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Sunni Documentation on Imam al-Mahdi (AS)
For the Sunni brothers, there are six major collections of traditions
based on the Sunni standards for verifying the authenticity of
a tradition.These six books are: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim,
Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud, and Sahih
al-Nisa'i.I just quote few traditions from these six books to
prove that a knowledgeable Sunni brother/sister can NOT deny that:
al-Mahdi (AS) will come in the last days to make a universal
Government,
al-Mahdi (AS) is from the Ahlul-Bayt of the Prophet (PBUH&HF),
al-Mahdi (AS) is from the progeny of Fatimah (AS), the daughter
of the Prophet (PBUH&HF),
al-Mahdi (AS) is different than Prophet Jesus (the Messiah),
Prophet Jesus (AS) will come as one of the followers of Imam
al-Mahdi and will pray behind him in congressional prayer.
Another undeniable fact is that many leading Sunni scholars have
written books after books exclusively about Imam al-Mahdi (AS)
which I included some of their names at the end of this article.Moreover, Insha Allah in the next article, I will give a list
of Sunni scholars who believe that Imam al-Mahdi (AS) is son of
Imam Hasan al-Askari (AS), and is alive and went into occultation.In that article will also discuss the special specifications of
Imam al-Mahdi which are the points of disagreement between the
Shia and the Sunni.The following are only some of the traditions about Imam al-Mahdi
which Sunnis admit to their authenticity and existence:
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Even if the entire duration
of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one
day is left (before the day of judgment), Allah will expand that
day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of
a person from my Ahlul-Bayt who will be called by my name.He
will fill out the earth with peace and justice as it will have
been full of injustice and tyranny (by then)."
Sunni References:
Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v2, p86, v9, pp 74-75
Sunan Abu Dawud, v2, p7
Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, pp 84,376; V3, p63
al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn, by al-Hakim, v4, p557
Jami' al-Saghir, by al-Suyuti, pp 2,160
al-Urful Wardi, by al-Suyuti, p2
al-Majma', by al-Tabarani, p217
Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v9, p144
Fat'h al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, by Ibn Hajar Asqalani,
v7, p305
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch.11,
section 1, p249
al-Tathkirah, by al-Qurtubi, p617
al-Hawi, by al-Suyuti, v2, pp 165-166
Sharh al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah, by al-Zurqani, v5, p348
Fat'h al-Mugheeth, by al-Sakhawi, v3, p41
Kanz al-Ummal, v7 P186
Iqd al-Durar Fi Akhbar al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, v12, Ch.1,
al-Bayan fi Akhbar Sahib al-Zaman, By Ganji al-Shafi'i, Ch.12
al-Fusool al-Muhimmah, by Ibn Sabbagh al-Maliki, Ch.12
Arjahul Matalib, by Ubaidallah Hindi al-Hanafi, p380
Muqaddimah, by Ibn Khaldoon, p266
and also in the works of Ibn Habban, Abu Nua'ym, Ibn Asakir,
etc.
Also:
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "al-Mahdi is one of
us, the members of the household (Ahlul-Bayt)."
Sunni reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4085
It is evident from the above traditions that Imam al-Mahdi (AS)
is from the Ahlul-Bayt of Prophet Muhammad, so he can not be Jesus
(the Messiah; al-Maseeh).Thus, al-Mahdi and Messiah are two different
personalities but they come at the same time, al-Mahdi as Imam
and Jesus as his follower.The following tradition clearly mentions
that Imam al-Mahdi is one of descendants of the daughter of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&HF):
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: The Mahdi will be of my family,
of the descendants of Fatimah (the Prophet's daughter).
Sunni references:
Sunan Abu Dawud, English version, Ch.36, Tradition #4271
(narrated by Umm Salama, the wife of the Prophet)
Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4086
al-Nisa'i and al-Bayhaqi, and others as quoted in:
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch.11,
section 1, p249
Also:
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "We the children of Abd al-Muttalib
are the Masters of the inhabitants of the heaven: Myself, Hamza
(RA), Ali (AS), Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib (RA), al-Hasan (AS), al-Husain
(AS), and al-Mahdi (AS)."
Sunni references:
Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4087
al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, on the authority of Anas Ibn Malik
al-Daylami
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch.11,
section 1, p245
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "The Mahdi will appear in
my Ummah.He will appear for a minimum of 7 or a maximum of 9
years; at 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!"
Sunni reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #5083
Remark: According to Shi'i sources, the Government of Peace and
equality that Imam al-Mahdi will establish will last hundreds
of years with no rival, and then the day of Judgment will commence.What is mentioned in the above tradition as 7 or 9 years is the
length of time that Imam al-Mahdi (AS) will fight to conquer the
world when he starts his mission.
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "We (I and my family) are
members of a household that Allah (SWT) 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."
Sunni references:
Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4082,
The History Tabari
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch.11, section 1, pp
250-251
Also:
The Messenger of Allah said: "The world will not perish until
a man among the Arabs appears whose name matches my name."
Sunni reference: Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v9, p74
In Sahih Muslim, in the Chapter of al-Fitan, there are some interesting
traditions on what will happen in the last days of the world.I would like to quote two of them here:
Abu Nadra reported: We were with the company of Jabir Ibn Abdillah...Jabir Ibn Abdillah kept quite for a while and then reported Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said: "There
would be a Caliph in the last (period) of my Ummah who would freely
give handfuls of wealth to the people without counting it."
I said to Abu Nadra and Abu al-Ala: Do you mean Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz?
They said: NO, (he would be Imam Mahdi).
Sunni references:
Sahih Muslim, English version, v4, chapter MCCV, p1508, Tradition
#6961
Sahih Muslim, Arabic version, Kitab al-Fitan, v4, p2234, Tradition
#67
[ NOTE: What are inside the parentheses in the above tradition
are NOT my comments.They are the words of the translator of Sahih
Muslim (Abdul Hamid Siddiqui).]
Similarly, we read in Sahih Muslim:
Abu Sa'id and Jabir Ibn Abdullah reported that Allah's Messenger
(may peace be upon him) said: "There would be in the last
(phase) of the time a Caliph who would distribute wealth but would
not count."
Sunni references:
Sahih Muslim, English version, v4, chapter MCCV, p1508, Tradition
#6964
Sahih Muslim, Arabic version, Kitab al-Fitan, v4, p2235, Tradition
#69
It is also narrated:
In the end of the time, my Ummah will undergo very hard affliction
like never before, so that man can not find any way out.Then
Allah will appear a person from my progeny, that is my Ahlul-Bayt,
who will fill the earth with justice as it was filled with injustice.The inhabitants of the earth and the inhabitants of the heaven
love him.The sky will bring down its water everywhere and the
earth will bring all what it can offer and will become green all
over.
Sunni references:
al-Sahih fi al-Hadith, by al-Hakim, as quoted in:
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch.11,
section 1, p250
Ibn Majah in his Sunan quotes Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah and Imam
Ali saying that the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) said:
"al-Mahdi is from our Ahlul-Bayt, no doubt Allah will enforce
his appearance within a night (i.e., his coming is very unpredictable
and is very sudden)."
Sunni references:
Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, p269
Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, as quoted in:
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch.11,
section 1, p250
Moreover, it is narrated that:
Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS) said: "When the 'Support' of the family
of Muhammad (al-Qa'im Aale Muhammad) rises Allah will unite the
people of east and the people of west."
Sunni references:
Ibn Asakir, as quoted in:
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch.11,
section 1, p252
Ibn Hajar wrote that:
Muqatil Ibn Sulayman and those who followed him among the (Sunni)
commentators of Quran said that the verse: "And he shall
be a Sign for (the coming of) the Hour" (Quran 43:61) was
revealed about al-Mahdi.
Sunni reference: al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch.11,
section 1, p247
Also Ahmad Ibn Hanbal recorded:
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) 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."
Sunni references:
Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, p99
A close version has also been narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud,
English version, Ch.36, Tradition #4270 narrated from Ali Ibn
Abi Talib (AS).
It is narrated in Sahih Muslim that:
Jabir Ibn Abdillah al-Ansari (RA) said: I heard the Messenger
of Allah saying: "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 will ask him 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."
Sunni reference:
Sahih Muslim, Arabic, part 2, p193
Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v3, pp 45,384
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch.11,
section 1, p251
Nuzool Isa Ibn Maryam Akhir al-Zaman, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti,
p57
Musnad, by Abu Ya'ala which provides another version of the
tradition with more clear words on the authority of Jabir that
the Messenger of Allah said: "A group among my Ummah will
continue to fight for the truth until Jesus, the son of Marry,
will descend, and the Imam of them will ask him to lead the prayer,
but Jesus replies: "You have more right to it, and
verily Allah has honored some of you over others in this Ummah."
Sahih Ibn Habban, whose tradition reads: "their leader
al-Mahdi" and the rest of tradition is the same.
Ibn Abu Shaybah, another Sunni traditionist, and the mentor of
al-Bukhari and Muslim, has reported several traditions about Imam
al-Mahdi (AS).He has also reported that the Imam of the Muslims
who will lead Prophet Jesus in prayer is Imam al-Mahdi himself.Jalaluddin al-Suyuti mentioned that: "I have heard some of
the deniers of (truth) deny what has been conveyed about Jesus
that when he descends will pray the Fajr prayer behind al-Mahdi.They say, Jesus has higher status than to pray behind a non-Prophet.This is a bizarre opinion since the issue of prayer of Jesus behind
al-Mahdi has been proven strongly via numerous authentic traditions
from the Messenger of Allah, who is the most truthful." And
then al-Suyuti goes on narrating some of the traditions in this
regard.(See Nuzool Isa Ibn Maryam Akhir al-Zaman, by Jalaluddin
al-Suyuti, p56).Also al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani mentioned that:
"The Mahdi is of this Ummah, and that Jesus (PBUH&HF)
will come down and pray behind him."
Sunni reference: Fat'h al-Bari, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v5,
p362
This is also mentioned by another Sunni scholar, Ibn Hajar al-Haythami,
who wrote:
"The Ahlul-Bayt are like the stars through whom we are guided
in the right direction, and if the starts are taken away (or hidden)
we would come face to face with the signs of the Almighty as promised
(i.e., the Day of Resurrection).This will happen when the Mahdi
will come, as mentioned in the traditions, and the Prophet
Jesus will say his prayers behind him, the Dajjal will be
slain, and then the signs of the Almighty will appear one after
another."
Sunni reference: al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch.11,
section 1, p234
Also Ibn Hajar quoted Abu al-Husain al-Ajiri saying:
The traditions of al-Mustafa (PBUH&HF) on the rising of al-Mahdi
has been transmitted via numerous authorities and is more than
the level of (being sufficient for) Mutawatir, describing that
he is of his Ahlul-Bayt, and will fill the earth with justice,
and that Jesus (AS) will come at the same time and he will assist
Jesus for killing al-Dajjal in the land of Palestine, and that
he will lead this nation and Jesus will pray behind him.
Sunni reference:
Abu al-Husain al-Ajiri as quoted in al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah,
by Ibn Hajar, Ch.11, section 1, p254
So if al-Mahdi and Jesus are to be the same person as some ignorants
claim, then how can one prays behind himself?! Moreover this shows
that Imam al-Mahdi and Jesus (the Messiah) will come at the same
time so that they could pray the morning prayer together in Jerusalem.In fact, the equivalent word of "Messiah" in Arabic
is "al-Maseeh" which means "Wiped Clean; Purified".This word has been used in Quran as the title of Prophet Jesus
(AS).As such, the "Messiah" is the Prophet Jesus (AS)
and not the Imam al-Mahdi (AS).However, the word "Messiah"
in English has another meaning, that is "savior".As
a result, there have been some English translators who used the
word "Messiah" for Imam al-Mahdi (AS) with the meaning
of "Savior" which does NOT have anything to do with
Arabic word "al-Maseeh".I should point out that, there exists a fabricated tradition which
is mainly used by Ahmadis and Qadianis to prove that al-Mahdi
and Jesus are the same.The tradition states: "And no Mahdi
except Jesus." This tradition has been rated by al-Hakim
as unknown and strange and he said there are discrepancy in its
chain of authorities.al-Bayhaqi said Muhammad Ibn Khalid said
this tradition is single (Mufrad).al-Nisa'i has mentioned that
this tradition is unfamiliar and is denied, and that the memorizers
of traditions confirm that the traditions which state that al-Mahdi
is the descendants of Fatimah are authentic and reliable.(See
al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, Ch.11, section 1, p252 for details).Prophet Jesus is not the Imam of Muslims, and when he comes back,
he will be the follower of the Imam of Muslims who is known as
Imam al-Mahdi (AS).In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated that:
The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "What would be your situation
if the Son of Marry (i.e.Jesus) descends upon you and your
Imam is among you?"
Sunni reference:
Sahih al-Bukhari, Arabic-English, v4, Tradition #658 NOTE: The above is my own translation.The Saudi-paid translator
of Sahih al-Bukhari (Muhammad Muhsin Khan) has shown pure dishonesty
in translating the above tradition.His translation of the last
portion of the tradition does not bear any similarity what so
ever with the Arabic text of the tradition which is as follows:
Now let us look at the false translation of Mr.Muhammad Muhsin
Khan:
Muhammad Muhsin Khan> Sahih Bukhari Hadith: 4.658
Muhammad Muhsin Khan> Narrated Abu Huraira:
Muhammad Muhsin Khan>
Muhammad Muhsin Khan> Allah's Apostle said "How will you be when the son
Muhammad Muhsin Khan> of Mary (i.e.Jesus) descends amongst you
and he
Muhammad Muhsin Khan> will judge people by the Law of the Quran
Muhammad Muhsin Khan> and not by the law of Gospel.Mr.Muhsin Khan has trimmed the last part of the tradition which
states that the Imam of Muslims (i.e., Imam al-Mahdi) is among
Muslims when the son of marry descends.Instead, the translator
has added another sentence which does not exists in the Arabic
text.I should mention that this is not the only place that he
has altered the text, and there are much more examples in this
regard which proves his bias and his dishonesty.Al-Hafidh Muhammad Ibn Ali al-Shawkani (d.1250/1834) wrote in
a book called "al-Tawdhih fi twawatur ma jaa'a fil muntadar
wad-djjal wal masih" (the explanation about the frequent
reports concerning the Awaited one, the Dajjal, and the messiah)
in which he wrote about Imam al-Mahdi (AS) that: "The traditions
about al-Mahdi have been related by numerous authorities and are
therefor reliable beyond doubt or confusion, because in jurisprudence
the qualification of Mutawatir is valid even for (traditions)
with less than this number of narrations.There are also many
sayings of the companions (of the Prophet) which explicitly mention
the Mahdi, which have the status of narrations from the Prophet
since there is no question of establishing such saying through
Ijtihad (one's opinion and research)".The author gives the
same opinion in his other book "al-Fat'h al-Rabbani".(In this connection see also Mawsu'atil Imam al-Mahdi, v1, pp
391-392,413-414,434, and also Tuhfatul Ahwadhi, v6, p485).The author of the book, "Ghayah al-Ma'amool," mentioned
that: "It is a famous narration among the Scholars of the
past and the present that there has to appear a man from the family
of the Prophet (PBUH&HF) named al-Mahdi.In addition, the
traditions about the Mahdi have been narrated by the most renowned
companions of the Prophet (PBUH&HF), as well as by the most
renowned scholars such as Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, al-Tabarani,
Abu Ya'ala, al-Bazzar, Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, and al-Hakim (May
Allah be pleased with them all); furthermore, those who claim
that the traditions narrated with regard to the appearance of
the Mahdi are weak, are themselves in error."
Al-Saban in his book, "Is'af al-Raghibeen," mentioned
that: "The news about the appearance of the Mahdi are traceable
back to the Prophet (PBUH&HF), and that he is one of the members
of the family of the Prophet (PBUH&HF); and that he will fill
the Earth with justice."
Al-Suwaydi in his book, "Saba'iq al-Dhahab," reported
that: "The scholars have a consensus that the Mahdi (AS)
will appear at the end of time and fill the Earth with justice;
and the traditions supporting his appearance are indeed numerous."
al-Hafidh Abul-Hasan Muhammad Ibn al-Husain al-Sijistani al-Aburi
al-Shafi'i (d.363/974) said: "The traditions were related
by numerous authorities and were spread far and wide by many narrators,
from al-Mustafa (PBUH&HF) concerning al-Mahdi who is from
the household (of the Prophet) and who will fill the world with
justice.." This statement was accepted by the subsequent
scholars as testified by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (See Tahdhib al-Tahdhib,
v9, p144; Fat'h al-Bari, v7, p305), al-Qurtubi (al-Tathkirah,
p617), al-Suyuti (al-Hawi, v2, pp 165-166), al-Muttaqi al-Hindi
(al-Burhan fi Alamat Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, pp 175-176), Ibn Hajar
al-Haythami (al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, Ch.11, section 1, p249),
al-Zurqani (Sharh al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah, v5, p348), al-Sakhawi
(Fat'h al-Mugheeth, v3, p41), etc.The best formulation of the belief of all Muslims about al-Mahdi
(AS) has been given by a person who himself did not believe in
his coming and who denied the validity of the traditions concerning
this matter.He was Ibn Khaldoon (d.808/1406), a famous historian,
in whose book, "al-Muqaddamah," wrote:
"Let it be known that it is a narrated event by ALL Muslims
in EVERY era, that at the end of time a man from the family of
the Prophet (PBUH&HF) will, without fail, make his appearance
and will strengthen Islam and spread justice; Muslims will follow
him and he will gain domination over the Muslim realm.He will
be called al-Mahdi." (An Introduction to History, by Ibn
Khaldoon, English version, London, 1967 Edition, pp 257-258)
The above quote proves that even Ibn Khaldoon was in the opinion
that the belief in Imam al-Mahdi was not a characteristics of
a special sect of Islam, but was a common belief to ALL Muslims.Sunni scholars openly criticized those elements (like Ibn Khaldoon)
who tried to cast doubt the traditions about al-Mahdi (AS), and
have strongly asserted that the belief in Mahdi is well-established
for ALL Muslims.See for instance: "Awnul Ma'bud" (which
is the commentary of Sunan Abu Dawud), by al-Azimabadi, v11, pp
361-362, Tuhfatul Ahwadhi (which is the commentary of Sahih al-Tirmidhi),
by al-Mubarakfuri, v6, p484, al-Tajul Jami' lil Usul, by Shaikh
Mansoor Ali Nasif, v5, p341.Shaikh Ahmad Muhammad Shakir (d.1377/1958), one of the greatest
contemporary scholar of Hadith and Tafsir, whose major work was
his commentary on Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (for a biography of
Ahmad Shakir, see al-Aalam, v1, p253; Mu'jam al-Mu'allifeen, v13,
p368) wrote in his commentary: "Belief in al-Mahdi is not
particular to the Shia because it is from the narration of many
companions of the Prophet in such way that NO one can cast doubt
the truth (of this belief)." After this, he proceeds to a
strong refutation of Ibn Khaldoon's weakening the traditions regarding
al-Mahdi.(see Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal with commentary of Ahmad
Muhammad Shakir, Pub.by Dar al-Ma'arif, Egypt, v5, pp 196-198,
v14, p288).Al-Sayid Sabiq, the Mufti for the "Muslim Brotherhood,"
in his book, "al- 'Aqa'id al-Islamiyyah," that: "The
idea about the Mahdi is indeed valid, and is one of the Islamic
tenets that one must believe in." Mr.Sabiq also narrated
a variety of traditions relating to the appearance of al-Mahdi
(AS) in the above book.The recent Fatwa in this issue was given in Mecca by "The
Muslim World League" (Rabitatul 'Alamil 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 (Huffadh) 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 Ahlussunnah
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.Two Shafi'i scholars, Ganji in his book "al-Bayan",
and Shablanji in his book "Noor al-Absar", on the verse
48:28 of Quran: "He is the One who sent his Messenger (Muhammad)
with the guidance and the true religion that in order to prevail
over all the religions" narrated from Sa'id Ibn Jubair that
"this promise to Prophet Muhammad will be fulfilled by al-Mahdi
who is in the progeny of Fatimah (AS)."
Even Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728/1328), who is acclaimed by the Wahhabis,
wrote in his book "Minhaj al-Sunnah" (v4, pp 211-212)
that the traditions concerning the Mahdi are certainly reliable,
and his student, al-Dhahabi, conformed with him in his summary
of his teacher's book.(See Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Sunnah, pp 533-534).Among the Shia scholars, I would like to mention the masterpiece
of Lutfullah al-Safi al-Golpaygani, who compiled an encyclopedia
named "Muntakhab al-Athar".In this book, there is a
comprehensive narration of the traditions regarding to the appearance
of Imam al-Mahdi (AS) and the description of the world before
and after his appearance.He has used over 60 Sunni sources, including
their six major book of Hadith; and over 90 Shi'ite sources to
illuminate the fact that al-Mahdi is NOT a fabricated event.As far as we have been able to discover, at least 35 prominent
Sunni scholars have written 46 of books EXCLUSIVELY about Imam
al-Mahdi (AS), the leader of our time.Here are some of the name
of some of these books:
(1)
"Kitab al-Mahdi," by Abu Dawud.
(2)
"Alamat al-Mahdi," by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti.
(3)
"al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar,"
by Ibn Hajar.
(4)
"Al-Bayan fi Akhbar Sahib al-Zaman," by Allamah
Abu Abdillah Ibn Muhammad Yusuf al-Ganji al-Shafi'i.
(5)
"Iqd al-Durar fi Akbar al-Imam al-Muntadhar," by
Shaikh Jamaluddin Yusuf al-Damishqi.
(6)
"Mahdi Aale Rasool," by Ali Ibn Sultan Muhammad
al-Harawi al-Hanafi.
(7)
"Manaqib al-Mahdi," by al-Hafidh Abu Nu'aym al-Isbahani.
(8)
"Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman," by
al-Muttaqi al-Hindi.
(9)
"Arba'in Hadith fi al-Mahdi," by Abdul Ala al-Hamadani.
(10)
"Akhbar al-Mahdi," by al-Hafidh Abu Nu'aym.
In conclusion, the belief in the coming Mahdi (AS) who is a person
other than Jesus (AS), is an undeniable fact for the Sunnis.As
we discussed above, the Sunni scholars affirm that belief in "Mahdi
of the House of the Prophet" is one of the Islamic tenets
for "Ahlussunnah wal Jama'a".In the next part, however,
we will discuss the points of differences between the Shia and
most Sunnis on the issue of Imam al-Mahdi.
