THE PHYSICAL FEATURES OF HAZRAT MAHDI (RA)

In addition to Hazrat Mahdi’s (ra) good manners and intellectual struggle, our Prophet (saws) has also described his physical characteristics in great detail. The Prophet’s (saws) descriptions of Hazrat Mahdi (ra) are so detailed and explicit that people seeing Hazrat Mahdi (ra) when he appears will immediately recognize him.

It is revealed in one verse that the People of the Book will recognize our Prophet (saws)?“as they recognize their own sons:”

Those We (SWT) have given the Book recognize it as they recognize their own sons. Yet a group of them knowingly conceal the truth. (Surat al-Baqara, 146)

This verse is also a figurative reference to the recognition of Hazrat Mahdi (as). When Hazrat Mahdi (as) appears, people will recognize him in the light of our Prophet’s (saas) descriptions, as they recognize their own sons. Despite this, however, some people will still pretend not to recognize this blessed individual, and will deny him.

ASTONISHING DETAILS REGARDING HAZRAT MAHDI’S (AS) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE HIM

In the hadiths, our Prophet (saas) provides for no other person or event that will appear after him such detailed and comprehensive information as he does about Hazrat Mahdi (as). We are told in the hadiths that the Prophet Jesus (as) will also return to earth and the antichrist will appear in the End Times, together with Hazrat Mahdi (as). However, neither the Prophet Jesus (as) nor the antichrist are the subject of so much amazing and detailed information as Hazrat Mahdi (as).

The hadiths contain very detailed descriptions of the physical features of Hazrat Mahdi (as), as well as of his moral virtues, life and activities. Putting all this together, it is clear that these features being seen together in one person cannot be unintended.

This also reveals how important it is for Muslims to be able to accurately recognize Hazrat Mahdi (as). When Hazrat Mahdi (as), whose coming is close at hand, is encountered, by Allah’s leave, all Muslims will personally see the accuracy of these astonishingly detailed descriptions of Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) physical characteristics.

In the hadiths, our Prophet (saas) reveals separate places for each of the detailed signs on Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) body, using separate descriptive terms for each. He sometimes refers to a MOLE, or a MARK, a SIGN or a SEAL and likens these to a LEAF, PEARL or STAR.

In addition to all these, Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) complexion, hair and beard color, stature, build, the general outline of his face, the shape of his head and forehead and features such as his eyebrows, nose and teeth are all described in the most astounding detail.

For example, in one hadith the Prophet (saas) says “Hazrat Mahdi (as) will have a BLACK MARK on his RIGHT leg.” He does not just speak of a mark, but provides specific and distinctive detail, saying it will be BLACK and on his RIGHT LEG. Examination of the hadiths below will show that our Prophet (saas) has provided a detailed physical description of Hazrat Mahdi (as).

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) IS BEAUTIFUL ANDRADIANT

He [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] is a beautiful young man, with a beautiful face. THE LIGHT OF HIS FACE rises to his head and the blackness of his hair. (Ibrahim Suleymanoglu, Mehdilik ve Imamiye [Mahdism and Imamate], p. 153; Iqdud Durar)

His face is RADIANT LIKE A SHINING STAR. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 33;Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 22)

The Prophet (saas) said: “Hazrat Mahdi (as) is a man of 40 from my line. His face is LIKE A STAR SHINING in the heavens.” (Ali Ibn Sultan Muhammad al-Qaari al-Harawi al-Hanafi, Risalat Mashrab al Vardi fi Mazhabi 'l Mahdi)

Hazrat Mahdi (as) is one of my children. His face is like a bright star. (Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu's-saqib fi Bayan Anna'l Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Ale't-Tamam wa al-Qamal)

HE IS BEAUTIFUL OF FACE. THE LIGHT OF HIS COUNTENANCE BESTOWS GRANDEUR ON HIM. (Mari’ bin Yusuf Karami Hanbali, Fawaid Fawaid al-Fikr fil Mahdi al-Montazar)

He [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] is a young man of medium stature and A BEAUTIFUL FACE. ... THE LIGHT OF HIS FACE SHINES LIKE DAY over the blackness of his hair, beard and head, and gives him grandeur. (Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu's-saqib fi Bayan Anna'l Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Ale't-Tamam wa al-Qamal)

It is related from Humran bin A'ayan that Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) was told: "... Hazrat Mahdi (as) will have a mark on his forehead, and HIS FACE WILL BE BEAUTIFUL." (Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Numani, al-Ghaybah al-Numani, p. 253)

HAZRAT MAHDI'S (AS) FACE WILL BE PEARLY WHITE, RADIANT AND CLEAN

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) IS AN INDIVIDUAL FROM MY LINE. HIS FACE IS LIKE THE PEARL STAR. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Mahdi 1; Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 155)

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) IS AN INDIVIDUAL FROM MY LINE. HIS FACE IS LIKE THE PEARL STAR. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Mahdi 1; Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 155)

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL BE ARAB IN COMPLEXION, IN OTHER WORDS, HE WILL BE DARKISH WHITE

The coloring of the Arab race is a reddish-white complexion like that of our Prophet (saas). The Prophet’s (saas) complexion is described as follows in accounts:

Hazrat Mahdi (as) is Arab in coloring… (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 15-75)

Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) coloring is Arab. (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 163)

The Arab complexion is a mixture of red and white.

Our Prophet (saas) had a reddish-white complexion. However, the visible parts of his skin were nearer to dark because of the Sun and the wind. Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be the same color as the Prophet (saas), whose complexion is described thus:

• Anas ibn Malik (ra)narrates: "Our Prophet (saas) was of medium height; he was not tall and not short; he had a pleasant appearance. His hair was neither curly nor straight. The color of his mubarak [something on which Divine goodness has been bestowed] face was a saintly white.” (At-Tirmidhi, Imam Abu `Isa Muhammed ibn `Isa Tirmidhi, Shamail Sharif, p. 7-8)

• Hazrat Hassan (ra)narrates: "The Messenger of Allah (saas) was innately imposing and majestic. His hair was between curly and straight; if it was parted in two, he hang it down on either side of his head, if not, he did not. If he allowed it to grow, it passed the fleshy part of his ears. Our Prophet’s (saas) coloring was whitish and bright, that is saintly white. His forehead was clear. His eyebrows were crescent-like, thick and close to one another. His neck had a silvery transparency like that of statues made of pure marble. All his limbs were in proportion and very handsome..." (At-Tirmidhi, Imam Abu `Isa Muhammed ibn `Isa Tirmidhi, Shamail Sharif, p. 18-22-23)

• Anas ibn Malik (ra) narrates: "The Messenger of Allah (saas) was neither tall, nor short. His complexion was neither pure white, nor too dark. His hair was neither straight nor curly. ... When he bade farewell to this mortal world, there were not 20 white hairs in his hair and beard." (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Vol. 4, p. 201)

• “Our Master was a whitish pink in color. His eyes were black and his eyelashes thick and long." (Hazrat Ali (ra), Ahmad Diya ad-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith, Vol. 2, p. 519/4)

• Anas ibn Malik said this about the Prophet’s (saas) complexion: He was white, but a darkish white. (Ibn Kathir, Shamail ar-Rasul, p. 28)

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL HAVE A FAIR COMPLEXION AND TWO MARKS THE SAME COLOR AS THOSE ON OUR PROPHET (SAAS)

His Eminence, Abu Ja’far, Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) through his forefathers has narrated from the chief of Ahl al-Bayt, His Eminence, Commander of the Belivers (as) that His Eminence proclaimed from the pulpit, “IN THE LAST AGE A MAN FROM MY PROGENY [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)] WOULD RISE, HAVING A FAIR COMPLEXION THAT HAS SOME REDNESS (HUE) ... AND HE WOULD HAVE TWO BEAUTY SPOTS ONE OF WHOM SHALL BE THE COLOR OF THE PROPHET. HE SHALL RISE UP.” (Allama Baqir Sharif al-Qurashi, The Life of Imam al-Mahdi (as), p. 47)

Hazrat Mahdi (as) is one of my grandchildren. ... HIS COMPLEXION RESEMBLES THAT OF THE ARABS AND HIS BODY RESEMBLES THOSE OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL... [Abu Abdillah Muhammad bin Yusuf Ganji Shafei, Al-Bayan Fi Akhbar Sahib az-Zaman)

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) HAS THE “SEAL OF PROPHETHOOD” ON HIS SHOULDER

We understand from the hadiths that Hazrat Mahdi (as)?will have a clear sign on his back, between his shoulders, as in the Prophet’s (saas). This sign is known as the “the Seal of Prophethood.”

Hazrat Mahdi (as) will have the sign of prophethood on his shoulder as the Prophet (saas) did. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 41)

The sign of the Prophet (saas) is on his shoulder. (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 165; Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 23)

The mark of the Prophet (saas) is on his shoulder. (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, p. 163)

Our Prophet (saas) has revealed that there will be A SIGN BELONGING TO OUR PROPHET (SAAS) on Hazrat Mahdi’s body. Other hadiths state that THIS SIGN IS THE PROPHET’S SEAL OF PROPHETHOOD and this is compared to the PROPHET’S MARK. This is yet another astonishing detail about Hazrat Mahdi (as).

As we know, THE SEAL IS DARK IN COLOR and COVERS THE SURFACE.

In addition, the location of this mark on Hazrat Mahdi’s (as)?back is pinned down by the provision of specific coordinates. Accounts state that every prophet has the seal of prophethood on his right hand. The seal of our Prophet (saas) is described as being “at the level of his heart on the skin of his left shoulder blade.” The reference in the hadiths to Hazrat Mahdi (as)?having the seal of prophethood of our Prophet (saas) on his shoulder shows that he will also have “A DARK MARK AT THE LEVEL OF HIS HEART ON HIS BACK, ON HIS LEFT SHOULDER BLADE.”

Our Prophet’s (saas) Seal of the Prophethood

Jabir ibn Samurah (ra) relates: “I saw the seal of prophethood between the Messenger of Allah’s (saas) shoulder blades.” (At-Tirmidhi, Imam Abu `Isa Muhammed ibn `Isa Tirmidhi, Shamail Sharif, Vol. 1, Hilal Press, Ankara, 1976, p. 36)

Abu al-Saib bin Yazid relates: "My eye saw the seal of the Prophet (saas) between his shoulders." (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, 6:126)

Ibrahim bin Muhammad, one of the grandsons of Hazrat Ali, relates: “In describing the characteristics of our Prophet (saas), my grandfather Hazrat Ali would relate all the hadith about the physical appearance of the Messenger of Allah (saas) at length and say:

‘There was the seal of prophethood between his shoulder blades. And he is the last of the prophets.’” (At-Tirmidhi, Imam Abu `Isa Muhammed ibn `Isa Tirmidhi, Shamail Sharif, Vol 1. Hilal Press, Ankara, 1976, p. 38)

HE WILL HAVE A MOLE SHAPED LIKE A LEAF ON HIS BACK

Abu Bashir saysImam Muhammad Baqir (as) or Jaffar Sadik (as)?said: “... THERE IS A LEAF BELOW AND TO THE LEFT OF HIS [Hazrat Mahdi’s (as)] LEFT SHOULDER BLADE, JUST LIKE THE LEAF OF THE MYRTLE.” (Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Numani, al-Ghaybah al-Numani, p. 253)

The hadith provides detailed information about the location of this mole on the back of Hazrat Mahdi (as): that it is BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS;?BELOW AND TO THE LEFT OF HIS LEFT SHOULDER. It is also referred to as a LEAF-SHAPED one, so it appears the reference is to one that will be the color of skin, with distinct edges and raised above the level of the skin, thus resembling a leaf in shape and of the color of a faded leaf.

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL RESEMBLE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN APPEARANCE

Hazrat Mahdi's (as) stature and posture resemble those of the People of Israel. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, pp. 36-29.)

His body is an Israelite one. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 24)

Hazrat Mahdi (as) is like one of the People of Israel.

[His demeanor resembles theirs, it is majestic and wise.] (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 23-30)

Abdullah bin Harith says: HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) will rise at the age of forty and will RESEMBLE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL (in terms of appearance). (Al-Hawi lil-fatawi, vol. 2, p. 135)

HAZRAT MAHDI’S (AS) FEET WILL POINT OUTWARD AS HE WALKS

One feature of his is that as he walks there is a space between his thighs, and they are at a distance from one another. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 32)

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL USE HIS HAND TO EMPHASIZE WHAT HE IS SAYING

Hazrat Mahdi (as) will use his hands when he talks; he will move his hand as he wishes to emphasize what he is saying and that people will see those motions:

Hazrat Mahdi (as) will STRIKE HIS LEFT KNEE WITH HIS RIGHT HAND when he speaks slowly and steadily. (Jalaluddin as-Suyuti, Kýyamet alametleri, Olum ve Dirilis [Portents of the Judgment Day, Death and Resurrection], p. 174)

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL BE OF MEDIUM STATURE

Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be of average height. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 41)

According to accounts by Abu Abdullah Nuaim Ibn Hammad from Abu Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir, Hazrat Ali was asked about the attributes of Hazrat Mahdi (as) and he replied: “He [Hazrat Mahdi] is of medium height and a young man with a beautiful face…" (Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu's-saqib fi Bayan Anna'l Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Ale't-Tamam wa al-Qamal)

Our Prophet (saas) is also described as being of medium height in accounts:

Anas bin Malik stated that: "The Messenger of Allah (saas)?was of middling height." (At-Tirmidhi, Imam Abu `Isa Muhammed ibn `Isa Tirmidhi, Shamail Sharif, p. 15)

HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) IS A MAJESTIC INDIVIDUAL

He [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] is a majestic individual. (Iqdud Durar)

Hazrat Mahdi (as) is like one of the People of Israel.

[His demeanor resembles theirs, it is majestic and wise.] (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, pp. 23-30)