:wasalamex dear bro,
If the authenticity isn't known, then it simply should not be narrated because of the harms that can come from narrating doubtful material, especially when it is being referred back to the Messenger (salalahu alayhi wa sallam).
The book as a reference doesn't really matter, what matters is the isnaad of the hadeeth and what scholars of hadeeth have said about the isnaad.
:salamext:,
LoL OK akhi let's just leave the hadith
, I just thought I'll post it because the brother was asking for some info on his (The Mahdi's) possible arrival.
Then the harms of narrating this 'hadith' are even greater because not only does the wording seem to be twisted, it possibly contains interpretation by an unqualified individual!
Ummm, you're right but I guess I wasn't clear
, forget what I said! I mean the hadith has been translated as best as the person could do it.
Yes, but I don't think there is any one hadeeth that contains everything that he said together.
Well you know Allahu A'lam about that. Do you know why? Because we know that Abu Hurairah (RA) had a great memory, one of the best, and in a hadith he mentioned the fact that he has 2 types of knowledge taught to him by the Rasool (Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) and if he were to tell us one of them, we would basically cut his head off (or something like that).
I mean this hadith: Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, Number 121:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
I have memorized two kinds of knowledge from Allah's Apostle. I have propagated one of them to you and if I propagated the second, then my throat would be cut (i.e. killed).”
I think maybe near the end of his life he transmitted such ahadith, including the prediction of the bad ruler during his time, he used to make dua to die before this ruler came into power.
I've heard otherwise. Can you provide me some references so I can research further?
Yes, Yasir Qadhi mentioned this in his talk on the Mahdi, posted above by bro Guven. Also, maybe listen to the talk by Shaykh Anwar Al Awlaki "Allah is Preparing us for Victory".
Who has referred to America as such? Which authentic ahadeeth state this? And for the sake of discussion, lets say it does appear in the sahih traditions, which scholar has interpreted 'Queen of the World and Deception' to actually mean America?
It's pretty obvious it is America, who is the world power right now? Also we have the hadith about there being 5 phases of rulership, this one:
5 Phases of Muslim Rule
Hudhayfah son of Al-Yaman reported that the Messenger of Allah sallalluhu 'alayhi wa sallam said,
"Prophethood (meaning himself) will remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain, then Allah will raise it up whenever he wills to raise it up. Afterwards, there will be a Caliphate that follows the guidance of Prophethood remaining with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, he will raise it up whenever He wills to raise it up. Afterwards, there will be a reign of oppressive (The reign of Muslim kings who are partially unjust) rule and it will remain with you for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, there will be a reign of tyrannical rule and it will remain for as long as Allah wills it to remain. Then, Allah will raise it up whenever He wills to raise it up. Then, there will be a Caliphate that follows the guidance of Prophethood." Then Hudhayfah said, "The Prophet stopped speaking."
(As-Sililah As Sahihah, vol. 1, no. 5. The same hadith without any change of a word is also narrated by Hadrat Nauman Ibn-e-Basheer Radiyallaho Anhu in Musnad-e-Ahmad Ibn-e-Hanbal.)
Note: The 5th phase of Muslim rule, the Caliphate that follows the tyrannical rule, refers to the Mahdi. This is established by the fact that that other hadeeths, which we shall later see, state that the Mahdi would fill the Earth with equity and justice, as it was once filled with tyranny, oppression, and injustice. The rule of "tyranny, oppression, and injustice" is consistent with the 4th phase of "tyrannical rule", mentioned in this hadeeth.
The Prophet declared:
"This affair began with Prophethood and as a mercy; then it will be mercy and Caliphate; afterwards it will change into a cruel monarchy, and finally into an iniquity and tyranny." He also prophesied: "Surely, the Caliphate after me will last thirty years; afterwards it will be a cruel monarchy."
(Abu Dawud, At‘ıma, 11; Tirmidhi, At‘ıma, 39; I. Hanbal, 5.441.)
From the site I linked before:
http://www.geocities.com/muslimapocalyptic/WebProphecies.htm#4%20Phases%20of%20Muslim%20Rule
Right now we're in the phase of tyranny, the fourth phase, so the coming of the Mahdi is close at hand inshaAllah, and we can see that America is the world power atm, and is running the show. Allahu A'lam.
The signs do seem to indicate that his coming may be relatively close, however the times before the Mahdi will be much much worse than our times. There will be a lot more oppression, injustice, and killing around the world. It reminds me of what a Shaykh once said in a lecture, he said that the times before the coming of the Mahdi will very evil times and we shouldn't wish for those kinds of times because of how great the fitnah will be then. The Mahdi has to come and he will come, but let us focus now on what we can do better the society and people around us, rather than sitting back and waiting for an individual because Islaam is not dependant upon personalities, it will remain regardless whether the Mahdi comes tommorow or 200 hundred years from today.
We all agree here bro (at doing your best for Islam no matter what), however it's good to know the signs and prepare yourself physically, mentally and spiritually if possible, while living your day-to-day life normally. You also forget that the Dajjal will come during the time of the Mahdi, so it could be that he will rule a few years after the Dajjal and restore peace to the world before 'Isa (RA) takes over as leader (which I think most likely will happen after the Mahdi dies). This is mainly to show that 'Isa will come as a follower of Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam), hence why he is taking a descendant of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) as a leader, so as to ensure no one will get confused that he is coming with a new message.
Also we do not need times of great strife for the Mahdi to come, this is wrong and I would tell you to seek more knowledge on the Mahdi before saying such things bro, because the scholars have said only 3 major signs need to be fulfilled for the Mahdi to be here, and I have stated that in one of my above posts.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalam.
. Allahu A'lam. 