Prophecies About Imam Mahdi (as) in Ahle Sunnah

Holy Prophet (sawa) has prophesied about several events that will occur just before the advent of the Day of Judgment. Among these, he (sawa) foretold the advent of Imam Mahdi (as), which will materialize when the believers are severely oppressed in every corner of the world. Imam Mahdi (as) will fight oppressors, unite Muslims, bring peace and justice to the world, rule over Arabs, and lead a prayer in Makkah at which Hazrat Isa (as) will be present.

Throughout the history of Islam, a few individuals — driven either by the desperate state of Muslims in their community or a selfish pursuit of power and prestige — laid claim to being Mahdi and found a following among the uninformed masses who were looking for salvation from the heavens. For some of these individuals (like Bab of Iran or Mirza Ghulam of India) the claim to being Mahdi was just a stepping stone to the development of heretic sects which broke away from the fold of Islam.

Therefore it is important to visit the aspects of this prophecy and avoid falling pray to false claimants that will appear from time to time.

Imam Mahdi (as) is from the Family of the Prophet (sawa)

Abdullah bin Masood reports that the Prophet (sawa) said, The world will not come to pass until a man from among my family, whose name will be my name, rules over the Arabs. (Tirmidhi Sahih volume 9 page 74; Abu Dawud, Sahih volume 5 page 207; also narrated by Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abu Said, Umm Salma, Abu Hurayra)

Holy Prophet (sawa) said, Allah will bring out from concealment the Mahdi (as) from my family and just before the day of Judgment; even if only one day were to remain in the life of the world, and he will spread on this earth justice and equity and will eradicate tyranny and oppression. (Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal volume 1 page 99)

Ameerul Momeneen (as) narrates that Holy Prophet (sawa) said, Even if only a day remains for Qiyamah to come, yet Allah will surely send a man from my family who will fill this world with such justice and fairness, just as it initially was filled with oppression. (Abu Dawood)

Imam Ali (as) related a tradition from the Prophet (sawa) who informed him, The promised Mahdi will be among my family. God will make the provisions for his emergence within a single night. (Ibn Majah, Sahih volume 2 page 519)

Hazrat Umme Salma, Prophet’s wife, narrates that she heard the Prophet (sawa) say, The promised Mahdi will be among my progeny, among the descendants of Fatemah. (Abu Dawud, Sahih volume 2 page 207; Ibn Majah, Sahih volume 2 page 519)

Holy Prophet (sawa) announced, The Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatemah (the Prophet’s daughter). (Sunan Ibn Majah volume 2 tradition no. 4086)

The Prophet (sawa) taught, The Mahdi is one of us, the members of the household (Ahlul-Bayt). (Sunan Ibn Majah volume 2 tradition no. 4085)

Imam Mahdi will fill the earth with justice and equality

Abu Saeed Khudri narrated that the Prophet (sawa) said Our Mahdi will have a broad forehead and a pointed (prominent) nose. He will fill the earth with justice as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will rule for seven years. (Abu Dawud, Sahih volume 2 page 208; Fusul Al-Muhimma page 275)

Abu Saeed Khudri relates that Holy Prophet (sawa) said, Al Mahdi will be from my progeny. His forehead will be broad and his nose will be high. He will fill the world with justice and fairness at a time when the world will be filled with oppression. He will rule for seven years.

Hazrat Umme Salmah narrates that Holy Prophet (sawa) said, After the death of a Ruler there will be some dispute between the people. At that time a citizen of Madina will flee (from Madina) and go to Makkah. While in Makkah, certain people will approach him between Hajarul Aswad and Maqaame Ibrahim, and forcefully pledge their allegiance to him.

Thereafter a huge army will proceed from Syria to attack him but when they will be at Bayza, which is between Makkah and Madina, they will be swallowed into the ground.

On seeing this, the Abdaals of Shaam as well as large numbers of people from Iraq will come to him and pledge their allegiance to him. Then a person from the Quraysh, whose uncle will be from the Bani Kalb tribe will send an army to attack him, only to be overpowered, by the will of Allah. This (defeated) army will be that of the Bani Kalb. Unfortunate indeed is he who does not receive a share from the booty of the Kalb. This person (Imam Mahdi) will distribute the spoils of war after the battle. He will lead the people according to the Sunnah and during his reign Islam will spread throughout the world. He will remain till seven years (since his emergence). He will pass away and the Muslims will perform his Janazah salah. (Abu Dawood)

Hazrat Isa (as) will pray behind Imam Mahdi (as)

Holy Prophet (sawa) said A group of my Ummah will fight for the truth until near the day of judgment when Isa, the son of Mary, will descend, and the leader of them will ask him to lead the prayer, but Isa (as) will decline saying, No, Verily, among you Allah has made leaders for others and He has bestowed his bounty upon them. (Sahih Muslim)

It is reported from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet (sawa) said, What will be your reaction when the son of Mary (Isa) descends and your Imam is from among yourselves? (Sahih Muslim, Bab Nuzul isa volume 2; Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Bad Al-Khalq Wa Nuzul Isa volume 4)

Holy Prophet (sawa) said, What would be your situation if the son of Mary (Isa) descends upon you and your Imam is from among you? (Bukhari, Kitabul-Anbiya, Chapter Nuzul Isa bin Maryam)

According to these reliable, authentic, and universally accepted narrations, Imam Mahdi (as) will:

Be from among the family of Prophet (sawa), among the descendants of Fatemah (sa)
Have a broad forehead and pointed nose
Appear in a single night
Appear just before the day of judgment
Have same name as Holy Prophet (sawa)
Migrate from Madina to Makkah where people will pledge allegiance to him
Receive pledge and help of Iraqi people
Fight in battles
Rule over the Arabs for seven years according to Sunnah
Spread justice and equity on earth
Eradicate tyranny and oppression
Lead a prayer in Makkah which Isa (as) will follow
NOT be the same individual as the Promised Messiah (Isa).

Some more traditions from books of Shiah and Ahle Sunnah

Holy Prophet (sawa) said, The world will not come to an end until a man from my family (Ahlul Bayt), who will be called the Mahdi, emerges to rule upon my community. (Beharul Anwar volume 51 page 75; Isbatul Huda volume 1 page 9)

Umme Salmah, the wife of the Prophet, has related a tradition of the Prophet (sawa), Mahdi will be among my progeny, among the children of Fatemah (sa). (Beharul Anwar volume 51 page 75)

Holy Prophet (sawa) said, The world will not come to an end until a man from the descendants of Hussain takes charge of the affairs of the world and fills it with justice and equity as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. (Beharul Anwar volume 51 page 66)

Abu al-Hujaf quotes the Prophet (sawa) saying three times, Listen to the good news about the Mahdi! He will rise at the time when people will be faced with severe conflict and the earth will be hit by a violent quake. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will fill the hearts of his followers with devotion and will spread justice everywhere. (Beharul Anwar volume 51 page 74)

Ameerul Momeneen (as) said, I asked the Prophet (sawa), Is Mahdi going to be among our own family or from some other? He replied: He will be among us. God will conclude His religion through him, just as He began it with us. It will be through us that people will find refuge from sedition, just as it was through us that they were saved from polytheism. Moreover, it will be through us that God will bring their hearts together in brotherhood following the animosity sown by the sedition, just as they were brought together in brotherhood in their religion after the animosity sown by polytheism. (Beharul Anwar volume 51 page 84; Isbatul Huda volume 7 page 191)

Abu Saeed Khudri narrated that Prophet (sawa) said, Severe calamity from the direction of their ruler will befall my people during the Last Days. It will be a calamity which, in severity, shall be unprecedented. It will be so violent that the earth with injustice and corruption will shrivel for its inhabitants. The believers will not find refuge from oppression. At that time God will send a man from my family to fill the earth with justice and equity just as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. The dwellers of the heavens and the earth will be pleased with him. The earth will bring forth all that grows for him, and the heavens will pour down rains in abundance. He will live among the people for seven or nine years. From all the good that God will bestow on the inhabitants of the earth, the dead will wish to come to life again. (Ibn Hajar, al-Sawaiq al-Muharriqa page 161; Yanabiul Mawaddah volume 2 page 177)

Abu Hurayra narrated on behalf of the Prophet (sawa), People will pay allegiance to the Mahdi between rukn and maqam (in Makkah). (Ibn Tawus, Kitab al-Malahim Wal Fitan page 64)

According to these traditions, Imam Mahdi will:

Be from the family of Prophet (sawa) and descend from Husayn (as), son of Fatemah (sa)
Appear at the end of time;
Appear when earth is filled with injustice and tyranny and believers are severely oppressed
Appear when a severe earthquake will occur and green grass will grow (presumably in Arabia)
Fill the earth with justice and equity
Spread brotherhood, equity, and devotion among Muslims
Rule over Muslim community, according to Hadith, for seven or nine years
Live and act with the qualities of the Holy Prophet (sawa)

Mahdi in Sihah Sitta – Part I | Part II | Part III

Read more about Imam Mahdi in the Ahle Sunnah