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The hadiths of our Prophet (saas) contain a great deal of detailed information and signs about the End Times that will take place close to Doomsday. According to the information imparted by our Prophet (saas), a great many significant events will take place one after the other at that time. In the first stage of the End Times there will be great corruption and chaos on Earth, and in the second stage peace and security will prevail as people begin living by true religious moral values.
In the first stage of the End Times there will be terrible degeneration and chaos among people because of various philosophical systems that inculcate atheism and irreligion by their refusal to accept the existence of Almighty Allah (God). Humanity will turn away from the purpose behind its creation, leading to enormous spiritual emptiness and moral degeneration. There will be terrible disasters, wars and famines, and all people will seek the answer to the question, How can we be saved? in order to bring these troubles to an end. The majority of these developments related as portents of the End Times in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) have taken place in our time, just as reported. The recent growing rise in war and conflict, terror, violence, anarchy and chaos, slaughter and torture are a sign that the first stage of the End Times is now taking place.
According to the information in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), Allah will rescue people from the chaos of the End Times after this period of darkness and bestow a great salvation upon them. Allah will make the Mahdi, in other words a servant with superior moral values and who bears the title of he who leads to the truth, lead people who have turned their backs on proper moral values and societies that have suffered degeneration to the true path. By the will of Allah, the Mahdi will enable humanity to live by true Qur’anic moral values by ridding Islam of all corruption and superstition. In the first stage of the End Times, he will resolve all the chaos, social problems and societal difficulties facing humanity and will be a means whereby happiness, peace, security and proper moral values prevail over the entire world.
THE SPIRITUAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE MAHDI
Various features of the Mahdi are described in several of the hadiths of our Prophet (saas). The spiritual attributes of the Mahdi that we shall be examining in the light of these hadiths are all important guides to our being able to recognize this great individual of the End Times.
In these hadiths that we are looking at, our Prophet (saas) provides a great deal of descriptive information about the spiritual attributes of the Mahdi. He has reported that the Mahdi’s moral values resemble his own, and praised his fear of Allah and moral virtues. Our Prophet (saas) stated that the Mahdi would be a very valuable personage who would be a means whereby people attain salvation in this world and in the Hereafter. He also told people to abide by him even if it means crawling over snow when the Mahdi appears.
The period we are living in is the period awaited for the last fourteen hundred years, when this historic event related by our Prophet (saas) has drawn near. All Muslims who are aware of this fact and who wish to attain the honor of being at the Mahdi’s side when he appears must carefully read the information described throughout this article and imparted in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), and must grasp all means of accurately identifying this holy individual. Because the careful study and examination of this information will, by Allah’s leave, be a guide to the recognition of this holy personage.
There can be no doubt that preparing the ground for and assisting such a holy individual who will be a means whereby Islam returns to its true essence and Qur’anic moral values prevail over all the world is an important responsibility for Muslims. Being one of those close to such a blessed individual as the Mahdi, being able to support him and being able to help in his work aimed at the benefit of all humanity is a great blessing and honor for all believers.
The Mahdi is a holy personage, the tidings of whose sending in the End Times have been imparted by our Prophet (saas), who will free Muslims from a climate of oppression and trouble, who will eliminate the strife on Earth and bring peace, justice, plenty, happiness and well-being to all the world. According to reliable accounts transmitted from our Prophet (saas), the Mahdi will restore the faith, which has been turned away from its true essence with various superstitious beliefs and practices, to that original nature, will meet with the Prophet ‘Isa (as), and will, by Allah’s leave, be a means whereby the moral values of Islam, the one true faith, come to prevail over the whole world.
He Will Be A Fighter
According to what we are told in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), the Mahdi will be a role model for all believers, both with his superior moral values and with his powerful, fighter character:
The more a person fears Allah, the closer he draws to Him. That is because fear of Allah brings with it the devotion and love felt for Almighty Allah. As is stated in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), the fear of Allah possessed by the Mahdi will be exceedingly powerful:
Almighty Allah has dispatched many emissaries throughout history. It is reported in the Qur’an that the emissaries possess excellent moral values. In the verse, “Indeed you are truly vast in character.” (Surat al-Qalam, 4), it is reported that our Prophet Muhammad (saas) possessed superior moral virtues. As we are told in the hadiths, the Mahdi, a holy envoy of Allah, will also possess this attribute:
Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Ali Said:
He Will Be Greatly Loved by All
The measure that believers observe in loving someone is that person’s closeness to, love and fear of and devotion to Allah. For that reason, whoever most manifests the titles of our Lord that is the person who is most loved and respected by believers. Indeed, the envoys were people who most manifested the titles of Almighty Allah and who exhibited the highest virtues in terms of faith. Our Prophet (saas) has indicated that the Mahdi will be the best-loved individual of the age during the End Times:
Allah will place his [Mahdi’s] love in people’s hearts. This way they will be a community who become lions during the day and spend their nights in worship. (Ukayli “En-Necmu’s-sakıb fi Bayanı Anna’l Mahdi min Avladı Ali ibn Abu Talib Ala’t-Tamam va’l Kamal”)
The people of the earth and heavens, and even the birds in the sky will assent to his caliphate. (Al-Khavlu’l Mukhtasar Fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 29)
He Will Be the Most Auspicious of the Time
The world, which will be in a state of chaos in the period when the Mahdi appears, will begin experiencing an enlightened age by means of him. Through him, much that is auspicious will take place. It is reported in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) that the Mahdi will be the most auspicious person of the age:
The hadiths below concerning the power of the Mahdi’s message are interpreted in different ways in addition to their apparent meanings. One of these interpretations may take this form: By turning to someone who is compared to a dry tree and being a means whereby they come to the truth, the Mahdi will make this person, who was formerly of no use to his surroundings, just like a dry tree, useful to his surroundings, like a tree that has flourished and borne fruit, in other words to his state, nation, faith and all of humanity.
When the Mahdi plants a dry tree, the tree will immediately turn green and sprout. (Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 43)
He (the Mahdi) will plant a dry seed in a dry land, and it will at once turn green and sprout. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 165)
Similarly, it is reported in the hadiths below that someone who was previously ignorant, parsimonious and timid will become generous and courageous in the End Times through the message and teaching of the Mahdi, and that he will change his character, just like a tree that was formerly dry and unproductive flourishing and bearing leaves:
It is reported in the hadiths that the Mahdi will have a special power bestowed on him by Allah:
1. He has foresight
2. He understands the Holy Book
3. He knows the meaning of the verses
4. He knows the condition and actions of the people he will appoint
5. He remains compassionate and just even when angered
6. He knows the classes of entities
7. He knows the hidden sides of matters
8. He has a good understanding of people’s needs
9. He knows the secret knowledge particularly needed in his own time.
He Preserves the Truth in the Face of Oppressors
Hafiz Abu Abdullah Nuaym ibn Hammad has reported from Jafar ibn Yasar A-sami in his book Fiten:
In the first stage of the End Times there will be terrible degeneration and chaos among people because of various philosophical systems that inculcate atheism and irreligion by their refusal to accept the existence of Almighty Allah (God). Humanity will turn away from the purpose behind its creation, leading to enormous spiritual emptiness and moral degeneration. There will be terrible disasters, wars and famines, and all people will seek the answer to the question, How can we be saved? in order to bring these troubles to an end. The majority of these developments related as portents of the End Times in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) have taken place in our time, just as reported. The recent growing rise in war and conflict, terror, violence, anarchy and chaos, slaughter and torture are a sign that the first stage of the End Times is now taking place.
According to the information in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), Allah will rescue people from the chaos of the End Times after this period of darkness and bestow a great salvation upon them. Allah will make the Mahdi, in other words a servant with superior moral values and who bears the title of he who leads to the truth, lead people who have turned their backs on proper moral values and societies that have suffered degeneration to the true path. By the will of Allah, the Mahdi will enable humanity to live by true Qur’anic moral values by ridding Islam of all corruption and superstition. In the first stage of the End Times, he will resolve all the chaos, social problems and societal difficulties facing humanity and will be a means whereby happiness, peace, security and proper moral values prevail over the entire world.
THE SPIRITUAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE MAHDI
Various features of the Mahdi are described in several of the hadiths of our Prophet (saas). The spiritual attributes of the Mahdi that we shall be examining in the light of these hadiths are all important guides to our being able to recognize this great individual of the End Times.
In these hadiths that we are looking at, our Prophet (saas) provides a great deal of descriptive information about the spiritual attributes of the Mahdi. He has reported that the Mahdi’s moral values resemble his own, and praised his fear of Allah and moral virtues. Our Prophet (saas) stated that the Mahdi would be a very valuable personage who would be a means whereby people attain salvation in this world and in the Hereafter. He also told people to abide by him even if it means crawling over snow when the Mahdi appears.
The period we are living in is the period awaited for the last fourteen hundred years, when this historic event related by our Prophet (saas) has drawn near. All Muslims who are aware of this fact and who wish to attain the honor of being at the Mahdi’s side when he appears must carefully read the information described throughout this article and imparted in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), and must grasp all means of accurately identifying this holy individual. Because the careful study and examination of this information will, by Allah’s leave, be a guide to the recognition of this holy personage.
There can be no doubt that preparing the ground for and assisting such a holy individual who will be a means whereby Islam returns to its true essence and Qur’anic moral values prevail over all the world is an important responsibility for Muslims. Being one of those close to such a blessed individual as the Mahdi, being able to support him and being able to help in his work aimed at the benefit of all humanity is a great blessing and honor for all believers.
The Mahdi is a holy personage, the tidings of whose sending in the End Times have been imparted by our Prophet (saas), who will free Muslims from a climate of oppression and trouble, who will eliminate the strife on Earth and bring peace, justice, plenty, happiness and well-being to all the world. According to reliable accounts transmitted from our Prophet (saas), the Mahdi will restore the faith, which has been turned away from its true essence with various superstitious beliefs and practices, to that original nature, will meet with the Prophet ‘Isa (as), and will, by Allah’s leave, be a means whereby the moral values of Islam, the one true faith, come to prevail over the whole world.
He Will Be A Fighter
According to what we are told in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), the Mahdi will be a role model for all believers, both with his superior moral values and with his powerful, fighter character:
The Mahdi will be dedicated to his work. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 175)
The Mahdi will perform his duties scrupulously and will not go back on his word. (The Book of Portents of the Mahdi of the End Times, p. 24)
The Mahdi will appear from the East. Even if mountains rise up before him he will crush and cross them, and he will find a path for himself in those mountains. (The Book of Portents of the Awaited Mahdi, p. 39)
He Will Fear AllahThe Mahdi will perform his duties scrupulously and will not go back on his word. (The Book of Portents of the Mahdi of the End Times, p. 24)
The Mahdi will appear from the East. Even if mountains rise up before him he will crush and cross them, and he will find a path for himself in those mountains. (The Book of Portents of the Awaited Mahdi, p. 39)
The more a person fears Allah, the closer he draws to Him. That is because fear of Allah brings with it the devotion and love felt for Almighty Allah. As is stated in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), the fear of Allah possessed by the Mahdi will be exceedingly powerful:
Mahdi is a person who, as the shaking of a bird’s wings, has a deep fear for Allah. (The Book of Portents of the Awaited Mahdi of the End Times [Al- Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar], p. 23)
His Maintenance and Observance of the Bounds Set by Allah
Even a word uttered against Islam offends his feelings. (Ibn Hajar Al-Makki, “Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar”, p. 15-75)
He Will Be Virtuous
Almighty Allah has dispatched many emissaries throughout history. It is reported in the Qur’an that the emissaries possess excellent moral values. In the verse, “Indeed you are truly vast in character.” (Surat al-Qalam, 4), it is reported that our Prophet Muhammad (saas) possessed superior moral virtues. As we are told in the hadiths, the Mahdi, a holy envoy of Allah, will also possess this attribute:
Mahdi is extremely submissive towards Allah. In moral terms, he is like the Prophet (saas). (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p.163)
A child of mine whose morality is similar to me will emerge. (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 21)
He Will Behave JustlyA child of mine whose morality is similar to me will emerge. (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 21)
Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Ali Said:
“When the Mahdi from our Ahl al-Bayt emerges, he will distribute the goods equally. He treats the people justly. Whoever submits him, he would submit to Allah. He is named as the Mahdi. That is because He will guide to a secret (unknown) deed.”
(Mer’iy ibn Yusuf ibn Abu Bakr ibn Ahmad ibn Yusuf al-Makhdi, “Faraidu Fawaidil Fikri fi Imamil Mahdi al-Muntadhar”)
Just as how the earth was full of cruelty and injustice, Mahdi will fill it with justice and righteousness. (Ali Ibn Sultan Muhammad al Qaari “Risalat Mashrab al Vardi fi Mazhabi’l Mahdi)(Mer’iy ibn Yusuf ibn Abu Bakr ibn Ahmad ibn Yusuf al-Makhdi, “Faraidu Fawaidil Fikri fi Imamil Mahdi al-Muntadhar”)
He Will Be Greatly Loved by All
The measure that believers observe in loving someone is that person’s closeness to, love and fear of and devotion to Allah. For that reason, whoever most manifests the titles of our Lord that is the person who is most loved and respected by believers. Indeed, the envoys were people who most manifested the titles of Almighty Allah and who exhibited the highest virtues in terms of faith. Our Prophet (saas) has indicated that the Mahdi will be the best-loved individual of the age during the End Times:
Allah (c.c.) will fill all people’s hearts with his (Mahdi’s) love. (Al-Khavlu’l Mukhtasar Fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 42)
No individual who will not be pleased with the ummah of the Muhammad will remain. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 163)
Abu Abdullah Nuaym ibn Hammad related from Abdullah ibn Masud as follows: No individual who will not be pleased with the ummah of the Muhammad will remain. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 163)
Allah will place his [Mahdi’s] love in people’s hearts. This way they will be a community who become lions during the day and spend their nights in worship. (Ukayli “En-Necmu’s-sakıb fi Bayanı Anna’l Mahdi min Avladı Ali ibn Abu Talib Ala’t-Tamam va’l Kamal”)
The people of the earth and heavens, and even the birds in the sky will assent to his caliphate. (Al-Khavlu’l Mukhtasar Fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 29)
He Will Be the Most Auspicious of the Time
The world, which will be in a state of chaos in the period when the Mahdi appears, will begin experiencing an enlightened age by means of him. Through him, much that is auspicious will take place. It is reported in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) that the Mahdi will be the most auspicious person of the age:
Join the person who is the most auspicious of the ummah of the Muhammad and your guardian who removes the difficulties…He is the Mahdi. (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 57)
He will be the most auspicious of his time. (Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 27)
Mahdi is the most auspicious of the people (in his time.) (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, s. 58) “Mahdi is the most auspicious of people.” (Ali ibn Sultan Muhammad al-Khari al-Hanafi “Risalatul Mashrab alvardi fi mazhabil Mahdi”)
The Power of His MessageHe will be the most auspicious of his time. (Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 27)
Mahdi is the most auspicious of the people (in his time.) (Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, s. 58) “Mahdi is the most auspicious of people.” (Ali ibn Sultan Muhammad al-Khari al-Hanafi “Risalatul Mashrab alvardi fi mazhabil Mahdi”)
The hadiths below concerning the power of the Mahdi’s message are interpreted in different ways in addition to their apparent meanings. One of these interpretations may take this form: By turning to someone who is compared to a dry tree and being a means whereby they come to the truth, the Mahdi will make this person, who was formerly of no use to his surroundings, just like a dry tree, useful to his surroundings, like a tree that has flourished and borne fruit, in other words to his state, nation, faith and all of humanity.
When the Mahdi plants a dry tree, the tree will immediately turn green and sprout. (Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 43)
He (the Mahdi) will plant a dry seed in a dry land, and it will at once turn green and sprout. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 165)
Similarly, it is reported in the hadiths below that someone who was previously ignorant, parsimonious and timid will become generous and courageous in the End Times through the message and teaching of the Mahdi, and that he will change his character, just like a tree that was formerly dry and unproductive flourishing and bearing leaves:
In his age, an ignorant, parsimonious and timid man will immediately become learned, generous and courageous. (Portents of the Last Day, Barzanji, p. 186)
His Wisdom and Power of Understanding
It is reported in the hadiths that the Mahdi will have a special power bestowed on him by Allah:
He is called the Mahdi, for he is the holder of a secret power nobody is able to know. (The Portents of the Mahdi of the End Times, Ali ibn Husamaddin Al Muttakhi, Kahraman Publishing House. p. 77)
Muhyiddin Arabi, one of the great Islamic scholars, has set out in his works nine of the main noteworthy characteristics of the Mahdi:
1. He has foresight
2. He understands the Holy Book
3. He knows the meaning of the verses
4. He knows the condition and actions of the people he will appoint
5. He remains compassionate and just even when angered
6. He knows the classes of entities
7. He knows the hidden sides of matters
8. He has a good understanding of people’s needs
9. He knows the secret knowledge particularly needed in his own time.
He Preserves the Truth in the Face of Oppressors
Hafiz Abu Abdullah Nuaym ibn Hammad has reported from Jafar ibn Yasar A-sami in his book Fiten:
The Mahdi will defend the truth against the oppressors. Indeed, he will extract the molar tooth (anything unjustly held) of a (cruel) person and restore it to its rightful owner. (An-Nacmu’s-Saqib fi Bayanı Anna’l Mahdi min Avladı Ali b. Abu Talib Ale’t-Temam ve’l Qamal)
The Surveillance – Following – of the Mahdi
When the Dajjal appears, a person among the believers (the Mahdi) turns against him. Then, many armed men, those armed men charged with surveillance in Dajjal’s headquarters oppose him. (Muslim, related from v. 11/s. 393)
At the beginning of the hadiths it is reported that the Mahdi will be subjected to surveillance by the supporters of the Dajjal. We also learn from the Qur’an that some prophets struggling on the path of Allah had also been subjected to surveillance in earlier periods, and that the aim had been to thus keep them under control:
He is nothing but a man possessed so wait a while and see what happens to him. (Surat al-Muminun, 25)