The Twelfth Imam from Sunni traditions

Based on Shia thought, Imam Mahdi is the twelfth Imam but based on authentic traditions (Hadiths) from both the Shia and Sunni sources,  it is obvious that every Muslim believes in Imam Mahdi as the Savior of the world. Thus, generally, the belief in the concept of Mahdism is one of the common beliefs between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

The present article aims to present various authentic Sunni tradition (Hadith) on the personality of Imam Mahdi (covering subjects such as his birth, ancestor, and his occultation etc.)

His Birth

Imam Mahdi was born on the 15th Shaban 255 A.H. in the city of Samarra-Iraq. The momentous and singular aspect of his birth greatly resembled the Prophet Musa. The birth of prophet Musa (a.s) had signaled the downfall and extinction of the empire of Pharaoh, who had ordered the slaying of all the newly born children of Bani-Israel.

The Abbassid rulers were similarly apprehensive of the continuous traditions of the Holy Prophet (PBUHH) about the birth of Imam Mahdi, who is to establish equity and justice on the earth. They were, therefore, laying in ambush to discover his birth and to put an end to his life.

But the event of the Imam’s birth was enveloped and shielded by the same Divine protection and miraculous phenomena which had marked the historical birth of Prophet Musa (a.s). His birth remained strictly confidential and his nursery shrouded in secrecy except to a few devotees.

The Imam’s birth had coincided with the reign of al-Mu’tamad, the well-known Abbassid king. He, being aware of the prophecy of the twelfth Imam’s birth occurring in his reign, was extremely worried and anxious to trace him out. But on the martyrdom of Imam Hasan Askari (the eleventh Imam), when he was informed about the Imam’s funeral prayer having been conducted by his five year old son, his perplexity knew no bounds.

In a tradition upon whose authenticity all Muslims agree, the Holy Prophet (PBUHH) said:

“Even if the entire duration of the world’s existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday (the Day of Judgment), Allah will extend that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my progeny who will be called by my name. He will then fill out the earth with peace and justice, as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny before then”  (Sahih Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, P 86; Vol. 9, P. 74-75)

The context of the above tradition shows that the divine promise concerning the coming of Imam Mahdi will take place, sooner or later, as documented in most of the Shi’ite and Sunni sources.

In another tradition, the holy Prophet (PBUHH) said to the Commander of believers, Ali Ibn-Abi talib (a.s), that:

“There will be twelve Guides (Imams) after me, the first of whom is you, O’ Ali, and the last one will be the ‘Support’ (al-Qa’im), who with the grace of Allah, will gain victory over the whole East and West of the world.”

His occultation

According the Shia belief, after the funeral prayer of Imam Mahdi his father Martyrdom (Imam Hassan Askari),  he went to cccultation and concealed from people eyes while he was a five years old. So Imam Mahdi (a.s) became an Imam at the age of 5.

The period of occultation of the twelfth Imam is divided into two parts: the first, the minor occultation (Ghaybat al-Sughra) which began in 260/874 and ended in 329/939, lasting less than seventy year. During this period, people were in contact with him through the four Special Deputies. That period served to prepare people for the absence of Imam.

The second, the major occultation which commenced in 329/939 and will continue as long as God wills it. There is no special and appointed deputy who were in direct contact with him in this period. Based on some reports, the distinguished Muslim scholars are his general deputies, but without having ability to see him.

Imam Mahdi (a.s) said:

“Rest assured that no one has a special relationship with Allah. Whoever denies me is not from my (community). The appearance of the Relief (al- Faraj) depends solely upon Allah. Therefore those who propose a certain time for it are liars.  As to the benefit of my existence in occultation, it is like the benefit of the sun behind the Clouds where the eyes do not see it. Indeed, my existence is an amnesty for inhabitants of the earth. Pray much to Allah to hasten the Relief, for therein also lies the release from your sufferings.”

Sunni Documentation on Imam Mahdi (a.s)

based on the Sunni standards for verifying the authenticity of a tradition, there are six authentic collections of traditions.  These six books are: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud, and Sahih al-Nisa’i. Based on traditions from these six books, the following are Sunni belief on Imam Mahdi:

1. Mahdi is going to come in the last days to make a universal Government,

2. Mahdi is from the Progeny of Prophet,

3. Mahdi is a descendant of Hazrat Fatimah (a.s), the daughter of the Prophet,

4. Mahdi is different from Jesus (the Messiah),

5. Jesus will be one of the followers of Imam Mahdi and prays behind him.

The following are only some of the traditions out of many, about Imam Mahdi, and are all traditions that are considered authentic based on the Sunni standard.

The Prophet (PBUHH) said:

“Even if the entire duration of the world’s existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday (the Day of Judgment), Allah will extend that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my progeny who will be called by my name. He will then fill out the earth with peace and justice, as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny before then” 

This Prophetic tradition could be found in the following Sunni References:

1. Sahih Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, P. 86, Vol. 9, PP 74-75

2. Sanan Abi Dawud, Vol 2, P. 7

3. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol. 1, P. 376; Vol. 3, P. 63

4. Mustadrak al-Sahihain, by al-Hakim, Vol. 4, P. 557

5. Al-Majma’, by Tabarani, P. 217

6. Tahdhib al-Thabit, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Vol. 9, P. 144

7. Sawaiq al-Muhraqa, Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, P. 167

8. Fathul Bari, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Vol. 7, P. 305

9. al-Tathkirah, by al-Qurtubi, P. 617

10. al-Hawi, by al-Suyuti, Vol. 2, pp. 165-166

11. Sharh al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah, by al-Zurqani, Vol. 5, P. 348

12. Fathul Mughith, by al-Sakhawi, Vol. 3, P. 41

13. al-Shafi’i (d. 363/974) (Who said the above hadith is related by numerous authorities and were spread far and wide by many narrators). And also in the works of Ibn Habban, Abu Nua’ym, Ibn Asakir, etc.

Also:

The Prophet (PBUHH) said:

“Al-Mahdi is one of us, the members of the household (Progeny).” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Tradition No: 4085)

As we see Imam Mahdi is from the Progeny of Prophet Muhammad, so he cannot be Jesus (the Messiah; al-Maseeh). Mahdi and Messiah are two different persons, but they come at the same time; Mahdi as Imam and Jesus as his follower.

The following tradition clearly mentions that Imam Mahdi is one of the children of the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUHH):

The Messenger of Allah said:

“Al-Mahdi is one of the children of Fatimah (the Prophet’s daughter).” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Hadith No: 4086; Al-Irshad, V2, P 341)

Also:

The Prophet (PBUHH) said:

“We the children of Abd Al-Mutalib are the Masters of the inhabitants of Heaven: Myself, Hamza, Ali, Jafar, Hassan, Hussain and Al-Mahdi (PBUTH).” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Hadith No: 4087)

The Prophet (PBUHH) said:

“The Mahdi will appear in my Ummah (Community). He will appear for a minimum of 7 or a maximum of 9 years; in that time, my Ummah will experience a bountiful favor like never before. It shall have a great abundance of food, of which it need not save anything, and the wealth at that time is in great quantities, such that if a man asks the Mahdi to give him some, and the Mahdi (AS) will say: Here! Take!” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Haith No: 5083)

Remark:

According to Shi’a sources, the Government of Peace and equality that Imam Mahdi will establish will last hundreds of years with no rival, and then the Day of Judgment will be set.

What is mentioned in the above tradition as 7 or 9 years is related to the length of time that Imam Mahdi will fight to conquer the world when he starts his mission.

The Prophet (PBUH) 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 (Progeny) shall suffer a great affliction and they shall be forcefully expelled from their own 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, until a man from my family (Progeny) 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.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Hadith No: 4082,  Tabari Tabari)

The Messenger of Allah (PGUHH) said:

“The world will not perish until a man among the Arabs appears whose name matches my name.” (Sahih Tirmidhi, V9, P74)

Also:

The Messenger of Allah (PBUHH) said:

“Mahdi from my family will bring about a revolution and will fill the world with justice and equity before which it was filled up with injustice and inequity.”

This Prophetic tradition could be found in the following Sunni References:

1. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol. 1, P. 84

2. Jami’us Sagheer, by al-Suyuti, PP. 2,160

3. al-Urful Vardi, by al-Suyuti, P. 2

4. Kanzul Ummal, Vol. 7, P. 186

5. Aqd al-Durar Fi Akhbaar al-Mahdi al-Muntazir, Vol. 12, Chapter 1,

6. al-Bayan fi Akhbar Sahib al-Zaman, By Ganji Shafi’i, Chapter 12

7. al-Fusool al-Muhimmah, by Ibn Sabbagh  Maliki, Chapter 12

8. Arjahul Matalib, by Ubaidallah Hindi Hanafi, P. 380

9. Muqaddimah, by Ibn Khaldoon, P. 266

Also Ahmad Ibn Hanbal narrated that the Prophet (PBUHH) said:

“Allah will bring out from concealment Mahdi from my Family and Progeny 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 eradicate tyranny and oppression.” (Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol.1, p. 99)

Ibn Majah in his Sunan quotes Mohammad Ibn Hanafiyyah and Imam Ali saying that the Holy Prophet (PBUHH) said:

“Mahdi is from our Progeny, no doubt Allah will enforce his Amr (appearance) within a night (his coming is very unpredicted).” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, P. 269)

The more recent religious verdict (fatwa) on this issue is given in Mecca by the Muslim World League (Rabitatul `Alamul Islami) on Oct. 11, 1976 (23 Shawwal 1396). This fatwa states that more than twenty companions narrated traditions concerning al-Mahdi, and gives a list of those scholars of Hadith who have transmitted these narrations, and those who have written books on al-Mahdi. The fatwa states:

“The memorizers (Hafiz) and scholars of Hadith have verified that there are authentic (sahih) and acceptable (hasan) reports among the traditions related to al-Mahdi. The majority of these traditions are related through numerous authorities (Mutawatir). There is no doubt that the status of those reports are Sahih and Mutawatir. (They have also verified) that the belief in Mahdi is obligatory, and that it is one of the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama’a. Only those ignorant of the Sunnah and innovators in doctrine deny it.

For the transcription and reproduction of this fatwa, see, among others, the Introduction of al-Ganji al-Shafi’i, in the book named “al-Bayan,” Beirut, 1399/1979, PP 76-79 and in Appendix.

Among Shi’ite scholars, I would like to mention the masterpiece of Lutifullah Al-Safi al-Golpaygani, who compiled an encyclopedia called “Muntakhab al-Athar”. In this book, there is a comprehensive narration of the traditions relating to the appearance of the Mahdi (AS). He has used over 60 Sunni sources, including their Six Authentic Books of Tradition; and over 90 Shi’ite sources to illuminate the fact that Al-Mahdi is NOT a fabricated event.

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“He who dies not knowing the Imam of his era, has died the death of Al-Jahiliyya (Days of Ignorance; the era before Islam).”

Extracted from: https://www.wocoshiac.org/en/shia-context-en/articles-en/ahlul-bayt-en/imam-mahdi-en/the-twelfth-imam-from-sunni-traditions-point-of-view