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Monday, January 17, 2011

Coming of Al-Mahdi

The Coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and His Rule, According to the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah Bless Him and Grant Him Peace)
Ref: http://www.mahdiaccordingtoholyscriptures.com/

The hadiths of our Prophet رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم ontain very detailed information and signs regarding the End Times, which will take place close to the Judgment Day. According to this information, the End Times will be made up of two parts. The beginning of this holy time will be one of corruption, degeneration, disasters, conflict, wars and famine. But the second part will see the return to earth of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), and will be a time of beauty when peace, security and freedom dominate the world-a period of plenty and abundance, when people will be happy in every regard.

The hadiths contain hundreds of portents that reveal when and what form the End Times will begin. The way that the portents revealed by our Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم
 1,400 years ago are taking place one after the other in our own day shows that the first portion of the End Times has already begun. With the fulfilment of these signs, the Islamic world has begun a hopeful and joyous expectation of the second coming of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and the emergence of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), putting an end to the corruption of the antichrist (dajjal) so that Islamic moral values will rule the world.

Earlier books in this series have described, in the light of the authentic (tawatur) hadiths of our Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم, the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), and this holy personage's characteristics, physical appearance, and moral and intellectual superiority, his intellectual struggle, and the period of peace and security he will usher in. [For detailed information, see The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will Come in this Century, Portents and Features of the Mahdi's (pbuh) Coming, The End of Times and the Mahdi (pbuh), The Golden Age by Harun Yahya.] For that reason, this web site deals only with certain specific portents out of the hundreds of hadiths which reveal that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) has already appeared or else is about to do so.

Some of the hadiths of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) concerning the End Times and related by great Islamic scholars are listed below:


1. Successive fulfilment of portents of Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh) appearance:

... These [the portents of the appearance of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will follow upon one another like the beads of a rosary. (Ali ibn Husamaddin al-Muttaki, Hadiths from Jalaluddin al-Suyuti's Classification: Signs of the Mahdi of the End Times, Kahraman Publications, p. 34.)

The signs of the Last Day will follow one another. Like beads strung out one behind the other. (Ramuz al-Ahadith, 277/6; Al-Jami' al-Sagir, 3/167.)

The portents of the End Times revealed in the hadiths are far too clear and definitive to leave any room for doubt. The most important point, however, is that they have taken place and are still occurring, in our own day and age. Some of these signs, of course, might have been observed at any time during Islam's 1,400-year history, anywhere in the world and in a specific environment. But that does not mean that those were the End Times, because in order for an age to qualify as the End Times revealed by Allah, all the portents-which we shall describe in some detail-must occur at the same time, one after the other.


2. The Iran-Iraq war:

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

* Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa'dah, Dhu al-Hijja: First, second and third months of pilgrimage according to the Islamic calendar.

The months of Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa'dah and Dhu al-Hijja mention in the hadith correspond to the stages of development 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:

"Talks of war in Dhu al-Qa'dah, and the outbreak of war in Dhu al-Hijja..."

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:

A nation 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 [associaters] 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... (Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah, p. 179.)

* Farsi: Iran, Iranian
** Mutekh: Name of a mountain in the region
*** Yazi: The Plain of Iraq
**** Rakabeh: A region where the oil wells are concentrated

"You Arabs! You have indulged yourselves to bigotry! Unless you grant due rights to them, no one will agree with you on a plan of action."

This part of the hadith states that a dispute will arise between the two sides, stemming from extreme nationalism. Because of that dispute, they will descend to Yazi (the Plain of Iraq), and war will begin.

"Allah will not give victory to any one of the armies..."

Further, as noted by the hadith, the Iran-Iraq war lasted for eight years. Despite the many thousands of casualties, neither side could claim victory or a decisive superiority.


3. A great battle between the Tigris and the Euphrates:

There will be a city called Zawra [Baghdad] between the Tigris and the Euphrates. There will be a great battle there. Women will be taken prisoner, and men will have their throats cut like sheep. (Muntakhab Kanz al-'Ummal, vol. 5, p. 38.)



Quite likely, this hadith calls attention to the Iran-Iraq war, which saw many great clashes between these two Muslim countries. Heavy bombardments reduced villages, towns, and cities to rubble. Women, elderly people, and children lost their lives. After the war, the mass graves uncovered that the casualties were far higher than anticipated. The fact that conflict, disorder and anarchy are still going on in the region is in complete agreement with the hadith.





4. Stopping the flow of the Euphrates:

One of the portents of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is: The stopping of the River Euphrates. (Small Book of Portents of the Mahdi of the End Times, p. 39.)

Allah's Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "The Hour will not come to pass before the river 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.'" (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "The Euphrates reveals the treasures within itself. Whoever sees it should not take anything from it." (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 28.)




Soon the river Euphrates will disclose the treasure [the mountain] of gold. So, whoever will be present at that time should not take anything of it. (Sahih Bukhari)

(1) ... the River Euphrates dries up...

As-Suyuti mentions this hadith as "the stopping of water." The Keban Dam, built in 1975, has accomplished this.

 (2) ... unveils the mountain of gold...

The surrounding land has become as valuable as gold for various reasons, for the Keban Dam has enabled electricity production and higher soil fertility through irrigation and transport facilities.

The Keban and other dams lining the Euphrates resemble a concrete mountain, and wealth as valuable as gold comes out of it. Therefore, these dams take on the properties of "the golden mountain." (Allah knows the truth.)

(3) There will be conflict over this wealth, leading to many deaths

Because of the widespread anarchy and disorder that still persist in the region, those who buy land there may suffer losses. As the hadith puts it, they will either die or be killed.


5. Lunar and solar eclipses during Ramadan:

There are two signs for Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)... 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. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 47.)

The solar eclipse in the middle of the Ramadan, and the lunar eclipse at the end... (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 37.)

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


A lunar eclipse will occur in the first night of the Ramadan. In the middle of the Ramadan, a solar eclipse will occur. (Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-Ashrat as-Sa'ah, p. 199.)

The most striking points here are that a solar eclipse will take place in the middle of the month, and two solar and two lunar eclipses will take place within one month (Ramadan).

In line with these calculations, there was a lunar eclipse in 1981 (Hijri 1401) on Ramadan 15 and a solar eclipse on Ramadan 29. There was a "second" lunar eclipse in 1982 (Hijri 1402) on Ramadan 14, and a solar eclipse on Ramadan 28.








These incidents occurring during the same period coinciding with the signs of Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh) emergence, and their miraculous recurrence for two consecutive years at the onset of the fifteenth Islamic century (1401-02), indicates that they might be the signs foretold by the hadiths.

Moreover, an astoundingly similar series of eclipses occurred in the years 2002 and 2003.








6. The occupation of Afghanistan:

Pity poor Taliqan [a region in Afghanistan]. At that place are treasures of Allah, but these are not of gold and silver but consist of people who have recognized Allah as they should have. They are Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh) servants. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-l-Zaman, p. 59.)


The hadith may well refer to Afghanistan's being invaded in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). In fact, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan took place in 1979, or 1400 Hijri or at the beginning of Hijri 14th century. The hadiths tell us that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will appear at the beginning of that century. The fact that many other portents regarding Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) have taken place in 1400 Hijri and at the beginning of the 1400s shows that these dates have a particular significance in terms of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh).


7. Sighting a flare in the east:

A big flame will occur in the east for three or seven days in a row, followed by darkness in the sky and a brand-new redness unlike the usual color of red spreading over the sky. A proclamation will be heard in a language earth can understand. (Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-Ashrat as-Sa'ah, p. 166.)

   
This is a hadith narrated by Abu Ja'far b. Muhammad b. Ali (ra): "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 proclaim from the sky uttering the name of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and everybody, whether in the east or the west, will hear that voice." (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 32.)

"I swear that a flame will engulf you. That flame is presently in an extinguished state at 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," he narrated. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 461.)

Some people wait for this flame as a sign that comes suddenly and for no particular reason, that never goes out, and that everyone in the world can see. Since the test in this world 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 intellects, minds, consciences, and will. The portents concerning the flame must be evaluated in this manner.


The first part of the hadith says that the flame "is presently in an extinguished state." Given that the flame results from burning a flammable substance, what waits "in an extinguished state" is not the flame itself, but rather the material to be burned. In this context, this may mean underground oil. "Berehut" is the name of a well. This can be considered as 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."

That flame is not merely a burning flare that makes people miserable and sorrowful, but also deprives them of their lives and possessions, and contaminates the surrounding environment.

"That flame... burns down and destroys people and property."

It causes the death of certain people and in addition, burns down property, causing material damage and, by polluting the surrounding environment, destroys what people need in order to live.

"... spreads all over the world by flying like a cloud with the assistance of winds."

This particular element is the smoke that the flame it produces. Thus, this hadith indicates that the smoke will reach as high as the clouds and be spread by the wind in all directions.

"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."

The flame will climb very high into the air and cause very strong 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, with the flames of a large explosion leading to a very strong illumination. The reddish illumination caused by such flames is very different from the reddishness of "dawn with which people are familiar. Such an illumination at night, very similar to daylight, is an extraordinary phenomenon.



In July 1991, after Iraq invaded Kuwait, fires spread throughout Kuwait and the Persian Gulf as the Iraqis fired Kuwait's oil wells. This is how the media described these fires:
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.1

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 (34 miles) away.2

An endless reports of disasters in the Gulf: 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.


8. The rise of a comet:

A star with a luminous tail will rise from the east before Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) emerges. (Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li Ashrat as-Sa'ah, p. 200.)

Before he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] arrives, a comet will appear in the east, giving out an illumination. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 53.)

The rise of that star will occur after the eclipse of the Sun and the Moon. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi 'Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 32.)


Throughout history, comets have heralded times of very important developments for Muslims, some of which became milestones in Islamic history. The Companions of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) also narrated some of these occurrences, as follows:

- The people in the time the Prophet Noah (pbuh) drowned.
- The Prophet Abraham (pbuh) was cast into the fire.
- Pharaoh and his people were perished.
- The Prophet John (pbuh) was killed.
- The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was born.
- Our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was honored with prophecy.
- The Ottoman state first entered the world stage.
- Constantinople was captured by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror.

     

Some interesting statistics regarding Halley's comet:

Particularly striking is the way that multiplies of 19 keep occurring in the appearances of this comet:

* Halleys comet passes by once every 76 years (76=19 x 4)

* The comet was last seen in Hijri 1406 (1406 = 19 x 74)

Another interesting aspect of this is that the year Hijri 1406, when Halley's comet last passed by, is also an exact multiple of 19 (74 x 19). The number 74 is also that of Surat al-Muddaththir, in which the miracle of the number 19 is set out. (For detailed information about the miracle of the number 19, see Allah's Miracles in the Quran, Harun Yahya)

In verse 30 of Surat al-Muddaththir (the 74th sura), the number 19 is revealed as a great blessing for believers, but a vehicle for strife for unbelievers.



This miraculous link between Halley's comet and the number 19 may indicate strife for unbelievers and a blessing for believers.

In verses 1 and 2 of Surat al-Muddaththir, the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is told: "You who are enveloped in your cloak! Arise and warn." This is the outward meaning of the verses. However, the verses may also contain a second, secret sign: The word "enveloped" may refer to Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), who will be descended from our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace). And one of the portents of his appearance will take place in Hijri 1406 (the year of the appearance of the comet).

Surat al-Muddaththir (sura 74)

1) ... You who are enveloped in your cloak!

2) ... Arise and warn

(The word muddaththir means that which is covered up or concealed.)

Another great sign and miracle is that the appearance of Halley's comet in 1986 (Hijri 1406) is the 19th such passage since 607 AD, when the blessed Muhammad (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) was honored with prophecy.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Al-Mahdi according to Hadiths



"There will be many armies after me. You must join that army which will come from Khurasaan." (Ibn Adi)


Related by Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet Muhammad  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said: " (Armies carrying) black flags will come from Khurasan . No power will be able to stop them and they will finally reach Jerusalem where they will erect their flags"

AbdAllah said, Whilst we were with the Prophet, some young men from Banu Hashim approached us. When the Prophet ♡✿ ★ ★♥*★♥♥♥ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم ♥♥♥♡✿ ★ ★♥*★ saw them, His eyes filled with tears and the color of His face changed. I said, We can see something has changed in Your face, and it upsets us. The Prophet said, “We are the people of a Household for whom Allah has chosen the #Hereafter rather than this world. The people of my Household (Ahl al-Bayt) will#suffer_a_great_deal after my death, and will be persecuted until a people#carrying_black_banners will come out of the East. They will instruct the people to do good, but the people will refuse; they will #fight_until they are#victorious, and the people do as they asked, but they will not accept it from them until they hand over power to a #man_from_my_household. Then the earth will be #filled_with_fairness, just as it had been filled with #injustice. If any of you live to see this, you should go to him even if you have to #crawl_across_ice.”

[This text refers to the rule of the Abbasids, as we have mentioned above in the text referring to the beginning of their rule in 132 AH. It also indicates that the Mahdi will appear after the Abbasids, and that he will be one of the Ahl al-Bayt, a descendant of Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet, through Hasan, not Husayn, as mentioned in the Hadith from Ali ibn Abi Talib; and Allah knows best.]




If only one day of this world remained, Allah would lengthen that day, till He raised up in it a man who belongs to Me or to My family (Ahl-ul-Bayt) whose father's name is the same as My father's, who will fill the earth with equity and justice as it has been filled with oppression and tyranny. (Abu-Dawud,Shahih Bukhari)



A man called al-Harith ibn Harrath will come forth from Ma Wara an-Nahr (Middle Asia). His army will be led by a man called Mansur/Mansoor who will establish or consolidate things for Muhammad's family as Quraysh consolidated them for the Apostle of Allah  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم.  Every believer must help him, or He said: respond to his sermons.


Nafi' ibn 'Utbah said : "The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, 'You will attack Arabia, and Allah will enable you to conquer it. Then you will attack Persia, and Allah will enable you to conquer it. Then you will attack Rome, and Allah will enable you to conquer it. Then you will attack the Dajjal, and Allah will enable you to conquer him.'" (Muslim.)

Nafi' ibn 'Utbah said : "The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم said, 'You will attack Arabia, and Allah will enable you to conquer it. Then you will attack Persia, and Allah will enable you to conquer it. Then you will attack Rome, and Allah will enable you to conquer it. Then you will attack the Dajjal, and Allah will enable you to conquer him.'" (Muslim.)


Book 37, Number 4281:
Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal:
The Prophet رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said: The flourishing state of Jerusalem will be when Yathrib is in ruins, the ruined state of Yathrib will be when the great war comes, the outbreak of the great war will be at the conquest of Constantinople and the conquest of Constantinople when the Dajjal (Antichrist) comes forth. He (the Prophet) struck his thigh or his shoulder with his hand and said: This is as true as you are here or as you are sitting (meaning Mu'adh ibn Jabal).

"You will invade the Arabian Peninsula and Allah will grant it (to you). Then (you will conquer) Persia and Allah will grant it (to you). Then, you will invade Ar-Rum and Allah will grant it (to you). Then, you will invade The Dajjal and Allah will grant him (to you)." Nafi' said to Jabir, "O Jabir! We do not believe that the Dajjal will appear until Ar-Rum (Rome) is conquered. (Muslim.)

The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, "The Hour (of Judgement) will not come until the furthest border of the Muslims will be in Bula." Then he said, "O 'Ali!" 'Ali said, "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you!" The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, "You will fight the Romans, and those who come after you will fight them, until the best people among the Muslims, the people of al-Hijaz, will go out to fight them, fearing nothing but Allah. They will conquer Constantinople with Tasbih and Takbir (saying "Subhan Allah" and "Allahu Akbar"), and they will obtain booty the like of which has never been seen - they will share it out by scooping it up with their shields. Someone will come and say, 'The Dajjal has appeared in your land', but he will be lying. Anyone who takes notice of him will regret it, and anyone who ignores him will regret it." (Ibn Majah.)


Book 37, Number 4282:
Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal:

The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم said: "The Greatest War, the Conquest of Constantinople and the coming forth of the Dajjal (Antichrist) will take place within a period of seven months."

Book 37, Number 4285:
Narrated AbudDarda':

The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said: The place of assembly of the Muslims at the time of the war will be in al-Ghutah near a city called Damascus, one of the best cities in Syria.


Dhu Mukhammar said, "The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, 'You will make a #peace_treaty_with_the_Romans, and together you will invade an enemy beyond Rome(i.e.,The USSR). You will be victorious and take much booty. Then you will camp in a hilly pasture(i.e.,Afghanistan); one of the Roman men will come and raise a cross and say "Victory to the Cross", so one of the Muslims will come and kill him. Then the Romans will break the treaty, and there will be a battle. They will gather an army against you and come against you with eighty banners, each banner followed by ten thousand men.'" (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah.)

When Mustawrid al-Qurashi was sitting with 'Amr ibn al-'As, he said, "I heard the Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  say, 'The Hour will come when the #Romans_will_be_in_the_majority.' 'Amr asked him, "What are you saying?" He said, "I am repeating that which I heard from the Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  " 'Amr said, "If you say this, it is true, because they have four good characteristics: they are the most able to cope with tribulation, the quickest to recover after disaster and to return to the fight after disaster, and are the best as far as treating the poor, weak and orphans is concerned. They have a fifth characteristic which is very good: they do not allow themselves' to be oppressed by their kings."


Imam Ahmad narrated that Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-Aas said, "While we were around the Messenger of Allah) writing (the Hadith) the Messenger of Allah   رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم was asked/ 'Which of these two cities will be conquered first, Constantinople or Romiyah (Rome)?' He said, 'The #city_of_Heracles will first be conquered.' He meant Constantinople.'' [Al-Hakim, Al-Mustadrak, vol. 4, p. 508.]


The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, "You will fight the Romans, and Believers from the Hijaz will fight them after you, until Allah enables them to conquer Constantinople and Rome with Tasbih and Takirr (saying "Subhan Allah" and "Allahu Akbar"). Its fortifications will collapse, and they will obtain booty the like of which has #never_been_seen, so that they will share it out by scooping it up with their shields. Then someone will cry, 'O Muslims! the Dajjal is in your country, with your families', and the people will leave the wealth. Anyone who takes notice will regret it and anyone who ignores it will regret it. They will ask, 'Who shouted?' but they will not know who he is. They will say, 'Send a vanguard to Ilya'. If the Dajjal has appeared, you will hear about his deeds.' So they will go and see, and if they see that everything is normal, they will say, 'No-one would give a shout like that for no reason, so let us go together to Ilya'.' If we find the Dajjal there we will fight him together, until #Allah_decides_between us and him. If we do not find the Dajjal, we will go back to our country and our families.' "


Abu Hurayrah said, "The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, 'The Hour will not come until the Romans camp at #Al_Amash or #Ad_Dabiq. An army, composed of the #best_people_on_earth at that time, will come out from Madinah to meet them. When they have arranged themselves in ranks, the Romans will say, 'Do not stand between us and those who took prisoners from amongst us. Let us fight with them.' The Muslims will say, 'No, by Allah, we will never stand aside from you and our brothers.' Then they will fight. One-third will run away, and Allah will never forgive them. One-third will be killed, and they will be the #best_martyrs in Allah's sight. 'One-third, who will never be subjected to #trials_or_tribulations, will win, and will conquer Constantinople. Whilst they are sharing out the booty, after hanging their swords on the olive-trees, Satan will shout to them that the Dajjal has taken their place among their families. They will rush out, but will find that it is not true. When they come to Syria, the Dajjal will appear, while they are preparing for battle and drawing up the ranks. When the time for prayer comes, #Jesus_the_Son_of_Mary will descend and lead them in prayer. When the enemy of Allah (i.e. the Dajjal) sees him, he will start to #dissolve_like_salt in water, but Allah will kill him.'" (Muslim.)


Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:

The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said: The Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead a prominent nose. He will fill the earth will #equity_and_justice as it was filled with #oppression_and_tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.


Hadhrat Abbas (R.A) narrates that Rasulallah  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  has said, "Islam will spread far and wide, across the seas. Horses will cross the land and seas in the cause of Jihaad. Then a time will come wherein a group of people will emerge which recites the Quraan. They will claim,'We have recited the Quraan and is there anyone who understands the Quraan better than us? There is NO ONE more proficient than us in the study of the Quraan.'Then Rasulallah  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  asked the Sahaba, "Do you see any good in their claims?" The Sahaba replied, "No". Rasulallah  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, "But these conceited claimants will be from my Ummah and will be the fuel of the Fire."
                                                 -from "Signs of Qiyamah" (excerpts) by Mohammed Ali Ibn Zubair Ali


Sahih Bukhari Hadith Volume 4, Book 52, Number 176:  
Narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, "You (i.e. Muslims) will #fight_with_the_Jews till some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, 'O 'Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is #a_Jew_hiding_behind_me; so kill him.'" Sahih Bukhari Hadith Volume 4, Book 52, Number 177: Narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him."

#Al_Malhama_Al_Qubra: The Greatest War


(The author of al-Isha'ah has mentioned that this battle will take place in Imam Mahdi's time).
Imam Mahdi will have to fight many battles, the most important and difficult being the battle against the Christians in which a large number of Muslims will be martyred.

' Yusayr bin Jabir said, "A red sandstorm erupted in the city of Kufah. Afterwards, a man came shouting and repeating the same words, 'O Abdullah bin Mas'ud! The hour has come.' He (Yusayr) then said that he sat up after he was leaning (on his side) and said, ''The hour will not arrive until #no_inheritance_will_be_divided and no #war_possessions will bring about satisfaction. ''He pointed with his hands towards #Ash_Sham saying, ''An enemy will gather its forces against the followers of Islam.''I said, ''Do you mean #Ar_Rum (the Romans)? He said ''Yes.''Then, during this war, #fierce_fighting will occur. Muslim will ask for a volunteer expedition that will #vie_to_die_or_return_victorious. They will #fight_until_the_night_separates them. Both sides will return to their camps not yet victorious and the expedition will perish.

Muslims will then (in the third day) ask for volunteer expedition that will vie to die or return victorious. They will fight until the night separates them. Both sides will return to their camp not yet victorious and the expedition will perish. In the fourth day, the rest of the Muslim forces will turn against them (the disbelieves) and Allah will defeat them (the disbelieves). They will #suffer_casualties_never_heard_of_before or he said, '' #Never_seen_before, even birds flying near them will not pass without falling down dead.

Afterwards, #sons_of_the_same_fathers (from the Muslim side), who were near a hundred, will count the survivors and will find out #only_one_of_them_survived. Therefore, what war possession will bring satisfaction and what inheritance will be divided? While they are doing this they will hear of an even bigger calamity; That is, a man will scream amongst them that the Dajjal has appeared among their families which they left behind. They will discard what they have in their hands and proceed. They will send ten horsemen as an expedition force.



The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said: "We (I and my family) are members of a household that Allah  has chosen for them #the_life_of_the_Hereafter_over_the_life_of_this_world; and the members of my household (Ahlul-Bayt) shall #suffer_a_great_affliction and they shall be #forcefully_expelled from their homes after my death; then there will come people #from_the_East_carrying_black_flags, and they will ask for some good to be given to them, but they shall be refused service; as such, they will wage war and emerge victorious, and will be offered that which they desired in the first place, but they will refuse to accept it till they pass it to a man from my family (Ahlul-Bayt) appears to #fill_the_Earth_with_justice as it has been filled with corruption. So whoever reaches that (time) ought to come to them #even_if_crawling_on_the_ice/snow since among them is #the_Vice_regent_of_Allah ( #Khalifatullah) al-Mahdi."

"(Armies carrying) black flags will come from Khurasaan (east of Iran). No power will be able to stop them and they will finally reach #Eelia' ( #Baitul_Maqdas) where they will erect their flags."

The Prophet  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said: #The_Greatest_War, the #Conquest_of_Constantinople and the #Coming_forth_of_the_Dajjal (Antichrist) will take place within a period of seven months. (Actually, it is seven years.)




The Holy Prophet Muhammad  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  has prophesied about several events that will occur just before the advent of the day of judgment. Among these, Rasulullah  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم has foretold the #advent_of_one_of_His_descendants, Al Mahdi ( #the_guided_one), which will materialize when the believers are severely oppressed in every corner of the world. He will #fight_the_oppressors, #unite_the_Muslims, #bring_peace_and_justice to the world, rule over the Arabs, and lead a prayer in Mekkah at which Son_of_Maryam Isa(pbuh) (Jesus) will be present.

Through out the history of Islam, a few individuals -- driven either by the desperate state of Muslims in their community or a selfish pursuit of power and prestige -- laid claim to being Mahdi and found a following among the uninformed masses who were looking for salvation from the heavens. For some of these individuals (like #Bab_of_Iran or #Mirza_Ghulam_of_India) the claim to being Mahdi was just a stepping stone to the development of heretic sects which broke away from the fold of Islam. Thus, it is at least prudent to visit the facts of this prophecy and avoid falling prey to false claimants that will appear from time to time.
As Muslims, we should remember that the prophecy about Mahdi is one that will come to pass. This prophecy, however, does not absolve the Muslim ummah from its duty to strive in the cause of Allah(SWT), oppose injustice, and seek peace and betterment of human condition. Centuries have passes from the time of the holy Prophet 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  and there is a good possibility that many more will expire before the advent of Al Mahdi. Muslims who are negligent in their duty hoping for a savior are committing a grave mistake and are not following the divine decrees ordained in Quran or taught by Rasulullah  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم .

The following are the collection of Sahih (authentic) Hadith regarding #Al_Mahdi_Al_Mahdi :

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas'ood(RA) reports from the Prophet
 
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  , who said:

The world will not come to pass until #a_man_from_among_my_family, whose name will be my name, rules over the Arabs.
(Tirmidhi Sahih, Vol. 9, P. 74; Abu Dawud, Sahih, Vol. 5, P. 207; also narrated by Ali b. Abi Talib, Abu Sa'id, Umm Salma, Abu Hurayra)



The Prophet 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم   said:

Allah will bring out from #concealment_Al_Mahdi from my family and just before the day of Judgment; even if only one day were to remain in the life of the world, and He will spread on this earth justice and equity and will eradicate tyranny and oppression.
(Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol. 1, P. 99)

Hadhrat Ali(RA) narrates that Dearest Prophet MUHAMMAD 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said:

Even if only a day remains for Qiyamah to come, yet #Allah_will_surely_send_a_man from my family who will fill this world with such justice and fairness, just as it initially was filled with oppression.
(Abu Dawood)


Ali b. Abi Talib(RA) has related a tradition from the Prophet 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  who informed him:

The promised Mahdi will be among my family. Allah will make the provisions for his emergence #within_a_single_night.
(Ibn Majah, Sahih, Vol. 2, P. 519)


Hazrat Umme Salmah(RA), Prophet's wife, narrates that she heard the Prophet 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم say:

The promised Mahdi will be among my progeny, among the #descendants_of_Fatima.
(Abu Dawud, Sahih, Vol. 2, P. 207; Ibn Majah, Sahih, Vol. 2, P. 519)


Rasulullah
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  announced:

The Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatima (the Prophet's daughter). (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Tradition No. 4086)


The Prophet 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  taught:

Al-Mahdi is one of us, the members of the household (Ahlul-Bayt).
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Tradition No. 4085)


Abu Sa'id al-Khudari(RA) narrated that the Prophet 
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم said:
Our Mahdi will have a broad forehead and a pointed (prominent) nose. He will fill the earth with justice as it is filled with #injustice_and_tyranny. He will rule for seven years.
(Abu Dawud, Sahih, Vol. 2, p. 208; Fusul al-muhimma, p. 275)

Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri(RA) relates that Rasulullah
 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said:
"Al Mahdi will be from My progeny. His forehead will be broad and his nose will be high. He will fill the world with justice and fairness at a time when the world will be filled with oppression. He will rule for seven years."

Hadhrat Umme Salmah(RA) narrates that Rasulullah 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said:
After the death of a Ruler there will be some dispute between the people. At that time a citizen of Madina will flee (from Madina) and go to Makkah. While in Makkah, certain people will approach him between #Hajrul_Aswad and #Maqaame_Ibraheem, and forcefully #pledge_their_allegiance to him.

Thereafter a huge army will proceed from Syria to attack him but when they will be at Baid#a, which is #between_Makkah_and_Madina, they will be swallowed into the ground.

On seeing this, the #Abdaals_of_Shaam as well as large numbers of people from Iraq will come to him and pledge their allegiance to him. Then a person from the Quraish, whose uncle will be from the #Bani_Kalb_tribe will send an army to attack him, only to be overpowered, by the will of Allah. This (defeated) army will be that of the Bani Kalb. Unfortunate indeed is he who does not receive a share from the booty of the Kalb. This person (Imam Mahdi) will distribute the spoils of war after the battle. He will lead the people according to the Sunnah and during his reign #Islam_will_spread_throughout_the_world. He will remain till seven years (since his emergence). He will pass away and the Muslims will perform his Janazah salaat.
(Abu Dawood)

The holy Prophet 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said:
A #group_of_My_Ummah will #Fight_for_the_Truth until near the day of Judgment when Jesus, #the_Son_of_Marry, will descend, and the leader of them(Al Mahdi) will ask Him(Isa/Jesus) to lead the prayer, but Jesus declines, saying: "No, Verily, among you Allah has made leaders for others and He has bestowed His bounty upon them."
(Sahih Muslim)

It is reported from Abu Hurayra(RA) that the Prophet 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said:
What will be your reaction when the son of Mary (Jesus) descends and your Imam is from among yourselves?
(Sahih Muslim, bab nuzul 'isa, Vol. 2; Sahih Bukhari, kitab bad' al-khalq wa nuzul 'isa, Vol. 4)

The holy Prophet MUHAMMAD 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said:
What would be your situation if the #Son_of_Mary /#Son_of_Maryam Isa (i.e. Jesus ) descends upon you and your Imam is from among you?
(Bukhari, kitabul-Anbiya, Chapter Nuzul Isa bin Maryam)

According to these reliable, authentic, and universally accepted narrations, Mahdi will:

Be from among the family of Prophet
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم, among the descendants of Fatima(RA);
Have a broad forehead and pointed noise;
Appear in one night;
Appear just before the day of Judgment;
Have same name as Hazrat Muhammad
 
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  ;
Escape from Madina to Makkah where people will pledge allegiance to him;
Receive pledge and help of Iraqi people;
Fight in battles;
#Rule_over_the_Arabs for seven years according to Sunnah;
Spread #justice_and_equity on earth;
Eradicate #tyranny_and_oppression;
Lead a prayer in Mekkah which Prophet Isa Jesus The-Son-of-Maryam(pbuh) will follow in;
NOT be the same individual as the Promised Messiah (Jesus).


The following narrations have been taken from books on which there is no consensus among Muslim scholars. Their authenticity is in question:

The holy Prophet
 
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said:
The world will not come to an end until #A_man_from_My_family ( #Ahl_al_Bayt), who will be called Al-Mahdi, emerges to rule upon My community.
( Ithbat al-hudat, Vol. 1, P. 9)


Umme Salmah(RA), the wife of the Prophet, has related a tradition of the Prophet 
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم :                                                                                                                                               Mahdi will be among my progeny, among the #children_of_Fatima.
Muhammad رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said:
The world will not come to an end until a man from the Ahl-ul-Bayt i.e., the #descendants_of_Hassan R.A., (not Hussain R.A.-which been fabricated by Shiah Liars) takes charge of the affairs of the world and fills it with justice and equity as it is filled with injustice and tyranny.


Abu Sa'id al-Khudari(RA) has related a tradition from the Prophet 
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  who declared:
The earth will be filled with injustice and corruption. At that time, a man from among my progeny will rise and will rule for seven or nine years and will fill the earth with justice and equity.
(Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, Vol. 3, P. 27)


Abu al-Hujaf(RA) quotes the Prophet   
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  saying three times:
Listen to the good news about the Mahdi! He will rise at the time when people will be faced with severe conflict and the earth will be hit by a violent quake. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will fill the hearts of his followers with devotion and will spread justice everywhere.


Ali b. Abi Talib(RA) said, I asked the Prophet 
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم :
"Is Mahdi going to be among our own family or from some other?" He replied: "He will be among us. Allah will conclude His religion through him, just as He began it with us. It will be through us that people will find refuge from sedition, just as it was through us that they were saved from polytheism. Moreover, it will be through us that Allah will bring their hearts together in brotherhood following the animosity sown by the sedition, just as they were brought together in brotherhood in their religion after the animosity sown by polytheism."
( Majma` al-zawa'id by `Ali b. Abi Bakr Haythami (Cairo edition), Vol. 7, P. 317)


I heard the Prophet 
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم declare from the pulpit:

The Mahdi from among my descendants, from my family, will rise at the End of Time, while the heavens will pour rain and the earth will bring forth green grass for him. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with tyranny and injustice.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudari(RA) narrated that Prophet  
رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said:
Severe calamity from the direction of their ruler will befall my people during the Last Days. It will be a calamity which, in severity, shall be unprecedented. It will be so violent that the earth with injustice and corruption will shrivel for its inhabitants. The believers will not find refuge from oppression. At that time Allah will send a man from my family to fill the earth with justice and equity just as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. The dwellers of the heavens and the earth will be pleased with him. The earth will bring forth all that grows for him, and the heavens will pour down rains in abundance. He will live among the people for seven or nine years. From all the good that Allah will bestow on the inhabitants of the earth, the dead will wish to come to life again.
(Ibn Hajar, al-Sawa'iq al-muharriqa, P. 161; Yanabi' al-mawadda, Vol. 2, P. 177)

Abu Hurayra(RA) narrated on behalf of the Prophet
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  :
People will pay allegiance to the Mahdi between rukn and maqam (in Mekkah).
(Ibn Tawus, Kitab al-malahim wa al-fitan, P. 64.)


According to these Hadiths, Mahdi will:

Be from the Family of Prophet  and descend from Hassan(R.A.), #Son_of_Fatima(RA);
Appear at the end of time;
Appear when earth is filled with injustice and tyranny and believers are severely oppressed;
Appear when a severe earthquaker will occur and green grass will grow (presumably in Arabia);
Fill the earth with justice and equity;
Spread brotherhood, equity, and devotion among Muslims;
Rule over Muslim community, according to Hadith, for seven or nine years;
Live and act with the qualities of the holy Prophet
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم.
The following are narrations not attribute to the Holy Prophet رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم and only represent second hand narrations attributed to companions of the holy Prophet رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم. Thus, they are included only for completeness and are unreliable.

Ammar Yasir has related:

At the time when Nafs al-Zakiyya is killed a caller from the heaven will say: 'Your commander is so-and-so.' (announce Mahdi) Following it the Mahdi will emerge and fill the earth with justice and equity.
(Ibn Tawus, Kitab al-malahim wa al-fitan, P. 179)

Abd Allah b. Umar mentioned the name of Mahdi in the presence of an Arab who said: Mahdi is Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan. Abd Allah said:

It is not as you say. Mahdi is a person behind whom Jesus will offer his prayers.
(Ibn Tawus, Kitab al-malahim wa al-fitan, P. 179)

Mujahid said about Mahdi:

One of the Prophet's companions told me that the Mahdi will not appear until that time when Nafs al-Zakiyya will be killed. At that time he will take the command and will fill the earth with justice and equity.
(Ibn Tawus, Kitab al-malahim wa al-fitan, P. 171)


Salma b. Zafar reports that one day people were talking about the appearance of the Mahdi in the presence of Hudhayfa. Hudhayfa said:

If Mahdi has indeed appeared while you are living close to the Prophet's period and while his companions are living among you, then you are truly fortunate. However, that is not the case. Mahdi will not appear until people are devoured by oppression and tyranny and there is no one absent more beloved and more needed than him.
(Kitab al-hawi li al-fatawa, Vol. 2, P. 159)

These narrations are based on opinion of single individuals and are not reliable. However, they indicate that Mahdi might:

Not appear until all Muslims are divided and curse each other (i.e. no brotherhood);
Appear when tyranny and oppression rule and no Muslim is free;
Be announced by a voice from heavens;
Fill the earth with justice and equity;
Lead the prayer which Jesus(pbuh) will follow.


http://www.irshad.org/islam/prophecy/mahdi.htm

THE Mahdi will come at the end of time; he is one of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and Imams. 

He is not the Mahdi who is expected by the Shiah, who they claim will appear from a tunnel in Samarra. This claim of theirs has no basis in reality nor in any reliable source. They allege that his name is Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn al-Askari, and that he went into the tunnel when he was five years old.
The matter we intend to discuss has been proven by Ahadith narrated from the Prophet 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  that the Mahdi will appear at the end of time. I believe that he will appear before Jesus the son of Mary comes down, as the Ahadith indicate.

Hajjaj said that he heard Ali say, The Prophet 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, Even if there were only one day left for the world, Allah would send a man from among us to fill the world with justice, just as it had been filled with oppression and justice. (Ahmad).


Ali said, The Prophet said, The Mahdi is one of us, from among the people of my household. In one night Allah will inspire him and prepare him to carry out his task successfully. (Ahmad and Ibn Majah.)

Ali R.A. said, whilst looking at his son al-Hasan, "This son of mine is a Sayyid (master), as the Prophet named him. Among His descendants there will be man named after your Prophet. He will resemble Him in behavior but not in looks. Then He told them the report which mentions that the earth will be filled with justice. (Abu Dawud.)

Abu Dawud devoted a chapter of his Sunan to the subject of the Mahdi. At the beginning of this chapter he quoted the Hadith of Jabir ibn Samrah, in which the Prophet said, This religion will remain steadfast until twelve caliphs have ruled over you. (According to another report he said, This religion will remain strong until twelve caliphs have ruled over you.) Jabir said, The people cheered and shouted Allahu akbar! Then the Prophet whispered something. I asked my father What did he say? My father said, He said, All of them will be from Quraysh.

Another report says that when the Prophet returned to his house, Quraysh came to him and asked, What will happen after that? He said, Then there will be tribulation and killing.

Abu Dawud reported a Hadith from Abd Allah ibn Masud: The Prophet said, If there were only one day left for the world, that day would be lengthened until a man from among my descendants or from among the people of my household, was sent; his name will be the same as my name, and his fathers name will be the same as my fathers name. He will fill the earth with justice and fairness, just as it will have been filled with injustice and oppression. The world will not end until a man of my household, whose name is the same as mine, holds away.

Abd Allah said, The Prophet said, A man from my household, whose name is like mine, will take power. (Tirmidhi.) In another report, from Abu Hurairah, the Prophet said, If there were only one day left for this world, Allah would lengthen it until he took power.

Abu Said said, The Prophet said, The Mahdi will be one of my descendants; he will have a high forehead and a hooked nose. He will fill the earth with justice and fairness just as it was filled with injustice and oppression, and he will rule for seven years. (Abu Dawud.)

Umm Salamah reported that the Prophet said, People will begin to differ after the death of a Khalifah. A man from the people of Madinah will flee to Makkah. Some of the people of Makkah will come to him and drag him out against his will; they will swear allegiance to him between al-Rukn and al-Maqam. An army will be sent against him from Syria; it will be swallowed up in the desert between Makkah and Madinah. When the people see this, groups of people from Syria and Iraq will come and swear allegiance to him. Then a man from Quraysh whose mother is from Kalb will appear and send an army against them, and will defeat them; this will be known as the Battle of Kalb. Whoever does not witness the spoils of this battle will miss much! The Mahdi will distribute the wealth, and will rule the people according to the Sunnah of the Prophet. Then he will die, and the Muslims will pray for him. (Abu Dawud.)


Ali said, The Prophet said, A man named al-Harith ibn Hirath will come from Transoxania. His army will be led by a man named Mansur. He will #pave_the_way_for and #establish_the_government of the family of Muhammad, just as Quraysh established the government of the Messenger of Allah. Every believer will be obliged to support him. (Abu Dawud.)

Abd Allah ibn al-Harith ibn Juz al-Zubaydi said, The Prophet said, A people will come out of the East who will pave the way for the Mahdi. (Ibn Majah.)

Abd Allah said, Whilst we were with the Prophet, some young men from Banu Hashim approached us. When the Prophet saw them, his eyes filled with tears and the colour of his face changed. I said, We can see something has changed in your face, and it upsets us. The Prophet said, We are the people of a Household for whom Allah has chosen the Hereafter rather than this world. The people of my Household (Ahl al-Bayt) will suffer a great deal after my death, and will be persecuted until a people carrying black banners will come out of the east. They will instruct the people to do good, but the people will refuse; they will fight until they are victorious, and the people do as they asked, but they will not accept it from them until they hand over power to a man from my household. Then the earth will be filled with fairness, just as it had been filled with injustice. If any of you live to see this, you should go to him even if you have to crawl across ice.

This text refers to the rule of the Abbasids, as we have mentioned above in the text referring to the beginning of their rule in 132 AH. It also indicates that the Mahdi will appear after the Abbasids, and that he will be one of the Ahl al-Bayt, 

a descendant of Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet, through Hassan, not Hussain, as mentioned in the Hadith from Ali ibn Abi Talib;


 and Allah knows best.

Thwaban said, The Prophet said, Three men will be killed at the place where your treasure is. Each of them will be the son of a Khalifah, and none of them will get hold of the treasure. Then the black banners will come out of the East, and they will slaughter you in a way which has never been seen before. Then he said something which I do not remember; then, If you see him, go and give him your allegiance, even if you have to crawl over ice, because he is the Khalifah of Allah, the Mahdi. (Ibn Majah.)

The treasure referred to in this text is the treasure of the Kabah. Towards the end of time, three of the sons of the Khalifahs will fight to get hold of it, until the Mahdi appears. He will appear from the East, not from the tunnel of Samarra, as the Shiah claim; they believe that he is in this tunnel now, and they are waiting for him to emerge at the end of time. There is no evidence for it in any book or Sahih tradition, and there is no benefit in believing this.

The truth of the matter is that the Mahdi whose coming is promised at the end of time will appear from the East, and people will swear allegiance to him at the Kabah, as some Ahadith indicate.

At the time of the Mahdi, there will be peace and prosperity, with abundant crops and wealth, strong rulers, and Islam will be well-established.

Abu Said said, By Allah every ruler we have had has been worse than the previous one, and every year has been worse than the year before, but I heard the Prophet say, Among your rulers will be one who will give out wealth freely, without counting it. A man will come and ask him for money, and he will say Take; the man will spread his cloak out and the ruler will pour money into it. The Prophet spread out a thick cloak he had been wearing, to demonstrate the mans actions; then he gathered it up by its corners and said, Then the man will take it and leave. (Ahmad.) 

The matter we intend to discuss has been proven by Ahadith narrated from the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam): that the Mahdi will appear at the end of time. I believe that he will appear before Jesus the son of Mary comes down, as the Ahadith indicate.


Thwaban said, The Prophet said, Three men will be killed at the place where your treasure is. Each of them will be the son of a Khalifah, and none of them will get hold of the treasure. Then the black banners will come out of the East, and they will slaughter you in a way which has #never_been_seen_before. Then he said something which I do not remember; then, If you see him, go and give him your allegiance, even if you have to crawl over ice, because he is the Khalifah of Allah, the Mahdi. (Ibn Majah.)

The treasure referred to in this text is #the_treasure_of_the_Kabah. Towards the end of time, three of the sons of the Khalifahs will fight to get hold of it, until the Mahdi appears. 


[Note: He will appear from the East, not from the tunnel of Samarra, as the Shiah Liars claim; they believe that he is in this tunnel now, and they are waiting for him to emerge at the end of time. There is no evidence for it in any book or Sahih tradition, and there is no benefit in believing this.]

The truth of the matter is that the Mahdi whose coming is promised at the end of time will appear from the East, and people will swear allegiance to him at the Kabah, as some Ahadith indicate.

At the time of the Mahdi, there will be peace and prosperity, with abundant crops and wealth, strong rulers, and Islam will be well-established.



http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?id=1704
 
The Signs of Imaam Mahdi

1) He will be from the progeny of the Prophet and descendent of Fatimah (R.A). Umme Salama (R.A) reported: I heard the Prophet of Allah () saying, "The Mahdi will appear from my progeny, from the descendants of Fatimah." (Abu Daud)
2) His name will be Muhammad or Ahmad and his father's name will be Abdullah. Ibne Masood (R.A) reported that the Prophet said, "If there remains in the world but a day, the mighty Allah will greatly prolong that day till he will send there in a man from me or from the members of my house. His name will be similar to my name and his father's name to my father's name." (Abu Daud)
3) He will resemble the Prophet in character. Hadrat Ali (R.A) once looked at his son and remarked, "This son of mine is Saiyid who was named by the Prophet and soon from his loins will come forth a man by the name of your Prophet and who will resemble him in conduct but not in appearance." (Abu Daud)
4) He will have a shiny forehead and a high bridge nose. Abu Saeed reported that the Prophet said, "The Mahdi will appear from me, shining of forehead, long of nose." (Abu Daud).
5) Once Hadrat Ali (R.A) was asked regarding his description. He replied, "He is a well built youth of average height and a handsome face, his hair reaches his shoulders and the light of his face is contrasted by the darkness of his hair and beard." (Al-Isha'ah)
6) He will be slow of speech (a slight stutter) and when he is delayed, he will strike his left thigh with his right hand." (Al-Isha'ah)
7) He will appear from the east. Thawban (R.A) reported that the Prophet said, "Three men will be killed at the place where your treasure is. Each of them will be the son of a Khalifah but none of them will get hold of the treasure. Then the black banners will come out of the east, and they will slaughter you in a way that has never been seen before. If you see him give him your allegiance, even if you have to crawl over ice, because he is the Khalifah of Allah, the Mahdi." (Ibne Majah)

Only some of the signs that will precede Imaam Mahdi and of the Mahdi himself have been gathered in this book. The true Mahdi, the one referred to in the Ahadith of Prophet as one of the signs of Qiyamah, is the one in whom the pre-mentioned signs are found.



His Emergence and the People's Bayat

After the death of a Khalifh there shall be intense dispute and difference of opinion in whom should become the next Khalifh. Fearing He may get caught up in the dispute and made the Khalifh, Imaam Mahdi will flee from Madinah to Makkah. However, to his surprise on reaching Makkah, some Makkans will bring him out of his house against his will and take him to Masjid Haraam and 313 as has been mentioned in the hadith reported by Imam Hakim in Al-Mustadrak will force him to accept their Bayat between the Rukn (corner of the Ka'aba containing the black stone) and the place of Ibrahim. The news of his allegiance will quickly spread and thus an army from Syria will be sent to fight him. However no harm will come to Imaam Mahdi nor his followers who will be supported by Allah. The earth will swallow up this army before it can get near to the Imaam in a place called Baidah (a flat piece of land between Makkah and Madinah). After seeing and hearing about this extraordinary event and sign, the Awliya (pious saints) of Syria and Iraq will come to Imaam Mahdi and swear allegiance to him between the black stone and the Maqam (the place of Ibrahim which is near the Ka'aba). (The above content can be found in the Hadith of Umme Salama/Abu Daud)

The First Battle

His first battle will be against the tribe of Kalb. A short period after the eminent saints of Syria and Iraq have sworn allegiance; a man from the Quraish will rise whose maternal uncle's belong to the Kalb tribe and he will send an army to fight Imaam Mahdi. However this army will be overcome and defeated. This will be his first victory.


Al_Malhama_Al_Qubra: The Greatest War

(The author of al-Isha'ah has mentioned that this battle will take place in Imam Mahdi's time).
Imam Mahdi will have to
fight many battles, the most important and difficult being the battle against the Christians in which a large number of Muslims will be martyred.

' Yusayr bin Jabir said, "A red sandstorm erupted in the city of Kufah. Afterwards, a man came shouting and repeating the same words, 'O Abdullah bin Mas'ud! The hour has come.' He (Yusayr) then said that he sat up after he was leaning (on his side) and said, ''The hour will not arrive until no inheritance will be divided and no war possessions will bring about satisfaction. ''He pointed with his hands towards Ash-Sham saying, ''An enemy will gather its forces against the followers of Islam.''I said, ''Do you mean Ar-Rum? He said ''Yes.''Then, during this war, fierce fighting will occur. Muslim will ask for a volunteer expedition that will vie to die or return victorious. They will fight until the night separates them. Both sides will return to their camps not yet victorious and the expedition will perish.


The Messenger of Allah 
 رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, ''I know their names and their fathers name and the colours of their horses. They will be the best horsemen on the face of Earth, ''or (he said) ''(They) Will be amongst the best horsemen on the face of Earth.'' (Muslim)
The cause of this great battle will be the Christians. The Christians and Muslims as allies will conquer a third enemy. However, the Christians will act treacherously as they will claim the victory on the strength of their religion, thus the Muslims will be driven to arms and will fight them.

Dhu Makhbar said, ''I heard the Apostle of Allah  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  say, ''You will make a secure peace with the Byzantines, then you will fight an enemy behind you, and you will be victorious, take the booty, and be safe; you will then return and alight in a meadow with mounds and one of the Christians will raise the Cross and say, 'The cross has conquered'. One of the Muslims will become angry and smash it, and the Byzantines will act treacherously and prepare for battle.''


Conquest of Constantinople

The great war between the Christians and Muslims will result in the Muslims conquering Constantinople (which is modern day Istanbul) without army by the sheer force of Takbeer (Allahu Akbar).
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet 
  رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسـلم  said, ''Have you heard of a town of which a part is in the sea?'' ''Yes'' said they. He said: 'The last hour shall not occur till 70,000 of the children of Isaac shall attack it. When they come to it, they (Muslims) will not fight with arms, nor throw arrows. They will only say: There is no god but Allah, Allah is the greatest, and then on of its sides will fall down. They will recite for the second time : there is no god but Allah, Allah is the greatest, and then another of its side will fall down. After that they will say it for the third time: there is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest, and then it will be opened for them and they will enter and acquire booty. While they will be dividing the booty, a proclaimer will come to them and proclaim: 'Verily Dajjal has come out. 'Then they will leave everything and return. ' (Muslim)

It should be noted that the conquests will take place a very short period. Abdullah-b-Busr has reported that the Messenger of Allah has said: 'Between the Great War and the conquest of the city (Constantinople) there will be six years, and the Dajjal shall appear in the seventh year,' (abided)


http://www.inter-islam.org/faith/mahdi1.htm