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In Islam, one of the signs before the world ends is the emergence of Imam Mahdi. Many people have questions about this, such as who he is, the reasons for his coming, and what signs indicate his arrival. To learn more, read the comprehensive explanation below.
Imam Mahdi is believed to be the final Islamic leader who will guide Muslims to the end of the world. This period is marked by widespread injustice and evil, and a significant decline in the practice of Islam. During this time, Imam Mahdi is said to appear and lead Muslims to final glory before Allah destroys the world.
This is also explained in a hadith narrated by Tirmidhi:
Abdullah (ibn Mas'ud) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said,
“The world will not be destroyed until a man from my family rules Arabia, whose name is the same as mine.”
(Tirmidhi)
In another hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) explains that "a man from my family" will appear after a period of dictatorship. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"There will be caliphs after my time, then amirs, then kings, and then dictators. After them, a man from my family will come and fill the earth with justice as it was filled with tyranny. After him, al-Qahthany (leadership of a man from the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad )will rule. By the One who sent me with the truth, there is no such thing as al-Qahthany under that man (al-Mahdi)"
(Ath-Thabarany)
No one knows exactly when or where the Mahdi will appear. There is no hadith that provides details about it. Similar to the uncertainty of when the Day of Judgment will occur, the end of the world is unknown to humans.
In Islam, only Allah knows the timing of the Last Day. Even the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not provide specific details about doomsday but instead mentioned signs, such as the appearance of Imam Mahdi.
According to hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) described the Mahdi with these traits:
The Mahdi will be from the Prophet Muhammad’s family, specifically from his daughter Fatimah Az-Zahra. This is mentioned in the hadith:
"I (Umm Salamah) heard the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) say: 'The Mahdi will be from my family, from the descendants of Fatimah."
(Abu Dawood)
The Mahdi’s coming will be welcomed by both people on earth and those in heaven. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"I give you good news about the Mahdi, who will come when there is a lot of conflict and trouble. He will fill the earth with justice and balance, as it has been filled with evil and injustice. Both heaven and earth will be pleased with him."
(Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal)
From this hadith, we can understand that the Mahdi’s arrival will be marked by approval from both heaven and earth. If a claim comes up and faces a lot of opposition, it should be questioned.
As mentioned earlier, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that Imam Mahdi will appear during a time of darkness, meaning a period of great trouble and injustice.
This time of darkness is described by the Prophet as a period of unfair leadership. However, what and who the unfair leader will be is not explained.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also described the Mahdi’s physical features. He will have a broad forehead and a sharp nose. In a hadith narrated by Abu Dawood, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"The Mahdi will be from my family, with a broad forehead and a sharp nose. He will fill the earth with honesty and justice, as it has been filled with injustice and wrongdoing."
(Abu Dawood)
Imam Mahdi is seen as the final Islamic leader who will appear during a time of great injustice and decline in faith. His arrival is believed to bring justice and restore balance to the world. While the exact details of his coming are unknown, his appearance will be marked by significant signs and welcomed by both heaven and earth, guiding Muslims to final glory before the world ends.
However, if you want to learn more about other signs of doomsday in Islam, check out "The Day of Judgment in Islam" here.
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