspring is the Mahdi of this Ummah. When the world is in anarchy and chaos, when mischief manifests and roadways are blocked, when people loot each other, with no elder pitying any youngster, nor any youngster respecting an elder, at that time, Allah will send from the progeny of these two the one who will conquer the fortresses of misguidance and open sealed hearts. He will establish religion in the latter days as I established it. He will fill the earth with equity as it will be full of oppression.
O Fatemah (sa), grieve not and cry not, for Allah, the Exalted, is more compassionate and more benevolent to you than I am; and that is due to your position from me and your station in my heart. Allah married you to your husband, who is the greatest of all people in stature, the most dignified of them in position, the most compassionate of them to the public, the fairest of them in equity, and the wisest of them in judgment. I beseeched my Lord, the Exalted, that you be the first one to join me from my family.” Amirul Momineen (as) says, “Fatemah (sa) did not live after that but for seventy-five days until Allah united her with her father.”
Mahdi is from the Progeny of Imam Husayn (as)
Huzaifah bin Yamani says, the Messenger of Allah (sawa) addressed us and recounted things that will happen in the future. Then he said, “If there should not remain from the world but a single day, Allah, the Exalted, will prolong that day until He sends a man from my progeny, whose name is my name.” Salman (as) stood up and asked: “O Messenger of Allah, from which of your sons?” “From this son of mine,” said he, putting his hand on Husayn (as).
The Village from which the Mahdi Will Rise
Abdullah Ibne Umar says Said the Messenger of Allah (sawa), “The Mahdi will rise from a village called Kara.”
Mahdi’s Visage
Huzaifah bin Yamani says, The Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “The Mahdi is from my offspring. His face is like a glittering star.”
Huzaifah also narrates, The Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “The Mahdi is a man from my progeny. His complexion is Arabic and his body is Israelite. There is a mole on his right cheek, like a glittering star. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it will be full of oppression. The dwellers of the heavens and the earth and birds of the sky will be happy in his rule.”
Abu Saeed Khudri says Said the Messenger of Allah (sawa), “The Mahdi is from us, with an open forehead and a high nose.”
Abu Saeed Khudri narrates that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “The Mahdi is from us the Ahle Bayt, a man from my Ummah. He has a high nose. He will fill the earth with equity as it will be full of corruption.”
Abu Amama Bahili says The Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “There will be four truces between you and the Romans. The fourth one will be on the hands of a man from the house of Hercules and it will last for seven years.” “O Messenger of Allah,” called a man from the tribe of Abdul Qais, who was called Mustawrid Ibne Ghayalan, “who will be the Imam of the people that day?” “The Mahdi from my offspring, a man of forty years and with a face like a glittering star. There will be a black mole on his right cheek. He will be wearing two Qatari cloaks, seeming as he was from the men of the children of Israel. He will extricate treasures and conquer the cities of polytheism.”
Abdur Rahman Ibne Auf says, the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “Allah will verily send a man from my household whose teeth will be at distance from one another and whose forehead will be broad. He will fill the earth with equity and distribute wealth bountifully.”
The Virtuous Imam
Abu Amama says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) addressed us and mentioned Dajjal. He said, “Medina will expel uncleanness like mill’s melting furnace purges uncleanness out of iron. That day will be proclaimed the day of salvation.” Umme Sharik asked, “Where are the believers on that day, O Messenger of Allah?” “They are few on that day,” he said. “The majority of them will be at Jerusalem. Their Imam will be the Mahdi, a virtuous man.”
Allah sends him openly
Abu Saeed Khudri says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “The Mahdi will rise in my Ummah. Allah will send him openly. The Ummah will enjoy and the cattle will rejoice. The earth will bring forth its plants and he will distribute wealth equally.”
Cloud shades him
Abdullah Ibne Umar says Said the Messenger of Allah (sawa), ‘The Mahdi will rise while there will be a cloud over his head from which a caller will be calling: This is the Mahdi, the Vicegerent of Allah; follow him.”
Angel over his head
Abdullah Ibne Umar says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “The Mahdi will rise while an angel will be over him, calling: This is the Mahdi, follow him.”
Glad tidings of the Prophet (sawa) about Mahdi
Abu Saeed Khudri says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “I give you the glad tidings of the Mahdi. He will be sent to my Ummah during a time of peoples’ dispute and concussions. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it will be full of oppression and tyranny. The dwellers of the heaven and the earth will be happy from him. He will distribute wealth sahaha.” A man asked him, “What is sahaha?” He said, “Equality between the people.”
Mahdi’s Name
Abdullah Ibne Umar says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “The Hour shall not come until a man from my progeny will rule. His name is like my name. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it will be full of oppression and tyranny.”
His Patronymic (kuniyat)
Huzaifah says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “If there should not remain but a single day from the world, Allah will send a man therein whose name is my name, his character my character, and his patronymic is Abu Abdullah.”
His equality and justice
Abu Saeed Khudri says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “Verily the earth will be beset with oppression and hostility. Then a man will arise from my Ahle Bayt, who will fill it with equity and justice, as it will be replete with tyranny, hostility and oppression.”
His character
Abdullah Ibne Umar says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “A man will rise from Ahle Bayt; his name will be like mine and his character will be like mine. He will fill the earth with equity and justice.”
His Magnificence: Abu Saeed Khudri says The Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “In latter days when mischief manifests, a man will come who is called the Mahdi. His grants will be so very pleasant.”
His knowledge of the Prophet’s conduct
Abu Saeed Khudri says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “A man will rise from my Ahle Bayt and act upon my conduct. Allah will send down for him blessings from the heavens. The earth will bring forth its bliss. Through him the earth will be beset by equity and justice, as it will be replete with oppression and tyranny. He will rule over this Ummah for seven years and will disembark at Jerusalem.”
His advent with standards (banners)
Thawban says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “When you see black standards coming from Khurasan, then come to them even if you have to crawl on snow, for the Vicegerent of God, the Mahdi is amidst them.”
His coming from East
Abdullah bin Umar said, We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (sawa) when a group of Bani Hashim youth came. When the Prophet saw them, his eyes filled with tears and his color changed. The companions said, “O Messenger of Allah, we see in your visage something which we dislike.” He said, “We, the Ahle Bayt, Allah have chosen the hereafter over this world. My Household will see trials, banishment and ostracism after me, until a people comes from the east carrying black standards. They will demand the right and will be denied. So they will wage wars and will be victorious and will be given what they asked for. But they do not accept it until they proffer it to a man from my Household. He will fill the earth with equity and justice, as they have beset it by tyranny. Whoever reaches that time from amongst you must come to them even if he has to crawl over ice.”
Revival of Islam’s Honorability through the Mahdi
Huzaifah says I heard the Messenger of Allah (sawa) say, “Pity for this Ummah from tyrannical rulers! How will they be murdering and frightening the pious until one has to acknowledge obedience to them! The God-fearing believer will put on with them on his tongue and run away from them in his heart. When Allah, the Exalted, desires to render Islam honorable again, He will break every hostile tyrant. And He is All-Powerful over anything He desires and to set this Ummah right after its corruption.” He said, “O Huzaifah, even if there should not remain but a single day from the world, Allah will prolong that day until a man from my Household rules. Fights will be waged on his hands and Islam will become manifest. He will not violate His promise and He is Swift in reckoning.”
Prosperity of Muslims during Mahdi’s rule
Abu Saeed Khudri narrates that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “My Ummah will enjoy a leisure in the time of the Mahdi (as) the like of which they have never enjoyed. The heavens will shower over them bountifully and the earth will not leave any vegetation but to bring it forth.”
Mahdi is a chief of Paradise
Anas Ibne Malik says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “We, the sons of Abdul Muttalib are the chiefs of Paradise: I, my brother Ali, my uncle, Hamzah, Ja’far, Hasan, Husayn and the Mahdi.”
Mahdi’s kingdom
Abu Hurayra says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “If there should not remain but one night for the world, a man from my Household will rule therein.”
Mahdi’s caliphate
Thawban says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “Three men, all of them sons of a caliph, will be killed before your treasure, which will not go to anyone of them. Then black standards will come and they will massacre them, a massacre never done by any nation. Then the Caliph of God, the Mahdi, will come. When you hear him, come to him and pledge allegiance to him, for he is the Caliph of God, the Mahdi.”
Pledging allegiance to Mahdi
Thawban says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “Black standards will come from the east. As if their hearts are iron ingots. Whoever hears about them must come to them and pledge them allegiance, even if they have to crawl over ice.”
Mahdi will bring the hearts together
Amirul Momineen (as) says, I said, “O Messenger of Allah, is the Mahdi from us Ahle Bayt (as) or from the others?” He said, “Rather, he is ours. Allah will complete the religion through him, as He opened it through us. Through us, they are rescued from mischief, as they were rescued from polytheism. Through us, Allah will bring their hearts together as brothers after the hostility of mischief, as He brought them together as brothers in their religion after the hostility of polytheism.” 35. No use of living after the Mahdi: Abdullah Ibne Masud says The Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “Even if there should not remain for this world but a single night, Allah will prolong that night until a man from my Household becomes the ruler. His name is like my name and his father’s name is like my father’s. He will fill it with equity and justice as it will be beset by oppression and tyranny. He will distribute wealth equally. Allah will cast contentment in the hearts of this Ummah. He will rule for seven or nine years. There is no pleasure in life after the Mahdi.”
No use of living after the Mahdi
Abdullah Ibne Masud says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “Even if there should not remain for this world but a single night, Allah will prolong that night until a man from my Household becomes the ruler. His name is like my name and his father’s name is like my father’s. (Read the response to this point)He will fill it with equity and justice as it will be beset by oppression and tyranny. He will distribute wealth equally. Allah will cast contentment in the hearts of this Ummah. He will rule for seven or nine years. There is no pleasure in life after the Mahdi.”
His conquest of Constantinople
Abu Hurayra says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “The Hour shall not rise until a man from my Household rules over. He will conquer Constantinople and Mount Dailam. Even if there should not remain but one day from the tenure of this world, Allah will prolong that day until he conquers it.”
He will appear after tyrant rulers
Qais Ibne Jabir narrates from his father, from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “After me there will be caliphs, and after the caliphs emirs, and after the emirs tyrant kings. Then a man from my Household will rise who will fill the earth with justice after it will be beset with tyranny.”
Isa (as) prays behind him
Abu Saeed Khudri says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “Ours is the one that Isa Ibne Maryam will pray behind him.”
He converses with Isa bin Maryam (as)
Jabir Ibne Abdullah Ansari says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “Isa Ibne Maryam (as) will descend. Their leader, the Mahdi will say, ‘Come lead our prayers.’ He will say, ‘Behold, there is a certain leader over us, as a token of dignity from Allah, the Exalted, for this Ummah.”
Abdullah Ibne Abbas says that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) said, “Never shall perish an Ummah in the beginning of which I am, in the end of which is Isa Ibne Maryam and at the middle of which is the Mahdi.”
- Books of Ahle Sunnah about Imam Mahdi (as)
- Mahdi in Sihah Sitta – Part I | Part II | Part III