Maxims of Imam Mahdi
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Compiled by:
Engineer Afsaneh Cooper
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| Brief Mahdi Article.pdf |
| Mahdi.pdf |
A Brief Conclusion to the World Crisis, Injustice and
dictatorship
Imam Mahdi - Song
313+Mahdi & Fatimah-Song
Imam Al-Ridha said: Among the signs of the relief [Imam Maddi's Appearance] is an event which will occur between the two mosques. Some one will kill 15 leaders of the Arabs - Video
The outcome of Allah's gracious handiwork shall be benign for them as long as they avoid (committing) the prohibited sins. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.53, P.177)
We are neither negligent of caring for you nor forgetful of you; and if it were not for that, hardship would have befallen you and the enemies would have massacred you, so fear God and support us. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.53, P.175)
And as for the recent occurrences, turn to the relaters of our Hadiths for they are my proof upon you, and I am Allah's proof upon them. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.53, P.181)
Let everyone of you do what ingratiates him with us and avoid what arises our aversion and displeasure with him. (Al-Ihtijaj, by al-Tabrasy Ch.2, P.324)
O Allah, fulfil your promise to me, complete my rule for me, increase my force and fill earth by me with justice and fairness. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.51, P.31)
I bear witness that there is no god but He-and the angels, and men possessed of knowledge- upholding justice; there is no god but He the All-mighty, the All-wise; the true religion with Allah is Islam. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.51, P.16)
I am Allah's Remainder (representative) in His earth, and the avenger on His enemies. (Tafseer Noor al-Thaqalayn Ch.2, P.392)
Our hearts are receptacles for Allah's will, so that if He wills we comply. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.52, P.51)
Were it not for our desire to see you righteous and the mercy and pity we feel for you, we would have been too occupied to address you. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.53, P.179)
I am al-Mahdi (the guided one), I am the imam of the time and I am the one who fills it (earth) with justice just as it was filled with injustice and tyranny. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.52, P.2)
The oppressors alleged that Allah's proof is invalid, and if we were permitted to speak out, the uncertainty would disappear. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.51, P.4)
We have comprehensive knowledge of your news, and not a thing of it escapes us. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.53, P.175)
The faith is Muhammad's (his assignment), may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him and his household; and guidance is `Ali's, the Commander of The Believers, may peace be upon him, because it is meant for him and will remain in his descendants until the Day of Resurrection. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.53, P.160)
And whoso oppresses us will be one of those who wrong us, and Allah's curse shall rest upon him because of the Almighty's saying, “Surely, Allah's curse shall rest upon the wrongdoers". (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.53, P.182)
If Allah permits us to speak, the truth would emerge and falsehood would vanish and be pulled away from you. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.25, P.183)
And in the Prophet's daughter, may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him and his household, there is a good example. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.53, P.180)
So fear God and submit to us, refer the matter to us, because we are the ones who execute Allah’s commands as we were the ones who received them; do not try to uncover what was concealed form you and make your intention to love us according to the clear way. (Bihar al-Anwar Ch.53, P.179)
No manifestation but after Allah's permission, and that will be after the passing of a long term, the hardening of the hearts and the filling of earth with tyranny. (alehtejaj Ch.2, P.478)
There will come to my devotees those who will claim seeing (me). Verily, whosoever claims the seeing before the rising of al-Sofiany and the Cry, is a liar and a forger; and there is no power except with Almighty Allah. (alehtejaj Ch.2, P.478)
1. And through me shall Allah, the Mighty and Glorious, drive away the calamities from my
progeny and my Shia’s". (Bihar, V,52, P.30)
2. "Surely, I am indeed the (cause of) security for the inhabitant of the earth". (Bihar, V 53 p181).
3. "When Allah permits us to speak, truth will prevail and falsehood will vanish". (Bihar, V.53, p 196).
4. "Invoke more for the hastening of the re-appearance, for surely this is your safety". (Bihar).
5. "There were none of my fore fathers except that the allegiance of the oppressive rulers of their times was
in their necks". (i.e. the previous Imams were forced to pay allegiance).
6. "As for deriving benefit from me in my occultation is like deriving benefit from the sun when it hides
behind the clouds". (Bihar, V.53, p 181).
7. "And surely on my re-appearance, whenever I reappear, there will be no allegiance in my neck
of any of the oppressive tyrants". (Bihar. V,53, p 181)
8. "If any incident occurs (now) then refer for it to the narrators of our traditions. For surely,
they are my proof on you and I am the proof of Allah upon them". (Bihar, V. 53, p 181).
9. "For surely our knowledge encompasses information about you and none of your news is concealed from
us". (Bihar, V. 53, p 175)
10. "Surely, we do not neglect your conditions nor are we forgetful of your remembrance". (Bihar, V. 53,
p 175).
11. "Then each one of you should do those deeds which bring you closer to our love". (Bihar, V.
53, p 176).
12. "And you must refrain from (all such acts) which make you nearer to our displeasure and our
anger" (Bihar 53/176).
13. "As for your wealth, we shall not accept it except that it should be purified (halaal). Then whoever wants,
he can associate (with us) and whoever wants, he can sever". (Bihar, V 53 p 180).
14. "Whoever eats from our wealth (i.e. Khums) even an iota then he is taking fire in his abdomen
and soon shall he be castled in it". (Bihar V.53, p 183).
15. "Allah’s, the Mighty and the Glorious, Destinies are not overpowered, and His intentions are
not rejected, and His Grace is not left behind". (Bihar 53/191).
16. "Seeking knowledge through any other means than us Ahle’Bait, tantamount to denial
(in our mastership)". (Kitab Deen-o-Fitrat: Vol – 1)".
17. "(Allah) sent Mohammad (s.a.w.s) as a mercy unto the worlds and completed his bounties
through him" (Bihar ,53/194).
18. "And He sealed through him (Mohammad S.A) His prophets and sent him to the whole of
mankind"(Bihar 53/194).
19. "Certainly there is no (physical) relationship between Allah, Mighty and Glorious be He and
anybody else". (Bihar 53/180)
20. "If you seek guidance you will be guided and if you search, you will find (the path)". (Kamaluddin Vol 2.
P502).
21. "Surely the truth is with us and in us and non can say like this except us. And if any one says
then he is a liar a deceiver. None claims thus other than us except a strayed and lost one.
22. "If our Shias (May Allah give them opportunity of obedience) would be firm on their promises wholeheartedly, our meeting would not be delayed".
Imam (a.s)’s address to his Shi'as:
"Then everyone of you shall act in a manner which makes him nearer to our love and refrain from those acts which makes him proximate to our dislike and our anger. For surely, our affair (re-appearance) will be sudden and unexpected when neither repentance shall benefit him nor shall remorse from sins save him from our chastisement".
"Nothing shall keep us away from the (Shias) except their news to us of those things which we dislike and do not expect from them. And Allah is the Helper.
The Qur'an says: "We sent forth Noah to his people, and he dwelt amongst them for one thousand years, less fifty." (29:14)
The Prophet (SAW) has been quoted as saying: "Isa (PBUH) the Son of Mary is not dead. Rather, before the Day of Resurrection, he will come back to you."
The late Allama Tabarsi says that the Prophet (SAW) has been quoted as saying: "How will it be when Isa, Son of Mary descends among you, when your Imam Mahdi (AS) has risen from among you." (Al-Bukhari, Isma'il ibn Ibrahim, Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 205. Abul-Hussain, Muslim ibn Al-Hajjaj, Sahih Al-Muslim, vol. 1, p. 94)
The Need for Intercession in Seeking Divine Grace:
A very important issue to refer to here is the need for intercession in seeking Divine Grace. We read in the Qur'an:
"O you who believe! Have fear of Allah and seek the means by which you get His favor." (5:35)
Sheikh Saduq quotes Sulaiman ibn Ja'afar as saying: "I asked Imam Reza (AS). Will the earth ever be devoid of a sign of God?"
The Imam replied: "Even if that were to happen for as long as the blinking of an eye, the earth would cave in with all its inhabitants." (Sheikh Saduq, "Uyun-e-Akbar al-Reza", pp. 150-151)
Elsewhere he quotes Imam Baqir (AS), saying: "If the earth would be devoid of an Imam from our Household for even a single day, it would swallow in all its inhabitants. And Allah would afflict the dwellers of the earth with a severe punishment. The Lord Almighty has appointed us as this sign and for the safety of the dwellers of the earth. As long as we live among them, those who would otherwise be swallowed into the earth are in safety." (Sheikh Saduq, Kamal ad-Din wa Tamam an-Ne'ma, pp. 150-151)
Thus, in the same way that these Imams are intercessors for the True Religion, they are also the intercessors for Grace and Earthly and Heavenly abundance for mankind.
Imam Ja'far al Sadiq (A.S.) is also reported to have said:
"I see the Mahdi and his companions as if they are threatened by danger from all sides: their supplies have exhausted; their clothes have worn out; their foreheads bear the mark of prostration; during the day they are as courageous as a lion and during the night they are busy in the adoration of Allah; and their hearts are like solid pieces of iron".
Anyhow, all these sacrifices and hardships will have a happy end.
Imam Ja'far al Sadiq (A.S.) has said:
"It is true that the righteous always lead a hard life. But the end of their hardship is not far off".
Nevertheless the success of the Mahdi will be largely due to invisible Divine help. Many traditions bear witness to that.
As a result of these sacrifices and the Divine help real Islamic rule will be established. These are some of the reports which throw light on the doctrinal and social system which will follow.
Explaining the Qur'anic verse, It is Allah who sent His Messenger with guidance and true religion that He might make it victorious over all religions, howsoever the unbelievers might be averse, Imam al Sadiq (A.S.) said: "This verse will come true only during the time of the Mahdi, when the unbelievers will no longer exist".
At present Islam has been surrounded by some people with so many myths and doubts that it appears to be some different religion. This position will continue till the Mahdi rises.
Imam Ja'far al Sadiq (A.S.) has said:
"As soon as the Mahdi rises, he will introduce a new system as the Prophet had done in the beginning of Islam".
Imam Ja'far al Sadiq (A.S.) is also reported to have said:
"The Mahdi will do what the holy Prophet had done. He will smash the existing system in the same way as the holy Prophet had shattered the pre-Islamic pagan system, and replaced it by Islam".
The new system introduced by the Mahdi will be so queer to some of those who claim to be the champions of religion and to be having full knowledge of it that they will pick up a row against him but they will not be able to resist the divine world movement and will be annihilated.
At the end of a detailed talk, Imam Baqir (A.S.) said:
"On an occasion when the Mahdi will be busy narrating Divine commands and speaking about the practice of the holy Prophet and the Imams, an attack on him will be arranged from within the places of worship. The Imam will order his followers to arrest the insurgents and put them to death. This will be the last hostile action against the Mahdi".
When the evil-doers will have been crushed and the correct Islamic attitude popularised, the atmosphere will become conducive to intellectual growth and expansion of knowledge.
Imam Ali (A.S.) is reported to have said:
"I see a large number of tents pitched, and people under them being taught the Qur'an in the same order in which it was revealed".
In the course of a talk about that period Imam Muhammad al Baqir (A.S.) said:
"Knowledge will become so common that even women will give decisions on the basis of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the holy Prophet".
Knowledge in various fields will expand. The total of the discoveries of the past will bear no comparison to the discoveries made during that period.
According to a report, Imam Ja'far al Sadiq (A.S.) explained the position allegorically. He said: "If the total of possible human knowledge is supposed to be seventy two letters, two letters will have been known up to that time and the remaining seventy will be discovered gradually during that period".
In respect of the intellectual and moral development of the people, Imam Muhammad al Baqir (A.S.) has said:
"When our Qaim will rise and the people will come under his protection, their intellectual faculties will bloom and their human qualities will be perfected and will bear fruit".
During that period the under-privileged masses will be the masters of the power and wealth of the world. Many reports say that the following verse relates to that period: "We willed to show favor to those who were persecuted in the land and make them rulers and heirs of the land, and give them power and wealth of the earth ". (Surah al-Qasas, 28:5).
A Signed Proclamation from Imam Mahdi (A.S.)
Though at present we are living away from the dominions of the oppressors and till the unjust rule the world, the Almighty has considered it better for us and our Shias that I stay away from them. But despite this separation, I am cognizant of all your affairs. Nothing pertaining to you is hidden from us. Whenever you experience insults, I come to know of it. This is from the time some of you began to do those acts which were shunned by your ancestors. These people have thrown behind their covenant with Allah as if it had never been made.
We are never negligent in your protection nor are we forgetful of your remembrance. (If our protection and guidance had not been there) misfortunes would have befallen you and the enemies would have destroyed you. Be fearful of Allah and help us (our cause) which will save you from the corruption that has surrounded you.
Soon, clear signs from the heavens will be manifested for you and signs will appear on the earth as well. Disastrous and sorrowful incidents will occur in the east. Thereafter, Iraq will be ruled by people who are completely away from Islam. Due to their vile deeds, the people of Iraq will experience an acute shortage of sustenance. Then after a long time, when the tyrannical rulers perish, the people of Iraq will be rescued from their difficulties. After the annihilation of the tyrants, the pious and the good people shall rejoice.
People from every corner of the world who go to perform Hajj (the annual pilgrimage) will achieve all their desires and get whatever they wish. As per their wishes, their Hajj will be made easy through our worth and position. It will be manifested in our systematic manner.
Thus each of you should perform such deeds that bring you closer to our love and avoid those acts which result in our anger and dissatisfaction. For, our reappearance will be sudden and unexpected when repentance will be of no use nor shall remorse for sinful deeds (at that time) save you from our punishment.
May Allah show you the path of true guidance and by His Mercy bestow you the means of Divine Grace (Tawfeeq).
[Tawqee of Hazrat Vali-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.) addressed to the respected Shaykh al-Mufeed (ra-)]
The Signs of the Reappearance of Imam Mahdi (A.S.)
The Signs of the Reappearance (Qiyam) of the (Imam) who undertakes the Office (Al-Qa'im), Peace be on him, the Period of Time of his Appearance, an Explanation of his Life and an Extract of what is revealed about his State.
Traditions have been reported mentioning the signs for the time of the appearance of the Imam who will arise (qa'im), peace be on him, and the events which will take place before his appearance, together with the indications and features of it. Among them are:
"The Sufaini will come out in revolt; the Hassani will be killed; the 'Abbasids will dispute over worldly kingdom; there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan; there will be an eclipse of the moon at the end of that month in contrast to ordinary happenings; the land will be swallowed up at al-Bayda'; it will be swallowed in the east; it will be swallowed up in the west; the sun will stay still from the time of its decline to the middle of the time for the afternoon prayer; it will rise from the west; a pure soul (Nafs zakiyya) will be killed in the outskirts of Kufa with seventy righteous men; a Hishimite will be slaughtered between the corner of the Ka'bah, and the station of Prophet Abraham; the wall of the mosque of Kufa will be destroyed; black standards will advance from Khurassan; al-Yamani will come out in revolt; al-Maghribi will appear in Egypt and take possession of it from Syria; the Turk will occupy the region of al-Jazira; the Byzantines will occupy Ramala; the star will appear in the east giving light just like the moon gives light; then (the new moon) will bend until its two tips almost meet; a colour will appear in the sky and spread to its horizons; a fire will appear for a long time in the east remaining in the air for three or seven days; the Arabs will throw off the reins and take possession of their land, throwing out the foreign authority; the people of Egypt will kill their ruler and destroy Syria; and three standards will dispute over it (Syria); the standards of Qays and the Arabs will come among the people of Egypt; the standards of Kinda (will go) to Khurasan; horses will come from the west until they are stabled in al-Hira; the black standards will advance towards them from the east; the Euphrates will flood so that the water comes into the alleys of Kufa; sixty liars will come forward, all of them claiming prophethood, and twelve will come forward from the family of Abu Talib, all of them claiming the Imamate; a man of important rank of the supporters of the `Abbasids will be burnt between Jalula` and Khaniqin; the bridge next to Karkhin the city of Baghdad will be established; a black wind will raise it at the beginning of the day and then an earthquake will occur so that much of it will be swallowed up; fear will cover the people of Iraq and Baghdad; swift death (will occur) there and there will be a loss of property, lives and harvests; locusts will appear at their usual times and at times not usual so that they attack agricultural land and crops and there will be little harvest for what the people planted; two kinds of foreigners will dispute and much blood will be shed in their quarrel; slaves will rebel against obedience to their masters and kill their masters (mawali); a group of heretics (ahl al-bida) will be transformed until they become monkeys and pigs; slaves will conquer the land of their masters; a cry (will come) from the sky (in such a way) that all the people will hear it in their own languages; a face and a chest will appear in the sky before the people in the centre of the sun; the dead will arise from their graves' so that they will return to the world and they will recognize one another and visit one another; that will come to an end with twenty four continuous rainstorms and the land will be revived by them after being dead and it will recognize its blessings; after that every disease will be taken away from those of the Shi`a of the Mahdi, peace be on him, who believe in the truth; at that time they will know of his appearance in Mecca and they will go to him to support him."
(These signs) are as the reports have mentioned. Among the total of these events are some which are bound (to happen) and other which are conditional. God knows best what will take place. We have only mentioned them on the basis of what is recounted in basic sources of tradition because of their inclusion in traditions which have been handed down. From God we seek help and Him do we ask for success.
Abu al-Hasan Ali b. Bilil al-Muhallabi informed me: Muhammad b. Ja'far al-Mu'addib told me on the authority of Ahmad b. Idris, on the authority of `All b. Muhammad b. Qutayba, on the authority of al-Fadl b. Shidhan, on the authority of Ismail b. al-Sabbih, who said: I heard an old man among our colleagues mention on the authority of Sayf b. Umayra, who said:
I [Sayf b. Umayra] was with Abu Ja'far al-Mansur and he said to me of his own accord: "There will certainly be a voice calling from the sky the name of a man from the descendants of Abu Talib."
"May I be your ransom, Commander of the faithful," I said, "do you relate that?"
"Indeed, by Him in Whose hands is my life," he replied, "because my own ears have heard it."
"Commander of the faithful," I said, "this tradition which you have heard is before my time."
"Sayf, it is the truth," he told me. "When it happens, we will be the first to answer it. Indeed the call will be for a man from the descendants of our uncle."
"A man from the descendants of Fatima, peace be on her?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied. "Sayf, if it was not for the fact that I have heard from Abu Ja`far Muhammad b. 'Ali (al-Baqir), who told me about it, even though all the people of the earth have told me about it, I would not accept it from them. However it was Muhammad b. `Ali (al-Baqir), peace be on them, (who told me)."
Yahya b. Abi Talib reported on the authority of Ali b. Asim, on the authority of Ata' b. al-Sa'ib, on the authority of his father on the authority of Abd Allah b. Umar, who said:
The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, said: "The hour (of the end of the world) will not arise until the Mahdi from my descendants comes forth. The Mahdi will not come forth until sixty liars come forward, all of them declaring: "I am a prophet."
al-Fadl b. Shadhan reported on the authority of one who reported it on the authority of Abu Hamza al-Thumali, who said:
I (i.e. Abu Hamza al-Thumali) asked Abu Ja`far (Imam al-Baqir), peace be on him: "Is the revolt of the Sufyani one of the things which must happen?"
"Yes," he replied. "The call is one of the things which must happen as is the rising of the sun from the west one of the things which must happen. The dispute of the `Abbasids over the state is also one of them and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya). The appearance of the one who will arise (al-qa'im) from the family of Muhammad, may God bless him and his family, is another of the things which must happen."
"How will the call be?" I asked.
"There will be a call from the sky at the beginning of the day indeed the truth is with `Ali and his Shi'a," he said. "Then at the end of the day, Satan will call from the earth - indeed the truth is with 'Uthman and his supporters. At that the false one will feel doubt."
Al-Hasan b. Ali al-Washsha' (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. A'idh, on the authority of Abu Khadija, on the authority of Abu Abd Allah (Imam Jafar al-Sadiq, peace be on him):
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq said: "The one who will arise (al-qa'im) will not come forth until twelve of the Banu Hashim come forth before him, all of them summoning men to themselves."
Muhammad b. Abi al-Bilad (reported) on the authority of `All b. Muhammad al-Azdi, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, who said:
The Commander of the faithful, Imam Ali, peace be on him, said: "Before the one who will arise (al-qa'im), there will be red death and white death; there will be locusts at their usual time and at their unusual time like the colours of blood. As for red death that is (from) the sword, while white death is (from) plague."
Al-Hasan b. Mahblib (reported) on the authority of Amr b. Abi Miqdam, on the authority of Jabir al-Ju`fi, on the authority of Abu Ja'far (Imam al-Baqir), peace be on him:
Imam Muhammad AI-Baqir said: "Stay close to the ground. Don't move an arm or a leg until you see the signs which I will mention to you - I don't think that you will live until that time. The `Abbasids will dispute; a voice will call from the sky; one of the villages of Syria called al-Jabiyya will be swallowed up; the Turks will occupy the region of al-Jazua; the Byzantines will attack al-Ramla; at that time there will be much conflict throughout the land until Syria is destroyed. The cause of its destruction will be the meeting of three standards there: the standard of the Red, the standard of the Spotted and the standard of the Sufyani."
Ali b. Abi Hamza (reported) on the authority of Abu al-Hasan Musa, peace be on him:
Concerning the words of Him, the Mighty and High: "We will show them our signs on the horizons and in themselves so that it will become clear to them that it is the truth (XLI 53). (Musa) said: "There will be a disturbance on the horizons and the enemies of truth will be changed in form."
Wahb b. (Abi) Hafs (reported) on the authority of Abu Bajr, who said:
I (Abu Basir) heard Abu Ja'far (Imam al-Baqir) speak concerning the words of Him, the Exalted: "If We wish, We will send down on them signs from the sky, and their necks will remain bent submissively to them (XXVI d)" He said: "God will do that to them."
"Who are they?" I asked.
"The Umayyads and their supporters," he answered.
"What is the sign?" I asked.
"Between the decline of the sun (at noon) and the time of the afternoon prayer, the sun will remain still," he said. "The chest and face of man will appear in the centre of the sun, who will be recognized by his standing and genealogy. That will occur in the time of the Sufyani. At that moment his destruction will occur and the destruction of his people."
Abd Allah b. Bukayr (reported) on the authority of Abd alMalik b. Isma'il, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Said b. Jubayr:
Sa'id b. Jubayr, said: "In the year in which the Mahdi will rise, twenty rain storms will rain on the earth. You will see their effects and benefits."
Al-Fadl b. Shadhan (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Abi Nasr, on the authority of Tha'laba al-Azdi, who said:
Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him, said: "Two signs will come before the one who will arise (al-Qa'im), peace be on him: there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan and an eclipse of the moon at the end of it."
"Son of the Apostle of God," I said, "usually the eclipse of the sun occurs at the end of the month and the eclipse of the moon occurs in the middle of it?"
"I know what I have said," replied Abu Ja'far (Imam al-Baqir), peace be on him. "They are signs which have not occurred since Adam came down."
Tha'laba b. Maymun (reported) on the authority of Shu'ayb alHaddad, on the authority of Salih b. Maytham, who said:
I (i.e. Salih b. Maytham) heard Abu Ja`far (al-Baqir), peace be on him, say: "There is no longer than fifteen nights between the appearance of the one who will rise (al-qaim), peace be on him, and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya)."
Amr b Shamir (reported) on the authority of Jabir (al-Ju'fi), who said:
I (i.e. Jabir al-Ju'fi) said to Abu Ja'far (Imam al-Baqir), peace be on him: "When will this event occur?"
"Jabir, that will occur at a time when the killing between al-Hira and Kufa is considerable," he replied.
Muhammad b. Sinan (reported) on the authority of al-Husayn b. al-Mukhtar, on the authority of Abu Abd Allah (Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq),peace be on him:
(Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq) said: "When the wall of the mosque of Kufa, which adjoins the house of `Abd Allah b. Mas'ud is destroyed, then at that time the ruler of the people will disappear. At his disappearance, the one who will rise (al-qa'im), peace be on him, will come forth."
Sayf b. Umayra (reported) on the authority of Bakr b. Muhammad, on the authority of Abu Abd Allah (Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq), peace be on him:
(Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq) said: "There will be three appearances in one year, one month and one day - the Sufyani, the Khurasani and the Yamini. The standard of guidance will not be among them, except the standard of the Yamani, because he will summon (people) to the truth."
Al-Fadl b. Shadhan (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Abi Nasr, on the authority of Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha, peace be on him:
Al-Ridha said: "What you stretch your necks for will not occur until you are able to discern and to be tested. Only a few of you will remain."
Then he recited: Alif Lam. Do the people consider that they can abandon saying "We believe whenever they are tempted? (XXIX, 1-2). He said: "Among the signs of the relief is an event which will occur between the two mosques (of Mecca and Medina). So-and-so from the descendants of so-and-so will kill fifteen leaders of the Arabs."
Al-Fadl b. Shadhan (reported) on the authority of Mu'ammar b. Khallad on the authority of Abu al-Hasan (al-Rida), peace be on him:
Al-Ridha said: "It is as if I see standards, dyed green, coming from Egypt until they come to the Syrian (standards). Then they will be guided to the descendant of the one who gave the testamentary bequests of authority (to the Imams)."
Hammed b. Isa reported on the authority of Ibrahim b. `Umar al-Yamani on the authority of Abu Basil, on the authority Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be on him:
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq said: "The kingdom of these men will not disappear until they slaughter people in Kufa on Friday. It is as if I was looking at heads falling between the Gate of al-1711 and (the place of) the soap-sellers."
Ali b. Asbat reported on the authority of Abu al-Hasan b. al-Jahm, who said:
A man asked Abu al-Hasan (Imam Musa Al-Kazim), peace be on him, about the relief. He asked: "Do you want most of it or shall I give you a summary?"
"Would you give me a summary?" he said.
"It will be when the standards of Qays are carried in Egypt and the standards of Kinda in Khurasan," he replied.
AI-Husayn b. Abi Ali reported on the authority of Abu Basir, on the authority of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be on him:
Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq said: "Because of the sons of so-and-so there will be a battle at your mosque - meaning the mosque of Kufa. On one Friday four thousand will be killed between the Gate of al-Fil to (the place of) the soap-sellers. Beware of this street. Avoid it. Those who are in the best situation will take the street of the Ansar."
Ali b. Abi Hamza (reported) on the authority of Abu Basir, on the authority of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be on him:
Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq said: "Before (the coming of) the one who will rise (al-Qa'im), peace be on him, there will be a year of abundant rain in which the fruits and the dates on the palms will be destroyed. But don't complain of that."
Ibrahim b. Muhammad (reported) on the authority of Ja'far b. Sa'd, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be on him:
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq said: "In the year of the Conquest (by the Mahdi) the Euphrates will flood so that the water goes into the alleys of Kufa."
It is reported in the account (Hadith) of Muhammad b. Muslim, who said:
I (i.e. Muhammad b. Muslim) heard Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be on him, say: "Before (the coming) of the one who will rise (al-qa'im) there will be a trial from God."
"May I be your ransom, what is that?" I asked him.
He recited: "Let Us test you with fear, with hunger, and with lack of money, of lives and of harvests. Good news will come to those who are steadfast (11155)." Then he said: "The fear will be from the kings of the Banu so-and-so; the hunger will be as a result of exorbitant prices; the lack of money will be due to the failure of trade and the scarcity of surplus (goods) in it; the lack of lives will be because of swift death; the lack of harvest will be due to the great rains and the little benefit they bring to the crops." Then he continued: "The good news for those who are steadfast is that the one who will rise (al-qa'im) will soon come forth."
AI-Husayn b. Sai'd reported on the authority of Mundhir Al-Jawzi, on the authority of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be on him:
Mundhir al-Jawzi said: I heard Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq say: "Before the coming of the one who will rise (al-qa'im), peace be on him, the people will be chided for their acts of disobedience by a fire which will appear in the sky and a redness which will cover the sky. It will swallow up Baghdad, it will swallow up Kufa. Their blood will be shed and houses destroyed. Death (fans) will occur amid their people and a fear will come over the people of Iraq from which they shall have no rest."
The Messianic Leader, Mahdi, in Other Religions
Engineer Madani: Is belief in the promised Mahdi confined to the followers of Islam, or does it exist in other religions too?
Mr. Hoshyar: In fact, this belief is not limited to the Muslims alone. In almost all religions and heavenly creeds one can find a similar belief in the future savior. The followers of these religions believe that there will come a time when the world will become corrupt and engulfed in a crisis. Evil and injustice will become the rule of the day. Disbelief will cover the entire world. At that time, the universal savior of the world will appear. With remarkable divine help he will restore the purity of faith and defeat materialism with the help of divine worship. Not only are the tidings to be found in revealed books like the Zand and Pazand, and Jamaspname of the Zoroastrians, the Torah and other Biblical books of the Jews, and the Gospel of the Christians, such information can also be seen, more or less, among the Brahmins and the Buddhists.
The followers of all religions and traditions maintain such a belief and are awaiting the appearance of such a commanding figure under the divine protection. Each tradition recognizes this figure with a different name and specific title.
The Zoroastrians call him Saoshyant (meaning the 'saviour of the world'); the Jews know him as the messiah, whereas the Christians regard him as the Saviour Messiah. However, each group believes that this divinely ordained saviour will be among them. The Zoroastrians believe he is Persian and among the followers of Zoroaster. The Jews maintain that he will be among the Children of Israel, and the follower of Moses. The Christians think he will be one among them. Muslims believe that he will be among the Hashimites and among the direct descendants of the Prophet. In Islam he has been fully introduced, whereas in other religions this is not so.
It is remarkable that all the characteristics and signs mentioned for this universal saviour in other religions are applicable to the promised Mahdi, the son of Imam Hasan 'Askari. It is possible to regard him as Iranian in race because among his ancestors is the mother of the fourth Imam Zayn al-'Abidin who, as the daughter of Yazdgard, the Sassanian king, was a Persian princess. He can also be considered among the Children of Israel, since both the Hashimites and the Israelites are among the descendants of Abraham. The Hashimites are the descendants of Isma'il (Ishmael) and the Israelites are the descendants of Ishaq (Isaac). Hence, the Hashimites and the Israelites are one family. He is also connected to Christians because, according to some traditions, the mother of the present Imam was a Byzantine princess by the name of Narjis (Nargis), who is part of the miraculous story reported in some sources.
It is not appropriate to confine the deliverer of the world, the Mahdi, to one particular nation. He will actually come to fight against all discriminatory claims of racial, creedal and national distinction. Consequently, he should be regarded as the Mahdi of the whole of humanity. He is the saviour and deliverer of the people who worship God. His victory is the victory of all the prophets and all the righteous ones on earth. He will be restoring the religion of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all of the heavenly revelations, namely, Islam; he will revive the pure religion of Moses and Jesus which had foretold the prophethood of Muhammad.
Let us be clear that we have no intention of proving the existence of the promised Mahdi by referring to the ancient books, nor are we in need of doing so. Our intention is to demonstrate that the belief in the appearance of the unique saviour of the world is a common religious belief, stemming from divine revelation, of which all prophets gave glad tidings. All nations are awaiting his emergence, but they have made errors in identifying him.
Reference
Imam Al-Mahdi, The Just Leader of Humanity, by Ayatollah Ibrahim Amini