The Awaited Imam

Prophet ‘Īsā (علیہ السلام) and Imām Mahdī (علیہ السلام)

01. “Abū Hurayrah (RA) has narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: what will be the state (of your joy) at the time when ‘Īsā ibn Maryam will descend (from the heavens) and your Imām will be from among you.”

Explanation: It means that ‘Īsā (علیہ السلام), at the time of descent, will offer his prayers in congregation but he himself will not be the Imām but a member of the Ummah, that is, caliph Mahdī. Accordingly, Ibn Hajar ‘Asqalānī with reference to Abū al-Hassan Āburrī’s Manāqib ash-Shāfi‘ī writes: there are continuous traditions in its support and ‘Īsā (علیہ السلام) will offer one prayer behind caliph Mahdī.

02. “Narrated by Ibn Jurayh: Abū Zubayr reported to me: He heard Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (رضي الله عنهما) saying: I heard the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) saying: A section of my people will not cease fighting for the Truth successfully till the Day of Resurrection. He said: ‘Īsā ibn Maryam would then descend and the leader of the Muslims will say: come and lead us in prayer, but he will say: “No, some amongst you are leaders over others. This is the honour from Allāh for this nation” (ie prophet ‘Īsā (علیہ السلام) will decline the offer of leading the prayer due to the high status given by Allāh to this Ummah).”

03. “Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (رضي الله عنهما) narrates that the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: when Islam (ie the state of the Ummah) becomes weak, Dajjāl will appear — and after giving details about Dajjāl — he said: After some time, ‘Īsā ibn Maryam will descend (from the heaven) and in the morning (that is, at pre-dawn) he will call out: O people! What is stopping you from fighting with this evil pretender (Dajjāl)? People will say: he appears to be a supernatural creation (jinn), but as they will move forward they will see ‘Īsā (علیہ السلام). Then it will be time for prayer, so their leader will say: O Allāh’s Spirit: come forward (and lead the prayer). He will say: “Your Imām should lead you” (and at that time the Imām will be Mahdī). When the people will finish their Dawn prayer, they will leave (under the leadership of ‘Īsā (علیہ السلام)) to fight Dajjāl. When ‘Īsā will see the Liar (Dajjāl), he (ie Dajjāl, out of fear) will start melting as salt melts in water.”

04. “Abū Umāmah Bāhilī (RA) has related (a long tradition) from the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) in which a female Companion Umm Sharīk bint ‘Abī al-‘Akar (رضي الله عنها) said: O Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليك وآلك وسلم)! Where will the Arabs be at that time, (why will the Arabs not come out in support of the Ummah)? The Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: the Arabs will be in small number, and most of these will be in the Sacred House and their Imām will be a highly pious person (named Mahdī). When their Imām will come forward for Dawn prayer, at that time ‘Īsā will descend (from the heaven). The Imām will retreat and give way to him so that ‘Īsā can lead people in the prayer. ‘Īsā placing his hand between the Imām’s shoulders will say: step forward and lead the prayer because the iqāmah was said for you. Then their Imām (Mahdī) will lead the prayer.”

05. “Uthmān ibn Abī al-‘Ās (RA) directly narrates that the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: prophet ‘Īsā ibn Maryam will descend (from the heaven) at the time of Dawn prayer (fajr) and the leader of the people will request him: O Allāh’s Spirit! (Come forward and) lead us in prayer. ‘Īsā will say: “you are the people of Muhammad’s Ummah. Some amongst you are leaders over others. So move forward and lead us in prayer.” The leader of the Muslims will come forward and lead the prayer.”

06. “‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (RA) says that ‘Īsā (علیہ السلام) will descend after Mahdī and will offer (one) prayer behind him.”

07. “Abū Sa‘īd Khudrī (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: there will be a person from this Ummah and ‘Īsā ibn Maryam (عليهما السلام) will pray behind him.”

08. “Hudhayfah (RA) relates that the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: When Mahdī will appear ‘Īsā ibn Maryam will descend and it will seem as though water is dropping from his hair. At that time Mahdī, addressing him, will say: please come forward and lead the people in prayer. Prophet ‘Īsā will say: the iqāmah was said for you; therefore, you will lead the prayer. Accordingly, ‘Īsā will offer this prayer behind a man from my family (Mahdī).”

09. “Ibn Sīrīn relates that (Imām) Mahdī will be from this Ummah and will lead ‘Īsā ibn Maryam (رضي الله عنهما) in prayer.”

Obedience of Imām Mahdī (علیہ السلام) will be Compulsory

10. “Shahr ibn Hawshab (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: In (the month of) Muharram, an announcer will call out from the heaven: beware! Surely, (be informed that) such a person has been chosen by Allāh, so listen to him and obey him during the year of uproar and turmoil.”
11. “Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (رضي الله عنهما) narrates that the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: whoever denies (the coming of) Dajjāl, has surely committed disbelief, and whoever denies (the coming of) Mahdī has (also) committed disbelief.”
12. “‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) narrates that the Messenger of Allāh (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) said: Mahdī will come and there will be a turban on his head. There will be an announcer who will proclaim: this is Mahdī, Allāh’s caliph, so follow and obey him.”

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01. Bukhārī related it in as-Sahīh, b. of ambiyā’ (prophets) 3:1272 (#3265); Muslim, as-Sahīh, b. of īmān (faith) 1:136 (#155); Ibn Hibbān, as-Sahīh (15:213#6802); Ahmad bin Hambal, al-Musnad (2:336); Abd-ur-Razzāq, al-Musannaf (11:400#20841); Ibn Mundah, al-Īmān (1:516 # 415, 416); Abū ‘Awānah, al-Musnad (1:99#315); Baghawī, Sharh-us-sunnah (15:82#4277); ‘Asqalānī, Fath-ul-bārī (6:491), al-Isābah fī tamyīz-is-sahābah (4:766), Taghlīq-ut-ta‘līq (4:40); Qurtubī, al-Jāmi‘ li-ahkām-il-Qur’ān (4:101; 16:106); Ibn Kathīr, Tafsīr-ul-Qur’ān al-‘azīm (1:578); and Suyūtī in ad-Durr-ul-manthūr fit-tafsīr bil-ma’ thūr (2:242).
‘Asqalānī, Fath-ul-bārī (6:493, 494).

02. Muslim narrated it in as-Sahīh, b. of īmān (faith) 1:137 (#156); Ahmad bin Hambal, al-Musnad (3:345,384); Ibn Hibbān, as-Sahīh (15:231,232#6819); Abū Ya‘lā, al-Musnad (4:59#2078); Ibn Mundah, al-Īmān (1:517#418); Ibn Jārūd, al-Muntaqā (1:257 #1031); Abū ‘Awānah, al-Musnad (1:99 # 317); and Bayhaqī in as-Sunan-al-kubrā (9:180).

03. Ahmad bin Hambal related it in al-Musnad (3:367,368); Haythamī, Majma‘-uz-zawā’id (7:343,344); Hindī, Kanz-ul-‘ummāl (14:325, 326#38819); and Suyūtī in ad-Durr-ul-manthūr fit-tafsīr bil-ma’thūr (2:242,243).
Hākim gradid it sahīh (sound) according to the conditions of Muslim in al-Mustadrak (4:530#8613).

04. Related by Ibn Mājah in as-Sunan, b. of fitan (turmoils) 4:446,447 (#4077).

05. Hākim narrated it in al-Mustadrak (4:478#8473); Ahmad bin Hambal, al-Musnad (4:217); and Tabarānī in al-Mu‘jam-ul-kabīr (9:60#8392).
Haythamī said in Majma‘-uz-zawā’id (7:342,343) that Ahmad and Tabarānī had related it and the men of Ahmad were those of sound hadīth.

06. Ibn Hammād narrated it in al-Fitan (1:373#1103); and Suyūtī in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:78).

07. Ibn Qayyim transmitted it in al-Manār-ul-munīf (1:147 # 337); and Suyūtī copied it in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:64).

08. Related by Suyūtī in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:81).

09. Ibn Abī Shaybah narrated it in al-Musannaf (7:513#37649); and Ibn Hammād in al-Fitan (1:373#1107).

10. Ibn Hammād related it in al-Fitan (1:226,338#630,980); and Suyūtī copied it in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:76).

11. Related by Suyutī in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:83).

12. Suyūtī transmitted it in al-Hāwī lil-fatāwā (2:61); Tabarānī, Musnad ash-shāmiyyīn (2:71#937); and Daylamī in al-Firdaws (5:510#8920).