«mahdi's actions and invitation»


the author of 'eqdud-durar' (chapter seven) narrates from na'em-ibn-hemad (from the book 'fatan') who narrates from imam muhammad baqir (a.s.) as such: 'when corruption will be in strife, mahdi will emerge in mecca. at the moment he will have with him the holy prophet's banner, sword, shirt and certain other signs. as soon as he finishes reciting the night prayers he will call out in a loud voice as such: 'o people! i remind you of that moment when you will be standing before your lord while he will have completed the arguments: he has sent the prophets, revealed the books and commanded you not to set partners for allah. safeguard the obedience and submission of allah and his prophet. whatever the holy quran brings to life, you too strive to bring them to life and whatever the holy quran dooms to death, you too strive for the same. be my companion and minister in virtuousity because the world is near annihilation and has bid farewell. i call you towards allah and his messenger in order that you act upon his book. keep away the falsehood and enliven the holy prophet's 'sunnah' (ways).

mahdi will emerge swiftly and suddenly like the autumn cloud along with three hundred and thirteen men equal to the number of the companions of 'badr'. at night he will be busy in worship and at day he will be like a roaring lion. thus allah will bring triumph for mahdi in the land of 'hejaz'. mahdi will set free those ones from bani-hashim who would be in prison at that time. people with black flags will enter kufa and will approach mahdi for swearing allegiance to him. mahdi himself would send his armies to different corners of the world for the purpose of receiving allegiance. the oppressors will be vanquished and the inhabitants of the cities will surrender to mahdi.....

in the same chapter of the afore-said book, its author narrates from abu na'eem (from the book 'sefat-ul-mahdi') who in turn narrates from abu sa'eed khudri that the messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) said: 'someone from my progeny will emerge who will be acting upon my 'sunnah'. blessings will descend down from the sky and the earth too would throw out its bounties. the earth will be filled with justice and equity just as it was filled with tyranny and oppression.

in the same chapter of the same book, its author narrates from abdullah-ibn-atha as such: i told imam muhammad baqir: inform me about the 'qae'm'.
he replied: i am not the 'qae'm and the one whom you refer to is not the 'qae'm'.
i asked: how will be mahdi's ways and policies?
he replied: just like the ways of the holy prophet's.

in the same book, he narrates from na'eem-ibn-hemad who narrates from ayesha that the messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) said: 'mahdi is from my progeny. he will fight as per my sunnah just as i fought as per the revealation.

ibn-hejar in his 'sawae'q' (page 98) and the author of 'yanabi-ul-muwadda' (page 433) have narrated a tradition with almost the same contents.

the author of 'esaaf-ur-raghebean' (page 161) says: mohyiddin arabi in 'fotouhat-makkiyah' says: 'mahdi will act by virtue of divine inspiration since the holy prophet's canons will be revealed to mahdi by inspiration just as the tradition:---

mahdi will follow me and he shall not do any wrong.

refers to this very matter.

thus the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) has made us realize that mahdi is the follower of the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) and not that he is a heretic. besides he makes us realize that mahdi is an infallible. such analogy is needed - in spite of being infallible and in spite of receiving inspiration from god. as a matter of fact, some of the researchers reckon analogy to be forbidden for all the divine men since the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) can be witnessed for them. when the divine men doubt in any tradition or command they refer to the holy prophet and he in turn directly acquaints them with the truth. the master of the affairs is needless of following any of the imams, other than the holy prophet.


«mahdi's virtuous way»


the author of 'eqdud-durar' (chapter five) narrates from abu amro osman-ibn-sa'eed muqarri (from his book 'sunan') who narrates from huzaifa-ibn-yaman that the messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) said: the inhabitants of the sky, the inhabitants of the earth, the birds, the beasts and the fishes will become delighted by mahdi's existence.

in the seventh chapter of the same book, its author narrates from abu na'eem (from the book 'sefat-ul-mahdi') and imam ahmad (from the book 'musnad') who in turn narrate from abu saeed khudri that the messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) said: 'i give you glad tidings about mahdi.... the inhabitants of the earth and the heavens will be satisfied with him.

in the third chapter of the same book, its author narrates from na'eem-ibn-hemad (from the book 'fatan') that jabir-ibn-abdullah said: a person approached imam muhammad baqir (a.s.) and said: 'accept these five hundred dirhams as 'zakat' (poll tax) on my wealth.

imam muhammad baqir (a.s.) replied: 'you may give those five hundred dirhams to your muslim neighbours and to your muslim brethrens who are in distress. thereafter imam (a.s.) said: 'when mahdi, the 'qae'm' from our progeny will emerge, he will distribute wealth equally and will tread the farmers with justice.

in the same chapter of the same book, the author narrates from abu amro muqarri (from his book 'sunan') and hafiz na'eem-ibn-hemad (from the book 'fatan') that ka'ab al-akbar said: 'i see mahdi's name in the books of the prophet. his rule is neither injust nor oppressive.

ibn-hajar in his 'sawae'q' (page 98) narrates from ruyani, tabarani and others that the messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) said: mahdi is from my offspring.... the inhabitants of the earth and sky and the birds are satisfied with mahdi's caliphate....

on page 99 of the same book' he has narrated from ahmad and mawardi a traditon with similar contents.


«mahdi's praiseworthy morals»


the author of 'eqdud-durar' (chapter three) narrates from harith-ibn-mughaira nazri as such: i told hussein-ibn-ali: by what wign should we recognize mahdi?
he replied: by his calmness and dignity.

in the same book, he narrates from hafiz abu muhammad hussein (from the book 'masabeeh') that ka'ab al-ahbar said: 'like an eagle with its two wings, mahdi will be humble for the sake of allah'.

in the eighth chapter of the same book, he narrates from na'eem-ibn-hemad (from the book 'fatan') who narrates from ta'oos as such:-
'amongst the signs of mahdi is this that he would be strict with his officials and generous and kind with the indigent.

in section three, chapter nine of the same book' he narrates from na'eem-ibn-hemad (from the book 'fatan') that abu rumiyah said: 'mahdi will show kindness to the poor and will caress them.

again in section three, chapter nine of the same book he narrates from hussein-ibn-ali (a.s.) as such: 'when mahdi emerges nothing will judge between him and the arab and the quraish except the sword. for what reason do they make haste in hazrat's emergence!? i swear by allah that mahdi will not wear but coarse and rough clothes and will not eat but bread made of barley and death will be hidden beneath his word.


«religion will terminate in mahdi»


the author of 'eqdud-durar' (chapter one) narrates from a group well-versed in traditions namely abulqasim tabarani, abu na'eem esfahani, abu abdur- rahman-ibn-abu hatim and abu abdullah na'eem-ibn-hemad and others that amir-ul-mumineen abli-ibn-abi talib (a.s.) said: i asked the holy prophet: 'o messenger of allah! is mahdi from our progeny or others?
he replied: as a matter of fact, he will be from us. allah will terminate the religion through mahdi just as he commenced it through us.

in the seventh chapter of the afore-said book, he narrates from the previous narrators that ali-ibn- abi talib (a.s.) said: i asked the holy prophet:- is mahdi from us, progeny of muhammad or from others!?
he replied: as a matter of fact, he will be from us. allah will terminate the religion through mahdi just as he commenced it through us.

in the same chapter of the same book, its author narrates from hafiz abu bakr baihaqi who narrates from amir-ul-mumineen ali-ibn-abi talib (a.s.) that the messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) said: 'mahdi is from our progeny. religion will end through him just as it commenced through us.

ibn-hajar in his 'sawa'eq' (page 97) has narrated from abul-qasim tabarani that the messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) has said: mahdi is from us. religion will end through him just as it commenced through us.

the author of 'esaaf-ur-raghebeen' (page 148) narrates from tabarani that the messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) said: 'mahdi is from our progeny. 'religion will end through him just as it commenced through us.'