The Mahdi

[Chuck]

I would believe depends on the signs. He doesn't have to fit everything that are said in the traditions, because some of the traditions might be fabricated. Similar thing happened to Jesus (pbuh) with the Jews; Jews had traditions that didn't fit Jesus (p) as their Messiah.

But main sign for Madhi will be about the army and Mahdi won't claim to be Mahdi in the first place.

 

[YusufNoor]

as a revert, i'm not very knowledgeable in Islamic Eschatology, BUT my understanding is that after [or while] there is a problem with "succession" in Saudi Arabia, that the one who becomes known as Imaam Mahdi [who will be on his way to Makkah from Medina] will be declared as such by the people of Saudi Arabia who will demand that he take over ruling the country!

one of the proofs is that when an army is sent against him, the land in Saudi Arabia will open up and swallow it.

his job, as i understand it, is NOT to declare his own identity, but the declare the identity of Isa ibn Marriam, Alayhi Salaam, when he arrives [as Yahya, Alayhi Salaam, did 2,000 years ago].

if Shabir Ahmed ibn Abdul Rahman replies, i'm sure we will get a better answer!

but as i not POSITIVE, i didn't vote...

 

[The Khan]

Ok, I just checked it up..

The concept of al-Maahdi is not present in the Qur'an, nor any "reliable" hadith such as Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

Now let's look at people claiming to have been Maahdi in the past, shall we?

a) Salih ibn Tarif, the second king of the Berghouata, proclaimed himself prophet of a new religion in the eighth century. He appeared during the caliphate of the Ummayad Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. According to Ibn Khaldun's sources, he claimed receiving a new revelation from God called a Qur'an, written in the Berber language with 80 chapters. He established laws for his people, which called him Salih al-Mu'minin ('Restorer of the Believers'), and the final Mahdi.
Islamic literature considers his belief heretical, as several tenets of his teaching contrast with orthodox Islam, such as capital punishment for theft, unlimited wives, unlimited divorces, fasting of the month of Rajab instead of Ramadan, and ten obligatory daily prayers instead of five. Politically, its motivation was presumably to establish their independence from the Umayyads, establishing an independent ideology lending legitimacy to the state. Some modern Berber activists regard him as a hero for his resistance to Arab conquest and his foundation of the Berghouata state.

b) The Qarmatians - In 931, Abu Tahir turned over the reins of the state in Bahrain to a young Persian in who he had recognised the expected Mahdi. However this proved a disastrous decision for the Qarmati movement. Manifesting strong anti-Arab and antinomian sentiments, he cursed Muhammed and other prophets in addition to instituting a number of strange ceremonies that further shocked the Muslims. At any rate, after some 80 days, when the Persian Mahdi had begun to execute the notables of Bahrayn, Abu Tahir was obliged to admit that the Mahdi had been an imposter, and had him killed. The episode of the Persian Mahdi further damaged the image of the Qarmatis of Bahrain and weakened their influence over the Qarmati communities in the East.

Indeed, under Abu Tahir "Islam was to be abrogated, for a complete revelation of past hidden esoteric truths was to take place.... The Isfahani Messiah abolished the Shari'a and sanctioned the worship of fire and the cursing of Muhammad and his family... the truth meant a return to a Persian past.

c) Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Ali, the twelfth Imam of Twelver Shi'as, is regarded by his followers as the Mahdi in occultation and is called Muhammad al-Mahdi by them.
The son of the eleventh Iman Hasan al-Askari and of Narjis, he was said to have been born in 868 and to have gone into minor occultation from shortly after his father's death in 874 until 939, and then to have gone into major occultation. His followers believe this will continue until a time decided by God, when the Mahdi will reappear to bring absolute peace and justice to the world.

d) Said ibn Husayn, the first Caliph of the Fatimid state, established in 909, was one of only two claimants who succeeded in establishing a state. (See Muhammad Ahmad below).
His Da'i Abu 'Abdullah Al-Husayn Al-Shi'i helped secure for him parts of north Africa using the support of the Berber locals. The Fatimids later built Cairo as capital in Egypt and their descendants continued to rule as Caliphs (the sixth, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, is believed by the Druze to be in occultation and due to return as Mahdi on Judgment Day) until Saladin took over Egypt and canceled the Fatimid state. He imprisoned the last Fatimid Caliph and his family in the Fatimid Palace until death.

e) The Moroccan Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Tumart sought to reform Almoravid decadence in the early 12th century. Rejected in Marrakech and other cities, he turned to his Masmuda tribe in the Atlas Mountains for support. Because of their emphasis on the unity of God, his followers were known as Al Muwahhidun ('unitarians', in western language: Almohads).
Although declaring himself mahdi, imam, and masum (literally in Arabic: innocent or free of sin), Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Tumart consulted with a council of ten of his oldest disciples, and conform traditional Berber representative government, later added an assembly of fifty tribal leaders. The Almohad rebellion began in 1125 with attacks on Moroccan cities, including Sus and Marrakech. But as Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Tumart died in 1130, his successor Abd al Mumin took the title of Caliph -claiming universal leadership in Islam- and placed members of his own family in power, converting the system into a traditional sultanate.

f) Muhammad Jaunpuri (1443 - 1505), another historical claimant was born in northeastern India, in Jaunpur, (presently in state of Uttar Pradesh). His father's name was Abdullah and his mother's Amina. He was descendant of Husayn ibn Ali & through Musa Kadhim.
He claimed being the promised Mahdi on three occasions. He announced his claim; first in Mecca and then two places in India. He attracted a large following, and received opposition from the ulema.
Muhammad Jaunpuri died at the age of 63 in the year 1505 AD while at Farah, Afghanistan. The burial location is a preserved sanctuary, looked after by the local inhabitants.
The widespread but lesser known community of the followers of Muhammad Jaunpuri, who find him being the Promised Mahdi are called Mahdavis, who follow strict sunnah as stressed by him and their belief is called Mahdaviat. Now centralized in the Indian city of Hyderabad, yet larger settlements are found in Gujarat. Wide spread in Karnataka, Maharashtra. Some other states have minor populations scattered, while some in southern Pakistan. Many have recently migrated and settled in United States and the United Kingdom.

g) In 1844 in Shiraz, Ali Muhammad declared to be the promised Mahdi, taking the title of "the Báb" (Gate).
The Báb established a religion independent from Islam. He established his religion as a precursor to an even greater message yet to come. As most Bábís believed the claims of Bahá'u'lláh to be the author of this greater message, the Báb's religious tradition continues today by way of the Bahá'í Faith.

h) Muhammad Ahmad, who founded a short-lived government in Sudan in the late nineteenth century, made a claim to be the promised Mahdi. His army laid siege to Khartoum starting on March 13, 1884 against the defenders led by British General Charles George Gordon. The heavily damaged city fell to the Mahdists on January 26, 1885. Muhammad Ahmad died later that same year, but the Mahdist state he created lasted until 1899, when the British once again took control of Sudan. Descendants of Muhammad Ahmad are sufi religious leaders of the Ansar sufi brotherhood and Umma Party in Sudan.

i) Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (1835-1908) claimed to be the awaited Mahdi as well as the promised Messiah (Second Coming of Christ) being the only person in Islamic History who claimed to be both. He founded the Ahmadiyya Movement within Islam in 1889 envisioning it to be the rejuvenation of Islam, and claimed to be commissioned by God for the reformation of mankind
Ghulam Ahmad appeared within British India. He was actively engaged in religious polemics and controversies with the Christian, Hindu and even Muslim priesthood. He authored around 80 books on various religious, spiritual and theological issues. He promoted the peaceful propagation of Islam and emphatically argued agaisnt the necessity of Jihad in its form of physical fighting in this age.

j) Mohammed Abdullah Hassan was called the "Mad Mullah" of Somaliland by the British, although he was neither mad nor a mullah. He was a problem for the British and Italian authorities in Africa from 1900 to 1920.
He was a charismatic figure credited by his followers with supernatural powers. At first peaceful, he began attacking neighbouring tribes friendly to the British and declared himself the Mahdi.

k) In November of 1979 the Grand Mosque in Mecca was seized by a well-organized group of 1,300 to 1,500 men under the leadership of Juhayman al-Otaibi. A former corporal in the Saudi White Guards (National Guard), he declared Mohammad Abdullah al Querishi to be the Mahdi, the redeemer of Islam.
After the two week long siege of the Mosque by Saudi special forces, foreign paramilitary troops from France and Pakistan were brought in to end the fight.

Fancy that, the last of these fanatics took over masjid al-Haraam by force!

I hope you all understand my reasons for rejecting this concept now.

 

[SixTen]

The_Khan, ALL of that is from wikipedia. Now you see, why we will reject your opinion of holding any value.

 

[The Khan]

True, I don't regard wikipedia as a good source either. I'm a contributer to citizendium. However, there are citations present in that article, and no disputes. Until citizendium is out of beta stage, wikipedia & encyclopedia Britannica will be my main sources of info.

Seriously though, if Allah (SWT) wanted to appoint a Mahdi, wouldn't he have mentioned it in the Qur'an?

Btw, the info that the Mahdi is not mentioned in the Qur'an or Sahih hadith is from encyclopedia Britannica. I just copy-pasted the info of people claiming to be the Mahdi from wikipedia.

 

[SixTen]

Its badly referenced...

 

[The Khan]

Ok brother, show me where in the noble Qur'an where the Mahdi is mentioned. If you can't find it there, show me where in the Sahih hadith.

As far as I know, encyclopedia Britannica has been in print for the past century with very few disputes regarding their research.

 

[Chuck]

Ok, I just checked it up..

The concept of al-Maahdi is not present in the Qur'an, nor any "reliable" hadith such as Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

Mahdi might be a reality or not but he is not important for all times in my opinion, or he would have been mentioned in Quran. If he is real then true muslims will recognize him when he comes no matter what. To wait for him is not that important imo, because that has never worked. Jews were waiting for Jesus (p), but they didn't follow him when he came; Jews in Medina were waiting for a Prophet, but when Prophet Mohammad (p) came to them, they didn't follow him (p) either.

So waiting for somebody like Mahdi is not the best criteria from historical experience. But in both cases, most of the people who followed were not the ones who were waiting, rather they were with pure heart and fearful of God.

On top of that Mahdi won't even claim that he is Mahdi so what it is there to wait for him?

 

[SixTen]

Ok brother, show me where in the noble Qur'an where the Mahdi is mentioned. If you can't find it there, show me where in the Sahih hadith.

As far as I know, encyclopedia Britannica has been in print for the past century with very few disputes regarding their research.

Encyclopedia britannica =/= wikipedia just FYI.

Secondly, I didn't say its in the Qur'an.

Thirdly, you reject hadiths anyway so - you should just stay clear of this thread.

 

[DAWUD_adnan]

That would be a time where Islam has been forgotten in the hearts of men. Even though we are really close to that, it isn't time yet.

Before the coming of the dajjal, you can ignore everyone, that makes this claim.

 

[The Khan]

Encyclopedia britannica =/= wikipedia just FYI.

Secondly, I didn't say its in the Qur'an.

Thirdly, you reject hadiths anyway so - you should just stay clear of this thread.

I know. I love encyclopedia Britannica. However, they don't have an article on people who have claimed to be the Mahdi.

Here's a part of their article on the Mahdi -

The doctrine of the mahdī seems to have gained currency during the confusion and insecurity of the religious and political upheavals of early Islām (7th and 8th centuries). In 686, al-Mukhtār ibn Abū ʿUbayd at-Thaqafī, leader of a revolt of non-Arab Muslims in Iraq, seems to have first used the doctrine by maintaining his allegiance to a son of ʿAlī (Muḥammad’s son-in-law and fourth caliph), Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafīyah, even after al-Ḥanafīyah’s death. Abū ʿUbayd taught that, as mahdī, al-Ḥanafīyah remained alive in his tomb in a state of occultation (ghaybah) and would reappear to vanquish his enemies. In 750 the ʿAbbāsid revolution made use of eschatological prophecies current at the time that the mahdī would rise in Khorāsān in the east, carrying a black banner.
Belief in the mahdī has tended to receive new emphasis in every time of crisis. Thus, after the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212), when most of Spain was lost for Islām, Spanish Muslims circulated traditions ascribed to the Prophet foretelling a reconquest of Spain by the mahdī. During the Napoleonic invasion of Egypt, a person claiming to be the mahdī appeared briefly in Lower Egypt.
Because the mahdī is seen as a restorer of the political power and religious purity of Islām, the title has tended to be claimed by social revolutionaries in Islāmic society. North Africa in particular has seen a number of self-styled mahdīs, most important of these being ʿUbayd Allāh, founder of the Fāṭimid dynasty (909); Muḥammad ibn Tūmart, founder of the Almohad movement in Morocco in the 12th century; and Muḥammad Aḥmad, the mahdī of the Sudan who, in 1881, revolted against the Egyptian administration.

And we all know very well that the Abassids promoted Shi'a ideology prior to coming into power. It's only after coming into power that they changed to orthodox Sunni Islam.

Actually, I don't reject all hadith. I do use certain hadith for interpreting certain ayas of the Qur'an, provided that they're been narrated by over 10 companions, that they don't slander Allah (SWT), any prophets, the wives of Muhammed (S), the sahaba, women in general, etc. Basically, I accept few.

 

[Yanal]

No anger in this thread this is a thread to understand the concept of The Maahdi.
PS to Admin, Super mods or mods shouldn't this thread be sticky. Pm jazakallah kayr in advance.

 

[The Khan]

There's no anger, brother, at least, not from my side. Just expression of opposite views. My view is that of many Sunni scholars. The concept of the Maahdi is an interesting debate.

 

[Ibn Abi Ahmed]

My view is that of many Sunni scholars.

Can you firstly name these scholars and show us their statements?

Belief in the Mahdi is unnanimously transmitted to us from the early salaf. Many scholars actually wrote entire books on the Mahdi, one such scholar is Abdur-Razza As-San'ani (d. 211H). Others included chapters in their books dedicated to him. There are over thirty distinct saheeh hadeeth on the Mahdi and the scholars of hadeeth have declared it Mutawâtir.

Ok brother, show me where in the noble Qur'an where the Mahdi is mentioned.

The Qur'an tells us to accept the teachings of the Messenger - and of his teachings is the belief in the Mahdi. The Qur'an itself does not mention a lot of things such as methods of Salaah, specifics of Hajj and Zakah, the Fiqh of Taharaah etc. I can give you hundreds of examples of things that aren't in the Qur'an but are unanimously from the religion - due to them being from the teachings of the Messenger. Likewise, is this belief in the Mahdi.

If you can't find it there, show me where in the Sahih hadith.

Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said: ‘‘Eesaa ibn Maryam will descend, and their leader [the Mahdi] will say, "Come and lead us in prayer," but he will say, "No, one of them should lead them as an honour to this ummah from Allaah."’" The version narrated by Muslim says: "… Then ‘Eesaa ibn Maryam (Peace be upon him) will descend and their leader will say, ‘Come and lead us in prayer,’ but he will say, ‘No, some of you are leaders over others as an honour from Allaah to this ummah.’" (Reported by Muslim, 225)

http://www.islamicboard.com/480344-post36.html

If the discussion moves towards this direction, I'm going to close this thread because there's been a similar one in the past which is viewable here:
http://www.islamicboard.com/miscellaneous/26956-what-proof-coming-mahdi-decension-isa.html

Others can refer to this thread as well:
http://www.islamicboard.com/aqeedah/8570-aqeedah-iqaamatul-burhaan.html

 

[The Khan]

What I said was based on Brother IslamicBro's post.

Yes high scholars think this is a imagination of the Shia but it isn't. Allaah knows the best.

I personally don't know any.

Jazakallah.

 

[جوري]

Hope this helps insha'Allah

Question and Answer Details


Name of Questioner
Fatimah

Title
Authenticity of Hadiths Pertaining to Al-Mahdi

Question
Could you please tell me the Hadiths narrated concerning Al-Mahdi and their significance?

Date
12/May/2003

Topic
Afflictions & Portents of the Last Hour



Answer


In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we are greatly pleased to receive your question, which shows the confidence you place in us. May Allah reward you abundantly for your interest in knowing the teachings of Islam.

There were many Hadiths narrated concerning Al-Mahdi, ranging between being fabricated, weak, sound, and authentic. However, the authentic Hadiths narrated in that respect are very few. Contemplating over such Hadiths, Muslim jurisprudents concluded what should be believed in that regard: that is, the emergence of Al-Mahdi is a fact that should not be denied; he will be born before the end of this life and will grow up to fill the earth with justice as it has been filled with oppression. This does not require Muslims to wait anxiously for the emergence of Al-Mahdi because his emergence will not abrogate any ruling in the Islamic Shari`ah.

Accordingly, he who neglects fulfilling his duties, on the ground that he is waiting for Al-Mahdi to follow in his footsteps, has deviated from the straight path that Muslims are to follow.

Responding to the question, the prominent Saudi scholar Sheikh Salman Ibn Fahd Al-`Udah, states the following:

"More than one hundred Hadiths were narrated about Al-Mahdi. Those Hadiths ranged between being fabricated, weak, sound, and authentic; the authentic ones are very few.

Of such Hadiths are the following:

1. `Ali Ibn Abi Talib quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying: “Al-Mahdi is one of us, the clan of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah will reform him in one night.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Maqah).

2. There were three Hadiths narrated on the authority of Abu Sa`id Al-Kudri (may Allah be pleased with him). Such Hadiths were reported by Al-Hakim; and some of them were reported by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Maqah, Imam Ahmad, and others. Of these Hadiths, At-Tirmidhi reported that the Prophet said: “Al-Mahdi is from my Ummah; he will be born and live to rule five or seven or nine years. (If) one goes to him and says: ‘Give me (a charity), he will fill one’s garment with what one needs.’”

3. Abu Dawud also reported a Hadith about Al-Mahdi that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Al-Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead, a prominent nose. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.”

4. There is also the Hadith narrated by Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If you see the black banners emerging from Khurasan, seek to join their supporters even if creeping, because among them will be caliph Al-Mahdi.” That Hadith was reported by Al-Hakim and Ahmad. But the chains of narration of that hadith were all unauthentic, though some Hadith scholars rendered it sound in general.

Some people stated that the aforementioned Hadith is cited to support that Al-Mahdi will emerge from among the Abbasid State. That Hadith might be fabricated altogether or its words might be distorted so as to support the Abbasid State.

Added to the above, I would like to say that there are Hadiths reported about Al-Mahdi that are true in general, but most of them do not reach the degree of authenticity. It may be only one of these Hadiths that is regarded authentic. Moreover, it is only a few of them that are considered sound, while most of them are weak.

Many scholars tackled the subject of Al-Mahdi, among whom was Na`im Ibn Hamad. He wrote about Al-Mahdi in his book Al-Fitan. Although Na`im was an Imam of Sunnah, Ad-Darqatani, Adh-Dhahabi and Ibn Hajar mentioned that there were some weak and fabricated Hadiths reported by him.

Others who wrote about Al-Mahdi are Abu Na`im Al-Asfahani and Yusuf Ibn Yahyah As-Salami, whose book is named “`Uqad Ad-Durar. Ibn Khaldun also wrote about that subject in his well-known book Al-Muqaddimah. He stated: “It is known among the majority of Muslims that Al-Mahdi is a fact.” He further stated that the majority of scholars and Imams emphasized the Hadiths reported about Al-Mahdi in general, though many of these Hadiths were controversial.

There are also many recent scholars who believed in the truthfulness of the Hadiths reported about Al-Mahdi in general.

However, some scholars denied all the Hadiths reported in that regard. Of those scholars was Mujahid, who claimed that Al-Mahdi would be Jesus, Son of Mary. In that respect, Ibn Maqah and Al-Hakim reported a weak Hadith to the effect that Al-Mahdi would be Jesus, Son of Mary.

Among the recent scholars who believe the Hadiths about Al-Mahdi in general are Sheikh Muhammad Rashid Rida, Sheikh `Abdullah bin Zayd Aal-Mahmud, Muhammad Muhi Ad-Din `Abdul-Hamid and others.

Muslims who are of Ahl-us Sunnah (mainstream Muslims) believe that a man of the Prophet’s clan will be born before the end of this world and lead an ordinary life as any other one; he may commit mistakes and will need to be reformed like any other one. Then Allah will choose him to reunite the Muslims and guide them to the right path.

This is all what should be believed about Al-Mahdi. There is no religious text to the effect that it is a religious duty to wait anxiously for him. Moreover, Muslims should not believe anyone claiming that he is Al-Mahdi unless there is clear evidence to that effect, as many people have claimed to be so.

Thus, Muslims are required not to hasten to believe anyone claiming to be Al-Mahdi; they are to investigate and make sure of such a thing.

There is no ruling in the Islamic Shari`ah that has to do with the emergence of Al-Mahdi. That is to say, Muslims are not to delay fulfilling religious duties like the congregational prayers or Jihad or applying penalties prescribed in Shari`ah, etc., until Al-Mahdi comes and guides them in that respect. Muslims are to lead their lives normally — worship Allah, go to work, reform their society, learn, teach, etc., and if Al-Mahdi appears and they make sure that he is truthful, they are to follow him. This was the attitude of the Companions and those who truly followed in their footsteps."

You can also read:

The Appearance of Mahdi

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to write back!

May Allah guide you to the straight path, and guide you to that which pleases Him, Amen.

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/...h-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546904

 

[جوري]

Last Update: 05:48 GMT, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008

Living Shari`ah > Fatwa Bank



Question and Answer Details



Name of Questioner


Fatimah


Title


The Appearance of Mahdi


Question


I have heard about the Mahdi, who will save the Muslim Ummah. Is that true? Could you shed more light on the issue, please? Jazakum Allah Khairan


Date


06/Aug/2003


Name of Counsellor


Group of Muftis


Topic


Afflictions & Portents of the Last Hour



Answer


In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner! Thank you very much for your good question that reflects deep insight and true search for knowledge. May Allah increase you in knowledge and grant you success in this world and in the afterlife.

Coming to the question of Mahdi, we would like to start with the words of the prominent Muslim scholar Dr. Taha Jabir Al-`Alwani, president of the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences and president of the Fiqh Council of North America, that go as following:

"I think we should not wait for somebody to give us hidayah (guidance). Allah has given us all the hidayah that we need in the Qur'an. He, Glory be to Him, says: "Lo! this Qur'an guideth unto that which is straightest, and giveth tidings unto the believers who do good works that theirs will be a great reward." (Al-Isra': 9) We should read the Qur'an and take its hidayah and see how the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, implemented the teachings of the Qur'an in his actual example, by which he became the Qur'an in his ethics and way of life. With this, we are all responsible before Allah and accountable before Him. We can't say that we didn't do our job because we were waiting for the Mahdi or for somebody else to lead us to the straight path."

Delving into the issue of the coming of Mahdi, Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjid, a prominent Saudi lecturer and author states the following:

"There are more than one authentic hadith indicating that the Mahdi, may Allah be pleased with him, will appear at the end of time. His appearance is one of the portents of the Last Day. Among the hadiths are the following:

1- Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reports that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "At the end of the time of my Ummah, the Mahdi will appear. Allah will grant him rain, the earth will bring forth its fruits, he will give a lot of money, cattle will increase and the Muslim Ummah will become great. He will rule for seven or eight years."

2- `Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, says: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The Mahdi is one of us and a member of my family. Allah will guide him in a single night." (Reported by Ahmad)

3-Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri states that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon, said: "The Mahdi is of my lineage, with a high forehead and a long, thin, curved nose. He will fill the earth with fairness and justice as it was filled with oppression and injustice, and he will rule for seven years." (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

4- Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, says that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘‘Jesus, son of Mary, will descend, and their leader, the Mahdi, will say, 'Come and lead us in prayer.’ But he will say, ‘No, one of them should lead them as an honor to this Ummah from Allah." (Reported by Muslim)

You should be aware that some people have lied and fabricated hadiths about the Mahdi. Some of those "false Mahdis" have tried to deceive the servants of Allah for some worldly gain and distort the picture of Islam. Some have started movements and revolutions and gathered support from the people they deceived. But they were destroyed, and their lies and falsehood were exposed."

Editor's Note:

Regarding Mahdi, we can say that we have a firm belief in all the previously mentioned hadiths. However, such hadiths have nothing to do with legislation and Islamic rulings pertaining to Halal and Haram.

A Muslim should strive hard to adhere to the teachings of Islam amidst all these material trappings and temptations.

We can not expect a Muslim to suffer humiliation and failure in facing the realities of life, and then anxiously await the appearance of the Mahdi who may appear after 1,000 years or more. No one knows the exact time of his appearance except Allah. If Salahud-Deen, `Imadud-Deen Zenki, Qutuz , Nourud-Deen Mahmoud and Muhammad Al-Fateh had adopted the same policy of retreat, the Muslim Ummah would have been subjected to endless suffering at the hands of Crusaders, Tartars and others.

Also read:

Authenticity of Hadiths Pertaining to Al-Mahdi

Almighty Allah knows best.

_____________________

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/...h-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546904

 

[جوري]

I think your poll question should have rather read. If 'yes' then explain why--
I have my doubts it was Muslims at all who voted with a yes...

 

[m102313]

oops, i accidentaly clicked 'I would believe him', but my answer would obviously be 'I wouldn't'

 

[Güven]

I wouldnt ,

btw do you guys know about that big incident in 20 november , 1979??
In mecca when the whole haraam was taken hostage by Juhaiman ibn Muhammad , cuz they tought that the Mahdi was with them?