Portents of the Mahdi's Coming

Many of the prophetic hadiths that have been handed down to us in the works of great Islamic scholars are devoted to portents of the Mahdi’s coming. This section examines the links between these hadiths and the present day. We shall see that they describe the contemporary climate and conditions and certain critical events that took place in the recent past accurately and miraculously.

As stated earlier, both the Mahdi’s coming and the fulfillment of the hadiths regarding the portents of Doomsday started coming to pass, one after the other, at the beginning of the 1400s ah (1979-80), clearly reveals that these are the years of the Mahdi’s presence on Earth. (Allah knows the truth, of course.) Let’s now examine these portents.

PORTENTS OF MAHDI’S COMING TAKING PLACE ONE AFTER THE OTHER,
THE PROLIFERATION OF SEDITION (FITNAS),
WIDESPREAD SLAUGHTER BEFORE THE MAHDI COMES,
THE GLOBAL PERVASIVENESS OF CHAOS AND CONFLICT,
STRIFES IN WHICH EVEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE SLAUGHTERED,
HE WILL APPEAR WHEN THE WAYLAYING INCREASES,
INCREASED OPPRESSION OF MUSLIMS,
THE DESTRUCTION OF MASJIDS AND MOSQUES,
RELIGIOUS PROHIBITIONS GAIN ACCEPTANCE,
THE OPEN DENIAL OF ALLAH (Surely Allah is beyond that!),
THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR,
THE OCCUPATION OF AFGHANISTAN,
THE ARMY THAT SANK IN THE DESERT,
HALTING OF THE FLOW OF THE EUPHRATES,
LUNAR AND SOLAR ECLIPSES DURING RAMADAN,
THE RISE OF A COMET
STORMING THE KA`BAH AND THE SUBSEQUENT BLOODSHED,
SIGHTING A FLARE IN THE EAST,
AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FALSE PROPHETS,
USING RELIGION FOR PERSONAL ENDS,
GREAT AND AMAZING THINGS TAKING PLACE,
A SIGN OUT OF THE SUN,
THE DESTRUCTION OF GREAT CITIES, and
AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF EARTHQUAKES.

1)Portents of Mahdis Coming Taking Place One After the Other

Those hadiths that reveal the portents of the Mahdi’s coming describe them as occurring one after the other “like the dots on a prayer-beads.” We can see that this is the case, for as stated in the hadiths, chaos and anarchy are on the rise all over the world, sedition is growing, slaughter and terrible catastrophes are taking place in many lands, poverty and hunger are increasing, and people are suffering terribly. The fact that these portents are coming to pass at one particular time shows that the Mahdi, the blessed person for whom Muslims have awaited for centuries, will come soon. (Allah knows the best!)

Some of the reports related to this subject are as follows:

I asked Abu Abdullah Husain ibn Ali: “Are there portents of this?” – in reference to the Mahdi’s appearance. He said: “Yes.” I asked: “What are they?” He said: “The destruction of the [tribe of the] Bani Abbas, the emergence of the Sufyani (Abu Sufyan), and sinking in Bayda.” I said: “I am afraid this will all take a long time,” to which he replied: “These things will happen one after the other, like the dots on a tasbih (prayer beads).” (Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi of the End Times, Kahraman Publishings, p. 3)

Signs of the Doomsday follow one another, like the pieces of a prayer beads falling one after the other when its string is cut. (Tirmidhi Hadiths)

Painful situations and grievous sights will be seen. Strife will go on and on…(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 36)

Fitnas (seditions) will follow one another in the near future. Then, there will be other fitnas and even more following them. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 374, no. 684)

2) The Proliferation of Sedition (Fitnas)

The wordfitna (sedition) describes events, environments, and conditions in which all people, especially believers, face intensified tests of their faith. Such tests, in which living conditions are difficult and efforts are made to weaken or destroy people’s faith, are all described as fitna in Islamic sources.

The following hadith describes how believers’ faith will weaken prior to the Mahdi’s coming and the causes thereof:

The Mahdi, one of my children, comes into being, by the blessing of Allah, when the Day of Judgment approaches and the believers’ hearts weaken because of death, hunger, the disappearance of the Sunnah, the emergence of innovations, and the loss of the means by which to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong. His justice and prosperity will ease the believers’ hearts, and friendship and love will settle between the non-Arab and the Arab nations. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 66)

To summarize, the following events will take place before the Mahdi appears:

Death: Public security will disappear in the face of anarchy, widespread slaughter, and the ensuing tension.
Hunger: The high cost of living, as well as catastrophes and natural disasters, will cause a rise in hunger and famine.
Fitnas (Sedition): Sin will be encouraged and spread, and all kinds of immoral actions will take place before people’s eyes.
Un-Islamic innovations (bid`at): Customs that have no place in true Islam and that were added on and gradually came to be accepted as a true part of it, will emerge.
Being Unable to Preach the Religion: An emptiness caused by being unable to teach how good is commanded and evil forbidden; in other words, the preaching of religion.

Sedition enables strong believers to enhance their faith and fortitude, as well as their degree in the Hereafter, whereas they lead those with weak faith to become further removed from faith, and those whose faith is artificial to lose it altogether. The Mahdi will appear at a time when such a climate of corruption is being experienced in its fullest and most violent form.

Another hadith imparts the tidings that there will be confusion, sedition, and fear in the “west”: Disorder, sedition, and fear will emerge in the west... Sedition will proliferate. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi)

Another hadith reveals that the Mahdi will come when sedition is everywhere:

A kind of sedition will surface from which no party will be able to protect itself, and spread immediately in every direction. This situation will persist until one comes and says: “O people, from now on your leader is the Mahdi.” (Ibn Hajar al-Haytahami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 23)

In other words, a sedition that opposes religion and Allah will target people’s faith. Today, this sedition is materialist philosophy, the supposed scientific basis of which is Darwin’s theory of evolution. Although it is completely irrational, unscientific, and devoid of any scientific or logical proof, materialist circles are seeking to impose this theory on every society through intensive propaganda, deception, and misrepresentation.

This theory enters our homes through the press and television, whether we live in the West or in the Muslim world. Forming a part of most science and other textbooks, it is imposed upon children from the early grades through constant repetition, such as its most famous claim: that people are descended from a common ancestor with apes. Young people are fed these evolutionist lies from primary school to the university.

In addition, the sedition referred to in the prophetic hadiths can only become so widespread through modern-day technological means (e.g., the press, publishing, the Internet, and satellite communications). Indeed, such widespread sedition has never been seen before today. All of these are important signs that the Mahdi’s coming coincides with our own time. The hadiths also state that this sedition will end when the Mahdi comes.

3) Widespread Slaughter Before the Mahdi Comes

The hadiths reveal that violence and chaos will affect the great majority of people before the Mahdi comes and that much blood will be shed:

Doomsday will not take place until these things come to pass…Death and slaughter will be widespread… (al-Suyuti, Jamius Sagir, 3:211; Musnad, 2:492, 4:391, 392)

There will be cries of war in Shawwal and war and carnage in Dhu al-Hijjah. Again in Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims will be plundered and the roads will be filled with blood…The bloodshed will continue and increase.(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi of the End Times p. 37)

…The Hajjis will be looted, and there will be a battle at Mina in which many will be slain. Blood will flow until it runs over the Jamra al-'Aqaba.[Jamra: a stone pillar representing Satan that is stoned during the pilgrimage.] (Narrated by `Amr ibn Shu`ayb, al-Hakim, and Nu`aym ibn Hammad)

There will emerge widespread strife that seems impossible to ever end...(Al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 55)

People make pilgrimage without an imam leading them. Big wars break out when they come down to Mina, and they are entwined just the way dogs entwine, and tribes attack each other. This strife is so widespread that legs are buried in lakes of blood.(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi of the End Times, p. 35)

Such a strife will appear that nowhere will be spared. When it ends in one place, it will immediately spread to another...(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar,pp. 21-22)

Modern communications technology will make everyone aware of this corruption and disasters. Even though there may only be few people present at the scene, the whole world will learn what is happening instantaneously. Radio, television, newspapers, and the Internet will broadcast bloodshed, injustice, and oppression to the whole world.

4) The Global Pervasiveniss of Chaos and Conflict

At a time when the world will be in utter confusion and disorder (harj), fitna will appear, people will be attacked, the old will not have mercy on the young, and the young will not show respect to the old, Allah will send someone (the Mahdi) to eradicate hostility, conquer the castles of perversion, uphold faith in the End Times just as I upheld it formerly; someone who will fill this Earth with justice where violence prevailed before. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 12)

Rather than describing one particular place, the hadith refers to chaos (e.g., conflict, war, slaughter, and terror) spreading all over the world. Indeed, this is the case today, a time when every day hundreds of people are killed or exiled for no fair reason.

5) Strife in Which Even Women and Children Are Slaughtered

Even women, children, the elderly, and the innocent will be massacred before the Mahdi comes:

In this case, killing a woman will be as easy as wielding a whip. This event will spread twenty-four miles from Madinah. Then the oath of allegiance will be taken to the Mahdi. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 34)

The Mahdi will not appear until innocent people are killed… (Ibid., p. 35)

The last of this strife will be the killing of innocent people, and then the Mahdi will appear, to the approval of all. (Ibid., p. 38)

The Mahdi will not appear until innocent people are slaughtered. He will appear when those on Earth and in the skies can no longer bear the killing... (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 37)

They will kill mothers, fathers, daughters, men, everyone, and inflict great suffering on the [Muslim] community by conquering Persia and Iraq. Among these there will be strife, violence, destruction, and flight. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 36)

6) The Mahdi Will Appear When the Roads Are Cut

The hadiths reveal that the Mahdi will come when the means of transport are severed due to conflict, anarchy, and terror, and when people are unable to travel in safety and security:

When trade and roads are cut and strife multiplies ... (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, pp. 39-40)

Before the Mahdi appears, trade and roads between nations will be cut and strife among people will grow. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 454)

7) The Increased Oppression of Muslims

During the end times, the hadiths state that Muslim societies will suffer from the conflict, war, and injustice aimed at them. The conflicts and climate of chaos experienced in parts of the Islamic world, both now and in the recent past, as well as the oppression that has led to dictatorial regimes in certain Muslim countries, are some of the proofs that this time has begun.

Everyone bowing (ruqu`) and prostrating (sajda) themselves in prayer will be punished . Cruelty, malice, and vice will be produced; scholars and ascetics murdered; and many cities conquered. There will be hostility to Prophet Muhammad (saas), bloodshed and destruction will be legitimate.

There will be caliphs after me, amirs after the caliphs, and cruel tyrants after the amirs. Finally, one from my line will appear. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 84)

Woe to this community because of those tyrannical rulers. These cruel ones frighten even the silent and submissive, apart from those who obey them. (Ibid., p. 13)

Every one out of three Muslim will be killed... (Ibid., p. 73)

8) The Destruction of Mosoues

The Sufyani will emerge from a dry valley and form an army from the Kalb tribe consisting of grim-faced and hard-hearted men who will oppress all people. He will destroy mosques and madrassas, and punish everyone bowing (ruqu`) and prostrating (sajda) themselves in prayer. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 35)

9)Religious Prohibitions Gain Acceptance

Today, although such harmful activities as prostitution, alcohol consumption, usury, and bribery are unlawful or religiously forbidden in many lands, more and more people are indulging in them. Even more, some those who engage in them are praised and encouraged, whereas those who do not are disparaged and belittled. Lifestyles that know no bounds, that care nothing for what the scriptures allow and forbid, and that regard all forms of excess as permissible have spread far and wide during the last few decades. The hadiths describe this dark age, a herald of the Mahdi’s coming, as follows:

Strife will be seen, and more will follow. Such a level of strife will come that the first will spur the last to clashes of swords, and after this there will be such strife that what is forbidden is regarded as lawful. Then the caliphate will come to the Mahdi, the most auspicious individual on Earth, while he is sitting at home. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 26)

The Mahdi will not emerge until unbelief invades everywhere and is openly committed in public. What rules in such times is… the invasion by unbelief. That is its power. (Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani, 2:259)

The Mahdi will emerge after the appearance of such vile corruption, whereby all prohibitions are regarded as lawful. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23)

10) The Open Denial of Allah (Surely Allah is beyond that!)

The Mahdi will not come until Allah is openly and flagrantly denied.

This hadith indicates that many people will either be atheists or agnostics, and that they will relay their denial to everyone through the press and declare it openly. This state of affairs clearly exists today, since those who deny Allah are highly esteemed for their supposed “modern and contemporary” attitude. Moreover, the public is encouraged to emulate them.

11) The Iran-Iraq War

The hadith reports that a major war will take place in the End Times:

There will be tumult in Shawwal, talk of war in Dhu al-Qa`dah, and the outbreak of war in Dhu al-Hijjah. (Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 166)

These three months match the dates of the developmental stages of the Iran-Iraq war:

Tumult in Shawwal …

The first uprising against the shah took place on 5 Shawwal 1398 (8 September 1976), as indicated by the hadith.

Talk of war in Dhu al-Qa`dah, and the outbreak of war in Dhu al-Hijjah …

A full-blown war broke out between Iran and Iraq in Dhu al-Hijjah 1400 (October 1980).

Another hadith describes the details of this war as follows:

A tribe will come from the Farsi direction, saying: "You Arabs! You have been too zealous! If you don't give them their due rights, nobody will have an alliance with you... It must be given to them one day and to you the following day, and mutual promises must be kept..." They will be going up Mutekh; Muslims will be coming down to the plain ... Mushrikun [idolaters] will be standing over there on the bank of a black river [Rakabeh] on the other side. There will be a war between them. Allah will deprive both armies of a victory ... (Ibid., p. 179)

- Those coming from the Farsi direction: Those coming from the Iranian side,
- Farsi: Iran, Iranian,
- Coming down to the plain: Coming down to the Iraqi plain,
- Mutekh: Name of a mountain in the region, and
- Rakabeh: A region where the oil wells are concentrated.

"You Arabs! You have been too zealous! If you don't give them their due rights, nobody will have an alliance with you…"

This hadith may draw attention to the outbreak of a racial dispute that will cause both sides to come down to the (Iraqi) plain and wage war.

Allah will deprive both armies of a victory...

The Iran-Iraq war lasted for 8 syear and, despite the enormous number of casualties, neither side could claim victory.

12) The Occupation of Afghanistan

Pity poor Taliqan [a region in Afghanistan]. At that place are treasures of Allah. These are not of gold and silver, but consist of people who have recognized Allah as they should have. They are the Mahdi’s servants. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 59)

Pity poor Taliqan…

The hadith may refer to the invasion of Afghanistan during the Mahdi’s time. Indeed, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 (1400 ah – according to the Islamic calendar), the beginning of a new Islamic century. The hadiths state that the Mahdi will appear at the beginning of a new Islamic century. The fact that many portents coincided with this particular date shows that these dates are an important sign of the Mahdi’s coming.

… at that place are treasures of Allah. But these are not of gold and silver …

This hadith also draws attention to Afghanistan's material riches. Today, large oil deposits, iron basins, and coal mines that have not yet been commercially exploited have been detected there.

13) The Army That Sank in the Desert

But when this army enters the desert, it will so be buried in the ground at the place called Dhu al-Hulaifah that those on top will not see those underneath, nor will those underneath see those on top, until Doomsday. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 21)

One of the portents of his appearance is, as stated before, the burial of an army in the desert.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 37)

< When a shepherd seeing an army moving across the desert on a bright night says: “It will be a sadness for Makkah. Woe will befall them,” he will see the army suddenly disappear. He will say: “Subhan Allah. How did they disappear so quickly?” When he goes down and looks, he will see a blanket half under the ground and half out. He will try to extract it. But when he cannot, he will realize that the army he saw has been buried…(Ibid., p. 39)

Portents of the Mahdi's Coming -2

14) Stoppıng the Flow of the Euphrates

The blocking and stopping of the Euphrates’ water is another portent:

One of the portents of the Mahdi’s coming is the stopping of the Euphrates. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 39)

Other hadiths provide more details:

The river’s water has been blocked by the Keban Dam.

The Euphrates will soon disclose the treasure [the mountain] of gold. Whoever will be present at that time should not take any of it (because the end of the old world has come). (Sahih Bukhari, 12:305)

The Prophet said: Doomsday will not come until the Euphrates discloses a gold mountain. Men will wage war for it. Ninety-nine out of every hundred will be killed, and every man will wish he had been the one to be saved. (Sahih Muslim, 11:320)

The Prophet said: “The Euphrates will soon disclose a gold mountain. Let no one who is there take anything from it. (Sahih Muslim, 11:320)

The Prophet said: “The Euphrates will soon disclose a golden treasure. Whoever is present, let him take nothing from it.(Sunan Abu Dawud, 5:116)

The Prophet said: “It [the Euphrates] will uncover a mountain of gold.”(Sunan Abu Dawud, 5:116)

The time when the Euphrates will disclose its golden treasure as its waters withdraw is approaching. Whoever is present at that time, let him take nothing from that treasure. Otherwise, he will die or be killed.(Narrated by Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim/ Riyazu's Salihin, 3:332)

As we have seen, stopping the Euphrates’ water is an important sign. In addition, many hadiths say that a treasure as valuable as gold will emerge. Let’s examine these signs further:

Allah's Messenger (saas) said: "The Hour will not come to pass before the Euphrates dries up to unveil the mountain of gold, for which people will fight. Ninety-nine out of one hundred will die [in the fighting], and every man among them will say: 'Perhaps I may be the only one to remain alive.' " (Narrated by Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim/ Riyazu's Salihin, 3:332)

1)… the Euphrates dries up …

As-Suyuti calls this the “stopping of the water.” The Keban Dam did, in fact, accomplish this feat.

2)… unveils the mountain of gold…

Thanks to this dam, the newly exposed land became “worth its weight in gold,” for the resulting increased production of electricity made it possible to irrigate more land and facilitated transport.

3)… for which people will fight.

Due to the widespread anarchy and killing in the region, anyone asserting ownership of land in that area may kill or be killed, just as the hadith states.

15) Solar and Lunar Eclipses During Ramadan

There are two signs for the Mahdi... The first one is the lunar eclipse in the first night of Ramadan, and the second is the solar eclipse in the middle of this month.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 49)

A lunar eclipse will occur in the first night of Ramadan. In the middle of Ramadan, a solar eclipse will occur.(Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah, p. 199)

During his [the Mahdi's] reign, on the fourteenth of Ramadan, a solar eclipse will occur. On the first of that month, the Moon will darken...(Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani, p. 380; 2:1163)

... The solar eclipse in the middle of Ramadan, and the lunar eclipse at the end ...(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi,, p. 38)

There will be two lunar eclipses in Ramadan...(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 53)

There will be two lunar eclipses in Ramadan before the Mahdi emerges.(Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah, p. 200)

There will be two solar eclipses in Ramadan before the Mahdi's advent. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 440)

The most important points here are the solar eclipse in the middle of Ramadan and that the Sun and Moon cannot be eclipsed twice in one month under normal conditions. However, other portents can happen as a result of certain causes and can be comprehended.

Close inspection of the phenomena described in these hadiths reveals various differences between the accounts. According to the first, second, and third accounts, the Moon will be eclipsed on the first day of Ramadan, and according to the fourth it will be eclipsed on the last day. The correct course of action here is to find the common ground in these accounts:

There will be lunar and solar eclipses in Ramadan.
These eclipses will be equidistant, at intervals of 14-15 days.
These eclipses will be repeated twice.

In line with these calculations, the Moon was eclipsed on 15 Ramadan 1401 (1981) and the Sun on 29 Ramadan 1401. And, the Moon was again eclipsed on 14 Ramadan 1402 (1982)) and the Sun on 28 Ramadan 1402.

Significantly, this hadith declares that the Moon should be eclipsed in the middle of Ramadan as a full moon. This is noted as being a portent.

The fact that these events took place in the same period as the other portents of the Mahdi’s coming and were miraculously repeated twice at the beginning of the 1400s ah strengthens the assumption that the hadith is pointing toward these events.

16) The Rise of a Comet

A star with a luminous tail will rise from the east before the Mahdi emerges. (Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah, p. 200)

Before he arrives, a comet will appear in the east, giving out an illumination. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 53)

The star’s rise will occur after the eclipse of the Sun and the Moon.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 32)

As stated in the hadiths:

Halley’s Comet passed close to Earth in 1986, at the beginning of the 1400s ah (1406 ah). This comet was a bright, shining star that moved from east to west and appeared after the lunar and solar eclipses of 1981-82 (1401-02). The fact it was born at the same time as the other portents confirms that Halley’s Comet is the celestial body referred to in the hadith.

Imam Rabbani provides the following information about this specific portent:

A tailed star will be born in the east and spread its light. Its daily direction will be from east to west.(Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani, 2:1170)

Whenever this comet has passed by, events that represent significant turning points with regard to Muslims have taken place. Some of these are revealed in the accounts handed down from our Prophet (saas). According to these accounts, when the comet was seen:

The people of Prophet Nuh (as) were destroyed,
Prophet Ibrahim (as) was cast into the fire,
Pharaoh and his tribe were destroyed,
Prophet Yahya (as) was killed,
Prophet ‘Isa (as) was born,
Our Prophet (saas) began receiving the first revelation,
The Ottoman Empire made its appearance, and
Constantinople was captured by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror.

Some Interesting Figures Linked to Halley’s Comet

Interestingly, some figures pertaining to the comet are multiples of 19. For example, Halley's Comet appears every 76 years (19 x 4 = 76) and was last seen in 1406 ah (19 x 74 = 1406).

Surat al-Muddaththir, which refers to the miracle of 19 in the Qur'an, is the seventy-fourth surah. Moreover, its thirtieth verse reveals that 19 is a means of mercy for believers and of fitna for unbelievers. A last great miracle and sign of this comet is its appearance in 1986 (1406 ah), its nineteenth appearance since 610, when Prophet Mohammed (saas) was honored with prophecy.

In Surat al-Muddaththir 74:1-2, Allah commands our Prophet (saas): "O you who are enveloped in your cloak, arise and warn." The meaning is clear. Yet, they may be a hidden meaning: "(the one) enveloped in cloak" may well refer to the Mahdi, who is from our Prophet's (saas) lineage and whose appearance will be signaled by the rise of Halley's Comet in 1406 ah.

17) Storming the Ka`Bah and the Subseouend Bloodshed

The year in which he will emerge, people will perform hajj together and gather without an imam. The Hajjis will be looted, and there will be a battle at Mina in which many will be slain and blood will flow until it runs over the Jamra al-'Aqaba. [Jamra: a stone pillar representing Satan that is stoned during the pilgrimage.] (Narrated by `Amr ibn Shu`ayb, al-Hakim and Nu`aym ibn Hammad)

People make pilgrimage without an imam leading them. Big wars break out when they come down to Mina, and they are entwined just the way dogs entwine, and tribes attack each other. This strife is so widespread that legs are buried in lakes of blood.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 35)

The phrase "the year in which he will emerge" draws attention to a massacre that will occur on the date of the Mahdi's emergence. In 1979, a massacre very like this one occurred during the raid on the Ka`bah, which took place during the pilgrimage month on the first day of the Islamic year 1400 (21 November 1979). The hadiths also mention bloodshed. The killing of 30 people during the clashes between Saudi soldiers and militants during the raid confirms the rest of this hadith.

Seven years after this attack, an even bloodier event took place during the Hajj: 402 people were killed in attacks on pilgrims demonstrating in the streets, and much blood was spilled. Muslims committed terrible sins by killing each other (the Saudi troops and the Iranian pilgrims) beside al-Bayt-al Mu`azzamah (the Ka`bah). These bloody incidents bear a close resemblance to the climate described in the relevant hadiths:

The Prophet (saas) said: "There will be a voice in Ramadan, a noise in Shawwal, and war between the tribes in the month of Dhu al-Qa`dah. Pilgrims will be despoiled. There will be a war in Mina in which many will die, to such an extent that so much blood will flow as to leave the stones there in a lake of blood."(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 31)

There will be a voice in Ramadan, and a voice in Shawwal. In Dhu al-Qa`dah, the tribes will fight one another. In Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims will be despoiled. In Muharram, there will be a shout from the sky: "Take heed. Such a person is of the auspicious ones of the people of Allah. Listen to and obey him."(Rumuz al-Ahadith,2:518, no. 5)

There will be rebellion in Shawwal, talk of war in Dhu al-Qa`dah, and an act of war in Dhu al-Hijjah. Pilgrims will be despoiled, and their blood will flow [over the Ka`bah].(Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah, p. 166)

In the month of Dhu al-Qa`dah, the tribes will wage war, pilgrims will be kidnapped, and there will be bloody wars. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 34)

There come the cries of war in [the month of] Shawwal with the outbreak of war, massacre, and carnage in [the month of] Dhu al-Hijjah. The pilgrims are plundered in this month, the streets cannot be crossed because of the [amount of] blood shed, and religious prohibitions are violated. Big sins are committed near al-Bayt-al Mu`azzamah [the Ka`bah].(Ibid., p. 37)

A great sin will be committed beside al-Bayt al-Mu`azzamah

The above hadith draws our attention to incidents that will occur by al-Bayt al-Mu`azzamah (the Ka`bah), not inside it. In contrast to the first, the events of Dhu al-Hijjah 1407 ah (during the hajj season) happened not inside the Ka`bah, but beside it. The first event described took place inside the Ka`bah on

1 Muharram 1400, in line with the indications given in both hadiths.

Two major events, shedding blood in the Ka`bah and killing pilgrims, take place one after the other at a time when all of the portents regarding the Mahdi are coming true. This appears to be more than coincidental.

When we examine the expressions in these hadiths, we see signs pointing to other important events that will occur at the same time:

... [There will be] outbreak of war, massacre, and carnage in [the month of] Dhu al-Hijjah.

The combined reference in the hadiths to war, conflict, and the killing of pilgrims shows that the incidents in question will take place at the same time. The period in question was when the Iran-Iraq war broke out and when the worst conflict and chaos were experienced in southeastern Turkey and the Middle East.

There come the cries of war in [the month of] Shawwal...

This may be a reference to tension in the Persian Gulf, heightened tension between Iran and the United States, and a state of war.

18) Sighting a Flare in the East

... the emergence of a big flare, which is seen in the east, in the sky for three nights; The sighting of an extraordinary redness, not as red as the usual color of the dawn; and its spread over the horizon.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 32)

A big flame will occur in the east for 3 or 7 days in a row, followed by darkness in the sky. A brand new redness, unlike the usual color of red, will spread over the sky. A proclamation will be heard in a language Earth can understand.(Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah, p. 166)

Abu Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn Ali (ra) narrated: “When you see a flame rise in the east for three or seven days, then wait for the emergence of Al-i Muhammad; Allah will speak from the sky the name of the Mahdi and everybody, whether in the east or the west, will hear that voice."(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 32)

I swear that a flame will engulf you. That flame is presently in an extinguished state in the valley called Berehut. That flame swallows up people with terrible pain inside it, burns down and destroys people and property, and spreads all over the world by flying like a cloud with the assistance of winds. Its heat at night is much higher than its daytime temperature. By going as deep as the center of Earth from above the heads of people, that flame becomes a terrible noise, just like the lightning between the ground and the sky." (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 461)

Here, we give a brief explanation of this flame:

Some people wait for this flame as a sign that comes suddenly and for no particular reason, that never goes out, and that everyone can see. Since the trial continues during the occurrence of these signs, just because people will see them does not mean that they will understand them. Thus, people will make their decisions by using their intellect, mind, conscience, and will. If the End Time signs had been narrated in full detail (e.g., how, when, and where they will occur), everybody would have had to accept them. Thus, no differences of degree would be left among the people. For this reason, these hadiths have been communicated in a semi-implicit manner.

The sign concerning the flame must be evaluated in this manner. A flame is the result of either an accident due to neglect or to a deliberate action. The hadiths do not say that it must occur as a very strange and extraordinary sign. What really counts is its occurrence in compliance with the properties of the flame described in the hadiths and the time of its occurrence. To do this, first we must consider its properties.

In July 1991, after Iraq invaded Kuwait, a huge fire spread throughout Kuwait and the Persian Gulf as the Iraqis fired Kuwait's oil wells. This is how this fire was covered in the media:

The burning oil in Kuwait led to the deaths of people and animals. According to experts, half a million tons of oil went up into the atmosphere as smoke. Every day, more than 10,000 tons of soot, sulfur, carbon-dioxide and large quantities of hydrocarbons with their carcinogenic properties hang suspended over the Gulf. It is not just the Gulf but, on its behalf, the world is burning. (Kurtlar Sofrasında Ortadoğu, M. Necati Özfatura, s.175)

Two wells that were set alight produced as much oil as Turkey does in one day, and the smoke from them were even seen from Saudi Arabia, 55 kilometers away. (Hurriyet Newspaper, January 23, 1991)

Hundreds of oil wells set alight in Kuwait are still burning fiercely. Experts say it will be "exceedingly difficult to put those fires out," and it is said that the fires may affect a wide area from Turkey to India for the next 10 years.

The fire and smoke coming from the wells constantly polluted the atmosphere. Daytime resembled night in Kuwait. The brown smoke that rose together with the flames reminded one of the sky as the autumn turns into winter… It has been stated that it would take at least a century for Kuwait to be completely habitable again. The smoke that rises with the flames is visible from miles away, totally blocking out the sky and making the country unfit to live in. The wealthy are abandoning Kuwait.

According to a statement by Abdullah Dabbagh, director of the research institute in Dhahran, in the New York Times, 106 species of fish, 180 species of mollusk, and 450 animal species living in the region struggled to survive because of the pollution in the Persian Gulf. It has been stated that smoke rising from 600 oil wells has spread to neighboring countries, and that smoke containing such carcinogenic substances as sulfur has turned into acid rain and reduced agricultural productivity. (Kurtlar Sofrasında Ortadoğu, M. Necati Ozfatura, p. 171)

I swear that a fire will enfold you. That fire is currently lying extinguished in the valley known as Berehut [the name of a valley or a well]. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 461, Qamus Translation, 1:550)

The hadith’s first part says that the flame "is presently in an extinguished state." Given that the flame is the result of burning an inflammable substance, what waits in an extinguished state is not the flame itself but rather the material to be burned by the flame. In this context, this may mean underground oil. Berehut is the name of a well. This can be considered an oil well. When the time comes, oil extracted from these wells will become a fire ready to be burned.

"That flame swallows up people with terrible pain inside it." This flame is not merely a burning flare, but also one that deprives people of their lives and possessions, making them miserable and sorrowful, and contaminates the surrounding environment.

"That flame … burns up and destroys people and property." This flame causes the death of people. In addition, it burns up property, causing material damage, and, by polluting the surrounding environment, destroys what people need in order to live.

"… spreads all over the world in eight days by flying like a cloud with the assistance of winds." This particular element is the smoke that the flame produces. Thus, this metaphor indicates that the smoke will reach as high as the clouds and spread in all directions due to the wind.

"Its heat at night is much higher than its daytime temperature." In other words, the flame will burn around the clock.

"By going as deep as the center of Earth from above the heads of people, that flame makes a terrible noise, just like the thunder between the ground and the sky." Attention is drawn to the facts that the flame will climb very high into the air and cause a very strong noise and explosions resembling a thunder.

"… a brand new redness, unlike the usual color of red, spreading over the sky…" This part of the hadith points out that the incident will occur at night, for the flames of a large nighttime explosion lead to a very strong illumination. The red illumination caused by such red flames is very different from the red "dawn" redness with which people are familiar. Such an illumination at night, which is very similar to daylight, is an extraordinary phenomenon.

19) An Increase in the Number of False Prophets

The appearance of false prophets is another portent of the Mahdi’s coming. Many people claiming to be Prophet ‘Isa have emerged in recent times.

The Hour will not be established until about thirty Dajjals [liars] appear, and each one of them will claim that he is Allah's Apostle…(Sahih Bukhari)

The appearance of 60 liars, each of whom claims that Allah, the One Allah, has sent them as a prophet. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 36)

20) The Use of Religion For Personal Ends

When the learned acquire knowledge solely to make money … when they sell the religion for the sake of this world …when they sell the laws … then Doomsday will be at hand. (Death, Doomsday, and Resurrection, p. 480)

Such men will appear in the end times that they will sell their religion for worldly gain.(Tirmidhi Hadiths)

Whoever reads the Qur’an, let him seek it (his reward) from Allah, because in the End Times many who read the Qur’an will seek their reward from men.(Hadiths Regarding the End Times, p. 9)

21) The Occurance of Great and Astonishing Events

Great phenomena will happen in his time.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 27)

So many appalling incidents will occur in his time.(Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani, 2:258)

The signs of his emergence resemble those preparatory signs that earlier gave an indication of our Allah’s Messenger.(Ibid.)

Great and extraordinary events preceded Prophet Mohammed's (saas) birth. For example, a new star rose on that night, 14 towers of the Iranian emperor's palace collapsed, the Magians' (fire worshippers') sacred fire that had burned for 1,000 years in Iran went out, the Semavi Valley was flooded, and the Save Lake dried up. As indicated in the hadiths above, the Mahdi's emergence will also be marked by great and miraculous phenomena.

Some of the remarkable phenomena that took place during the twentieth century are as follows:

The Ka`bah was raided, and many Muslims were killed,

The 2,500-year-old Iranian monarchy collapsed, and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled and died in exile,

A gas leak in a Bombay factory killed 20,000 people,

War broke out between two Muslim nations: Iran and Iraq,

The Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan,

On September 19, 1985, Mexico City was devastated by an earthquake,

The Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted, wiping the town of Armero off the map and killing 25,000 people,

Floods in Bangladesh killed 25,000 people,

Rome, the heart of the Catholic Church, was flooded,

The worst forest fire in history broke out in China,

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her successor Rajiv Gandhi, along with President Anwar al-Sadat of Egypt and Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme, were assassinated,

Pope John Paul II was shot,

The AIDS virus, identified in 1980, has so far killed tens of thousands of people and is known as the "Plague of the Age,"

The Challenger space shuttle exploded after take-off in 1986,

The worst nuclear accident in history occurred when the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor, located in the Soviet Union, exploded on 26 April 1986 and affected many European countries by the released radiation,

A hole was discovered in the ozone layer,

The Soviet Union collapsed, thanks to Gorbachev, and the newly independent states of Central Asia emerged,

The Gulf War broke out, Iraq annexed and then fled Kuwait

The United States and Britain occupied Iraq in 2003,

An earthquake in Armenia reduced cities to rubble, causing 500,000 people to leave their homes and more than 40,000 people to lose their lives,

The Chinese government sent its tanks into Tienanmen Square during 1989 to crush a student movement demanding greater freedom; 2,000 students died,

The Berlin Wall, which for 28 years had symbolized the cold war, was torn down,

More than 1,400 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at a tunnel in the Ka`bah in 1990,

Approximately 139,000 people died from flooding in Bangladesh in 1991, and 10 million were left homeless,

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims were killed in the atrocities in Bosnia and Kosovo, and hundreds of thousands more were exiled,

The Ebola virus led to the deaths of tens of thousands, and

The hurricanes, tornadoes, whirlwinds, and floods caused by El Niño led to the deaths of thousands of people, to millions fleeing their homes, and to billions of dollars worth of damage.

22) A Sign Outof the Sun

He [the Mahdi] will not come unless a sign emerges out of the Sun.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 49)

The Mahdi will not emerge unless the Sun rises as a sign.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 33)

During the twentieth century, a great solar explosion took place and had a great impact upon the world.

Eclipse of the Sun

The solar eclipse of 11 August 1999 was the final eclipse of the Sun during the twentieth century. This was the first time that so many people could actually watch and investigate such an event for an extended period of time. One noteworthy aspect of this eclipse was that it could be seen in Turkey in some 12 cities and 100 districts.

It is no coincidence that so many signs have taken place one after the other in such a short space of time. Each of these portents represents glad tidings for believers.

23) The Destruction of Great Cities

Great cities will be ruined, and it will be as if they had not existed the day before. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 38)

The hadith indicates that certain large cities will be destroyed as a result of wars and various natural disasters. Several large cities were indeed destroyed or severely damaged during the 1400s ah. These events are major signs of the Mahdi’s coming. The atomic bombs dropped by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 killed innumerable people and razed both cities to the ground.

In the Qur’an, Allah states that many peoples have been destroyed:

So look at the end result of all their plotting: We utterly destroyed them and their people. These are the ruins of their houses because of the wrong they did. There is certainly a Sign in that for people with knowledge. (Surat an-Naml, 51-52)

How many cities We have destroyed that lived in insolent ingratitude. There are their houses, never again inhabited after them, except a little. It was We Who were their Heir. (Surat al-Qasas, 58)

Those cities: We destroyed them when they did wrong and fixed a promised time for their destruction. (Surat al-Kahf, 59)

How many cities that did wrong have We utterly destroyed, raising up other people after them. (Surat al-Anbiya’, 11)

When Our command came, We turned their cities upside down and rained down on them stones of hard baked clay. (Surah Hud, 82)

How many cities We have destroyed. Our violent force came down on them during the night or while they were asleep during the day. (Surat al-A`raf, 4)

The twentieth century’s wars totally ruined many great cities (e.g., Berlin, Hamburg, Warsaw, Leningrad, Bucharest, Beirut and London). It took years to rebuild them.

24) An Increase in the Number of Earthouakes

Doomsday will not come until earthquakes multiply, strife appears, and murders increase.(Portents of Doomsday, p. 109)

Our Prophet (saas) stated in the above hadith that “a rise in the number of earthquakes” will be a sign that the End Times is nigh. Indeed, the twentieth century went down in history as one in which many thousands of people lost their lives in earthquakes. The devastating earthquake in Kobe (Japan), and those that followed one after the other in Turkey, Taiwan, Greece, and Mexico, are important signs.

There will be earthquakes in my community. Ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand people will die. Allah will make this a counsel for the taqwa, a mercy on believers and a suffering for unbelievers.(Ibn ‘Asakır, Geleceğin Tarihi 1(History of the Future 1), Orhan Baytan, Mevsim Publishings, p. 81)

The days when you can find no homes to shelter you or animals to carry you have come close. Earthquakes will demolish your houses. (Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah, p. 146)

If you see the caliphate has descended to the Holy Land, (al-ard al-muqaddasa) know that earthquakes, afflictions, and great events are nigh. On that day, Doomsday is closer to humanity than this hand is to my head.(Sunan Abu Dawud)

When the generations that follow my community insult those who went before (with various pretexts and excuses), expect red winds, earthquakes and changes of appearance (metamorphosis or stones raining from the sky). (Tirmidhi Hadiths, Fitan 39, p. 2211)

In the End Times, when amusements and dancers appear and alcohol is said to be permitted, there will be collapse; it will rain stones; and people will change their appearance.(Sahl Ibn Sa`d, Ahmad Diya’ al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi,Rumuz al-Ahadith, 2:302/8)

Doomsday will not take place until knowledge vanishes, earthquakes multiply, time is shortened, strife appears, and murders flourish. (Sahih Bukhari, Ibn Majah)

Is the Iraq War a Portent of the Mahdi?

World events taking place after the second edition of the book Harun Yahya’s The Awaited Mahdi, which sold out very quickly, as well as the American invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and the neighboring countries’ behavior during the war, are important means whereby we can review the hadiths on these subjects.

The Loss of an Army

There are five portents of the Mahdi: a cry from Sufyani, Yamani, and Sama; the sinking of an army at Bayda; and the killing of the innocent. (Narrated by Nu`aym ibn Hammad)

No Money Left to the Iraqis

The Iraqis will have no measuring scales and almost no money with which to buy provisions. (Muntakhab Kanz al-`Ummal, 5:45)

Flames Destroy Baghdad

Baghdad is destroyed by fire in the End Times... (Risalat al-Khuruj al-Mahdi, 3:177)

An Embargo against Iraq and Syria

“It may happen that the people of Iraq may not send their qafiz and dirhams [their measures of food-stuff and their money].” We asked: “Who will be responsible for it?” He said: “The non-Arabs will prevent them.” He again said: “There is the possibility that the Syrians may not send their dinar and mudd.” We asked: “Who will be responsible for it?” He said: “This prevention will be made by the Romans.” (Sahih Muslim)

The Rebuilding of Iraq

Doomsday will not come until Iraq is attacked. Innocent people in Iraq will seek shelter in Damascus, which along with Iraq, will be rebuilt. (Muntakhab Kanz al-`Ummal, 5:254)

Iraqis Flee to Damascus and the North

Doomsday will not come until Iraq is attacked. The innocent and clean people of Iraq will flee to Damascus.(Risalat al-Khuruj al-Mahdi, p. 210)

Fitna in Damascus

The tribulations in Damascus will calm down on the one hand and flare up again on the other. This tribulation will not end until an angel from the sky calls: “The Mahdi is your leader. The Mahdi is your caliph.” (Ibid., p. 63)

Damascus, Iraq, and Arabia

Our Prophet (saas) said: “There will be such troubles and calamities that nobody will be able to find a place of shelter. These woes will move around Damascus, fall upon Iraq, and tie the hands and feet of the Arabian Peninsula. The community of Islam will fight against troubles in the steppes. Nobody will feel any sympathy for them or even say ‘Alas!’ As they try to remedy their woes on the one hand, they will emerge again on the other.” (Muntakhab Kanz al-`Ummal, 5:38-39)

" A Great Battle between the Tigris and the Euphrates "

There will be a city called Zawra [Baghdad] between the Tigris and the Euphrates, where a great battle occurs. Women will be taken prisoner, and men will have their throats cut like sheep. (Ibid., 5:38)

“The Division of Iraq into Three Parts”

According to our Prophet (saas) the people of Iraq will be divided into three groups: one part will join the looters; one group will flee, leaving their families behind; and one group will fight and kill. Prepare yourselves for Doomsday when you see this. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar)

The people of Kufa will be divided into three parts. One part will join the Sufyani’s army. These are the worst people created by Allah. One part will fight against them, and these are honorable servants of Allah. One part will join the looters, and these are sinners. (Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu's-Saqib fi Bayan Anna'l Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Ale't-Tamam ve'l Qamal)

" The Killing of Innocent Children "

When an innocent child of Muhammd’s community is killed, an angel from the sky will cry: “Allah is with him [the Mahdi] and with those who are with him.” (Muhammad ibn `Ali Sabban, Ishaf ar-Raghibin, p. 154)

The Mahdi's Features

Through the words “Be told the glad tidings of the Mahdi” (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 12) our Prophet (saas) has drawn attention to the importance of awaiting the Mahdi’s coming with excitement and enthusiasm, and of preparing for this special individual. Another hadith describes the love and devotion that the believers should feel toward him:

Whoever witnesses him, let him/her go to him, even by crawling over snow. Let him/her join him, because he is the Mahdi. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Fitan, B 34, H 4082; Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 14)

The Mahdi Will Definitely Appear

Even if only one day of the world remained, Allah would extend that day until he (the Mahdi ) takes power. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 10)

If it were the last day of life, Allah would prolong that day until He sends a man (Mahdi) from the Family of my [Muhammad’s] House. (Ibid., p. 10)

The Mahdi will come to my [Muhammad’s] community… In his time, my community will be blessed with a blessing the like of which has never been seen before. He will cause much rain to fall, and the plants of the ground will hold back nothing.( Ibid., p. 9)

Even if only one night remained for the world, Allah would extend it, so that one from my House would come and rule the world. His name matches mine, and his father’s name my father’s name. Just as the world was filled with cruelty, he will fill it with justice. (Ibid., p. 11)

The Mahdi Will Be Descended From Our Prophet’s (saas) Line

Even if there remains only one day for the world, Allah, the Exalted, will send a man from the Ahl al-bayt (People of the House). (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5:92)

Days and nights will not end until an individual from my Ahl al-bayt rules the world. (al-Uqayli)

The Mahdi is from the line of my daughter Fatima.(Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:348)

Be told the good news of the Mahdi. He is one from the Quraysh and from my Ahl al-bayt.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 13)

The Mahdi is one of my children. His face is like a star shining in the sky. (Ali b. al-Sultan Muhammad al-Harawi al-Hanafi, Risaletul Mesreb elverdi fi mezhebil Mahdi)

All prophets are related to one another. As stated in the hadiths, the Mahdi will also be of that line. These descendants are popularly known as “sayyid,” and so the Mahdi will also be a “sayyid.”

In the Qur’an Allah refers to messengers being descended from one another. These verses may also indicate that the Mahdi will be descended from that line. (Allah knows the truth.)

Allah chose Adam and Nuh, the family of Ibrahim, and the family of ‘Imran over all other beings – descendants one of the other. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 33-34)

Our Lord, make us both Muslims submitted to You, and our descendants a Muslim community submitted to You. Show us our rites of worship and turn toward us. You are the Ever-Returning, the Most Merciful. (Surat al-Baqara, 128)

And some of their forebears, descendants and brothers; We chose them and guided them to a straight path. (Surat al- An‘am, 87)

Allah will Perfect Him in a Single Night

The Mahdi is from us, from the Ahl al-bayt. Allah will perfect* him in a night. (* i.e., will forgive him, or give him success and the inspiration of wisdom and guidance)(Sunan Ibn Majah, vol:10, Bab: 34, p.348)

Islamic scholars have explained this hadith as follows:

The betterment of the Mahdi in a single night refers to his being given eminent status. He cannot obtain this status by work or endeavor. As stated by Almighty Allah in the Qur’an, this blessing bestowed on the Prophet (saas) has also been given to the Mahdi. In verse 52 of Surat ash-Shura, Almighty Allah has said: “Accordingly We have revealed to you a spirit (Ruh) by Our command. You had no idea of what the Book was, nor belief. Nonetheless, We have made it a Light by which We guide those of Our servants We will. Truly you are guiding to a Straight Path.” The Mahdi is the most virtuous and the most perfect person of his time in matters of religion. This shows his greatness, the exalted nature of his status, and the greatness of his rank.(Ali b. al-Sultan Muhammad al-Harawi al-Hanafi, Risaletul Mesreb)

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi refers to the Mahdi in these terms:

In the time of the worst affliction of the End Times, He will send a luminous individual who will, of course, be THE GREATEST JUDGE (a great Islamic scholar to pronounce judgements), and THE GREATEST RENOVATOR (an Islamic scholar sent at the beginning of every century to teach religious truth according to the needs of the age), A RULER, A MAHDI, A GUIDE, A SPIRITUAL MENTOR (a great teacher to whom Muslims devote themselves, the greatest teacher of the age), and he will be from the line of our Prophet (saas). (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Risale-i Nur Collection: The Letters, pp. 411-12)

Mahdi is the People’s Beloved

The Mahdi will not appear until he is the best loved by the people because of the evils that befall them.(Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 27)

He will have the approval of the peoples of Earth and sky. (Haythami, v. VII, p. 313; al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 31)

Allah will sow love of him in the hearts of all people.(Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 42)

The Mahdi will come to people, and they will embrace him like a new bride, with love and conversation.(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 35)

His rule will have the approval of the peoples of Earth and sky, all wild animals, birds, and even the fish in the sea. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 31)

The last of this strife is the killing of the innocent, when the Mahdi will appear in a manner approved of by all. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 38)

Allah will place his words in the people’s hearts. Thus they will be a community who are lions by day and who worship by night. (Al-Uqayli, Al-Najm al-Saqib fi Bayan Anna al-Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Al-i al-Tamam wa al-Qamal)

There will remain no individual who will not be pleased within the Community of Muhammad. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p.163)

He is fair of face, fragrant, imposing, but lovable and close to people.(Mahdi, Dajjal, Messiah, p. 102)

The Mahdi Will Be Spoken of Everywhere

The hadiths mention the time when the Mahdi will be spoken of and for long after he appears. In other words, his name will spread throughout the world.

When a herald from the skies cries out: “The truth is in Al-i Muhammad,” the Mahdi will appear. Everyone will speak only of him, drink of his love, and speak of nothing else.(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 33)

After a herald cries out from the sky: “The truth is in the people of Prophet Muhammad (saas),” the love of the Mahdi will enter people’s hearts and there will be no talk of anything else. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20)

The Mahdi be Recognized e Against His Own Wishes

The hadiths reveal that the Mahdi will be recognized, although he will not personally desire this. In other words, he will not openly proclaim himself. Even though people will come to him and say: “The portents are present in you; you are the Mahdi,” he will deny it. Only after being “threatened with death” will he accept people’s recognition.

People will come to the Mahdi, between the Rukun and the Maqam, and take an oath of allegiance to him, against his own wishes. “If you refuse, we will strike you,” they will say. And the peoples of Earth and sky will approve of him. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 31)

There will be conflict at the time of the caliph’s death. One from the people of Madinah will run to Makkah. A group of Makkanswill bring him forth (from where he is) against his wishes and take an oath of allegiance to him between the black stone (al-hajar al-aswad) in the Ka`bah and the place of Ibrahim.(Sunan Abu Dawud, 5/94; al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20)

… And then he will reluctantly accept their oaths of allegiance. If you witness this, take the oath of allegiance to him, because he is the Mahdi in heaven and on Earth. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 35)

The Mahdi, who is from Fatima’s line, will be brought forth in Makkah, and oaths of allegiance will be offered to him against his wishes.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 52-53)

… They will again find him in Makkah and say: “You are the son of so-and-so, your mother is the daughter of so-and-so, you have the so-and-so portents. You escaped us once, but now hold out your hand so we may swear loyalty to you.” At this, he will say: “I am not he whom you seek,” and will return to Madinah. Sought for in Madinah, he will return to Makkah. In Makkah, they will find him at the Rukun and will say: “If you do not accept our oaths of allegiance, if you do not protect us from the army of the Sufyan that is searching for us and led by one from Haddam, then let our sins be upon you and our blood on your hands.” At this, the Mahdi will sit between the Rukun and the Maqam and hold out his hand to accept their oath of allegiance. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, pp. 39-40)

At a time of bloodshed, people afflicted by strife will come to the Mahdi as he sits at home and say: “Rise for us!” He will refuse, but will eventually rise after being threatened with death. No blood will be shed thereafter. (Ibn Abi Sayba, c. VII, p. 531; Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, pp. 52-53)

We are told in the Surah Yusuf that Prophet Yusuf (as) was also elevated by Pharaoh on account of his honesty, justice, knowledge, and trustworthiness:

When he had spoken with him, he declared: “Today you are trusted, established in our sight.” (Surah Yusuf, 54)

Where the Mahdi Will Be Recognized

… Then the caliphate will pass to the Mahdi, the most auspicious of men, as he sits at home. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 26)

In Makkah, they will find him at the Rukun and will say: “If you do not accept our oaths of allegiance, if you do not protect us from the army of the Sufyan that is searching for us and led by one from Haddam, then let our sins be upon you and our blood on your hands.” At this, the Mahdi will sit between the Rukun and the Maqam and hold out his hand to accept their oath of allegiance.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, pp. 39-40)

The oath of allegiance will be taken to him between the Rukun and the Maqam. The Mahdi will be so merciful that in his time nobody will be woken out of sleep and nobody’s nose will bleed. (Ibid., p. 42)

The Mahdi's Name

O People, it is certain that Allah has forbidden to you the oppressors, the hypocrites and those who abide by them, and has made the Mahdi, the most auspicious of Muhammad’s community, and who is in Makkah and whose name is AHMAD, son of Abdullah, your leader. Join him. (Ibid., p. 31)

The figurative meaning regarding the subject is revealed thus in a verse:

… giving you the good news of a Messenger after me whose name is Ahmad. (Surat as-Saff, 6)

A voice From the Sky (Via Radio or Television) Announces
Mahdi's Coming

... This situation will persist until someone from sky comes and says: “O people, from now on your leader is the Mahdi.” (Ibid., p. 24)

When a voice cries out from the sky: “The truth is in Al-i Muhammad,” the Mahdi will appear.  (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 33)

When you see a fire from the east for three or seven days, you may expect Al-i Muhammad to appear. By the will of Allah, a voice will cry out from the sky the Mahdi’s name so that all in the east and the west will hear.(Ibid., p. 32)

A voice will say from the skies: “The truth is in Al-i Muhammad,” and a voice will say from Earth: “The truth belongs to the Al-i Isa and Abbas.”  (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 33)

When innocent people are killed and his brother is killed in Makkah, a voice will cry out from the skies: “This is your command. This is the Mahdi, who will fill the world with justice.”  (Ibid., p. 35)

Widespread strife that seems unlikely to ever end will arise and last until the cry “The Mahdi is the leader, that is the truth” is heard three times from the skies.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 55)

The hadiths state that a voice from the sky will announce the Mahdi’s appearance. In other words, people will learn of this event through radio and television. This voice will reach everyone, in both the east and the west. Indeed, every society will hear this voice in its own language:

A loud voice will come from the skies to the people of Earth, in such a way that everyone will hear it in his/her own language. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 37)

Nowadays everyone can enjoy access to the news by means of radio, television, and the Internet, and these reports are translated into their respective languages. In this way, everyone will hear of his coming.

Prophet ‘Isa (as) Will Perform the Prayer Behind the Mahdi

Prophet ‘Isa (as) will perform the prayer behind the Madhi.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 24)

As the Mahdi was performing the morning prayer with the believers in Jerusalem, he will introduce Prophet ‘Isa (as), who then appears. Prophet ‘Isa (as) will place his hands on his (the Mahdi’s) shoulder and say: “The call to prayer has been issued for you,” and the Mahdi will lead him and the believers in prayer as their imam.(Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 25)

The Mahdi's Intellectual Work Will Cause Islamic Moral Values to Prevail

The hadiths reveal that nobody’s nose will bleed in the Mahdi’s time, that nobody will be harmed, and that even those who are asleep will not be wakened. This shows that the Mahdi will wage an intellectual campaign by which he will silence those movements and systems that are incompatible with religious moral values, and that he will cause Islam’s moral values to prevail.

The Mahdi… will walk in peace.(Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha‘ah li-Ashrat as-Sa‘ah, p. 166)

...in his time nobody will be awoken out of sleep and nobody’s nose will bleed.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 42)

The Mahdi Will Bring Out True Islamic Moral Values

The hadiths reveal that the Mahdi will do away with all superstitions and practices that have been added on to Islam. As we learn from the hadith“He will govern people with the Sunnah of the Prophet (saas),” he will adhere to our Prophet’s (saas) path and, just as in his day, will be a means by which religious moral values are truly lived.

He [the Mahdi] will practice the religion just as [it was practiced] in the time of Our Prophet. He will eliminate the sects from the face of Earth. No sect, except for the original true religion, will remain. (Barzanji, Al-Isha‘, pp. 186-87)

The Mahdi will leaahve no heresy.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 43)

The Mahdi will leave no heresy uneradicated. He will fulfill religious obligations in the End Times just as [they were fulfilled] in the time of the Prophet (saas).(Barzanji, Al-Isha‘ah, p. 163)

Just as our Prophet upheld Islam at the beginning, the Mahdi will uphold Islam at the end. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, 27)

The Mahdi ’s Spiritual Conouest of Istanbul

Allah will conquer Constantinople (Istanbul) for the people of His most loved friends… He will remove illness and tribulation from them. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 181)

Lands will follow his commands. Allah will favor him with the conquest of Constantinople. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 56)

Many scholars from various lands will set out, unaware of one another, to seek the Mahdi, and up to 310 will accompany each one of them. They will all finally meet in Makkah. When they ask one another why they have come, they will answer: “We seek the Mahdi, who will put an end to strife and capture Constantinople, because we have learned the names of his father, his mother, and his army.” (Ibid., p. 40)

The Mahdi will conquer Constantinople and Mount Daylam.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 27)

When no time is left in the world, or even a single day remains, Allah will extend that day so that one of my [Muhammad’s] line may become lord of Mount Daylam and Constantinople on that day. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 74)

The Mahdi Will Appear When There is no Caliph

He will come, when no caliph remains, to write his name in the world.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 54)

The year in which he will emerge, people will perform hajj together and gather without an imam. (Narrated by `Amr ibn Shu`ayb, al-Hakim, and Nu`aym ibn Hammad)

... people make pilgrimage without an imam leading them.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 35)

The Mahdi's Banner

The Mahdi’s banner will be our Prophet’s (saas) banner:

He will emerge with the Prophet’s (saas) woolen banner. This banner is four-cornered and unstitched, black, and has a halo on it. Unopened since the Prophet’s (saas) death, it will be unfurled when the Mahdi appears.(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 22)

Other hadiths describe the Mahdi’s banner’s features:

It is certain that in the end times, an individual called the Mahdi will come from the furthest part of the land of the Maghrib. Helpers will walk for forty miles before him. His banners are white and yellow, features stripes, and bear the great name of Allah. No unit under his banner can be defeated. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 438)

“Allegiance is to Allah” is written on the Mahdi’s banner.(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 65)

As well as his banner, hadiths also draw attention to the city that he will conquer and plant his banner in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul):

… During the capture of Constantinople, the Mahdi will plant a banner while performing ablutions for the morning prayer. The sea will divide into two, the water will move away from him, and he will follow the path thus opened up to the other shore. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 57)

The Mahdi’s Works Will Contain no Shame or Cruelty

… I find the Mahdi in the books of the prophets as follows: Neither cruelty nor shame will exist in the Mahdi’s practices.(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 21)

The Mahdi Will Rule the World, Just Like Dhu’l Qarnayn (as) and the Prophet Suleyman (as)

The Qur’an reveals that Dhu’l Qarnayn (as) and Prophet Sulayman (as) caused Islamic moral values to prevail throughout the world. The hadiths reveal that, just like these two prophets, the Mahdi will do the same:

The Mahdi will rule Earth, just like Dhu'l-Qarnayn (as) and Prophet Sulayman (as). (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 30)

Four people became kings on Earth. Two are believers, two are unbelievers. The believers are Dhu'l-Qarnayn (as) and Prophet Sulayman (as); the unbelievers are Nimrod and Bakhtinasr (Nebuchadnezzar). One from the people of my house (the Mahdi) will come as the fifth, and he will be king on Earth. (al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 10)

The Books Revealed to the Prophets Describe the Mahdi's Features

The Torah and the Bible contain information about the Mahdi’s features and the portents of his coming. For example:

“I find the Mahdi in the books of the Prophets, as follows: Neither cruelty nor shame exist in the Mahdi’s practices.” (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 47)

One verse that refers figuratively to the subject reads:

We wrote down in the Zabur, after the Reminder came: “It is My righteous servants whowill inherit Earth.” (Surat al-Anbiya’, 105)

Islamic scholars interpret this verse as follows:

It is reported from Imam Baqir and Sadiq that “the RIGHTEOUS SERVANTS here are THE MAHDI AND HIS COMPANIONS.”(al-Hussayni al-Shirazi, p. 113)

In the Old and New Testaments we find the following information:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling [a] together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah, 11:1-9)

In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it one from the house [a] of David one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness. (Isaiah, 16: 5)

… When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. (Mark, 13:5-8)

Angels Will Help the Mahdi

… His commanders are the most auspicious of men. His helpers will be from Yemen and Damascus. Jibrail will be before them, and Mikhail behind. The world will be filled with security, and a few women will even be able to go on the Hajj (pilgrimage) with no men beside them. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 47)

Allah will support him with three thousand angels.(Ibid., p. 41)

The hadith states that the angels Jibrail and Mikhail will be among his assistants. By the will of Allah, angels will help him.

The Qur’an reveals that angels assist true believers. For example, Allah supported our Prophet (saas) and the community of believers with angels:

... and when your Lord revealed to the angels: “I am with you, so make those who believe firm.” (Surat al-Anfal, 12)

... and when you asked the believers: “Is it not enough for you that your Lord reinforced you with three thousand angels, sent down?” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 124)

How Some People Prepare The Way For The Mahdi

Some people will come from the east and prepare the Mahdi’s sultanate.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 21)

A community will emerge from the east and assist the Mahdi’s sultanate.(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 60)

They will descend to Jerusalem and prepare the sultanate for the Mahdi . (Ibid., p. 47)

The Companions of the Cave Will Help Him

The Companions of the Cave will be the Mahdi’s helpmates. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 59)

The Mahdi Will Expedite His Activities

This will endure for seven years. But every year of his will cost you twenty years. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 44)

The hadiths reveal that one year for the Mahdi will be the equivalent of 20 years for human beings. He will accomplish quickly that which it took people long years to achieve. He will find and implement very rapid, rational, wise, and permanent solutions to all problems.

The Mahdi's Love of Plants And Animals

When the Mahdi plants a dry tree, it will immediately grow green and give forth leaves.(Ibid., p. 43)

The Mahdi will plant a dry tree, and it will give forth leaves and grow green.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 67)

He will also take an interest in animals, and they will love him:

When the Mahdi points to a flying bird, it will immediately fall to the ground by his command. When he plants a dry tree, it will immediately flourish and put forth leaves. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 43)

The people of Earth and sky, all wild animals, birds, and even the fish in the sea will approve of his rule. (Ibid., p. 31)

Signs in Hadiths Pointing To the Years 1997 And 1999

One hadith dealing with the signs of the Mahdi’s coming draws our attention to the years 1997 and 1999:

Until the 95th year, people will have possessions, in other words, things will go well. Their goods will decline in the 97th and 99th years… (Ibid., p. 54)

It is likely that the expression “the 95th year” refers to 1995. Up until then, people enjoyed lives of relative well-being and conditions had not yet become that difficult. After that, however, a number of problems began raising their heads. Various political difficulties were experienced in 1997. In 1999, the earthquakes in the Marmara region and all across Turkey led to the greatest loss of life and property.

The Mahdi's Wisdom and Power of Comprehension

The hadiths reveal that Allah has bestowed a special power upon the Mahdi:

He is called the Mahdi because he has a secret power that cannot be known by anyone. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi)

Ibn al-Arabi lists nine of his main attributes:

1. He has foresight,
2. He understands the Book,
3. He knows the meaning of its verses,
4. He knows the states and actions of those he will appoint,
5. He will still be compassionate and just even when angered,
6. He knows the classes of beings,
7. He knows the intricate aspects of affairs

A leader who is aware of such things can make no mistakes in his commands. The Mahdi knows how to avoid mistakes because of his comparative knowledge, for his decisions will be directly inspired. In other words, he will rule with the law brought by Prophet Muhammed (saas). For these reasons, our Prophet (saas) said of him: “He will follow my trace and not fall into error.” From this we can see that the Mahdi will implement the Shari`ah, rather than making his own.

8. He has a sound understanding of people’s needs

Since Allah has chosen him, above all other people, to see to all their needs, his behavior and deeds, just like those of a true leader, must be in the peoples’ interests, rather than his own… A leader who engages in activities that are contrary to the public interest and who does not act on their behalf must be removed from office, because there is no longer any difference between him and other people.

9. The manifestation of secret things in his time, which will enable him to resolve all problems that may arise. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 189)

The Mahdi Will Be the Most Auspicious Person of His Time

Join that person who is the best of Muhammad’s nation and who is your protector that clears up the difficulties for you... He is the Mahdi.” (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 57)

He will be the best person on Earth of his time.(Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 27)

The Mahdi is the best person (of his time). (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 58)

The Mahdi Appears With the Sacred Trusts

The Mahdi will appear in the evening with our Prophet’s (saas) banner, shirt, sword, signs, light, and pleasant expression. (`Ali al-Qari, `Ali b. al-Sultan Muhammad al-Harawi, al-Hanafi, “Risaletul Mesreb )

He will bring forth the Holy Land’s treasures, the Ark of the Covenant, the table of the people of Israel, the tablets of the [Ten] Commandments, the jacket of Prophet Adam (as), the staff of Prophet Sulayman’s (as) pulpit, and the milk-white gloves sent by Allah to the People of Israel. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 33)

The Mahdi Will Be Far From People’s Eyes

At night he will be busy with prayer, his days will be hidden.. (Al-Uqayli, Al-Najm al-Saqib)

The Mahdi Will Encounter Troubles and Difficulties

All of the prophets and messengers sent to warn and call the unbelievers to the true path were rejected by their people and exposed to various attacks and slanders. The Mahdi will also encounter such things. (Allah knows the truth):

“The Mahdi is from one of us, from the Family of my House…” The Messenger of Allah (saas) said: ‘We are such a household that Allah has preferred the Hereafter to the world for us. The Family of my House will surely suffer tribulations, be kidnapped, and exiled after me. The Family of my House will encounter trials and tribulations and be exposed to violence.’”(al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 14)

Our Prophet (saas) refers to this state of affairs in the following hadith:

… The Mahdi will emerge with the Messenger’s (saas) banner when people suffer tribulations one after the other and have given up the hope of his emergence. He will pray two prayer cycles and then go to them and say: “O people, continuous trials came to the nation of Muhammad (saas), especially to the Family of his House, and we have been conquered and wronged.”(Ibid., p. 55)

One hadith reveals that the Mahdi will conquer Istanbul, and his assistants will face various difficulties before that conquest and later defeat them:

… Allah will conquer Constantinople (Istanbul) for the people of His most loved friends… He will remove illness and tribulation from them.(Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 181)

In the Qur’an, Allah has reveals that many prophets and messengers were rejected by their peoples, accused of being crazy or sorcerers, and were subjected to many assaults and great oppression. But they remained patient in the face of these attacks and responded in the finest possible manner.

Messengers before you were also denied… (Surat al-An‘am, 34)

We will be steadfast, no matter how much you harm us… (Surah Ibrahim, 12)

But then they turned away from him and said: “He is an instructed madman!” (Surat ad-Dukhan, 14)

Equally, no messenger came to those before them without their saying: “A magician or a madman!” (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 52)

But he turned away with his forces, saying: “A magician or a madman!” (Surah ash-Shu‘ara’, 39)

He (Pharaoh) said: “If you take any deity other than me, I will certainly throw you into prison.” (Surah ash-Shu‘ara’, 29)

O you who believe! Do not be like those who abused Musa. (Surah al-Ahzab, 69)

They said: “Build a pyre for him and fling him into the blaze!” (Surah as-Saffat, 97)

Then, after they had seen the Signs, they thought that they should still imprison him for a time. (Surah Yusuf, 35)

Those who do not believe all but strike you down with their evil looks when they hear the Reminder and say: “He is quite mad.” (Surah al-Qalam, 51)

The Mahdi Will Bring The Ark of The Covenant To Light

… He will bring the Ark (the chest containing sacred trusts) to light from a place called Antioch. (Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Al-Hawi li al-Fatawa, II. 82)

He will bring forth the Ark of the Covenant from the cave of Antioch. (Nu`aym ibn Hammad, Kitab al-Fitan)

The Mahdi will bring forth the Ark of the Covenant from the cave of Antioch.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 54)

The Mahdi Will Be a Means Whereby People Enjoy Abundance

… Everyone who goes there (near the Mahdi) will enjoy the divine plenty. (Ibid., p. 26)

He Will Know The Secrets of Sifr (Abjad)

The Mahdi will also know numerological calculations and the secrets thereof. In his work Mevzuatu’l-Ulum, (Vol. 11, p. 246) Taskopruluzade Ahmet Efendi records how he will have this knowledge:

Some said that this book of valuable knowledge is subject to the Mahdi’s appearance, who will come at the End of Time, and he will understand the knowledge of sifr and its secrets. This knowledge has existed since the time before books of the prophets. (Taskopruluzade Ahmet Efendi, Mahdilik ve Imamiye [Mahdism and Imam Mahdi], p. 252)

Observation And Surveillance of The Mahdi

When the Dajjal appears, a man (the Mahdi) of the believers will oppose him. Many armed men watching in the Dajjal’s centers will oppose him. (Mahdilik ve Imamiye (Ibid., p. 37; Sahih Muslim, c. 11, p. 393)

The hadith’s beginning reveals that the Mahdi will be observed and followed by the Dajjal’s armed men. We learn from the Qur’an that in earlier times, certain prophets who struggled on Allah’s path were also watched and that their enemies sought to control them by this means:

He is nothing but a man possessed, so wait a while and see what happens to him. (Surah Al-Muminun, 25)

The Mahdi Will Encounter Negative Propaganda

In one hadith our Prophet (saas) indicates that all the oppression and the attacks against the Mahdi will merely further strengthen the him:

When the believer [the Mahdi] sees the Dajjal, he will say “O people! This is the Dajjal spoken of by the Messenger of Allah.” The Dajjal will immediately issue commands regarding him and will make him lay flat on his belly and cry, “Injure him.” But that individual’s back and belly will be broadened by the blows. Then the Dajjal will seize him by his two hands and feet and cast him away. People will imagine the Dajjal has thrown him into the fire. But he will have been cast into a garden of Paradise.(Mehdilik ve Imamiye [Mahdism and Imamism], Ibrahim Suleymanoglu, p. 40)

This hadith states that the Mahdi will be “broadened by being beaten on his back and stomach.” In reference to this, the author of Mahdism and Imam Mahdi says: “The Mahdi’s fame is constantly announced and spread.” Yet since it is the Dajjal’s supporters who will do this, we may say that the propaganda will be intended to tarnish the Mahdi's reputation. The enemies of Islam at the time of our Prophet (saas) used poets, the publishing organs of the period, to denigrate him. These poets behaved arrogantly toward him at fairs and markets, accusing him of madness and sorcery. In the end times, too, the Dajjal’s supporters will defame the Mahdi and seek to damage his reputation in the public eye.

The hadiths describe how the Mahdi’s early years will be full of struggles, troubles, and difficulties. The “Golden Age” belongs to his final years, for only then will the Mahdi and Muslims achieve comfort, security, and plenty and lead lives based on love, peace, and unity.

The Mahdi Will Have Few Brothers

“He will have few brothers …” (Risalat ul-Mahdi, p. 161)

The Mahdi Will Disappear Twice

Abu Abdullah Hussain ibn Ali reports that the Prophet (saas) said: He (the Mahdi) will disappear twice. The first will be so long that some people will say that he is dead. Others will say that he has gone. Neither those who love him nor anyone else will know where he is, only a very close servant will know.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, )

The Mahdi Will Know What is Lawful and What is Unlawful

Hussain was asked: “By what signs will the Mahdi be known?” He replied: “By his ease of heart and dignity, by his knowing what is lawful and what is unlawful.”(Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar)

The Mahdi’s Surerior Moral Values

His Moral Values Will Be Similar To Those Of Our Prophet (saas)

Mahdi is totally submissive to Allah. He resembles the Prophet in terms of manners. (Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah, p. 163)

A son of mine will appear, whose manners will be just as mine. (al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi,, p. 21)

Allah describes our Prophet’s (saas) superior moral values:

“And, doubtlessly, you are blessed with a great moral character.” (Surat al-Qalam, 4)

Believers Adopt His Moral Virtue As a Role Model

He attains divine virtue. He receives knowledge of the faith and exemplary moral virtue from Allah. (Konavi Risalet-ül Mehdi, p. 161 B)

The Qur’an reveals that our Prophet (saas) is the finest possible role model for true believers:

You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much. (Surah al-Ahzab, 21)

He is Combative and Valiant

The days and nights will not end until a man from the Family of my House (the Mahdi), who will easily prevent disorder and who will not be dissuaded from doing so even by threatned to be killed, appears.(al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 13)

The Mahdi will take the matter seriously. (Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah, p. 175)

He will continue his (intellectual) struggle until all people return to Allah.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23)

The Mahdi will settle his account swiftly and will never break his promise. (al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 24)

If he faces the mountains, he will destroy them by making a passage through them.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 39)

Allah speaks of His messengers’ excellent moral values and valiant natures in many verses. They responded to their peoples’ denial, mockery, snares, and assaults in the finest possible manner and always overcame them, with Allah’s help.

Therefore, carry out the orders given to you and disregard the idol worshippers. (Surah Al-Hijr, 94)

Therefore, do not obey the unbelievers and strive mightily against them with this (Qur’an). (Surah al-Furqan, 52)

Those who respond to Allah and his Messenger, despite the persecution they suffer, and maintain their good works and lead a righteous life will have a great reward. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 172)

The Mahdi Has a Great Fear and Respect of Allah

The Mahdi fears and respects Allah like the trembling of a bird’s wing. (Nu`aym ibn Hammad, vr 91a)

The Mahdi is Very Compassionate

The Mahdi will be so merciful that in his day nobody’s nose will bleed.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 42)

His compassion for the poor is one of the signs of the Mahdi. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr,)

He has great compassion for the wronged. (Nu’aym ibn Hammad, vr. 50b; Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu al-Saqib, )

In listing the Mahdi’s characteristics, the great Islamic scholar Ibn al-Arabi refers to his superior compassionate thus:

1 He has foresight,
2 He understands the Book,
3 He knows the meaning of verses,
4 He knows that state and actions of those he will assign,
5 He will still be compassionate and just even when angered,
6 He knows the classes of beings,
7 He knows the intricate aspects of affairs,
8 He has a sound understanding of people’s needs, and
9 The manifestation of secret things in his time, because only then will he be able to resolve any problems that may arise.
(Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 189)

The Mahdi Hasa Powerful Urge to Defend Islam

The hadiths say that the Mahdi’s protective instincts are very powerful. He will respond to every word spoken and neutralize every action taken against Islam.

Even a single word spoken against Islam will offend him. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 30)

The Mahdi is Indebted to Nobody

He is from my community, a man who does not lower himself (who feels gratitude only toward Allah). (al-Suyuti, Al-Havi, 2/24)

The Mahdi Will Not Tell People of His Needs

Hussain was asked: “By what signs will the Mahdi be known?” He replied, “… People will need him, but he will express his needs to no one.”(Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr, )

The Mahdi’s Assumption of Responsibility

He assumes all duties and helps the weak and lowly. (Muhyiddin ibn al-Arabi Futuhat al-Makkiye, 366, vol. 3, p. 327- 28)

The Mahdi’s Splendor

Hussain (ra) was asked: “By what signs will the Mahdi be known?” He replied: “By his ease of heart and dignity, by his knowing what is lawful and what is unlawful.” (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr)

The Mahdi Will Uphold the Truth Against Cruelty

The Mahdi will defend the truth against the oppressors. Indeed, he will extract the molar tooth (anything unjustly held) of a (cruel) person and restore it to its rightful owner. (Al-Uqayli, Al-Najmu al-Saqib)

The Mahdi’s Purity

At a time of (systems) change, a man known as the Mahdi will come. He will be pure and beautiful. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 14)

He will appear at a time of strife, and his purity will be unmatched.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 24)

The Mahdi’s Generosity

There will be a caliph in the end times who will distribute goods without counting or calculating them.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 15)

A leader will come from your leaders, and he will not count goods. Whenever he is asked for something, he will say: “Take it.” That person will then lay out his shirt and fill it.(Ibid., p. 15)

The Mahdi’s Time and The Golden Age

Many prophetic hadiths indicate that an age will dawn when Islamic moral values will prevail on Earth. These hadiths inform us that this period, known as the “Golden Age,” will resemble the “Age of Happiness.”

People will be so content with their lives in the Golden Age that, in the words of one hadith, “they will be unaware of time’s passage and ask Allah to extend their lives so that they may make greater use of these beauties.” Another prophetic hadith describes the Golden Age as follows:

The younger ones will wish they were grown-ups, while the adults will wish they were younger… The good will become even more good, and even the wicked ones will be treated well. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, 17)

A Hitherto Uusfen Abundance

There is a Mahdi in my community. People will come to him and say: “O Mahdi, give to me, too. Give to me, too!” The Mahdi will give him as much as he can carry in his clothes. (Hadith at-Tirmidhi, “Fitan,” B. 53; Sunan Ibn Majah, “Fitan,” B 34, H 4083)

A Mahdi will come from my community. My community will enjoy such well-being in those days that not even a tenth of it has ever been seen before. The ground will give forth foods and will hide (hold back) nothing.(Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:347)

At that time,, all members of my community, the good and the bad, will be blessed with blessing the like of which has never been seen.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 16)

Someone sowing a measure of wheat will find 700 in return. (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 164)

The Mahdi will fill the hearts of Muhammad’s community with riches, and his justice will enfold them so much so that when a herald is commanded to cry out: “Whoever is in need, let him come to me,” no more than one person will come.That person will make requests. The Mahdi will say: “Go to the treasurer and let him give to you.” When he goes to the treasurer, he will receive goods in plenty. But then he will feel remorse and say: “Am I in greater need that everyone else? Nobody went but me,” and he will seek to give back those goods. Then the treasurer will say him: “What we give, we do not take back.” ( al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 13)

In his time, flowing rivers will increase their waters. The Mahdi will bring forth their treasures… (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 36)

It is certain that at that time goods will increase and flow like water, but nobody will (stoop to) take them. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 464)

The ground threw out gold and silver, those beloved things… (Signs of the Judgment Day, p. 197)

There Will Be Wealt

A Mahdi will emerge from my community. Allah will send him to make people wealthy. The community will be blessed, animals will eat and drink in plenty, the ground will give forth its fruits, and goods will be given in excess. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 15)

Allah will eliminate poverty by his hand, and the Mahdi will descend to Damascus. (Ibid., p. 66)

He will fill the hearts of Muhammad’s community with wealth, and his justice will be addressed to them. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 13)

The hearts of Muhammad’s community will be filled with riches. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20)

Goods Will Be Given Without Being Counted

In the End Times, a khalifa (successor) will distribute wealth without even counting it.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, 15)

A leader will emerge from yourleaders, and he will not count goods. When anyone asks him for wealth, he will say: “Take.” That person will spread out his robes, and he will fill them. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 15)

There will be a khalifa from among my community, and he will distribute wealth without counting it. (Ibid., p. 15)

It Will Rain in Abundance

He will fill Earth with justice and well-being. The ground gives forth its fruits, and the sky rains. My community will be blessed in a hitherto unseen manner. (Ibn Abu Sayba, c VII, p. 512-513; al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 35)

In his time, the[Muhammad’s] community, both the good and the bad, will possess blessings the like of which have never been seen before. Although much rain falls, not a drop will be wasted, and the soil will be fertile and abundant without asking for a single seed. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 20-21)

(In the Mahdi’s time) the sky will begrudge none of its rain and will cause rain to fall generously. The ground will hold back none of its plants and will give them forth to perfection… (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 437)

Earth Will Be Filled With Justice

Even if no more than a day remains until Doomsday, Allah will send an individual from my community, and he will fill Earth with justice, in the same way that it is now filled with cruelty. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5:92)

The Mahdi is one of my people, and he will fill Earth with truth and justice, just as it is now filled with cruelty and torture. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5:93)

This Mahdi will fill Earth with justice, just as people previously filled it with cruelty. (Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:348)

After the Mahdi comes, the world, now filled with oppression and vice, will overflow with justice.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar,, p. 20)

There will be such an abundance of justice in the Mahdi’s time that just as all stolen goods will be returned to their owners, anything belonging to anyone else, even something stuck in a person’s tooth, will be returned to its owner. (Ibid., p. 23)

There Will Be Peace And Security

Earth will be filled with security, and small groups of women will be able to perform Hajj without any men alongside them.(Nu’aym ibn Hammad, “Fitan,” vr. 74b; Suyuti, c. II, p. 77; (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23)

He will fill the world, previously full of cruelty, with justice. There will be such justice that nobody who is sleeping will even be awoken and not a drop of blood will be spilt. The world will return to the Age of Happiness. (Nu’aym ibn Hammad, “Fitan,” vr. 74b; Suyuti, c. II, p. 77; (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 29)

People will take the oath of allegiance to him between the Rukun and the Maqam. The Mahdi will be so compassionate that in his time nobody will be awoken out of sleep and nobody’s nose will bleed. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 42)

All Conflicts And Disagreements Will End

Earth will be filled with peace, just as a bowl is filled with water. No enmity will remain between anyone. All enmity, conflict, and disagreement will surely vanish. (Sahih Muslim, 1:136)

The battle will abandon its load (arms and equipment).(Sunan Ibn Majah, 10:334)

War will abandon its load (namely, arms and the like). (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 496)

He will do away with enmity and hatred. The venom will be removed from poisonous animals. Even a small boy will place his hand in a serpent’s mouth, and the serpent will not harm him. The wolf will be like a dog in a herd of sheep or goats. (Sunan Ibn Majah, pp. 331-35)

In his time, the wolf will play with the sheep and snakes will not harm children. A person will sow a handful of seed and will receive back 700 handfuls of grain. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 43)

Love And Unity Will Prevail

Just as Allah has freed them from the heresy of ascribing partners to Him through us and has placed friendship and discourse in their hearts and made them brothers [and sisters] in religion, so He will save them from the sin of corruption through the Mahdi and will make them brothers [and sisters to each other].(at-Tabarani, Haysami, c. VII, p. 317; Nu’aym ibn Hammad, vr 52b; Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 20)

In the same way that through us they were freed from heresy and ascribing partners to Allah and placed friendship and discourse in their hearts, so it will be again (when the Mahdi comes). (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 20)

One of my sons Muhammad ibn Abdullah (the Mahdi) and the Lord will give life to the Sunnah. His justice and plenty will ease the hearts of believers. He will bring friendship and discourse to the Persian and Arab nations.(Ibid., p. 66)

Lives Will Be Longer

In his time … lives will be longer and things entrusted for safekeeping will not be lost. The wicked will be destroyed and nobody will be left who does not like our Prophet (saas). (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 43)

Lives will be longer, and things entrusted will be returned to their place. (Imam al-Suyuti, Signs of the Last Day, Death, and Resurrection, p. 179)

The Dead Will Envy The Living

His time will be one of such justice that the dead in the graves will envy the living…(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 22)

They will overcome all the oppressors and the cruel. There will be such justice in his time that the dead will envy the living. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 68)

The living will wish that the deadwere alive (in order that they might see the blessings imparted to them). (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 437)

In describing how the Mahdi will appear and make Islamic moral values prevail, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi said he would witness this beautiful time from his grave and give thanks:

In the End Times, the true lords of this sphere of life, in other words the Mahdi and his followers, will, by the will of Allah, come and widen that sphere, and the seeds will sprout. I shall WATCH FROM MY GRAVE and give thanks to Allah. (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Risale-i Nur Collection: Kastamonu Letters, p. 99)

The Mahdi's Physical Features

In addition to his moral values and struggle, our Prophet (saas) described the Mahdi’s physical appearance in great detail so that those who see him will immediately recognize him.

One verse reveals that the People of the Book will recognize the Prophet (saas) as “they recognize their own sons.”

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

In the figurative sense, this verse refers to recognizing the Mahdi. When the Mahdi appears, people will recognize him, due to our Prophet’s (saas) descriptions of him, just as they do their own children. Yet despite this, some people will pretend not to recognize him and will deny him.

He is Beatiful And Radiant

He (the Mahdi) is a beautiful young man with an attractive face. The radiance of his countenance rises to his head and the black of his hair. (Mahdisim and Imamate, p. 153)

His face is radiant, just like a shining star. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 33; Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 22)

His face is like a star shining in the sky. (al-Daylami, c. IV, p. 221, Ibn Jawzi, c. II, p. 558; Ali al-Qari, `Ali b. al-Sultan Muhammad al-Harawi,
al-Hanafi “Risaletül Meşreb elverdi fi mezhebil Mahdi”)

He (the Mahdi) is a young man of medium stature and with a beautiful face … The radiance of his face shines like day in his hair, beard, and the blackness of his head, and gives him greatness. (Al-Uqayli, Al-Najmu al-Saqib, )

The Mahdi is one of my [Muhammad’s] children. His face shines like a star.(Ibid)

He is lovely of face. The light of his face gives him majesty. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr, )

There is a color in his face like that of a bright star. (Ibid., p. 12)

Allah tells us of Prophet Yusuf’s (as) beauty:

She said [to Yusuf]: “Go out to them.” When they saw him, they were amazed by him and cut their hands. (Surah Yusuf, 31)

He Has Black Hair

The light of his face rises to his head and the black of his hair. (Mahdisim and Imamate, p. 153)

He has black hair. His beard is black. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr,)

The radiance of his face shines like day in his hair, beard, and the blackness of his head, and gives him greatness. (Al-Uqayli, Al-Najmu al-Saqib,)

He Has a Mole on His Face

The Mahdi has a thick beard, bright front teeth, a mole on his face, and a broad forehead. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr,)

He has a mole on his face.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 41)

He Has the Sign of The Prophet (saas) on His Sholder

The Mahdi will have the sign of our Prophet (saas) on his shoulder. (Ibid., p. 41)

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

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

As can be seen from these hadiths, the Mahdi will have “the sign of the Prophet (saas),” an evident mark, between his shoulders. Islamic sources describe this mark as follows:

Abu Saib ibn Yazid relates that: “My eye saw the seal of the Prophet (saas) between his shoulders.” (Sunan Tirmidhi, 6:126)

His Complexion

The Mahdi is Arab in coloring…(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p .15-75)

Note: 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 brown because of the Sun and the wind. The Mahdi will be the same color as the Prophet (saas), whose complexion is described thus:

Anas b. Malik said this about the Prophet’s (saas) complexion: He was white, but a brownish white. (Ibn Kathir, Shamail Rasul, p. 28)

Not dark brown and not white, but with a little red. The Servant of God’s color is as white as that of someone who has just left the baths and grown a little pink, a color the like of which nobody else will have at that time. In other words, his complexion is a radiant white mixed with pink.
(Ibid., p. 28)

His General Appearance

The Mahdi’s height is like that of the sons of Israel (Bani Israel). (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, pp. 29-36)

His body is an Israeli body. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 24)

It is as if the Mahdi were one of the People of Israel. (His behavior resembles theirs, being majestic and intelligent). (Ibid., pp. 23-30)

He is ... a majestic individual.( Mahdisim and Imamate)

The Mahdi's body is Israeli. It is as if the Mahdi were an official of the People of Israel (one of their leaders). (Ibn Hajar al-Makki)

(His external appearance) resembles that of one of the Beni Israel. (Al-Uqayli, Al-Najmu al-Saqib, )

It is as if he were one of the Children of Israel. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr, )

His Height

The Mahdi will be of average height. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 41)

The Mahdi’s name is Muhammad ibn Abdullah. He is of middling height... (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr, p. 11)

We learn from accounts that he is the same height as our Prophet (saas):

Anas stated that: ‘The Prophet (saas) was of middling height.” As we know, the word “rab’a” in the hadith means normal, medium stature. But there is a limit to normal height in the eyes of tall people, because normal height refers seven handspans. (Hadith at-Tirmidhi, Shamail Sharif, p. 15)

He Has a Broad Body

The hadiths reveal that the Mahdi has a broad abdomen, chest, brow, and a gap between his legs and thighs. His head will be large in proportion to the width of his forehead. All of these descriptionsindicate that the Mahdi’s body will be broad.

He is large of body...(Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu al-Saqib, )

His brow is clear… His abdomen is large, the space between his thighs is broad…(Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr,)

The space between his thighs is open... (Ibid)

The Mahdi is from the line of Hassan (ra). There is a gap between his legs. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 22)

His ... brow is wide. He will fill Earth with justice and hand out goods in abundance.(Ibid., p. 22)

His Brow is Clear And Broad

The hadiths relate that the Mahdi’s brow will be clear and broad, and that his head will be proportionately large.

The Mahdi is one of my people ... His brow is open.(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat, p. 21)

The Mahdi is one of us, and his brow is open... (Ibid., p. 21)

Allah will send a son of my line, with a clear brow, who will fill Earth with justice and distribute goods and property in abundance. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p .23)

He is broad of brow. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr)

Allah will send one of my line who is broad of brow. (Ibid., p. 11)

He Has a Large Stomach

His brow is open … his stomach large, and the space between his thighs is open… (Ibid., p. 13)

His Thighs Are Long

His thighs are long, he is Arab in coloring. (Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah, pp. 162-63)

His Gait

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. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 32)

His Age

The hadiths mention how old the Mahdi will be when he embarks upon his task, when people will recognize him, and when they will see and follow his activities.

He will be sent when he is between 30 and 40. The Mahdi is one of my children… He is around 40.(Ibid., p. 41)

He is 40 years old. According to another account he is between 30 and 40(Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah, p. 16)

The Mahdi is one of my people. He is 40 years old. His face is like a bright star. (Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr )

His Beard

His beard will be thick and luxurious.(al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23)

His beard is thick.(Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah, p. 163)

His Nose is Beautiful

His brow is broad, and his nose will be thin. (Hadith al-Tirmidhi)

He will have a clear brow and a small nose… (Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah, p. 163)

He has a clear brow and a fine nose. (Imam Ahmad, II-291, III-17; Sunan Abu Dawud, vol. 14, p. 404)

His Eyebrows And Eyes

He has a clear brow, a small nose, and large eyes... (Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah, p. 163)

His eyebrows are curved.(Ibid., p. 163)

The Mahdi’s eyebrows ... will have a space between them. (al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 41)

The hadiths state that there will be a space between the Mahdi’s eyebrows and that the gap between his eyes and eyebrows will be large.

The Beauty And Brightness of His Teeth

His teeth will be bright. (Nu’aym ibn Hammad, vr. 52a; al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 41)

The Mahdi will have a thick beard, and his front teeth will be bright.(Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr,)

The Mahdi Is A Subject Needing To Be Widely Broadcast Rather Than Kept Hidden

Talk Of The Mahdi Is One Of The Portents of His Appearance

In his works, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, the reviver(mujad did) of the 13th cen tu ry Hijri, has made a number of important statements that serve as aguide to all Muslims concerning the coming of the Mahdi and the way that he will be areason for Islamic moral values to prevail all over the world. Some circles, however, maintain that, "it would be wrong and objectionable in many ways to speak openly of the subject of the Mahdi," to which Bediuzzaman devoted considerable space in his works.

The fact is, however, that "The Mahdi is a subject needing to be broadcast, rather than hidden or concealed." The glad tidings, of the coming of the Mahdi, have been imparted by our Prophet (saas) himself; there are a number of hadiths of our Prophet (saas) on the subjects that are regarded as completely reliable. In one hadith, the Prophet (saas) revealed that the subject represented great glad tidings for all Muslims:

"LEARN OF THE MAHDI. He is from the Quraysh and is one of my house." (Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p.13) In another hadith, which reads: "The Mahdi will appear, AND EVERYONE WILL SPEAK ONLY OF HIM, drink of his love AND SPEAK OF NOTHING ELSE," (Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 33) our Prophet (saas) stated that when the Mahdi appears, every one will speak of this holy individual. These signs revealed by our Prophet (saas) have begun to take place in our own day, and every one is speaking of the Mahdi.

In his works, Bediuzzaman devoted wide space to this subject, describing it in detail over hundreds of pages. It is clear that had he thought the subject was one needing to be concealed, or one which there was no need to read about, he would not have included all these state ments in his treatises. Indeed, when a subject was to be avoided, Bediuzzaman wrote that this was "confidential" in his works and stated in variousplaces that it did not appear in the treatises because it should not be published. One of these state ments by Bediuzzaman reads, "As for the treatises, we have called such treatises confidential … we have for bidden them to be broadcast." (Bediuzzaman and His Students' Trial Defense, p. 187)

As stated by Bediuzzaman, secret things should not be published. However, the situation is the exact opposite of this when it comes to the subject of the Mahdi.

Bediuzzaman devoted hundreds of pages to elucidating the coming of the Mahdi, made the matter a public one, and openly stated that it was not anissue that needed to be kepthidden. Indeed, the fact that the treatises have been read by millions over the years makes it clear that the subject is one for public consumption, not a secret one.

However, although Bediuzzaman's view is crystal clear, some people have sought to support this misconception by loading various false meanings onto Bediuzzaman's words. One state ment by Bediuzzaman that has been misinterpreted to that end is this:

My brothers' second error: they ascribe a mortal identity that is prone to decay to that help less brother who represents the spiritual entity of the Disciples of Light and who forms the vanguard in the first dutyin certain respects. Although these two errors do no harm to the true purity of the Treatise on Light nor evenin any way to its use in spiritual and heavenly spheres, they cause political circles to fall into an unfounded error and the publication of the Treatise of Light is harmed. Since this time is one of a spiritual entity, such great and eternal truths can not be built on mortal, helpless identities that are liable to error. Incon sequence, it is wrong to give the name of that person age who will come and per form three tasks. Both the purity in the Treatise that can not be mis used will be harmed, and the truths will become deficient in the eyes of believers with little knowl edge of spiritual things; evenindisputable arguments will turn into an opinion that is only partly the truth, and the victory over stubborn proof and arrogant atheism will begin to not be seen among the confused people of faith. Political circles and some religious teachers will begin to feel doubts. Therefore, it does not seem appropriate to give that name in the Treatises. It may be said that he is a reviver, a precursor." (The Seal of Affirmation of Hidden Things, p. 10)

The facts stated by Bediuzzaman in this extract are distorted, and it is suggested that "he said it would be extremely damaging for the subject of the Mahdi to be spoken about publicly." Yet this ideais totally based on a misinterpretation; what Bediuzzaman is saying here refers to his own time. He says that his disciples harbour a miscon ception about him with regard to the Mahdi, but that "this is an error that stems from confusion." For that reason, he tells them not to "speak in this way or make any claims with regard to the Mahdi." On close inspection, however, Bediuzzaman is say ing that it is not speak ing of the Mahdi that is objectionable and damaging, but directing claims regarding the rank of Mahdi towards himself, since these are founded on an erroneous opinion. He reminds them that at that time, bringing up such a mistaken idea regarding himself will damage the truth and may cause certain politicians unease, harm the publication of the Treatise of Light and mean that the treatise enjoys only halfa victory over the deniers. Bediuzzaman says that holding such an erroneous view will lead to the victory of "what is probably the truth" and thus to the misdirection of the people of faith; as a result of this uncertainty, this will prevent Muslims from beingable to recog nise the true Mahdi.

With the terms he also employs here, Bediuzzaman has many times reiterated that he is not the Mahdi. For example, he does not say, "I have per formed the Mahdi's three tasks at the same time." Note that he says that he has only led the way for the Mahdi in the first of the Mahdi's duties, that of regarding the truths of faith, and that he has only performed this in one way. By saying "it will be wrong … to give the name of that person age who will come in the future," he is stating that it will be wrong for him to be given this name although he is not the Mahdi and that this will damage the truth, for which reason the name of Mahdi should be given, not to him, but to that individual who will come in the future. Regarding him self, he says that he may be referred to as a reformer and "the precursor" of the Mahdi.

In addition to all this, as we know, the date given by Bediuzzaman regarding the appearance of the Mahdi is 2011. There is, of course, no question of suchan important matter being kep tconcealed and not talked about with so little time remaining.

Bediuzzaman's words are perfectly clear. He states that his treatises are works that "every one, from a labourer to the wisest scholar, a middle school student to a philosopher, can easily understand." (Kastamonu Addendum, p. 10, Rays of Light, p. 549) Some extracts from Bediuzzaman on this subject read:

...The Treatise of Light proves this duty, at the most severe, essen tial and sen si tive time, in a man ner every one can under stand, the deep est and most secret truths of the Qur'an and of faith, with the most pow er ful evi dence. (Rays of Light, p. 748)

... The Treatise of Light can be read and under stood by all lev els of soci e ty, such as a woman, a man, a civil ser vant and a trades man, a schol ar and a phi los o pher… (Rays of Light, p. 549)

To suggest, none the less, that only special people possessed of special secrets and special abilities can understand the Treatise and to so depart from the evident meaning of Bediuzzaman's words is a grave mistake. In that event, everyone can draw his own erroneous conclusions from Bediuzzaman's words. Thus the treatises will become works that reflect, not the true words of Bediuzzaman himself, but of those who interpret those words according to their own knowledge and understanding. The question of the damaging effect that suchalogic could have on the Collection, written by Bediuzzaman in sucha compact and sincere style, is one calling for careful consideration.

Bediuzzaman Has Told, With Full Supporting Evidence, Those Who Imagine Him To Be The Mahdi That He Is Not The Mahdi

A number of questions were directed towards Bediuzzaman in his own day from his disciples and those around him regarding whether or not he was the Mahdi. In fact, similar questions had been put to other revivers (mujad dids) before Bediuzzaman, and their followers claimed that these people were the Mahdi. They also told their students, with proof, that they were not the Mahdi, and that their attributes were incompatible with his. They gave detailed descriptions of when and where the Mahdi would appear, the kind of features he would possess, his struggle, and how he would cause Islamic moral values to prevail. They made statements, in the light of the hadiths of our Prophet (saas), along the lines of "I am not the Mahdi, because the Mahdi will be aged such and such, appear from such and such a place, possess such and such features, and be a sayyid."

Bediuzzaman gave two kinds of response to those asking for his thoughts on the subject;

1) He made it clear that he was not the Mahdi and wrote pages of statements regarding why he was not the Mahdi aimed at those who claimed that he was.

2) He also responded to those who ascribed the rank of Mahdi to him by say ing, "misconceptions have been around for a long time, that can not be denied; there fore, I had no quarrel with those holding such misconceptions, and told these people that "he rejected claims regarding the rank of Mahdi"

1. Bediuzzaman said, "All my brothers will bear witness that I never accepted the rank of Mahdi" (Rays of Light, p. 365) and proved this over hundreds of pages in the trea tises.

The answer provided by Bediuzzaman, when asked about a subject is important, and he clearly stated that he was not the Mahdi. In his works, Bediuzzaman stated that he was not the Mahdi (Emirdag Addendum, p. 266), that the Mahdi would appear a century after him (Kastamonu Addendum, p. 57), that he was a private soldier and a member of the vanguard of the Mahdi (Barla Addendum, p. 162), that he had prepared the way for the Mahdi with his work and books (The Seal of Affirmation of Hidden Things, p. 189), and that it was an error and a confusion to imagine that he and the Treatise of Light were the Mahdi (Emirdag Addendum, p. 266).

He also stated that the Mahdi would be a sayyid (Exposition, Rays of Light, p. 365), that he will perform three tasks in the worlds of politics, authority, and religion at one and at the same time (Rays of Light, p. 456) (Rays of Light, p. 590) (Emirdag Addendum, p. 259- 260), that the Mahdi will reanimate the essence of Islamic moral values by bearing the titles of the caliph of our Prophet (saas) and the spiritual leader of all Muslims (The Seal of Afformation of Hidden Things, p. 9), that he will bring peace and jus tice to all the world (Emirdag Addendum, p. 2590 (Letters, p. 411-412), that he will bear the title of "the Great Reformer" (Tilsimlar Magazine, p. 168), that he will bring about Islamic Union (Emirdag Addendum, p. 260), that he will receive the support of all Islamic scholars, sayyids descended from our Prophet (saas), and all Muslims (Emirdag Addendum, p. 260), that he will forge an alliance with the Christian world (The Seal of Affirmation of Hidden Things, p. 9), that he will pray together with the Prophet Isa (Rays of Light, p. 493), and that he will install the moral values of the Qur'an over all the world and encour age all people towards the true path (The Seal of Affirmation of Hidden Things, p. 9) (Letters p. 473).

In Bediuzzaman's day, "no Islamic Union collecting all Muslims under a single roof had been established, and nobody bore the title of spiritual leader of all believers." "Justice and dominion had not been brought the entire world," and "Islamic moral values did not prevail all over the world." Nobody bore the title of Great Leader and Ruler; nobody enjoyed "the support of all Islamic scholars, sayyids descended from the line of the Prophet (saas), and all Muslims," and nobody had performed suc a great service to the faithas communicating the message of the moral values of the Qur'an, dedicating his life to and risking everything for it.

(**Suggestion: All these points, in the past 2-3 paragraphs, about the traits of the Mahdi could be better under stood if made as points/bul lets with in the article. Using semi-colons, as originally done is not exactly proper sentence structure. However, by making them bullent points, it would be easier to understand for the reader.)

He ful filled the role of reform er of his own century in the most honourable manner. Yet, his message was communicated, not with force and imposition, but in the face of difficult physical and spiritual circum stances and enormous difficulties. He did not assume the position of commander; on the contrary, he was oppressed and spent his life as a captive, faced with physical troubles and difficulties. He received no wide spread support, but was rather subjected to various injustices, oppressed, and spent much of his life under such harsh circum stances aspris on and exile. He reported that the means and responsibilities to be discharged as listed above, would belong to the Mahdi, the reformer of the century following his.

2. Bediuzzaman stated with full supporting evidence that he was not the Mahdi, but that he had no quarrel with people who harboured such misconceptions:

There were people close to him in his day who held mis con cep tions about Bediuzzaman being the Mahdi. Indeed, Bediuzzaman added some mentions of these attitudes of his followers to various parts of his treatises.

However, as we know, pleasing thoughts about a person are no proof that they actually reflect the truth. Bediuzzaman also stated this in his treatises, say ing: "There may be people who hold pleasing ideas about one; these have been around for a long time, that can not be denied, but they are infactan error and a confusion." One extract in which Bediuzzaman sets this out reads:

... They rightly personally regard the spiritual entity of the Treatise of Light as a kind of Mahdi. Since they imagine that this spiritual entity has a representative, aspiritualentity coming from the students of Light, and that this spiritual entity has a (do you mean the word "representative"??) who is a mere interpreter, they some times give him that name (the Mahdi). This is, in fact, a confusion and an error, but not one for which they are responsible; misconceptions have been around for a long time and can not be objected to. Since I regard what my brothers do as a kind of prayer, a hope, and a reflection of the purecon viction of the studentsn of Light, I made no great objection. (Emirdağ Addendum,p. 248)

Bediuzzaman states that it is sometimes imagined that as the spiritual entity of the Treatise of Light and the author of these works he may himself be the Mahdi, but that this is an error and a confusion. He says that people who think along those lines make an analysis with regard to describing the truths of faith, but that they do not take into consideration that the Mahdi's other two duties - "establishing an Islamic Union, being the leader of the Islamic world, and causing Islamic moral values to prevail over the world, are absent from him." Therefore, equating the role of Mahdi with the Treatise on Light and with himself is merely a "supposition."

Bediuzzaman has stated several times in his works that the Mahdi will be a sayyid, and that he is not a sayyid, but a Kurd.

In one of the proofs revealed by Bediuzzaman demosn trating that he is not the Mahdi, he states that "the Mahdi will be a sayyid, but that he himself is not a sayyid." Some extracts in which Bediuzzaman openly expresses this fact read as follows:

... All my brothers will bear witness that I have never accepted the imputation of being the Mahdi. Indeed, in response to what learned people in Denizli said about whether Said claims to be the Mahdi, contrary to what all his disciples believe, Said stated in his objection, "I am not a sayyid, the Mahdi will be a sayyid," and refuted them. (Rays of Light, p. 365)

I know that I am not a sayyid (descended from the line of our Prophet (saas)). Generations are not known at this time. Yet, that great figure of the end times will be descended from our Prophet (saas). (Emirdağ Addendum, p. 247-250)

Bediuzzaman also recalled one of the had iths of our Prophet (saas) in his works - "it is incom pat i ble with Qur'anic moral values for one who is a sayyid to conceal the fact," thus making it clear that what he said on this subject was the truth:

Those people who are not sayyids, but who say they are, and those who are sayyids, but who say they are not, are both sinners, and in the same way that suchclaims and denials are for bidden … so adding anything to or removing anything from the hadiths and Qur'an is for bidden. (Judgements, p. 52)

Had Bediuzzaman been a sayyid, there would have been no reason to conceal it because being descended from the line of our Prophet (saas) is not a feature requiring to be concealed. On the contrary, it is a great honour for all Muslims. Therefore, had Bediuzzaman been a sayyid, then when he was asked, he would have said, "Yes, I am a sayyid, but I am not the Mahdi," and he would have been honoured to say that he was descended from the line of the Prophet (saas) because admitting that one is a sayyid does not necessarily mean that one is the Mahdi. However, he never the less, several times reiter ated that he was not a sayyid. Bediuzzaman also confirmed this several times in the treatises by saying that he was "Kurdish" (Disputations, p. 84, History of Life, p. 228, Bediuzzaman and His Students' Trial Defence, p. 18). In the same way, had he been of the opinion that he was the Mahdi, he would not have spent hundreds of pages in works read by millions saying the exact opposite; he would not have said that he did not match the attributes of the Mahdi nor, with a greatdeal of evidence, that this holy individual would be coming after him.

In addition, "there is no question of every one who is a sayyid being the Mahdi." There are millions of sayyids in the world. Since the fact that some one is a sayyid does not necessarily mean that he is the Mahdi, and every one who is a sayyid can freely and openly admit the fact. Moreover, Bediuzzaman did not say, "The only thing I lack in this regard is being a sayyid, had I beena sayyid I would have been the Mahdi." On the contrary, he provided lengthy descriptions of all the attributes of the Mahdi and the match less activities he would engagein, and stated that these had not yet come about in his own day.

The effects of the system of the Dajjal and the Sufyan, opposed to the Mahdi, had not been felt when Bediuzzaman was alive

The current state of Islamic countries and of the Muslims of the world clearly reveals that the duties to be discharged by the Mahdi had not come about in Bediuzzaman's day. The effect of the Sufyan and the system of the Dajjal were not yet fully felt in Muslim countries. Religious freedom does not apply in many countries of the world. When Bediuzzaman was alive, the difficulties, troubles and oppression facing Muslims were not that intense. This shows that, like those of the Mahdi, the activities of the Sufyan and the Dajjal had not yet taken place at that time. It is impossible to speak of the Mahdi performing his duties in a climate in which the struggle against the Dajjal and the Sufyan had not yet arisen.

In addition, the whole Islamic world and Muslims are today divided amongst them selves. In Bediuzzaman's day, there was a unifying effect on the Muslims of the world. It is revealed in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) that the Mahdi will have a unifying effect on all Muslims. Bediuzzaman also reports this characteristic of the Mahdi:

…that indi vid u al will seek to ful fill that great duty with the spir it u al assist ance of all believ ers, and the sol i dar i ty of Islamic UUnion, and all schol ars and learned men, and in par tic u lar with the con tri bu tion of mil lions of devot ed say y ids descend ed from the line of our Prophet (saas). (Emirdag Addendum, p. 260)

In this extract, Bediuzzaman is describing the thirdduty of the Mahdi. According to this, at a time when the moral values of the Qur'an are ignored, the Mahdi will be a means where by people turn back to religious morality; he will establish an islamic Union, and all Muslims will unite and join forces and assist the Mahdi in this task. Such comprehensive alliance and support, in which all Muslims will be included, had not yet come about in Bediuzzaman's day. As revealed by Bediuzzaman, the spiritual assistance from this wide community will only emerge in the end times with the Mahdi, and will play a major role in Islamic moral values coming to rule the world.

Bediuzzaman said that the accounts in the treatises were sufficient concerning all matters.

Bediuzzaman, many times, asserted during his life time the truth of every thing he had written, saying, "I also abide by these as a student of the Treatise of Light." Each trea tise is a book published in many editions. If, there fore, he openly states, "I know I am not a sayyid" in his works, then it would be a vile insult and slander against Bediuzzaman Said Nursi forcertain people to say: "Bediuzzaman's state ments are untrue; he called us one day and said that he was both a sayyid and the Mahdi." Because this would be equivalent to claiming that what such a wor thy and moral individualas Bediuzzaman had written was a "lie." A claim to the effect that, contrary to what he wrote over hundreds of pages, Bediuzzaman "only told two or three people that what he had written was a lie," is a grave imputation against those who make such claims. No claim to the effect that "Bediuzzaman deceived millions of people, but only told a hand ful of people the truth," is completely unacceptable.

On the other hand, it is sufficient for Bediuzzaman to say, "I am not the Mahdi" to put the record straight. It is nonsensical to maintain that such a holyper son age "wrote detailed and comprehensive lies over hundreds of pages, and what he wrote is all a deception." Such a grave insult is unacceptable, even if made out of love.

It is com pletely out of the question for a reviver of such deep faith as Bediuzzaman to have written the exact opposite of what he thought and believed in his works. Therefore, it is a grave slander, albeit made out of love for Bediuzzaman, albeit with the very best of intentions, to make such a claim years after his death. An attitude that accuses him of lying and main tains that he spent hundreds of pages deceiving the public can not be accepted by any conscience.

In addition, various unrealistic claims regarding the Prophet Isa (as) may also be made in order to support this ground less claim. As we know, we are told in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) that the Prophet Isa will return to Earth during the time of the Mahdi. The Prophet Isa and the Mahdi will pray together, with the Mahdi actingas imam, and they will rule together on Earth for seven years. However, none of these developments took place while Bediuzzaman was alive. Bediuzzaman did not live along side the Prophet Isa (as). Various attempts are made to explain this anyway. Unfounded ideas, such as that the Prophet Isa (as) will return only in spirit, or that he lived, died and was buriedduring Bediuzzaman's life time, are put for ward. The fact is, however, that Bediuzzaman has made it crystal clear, and many times, in his works that the Prophet Isa (as) will return to Earth as "a person," with his human body. He also stated that the Prophet Isa (as) would forge an alliance with Christian leaders and fight against and intellectually neutralise the Dajjal. In one of these state ments, Bediuzzaman says that the Prophet Isa will be a person, not a spiritual entity:

... THE PROPHET ISA (as), who is in the world of the heavens WITH HIS PHYSICAL BODY, will assume the leader ship of the true.... (Letters, p. 60)

In addition, in those extracts in which Bediuzzaman refers to the Prophet Isa's (as) struggle against the Dajjal, he speaks not of a struggle between one spiritual entity and another, but of one between the true person of the Prophet Isa (as) and the person age of the Dajjal:

... Those whose faith is weak find it hard to believe that "the Prophet Isa (as) will come and labour with the law of Islam and will slay the Dajjal," as is reported in a hadith of absolute trust worthiness. If the truth of that is set out, no room for doubt will remain. (Letters, p. 58-59)

In another extract, Bediuzzaman says that the influence of the Dajjal can only be done away with by a prophet possessed of the power of miracles, and once again states that the Prophet Isa (as) will be a person with the attribute of working miracles, and not a spiritual entity:

... he can only be A PERSON possessed of marvels and miracles and accepted by the people; THAT PERSON is THE PROPHET ISA (as), the most concerned and the prophet of most people..... (Rays of Light, p. 463)

Such claims as these, pointing to private conversations as evidence, despite Bediuzzaman's unequivocal words regarding the coming of the Mahdi and the Prophet Isa (as), are very dangerous interventions that may cast doubton all the treatises written by such a valuable reformer. How valid can these be if many people come up with very different claims, saying, "Bediuzzaman Said Nursi may have said this here, but this is only a stratagem, a lie; he toldus the truth?" Not long after this, anything at all will be able to be said about any matter in the Treatise of Light, and Bediuzzaman's works will increasingly lose their true meaning and wisdom. The only way to fore stall this danger is to accept the words of such a wor thy Islamic scholar, written and confirmed by himself, at their face value. Indeed, in his works, Bediuzzaman has recalled that the treatises contain the most truth ful exposition of this subject, as they do of all others, and has stated that when some one reads what is written in the treatises they can acquire the most accurate information, just as if they were speaking to him in person.

Each book in the Treatise of Light is a Said. Whichever book you look at, you can benefit from it ten times more than by speaking to mein person, and you will really have spoken to me in truth. The Treatise of Light leaves no need for me. (Emirdağ Addendum, p. 159)

… because he says: "If anyone wishes to speak with me, about the here after, or the Treatise of Light, the Treatise of Light has left no need for me at all. The mil lions of cop ies are as much use as ten Saids… If it regards serving or disseminating the Treatise of Light, it is enough for true followers who serve me and my spiritual children and brothers to deal with my counter part, there is no need for me… (Emirdağ Addendum-2, p. 214)

Bediuzzaman also devot ed space in his works to the words of his students who expressed the same fact. Some of these read:

O teachers and people of the heart! You can find the answers to your questions in the Treatise of Light. One of those who, as a blessing from Allah, know secret, invisible truth, asks some one as help less as me about the Mahdi, "When will he come?" He knows nothing of the Mahdi and does not know who the Dabbetu'l Arz is. There is a description of this in the treatises. Look for the answer to every difficult question in the treatises, and you will find it there. (Mustafa Hulusi, Barla Addendum, p. 143)

…On this subject, may I submit that, in sometimes generously reading to a disciple from the Treatise of Light, our teacher Bediuzzaman would not explain it, saying: "The Treastise of Light explains matters of faith sufficiently and deeply. The teacher of the Treatise of Light is the Treatise of light itself. The Treatise of Light leaves no need to study with anyone else." (Extracts, p. 772)

The Coming Of The Mahdi

Was Imparted by Our Prophet (saas) Himself

There are a great many hadiths of our Prophet (saas) regarding the Mahdi that are generally regarded as reliable. Our Prophet (saas) imparted that this is good news for Muslims in the words of one gadith, "LEARN OF THE MAHDI. He is from the Quraysh and is one from my house." (Book of Sayings of the Portents of the End Times, p. 13) In another hadith, our Prophet (saas) says: "The Mahdi will appear, EVERYONE WILL SPEAK ONLY OF HIM, drink of his love and NOBODY WILL SPEAK OF ANYTHING ELSE" (Book of Sayings of the Portents of the End Times, p. 33), stat ing that every one will speak of this holy individual when he appears.

Bediuzzaman Also Imparted the Glad Tidings of the Mahdi

The honesty, openness, and clarity in Bediuzzaman's nature and which dominated his life are reflected in his works, the Treatise of Light.

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi devot edcon siderable space to the Mahdi in his works, providing adetailed description of the subject over hundreds of pages. It is quite clear that had he thought that the subject needed to be concealed, or if he thought there was no need to read about it, he would not have included all these statements in the treatises.

Bediuzzaman made the matter public with his state ments, and openly stated that it was not a problem needing to be concealed. Indeed, the fact that the treatises have been read by millions of people over many years clearly demon strates that it is a subject placed in the open, rather than hidden.

The Treatise of Light is a most valuable collection of works in which Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, the reviver (mujad did) of the last century, expressed the truths emerg ing from his heart and tongue.

Bediuzzaman openly stated that he was not the Mahdi (Emirdağ Addendum, p. 266),

That the Mahdi would come a century after him (Kastamonu Addendum, p. 57),

That he was a private soldier and member of the vanguard of the Mahdi (Barla Addendum, p. 162),

That he had prepared the way for the Mahdi with his books and work (The Seal of Affirmation of Hidden things, p. 189),

And that it was an error and a condusion for him and the Treatise of Light to be equated with the Mahdi (Emirdağ Addendum, p. 266).

Conclusion

Throughout this book, we have examined what the hadiths of our Prophet Muhammed (saas) say about the portents of the Mahdi’s coming, a man who will appear in the End Times having particular characteristics that will enable him to be recognized.

In these hadiths, our Prophet (saas) provides much information about the Mahdi’s moral values and physical appearance. For example, the Mahdi’s moral values will resemble those of our Prophet’s (saas), who will proise him for his fear and respect of Allah and proper morals. He also states that the Mahdi is a most valuable individual who help people attain salvation in this world and in the Hereafter, and that when he appears people will “follow him, even by crawling over the snow”:

Ibn Abi Sayba and Naim ibn Hammad recount this in the Fitan, as do Ibn Majah and Abu Naim from Ibn Mas`ud. He said: “He (the Mahdi) will rule the world and fill Earth, which was previously filled with oppression and cruelty, with justice. Whoever is living at that time, let him/her come to the Mahdi and join him, even by crawling over the snow, because he is the Mahdi. (al-Suyuti, Portents of the Mahdi, p. 14)

The period in which we are now living is the time when this historical event, the glad tidings of which are imparted by our Prophet (saas), will soon take place. All Muslims who know this and want the honor of being alongside the Mahdi when he appears must read this information with great care, seek every means of properly recognizing this awaited individual, and use it as a guide to recognize him.

Muslims have a major responsibility for preparing the ground for and assisting this awaited individual, who will be a means whereby Islam returns to its true essence, the Qur’an’s moral values will prevail, and who will establish great unity among Muslims. Being close to the Mahdi in order to support and assist him in his auspicious activities directed toward all people is a great blessing and honor.

21 Mart 2013 Perşembe

Portents And Features Of The Mahdi's Coming