I don't mean to promote Harun Yahya's websites, but surfing around I found something interesting about the return of Nabi Isa and the emergence of Imam Mahdi. Here are some excerpts;
[PIE] As Bediuzzaman stated: "one thousand four hundred years later to be close to their century" is the beginning of the fifteenth century, that is, the years 1979-1980 (of the Gregorian calendar).
In his address to 10,000 people in a mosque in Damascus (Hijri 1327), Bediuzzaman explained the future of the Islamic world after Hijri 1371. In this address, he gave some dates about the End Times and called attention to the Mahdi's struggle. Bediuzzaman gives the following dates regarding Mahdi's taking up his task and defeating the disbelieving mentality ideologically:
The facts revealed in the address of Damascus that glance at the destiny of the Islamic world after the Hijri 1371... may be not now but 30-40 years later, in order to fully equip science and, knowledge acquired through arts, science and skills, the goodness of civilization and those three forces, and to overcome the nine obstacles, he sent inclination for investigating the truth, moderation and love for human beings to the fronts of those nine foes. By God's Will, he will demolish them after half a century. ("The Damascus Sermon," p. 25)
In this speech, Bediuzzaman draws attention to developments that will take place after Hijri
1371, and informs us that the Mahdi will launch his efforts
30-40 years after this date. This date is the period between Hijri
1401-11 (Gregorian calendar:
1980-90).
In the latter part of his speech, Bediuzzaman said that the Mahdi will silence the ideology of disbelief via the benefits of science and civilization. The date of this ideological superiority will be half a century later: Hijri
1421. (Gregorian calendar:
2001)
"Maybe not now (
1371), but
30-40 years later..."
By God's Will, he will demolish them after half a century.
1371 + 50 = 1421 (Gregorian calendar: 2001)
Bediuzzaman calls attention to Hijri 1400 as the beginning of Mahdi's ideological struggle against disbelieving philosophies. He further points out that between the years
1401-11 (1981-91), he will unite the benefits of science, skills, and the goodness of civilization to be used in his struggle, and discloses
Hijri 1421 (Gregorian calendar: 2001) as the date when the Mahdi will ideologically destroy the disbelieving philosophies.
Another of his explanations related to the End Times is as follows:
"In [13]71, the Sun began to rise or will rise. Even if this is only the initial redness in the horizon, in
30-40 years the second enlightenment will appear." ("The Damascus Sermon," p. 23)
1371 + 30 = 1401 = 1981
1371 + 40 = 1411 = 1991
Bediuzzaman likens the rise of the Sun to the prevalence of Islam's moral values in the world. Just as the Sun rises again after it sets, he indicates that Islam's moral values also will rise and shine again. The expressions of "initial redness" and "second enlightenment" indicate the beginning years of this time.
Accordingly, he points to 1981-91 as the time when the Mahdi begins to disperse atheism and materialist philosophy, as well as the unjust ideologies that oppose the true religion. He also calls attention to 2001 as the year when these ideologies will be totally silenced and dispersed. (God knows best.)
SOURCE
http://www.jesuswillreturn.com/s1_6d.html
[/PIE]
Personally, I'd like to think that Imam Mahdi has been born and is among us. There are mentions in the authentic hadiths about his characteristics, including the similarity of his name and Rasulullah's (i.e. Muhammad bin Abdullah), his physical appearance, his reluctance to be known as the Mahdi (as opposed to actually wanting to be known as the Mahdi) etc.
Who knows? He might be the same age as I am (25 maybe?) waiting to emerge when the time is right. Whoever or wherever he maybe, it could be he is working somewhere to establish a strong Muslim foundation or base of operations from which he will launch his campaign. After all, he is the destined
Hakimun 'Adl (a Just Ruler). All the while he could be doing things that will benefit the ummah WITHOUT knowing that he IS the Mahdi.
I will be so happy and honored to become one of his agents in his mission to establish the reign of peace and justice, when the time comes.
mashaAllah beautiful name