The Awaited Imam

Circumstances Surrounding Imām Mahdī’s Arrival

01. “Related by Sulaymān ibn ‘Īsā (رضي الله عنهما): I was informed that the Ark of the Covenant will emerge from Tabariyyah Sea through the efforts of Imām Mahdī. It will be placed before him at the Sacred House. When the Jews will see this (Ark), all of them except a few will embrace Islam.”

02. “Ka‘b (RA) has narrated: A comet with a bright tail will appear from the east before the appearance of Imām Mahdī.”

03. “Sharīk (RA) has related: I was informed that before the appearance of Mahdī there will be lunar eclipse twice in the month of Ramadān.”

04. “‘Alī (RA) said: when the announcer will announce that the truth is in the family of Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم), at that time everyone will be talking about Mahdī’s arrival and his love will be fed into them (in such a manner) that they will talk of nothing else but him.”

05. “Abū Jalad (RA) narrates: a disruption will arise which will be followed by another disruption. The first will be related to the second disruption as the lace is joined to its whip (meaning they will be closely related, either the second will immediately follow the first or their content will be similar). Then there will be the (disruption of) swords. It will be followed by another disruption in which all forbidden things will be declared permissible. Then the caliphate will come about, through the best person amongst the people. If will come about whilst he is sitting at home.”

06. “‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (RA) narrates: people will perform the pilgrimage together and will gather at ‘Arafāt without the Imām. So at Minā during their descent a revolt will pounce upon them like a dog (due to which) the tribes will pounce on one another. They will kill one another until the valley begins to flow within blood. (In this worried state) they will go to the best person amongst them to seek his refuge while he will be crying with his face touching the ka‘bah as (the narrator says) I am looking at his tears. So they will request him: please come! We want to take an oath of loyalty on your hand. He will say: it is very sad that you have broken so many promises and have shed so much blood. So, unwillingly, he will accept their oath. So when you find that person, you should take the oath on his hand because he will be Mahdī on earth as well as Mahdī in the heavens.”

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01. Ibn Hammad transmitted it in al-Fitan (1:360#1050); and Suyūtī copied it in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:83).

02. Suyūtī transmitted it in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:82); and Ibn Hammād in al-Fitan (1:229#642).

03. Suyūtī transmitted it in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:82); and Ibn Hammād in al-Fitan (1:229#642).

04. Suyūtī transmitted it in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:68); and Ibn Hammād in al-Fitan (1:334#965).

05. Ibn Abī Shaybah narrated it in al-Musannaf (7:531#37754); and Suyūtī in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:65).

06. Hākim narrated it in al-Mustadrak (4:503,504#8537); Ibn Hammād, al-Fitan (1:227, 341, 342 # 632, 987); Dānī, as-Sunan-ul-wāridah fil-fitan (5:1044, 1045 # 560); and Suyūtī in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:76).