Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Time and Venue of the Reappearance of His Eminence, the Master of the Age (a.s)

Here we shall discuss in brief traditions of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) regarding the time and place of reappearance of His Eminence, system of his government and the special characteristics of the companions of His Eminence.

Time of Reappearance

As for the time of the reappearance of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s), it would be a Saturday of the month of Mohurrum. It shall be the day when the chief of the martyrs, Imam Husain (a.s) was martyred (10th Mohurrum).

1. Abu Basir narrated from Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s) that he said, “Our Qaim shall reappear on Saturday, the day of Ashura - the day when Imam Husain (a.s) was martyred.”[317]

2. Ali Ibne Mahziyar narrated from His Eminence, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) that he said, “As if I am seeing the Qaim on a Saturday, the day of Ashura, standing between Rukn and Maqam and Jibraeel is in the front calling that oath of fealty be given to him for the sake of God. Then he shall fill the earth with justice and equity like it would have been full of injustice and oppression.”[318]

3. Abu Basir narrated from Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s) that he said, “Our Qaim shall not reappear but in an odd numbered year, like one, three, five, seven or nine, on the day of Ashura and (it would be) a Saturday. He shall stand between Rukn and Maqam and someone standing before him would be calling: ‘Allegiance, allegiance!’ Thus the helpers of His Eminence shall rush towards him from all around the world and give allegiance to him. Then through him the Almighty Allah would fill the earth with justice and equity, just as it would have been filled with injustice and oppression. Then he would move from Mecca to Kufa and camp at Najaf. From there he would dispatch his armies to various cities.”[319]

Time of the call of the Angel

As for the time of the call of the angel or Jibraeel and his glad-tidings about the reappearance of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) it is the eve of 23rd of the month of Ramadan. Some of the traditions about this are as follows:

Muhammad bin Muslim says: A person asked His Eminence, Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s), “When would your Qaim reappeara” He replied, “When misguidance shall be more and guidance less… at such time, with the blessed name of Qaim on the eve of the 23rd of the month of Ramadan a call shall be issued and he would arise on the day of Ashura.”[320]

And it is said that the call of the angel is in the month of Ramadan and the reappearance of His Eminence is in the month of Shawwal of an odd numbered year.[321]

Widespread Power of the Imam of the Time (a.s)

His Eminence, the Awaited Imam (a.s) is the first ruler of Islam whose dominion shall stretch from the east to the west and in the world there would be no command without his command.

1. Ibne Abbas has narrated from the Messenger of Allah (a.s) that he said, “Caliphs, successors and proofs of God on the creatures, after me are twelve persons. The first of them is my brother and the last of them is my (great grand) son.” It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah (a.s)! Who is your brothera” He replied, “Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s).” He was asked, “Who is your sona” He replied, “Mahdi, who would fill the earth with justice and equity just as it would have been fraught with injustice and oppression. By the One Who has sent me as a giver of glad tidings, even if a solitary day remains for the tenure of the world, the Almighty Allah shall prolong this day till my son, Mahdi reappears in it, then His Eminence, the Spirit of Allah, Jesus son of Maryam shall descend (from the heavens) and stand to pray behind the Imam and the earth shall be washed in divine light and his rule shall surround the east and the west.”[322]

2. Abu Saeed Khudri narrated from the Messenger of Allah (a.s) that he said, “The world shall not end till a man from my Ahle Bayt (a.s) is at the helm of affairs and fills the earth with justice and equity just as it would have been fraught with injustice and oppression…”[323

3. Abdullah Ibne Abbas narrated from the Messenger of Allah (a.s) that he said, “Four persons had been absolute rulers on the earth, two were believers and two infidels. Thus the two believing ones were Dhulqarnain and Sulaiman Hashmatullah and the two infidels were Bakht-e-Nasr and Nimrod and soon the fifth one, a person from my Ahle Bayt (a.s) shall be its undisputed ruler.”

System of the Imam’s Government

The program of the government and his policies shall be mainly concerned with spreading of truth and justice and making peace and security general for all the people. His policies shall be based on commands of the Book of Allah, practice of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) and manners of his honorable grandfather, Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s). His Eminence shall be the standard bearer of social justice and one to establish justice and truth. Here we quote some traditions on this subject:

1. Jabir narrated from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) that he said, “Mahdi shall reappear in Mecca at the time of Isha (Night Prayer) and the flag, the dress and the sword of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) shall be with him and he shall be having the signs of effulgence and mode of speech. Thus after he completes the Isha Prayer, he shall raise his voice and say, ‘I would make you remember Almighty Allah while you are in fact in the service of your Lord. And the proof is complete upon you and the messengers have been sent and the books have been revealed and they command you not to associate anything with God and obey Allah and His Prophet. Whatever the Quran has kept alive you also keep alive and whatever the Quran destroys you also destroy it. Be supporters of guidance and remain with piety because the world is soon to end and to announce its farewell. And I invite you to Allah and the Messenger of Allah (a.s) and to act on the Book of Allah and to destroy falsehood and to revive the practice of the Prophet…’”

2. His Eminence, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) said, “When our Qaim reappears he shall distribute equally and judge between good and bad for the creatures of Allah.”[324]

3. His Eminence, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) said, “When our Qaim reappears, he shall rule with justice, and injustice and oppression shall be destroyed and roads shall become safe and the earth shall spill out its treasures and every right shall be restored to its rightful owner.”[325]

4. His Eminence, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) said, “His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s) shall ward off oppressions of the people. So much so, that even if it is held between the teeth, he would restore it to its owner.”[326]

In fact, the method and diplomacy of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) is only the continuation of the practice of his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (a.s) and the legatee and the Gate of the City of the knowledge of the Holy Prophet (a.s). He would rise up just as they had risen. Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) was asked about the system of the government of His Eminence, the Remnant of Allah and the Imam replied, “He would cancel the past just as the Messenger of Allah (a.s) had done and establish Islam anew.”[327]

The Imam’s Companions

Companions and helpers of His Eminence shall be persons of piety, caution, merits and purity. They shall be the best kind of people.

Characteristics of the Companions of Imam Mahdi

1. Muhammad bin Hanafiyyah has narrated that a person inquired from Imam Ali (a.s) about Imam Mahdi (a.s) and Ali (a.s) replied, “He shall reappear in the Last Age.” Then he mentioned the characteristics of his companions and said, “Then the Almighty Allah shall collect a group of people near him like pieces of scattered clouds and he shall create love among themselves and none of them shall be fearful…”[328]

This tradition means that companions of His Eminence shall be having religious insight and the proofs of Allah are complete on them. They shall not be pleased or sad to see anyone joining or leaving them. Their hearts are filled with the blessings of Allah and with faith, and they are appointed for the service of Islam, its significance and the aims of His Eminence.

2. His Eminence Ali (a.s) has said about their characteristics, “They shall be a group that does not oblige Allah by its patience. And they do not consider themselves great while sacrificing their lives on the path of truth…”[329]

3. His Eminence, Amirul Momineen (a.s) has said regarding their characteristics, “They are warriors on the path of God and the arrogant and transgressors consider them lowly. Their worth is not known on the earth but they are well known in the heavens.”[330]

4. Muhiyuddin Arabi said, “The people having divine recognition shall pay the oath of allegiance to His Eminence and they are the servants of God who shall harken to the call of His Eminence and become his supporters. They are those deputies of his who shall take up the responsibility of the important functions of his government…the Almighty Allah would select those persons as his deputies whom He has made cognizant of divine realities.”

Number of the companions of Imam Mahdi (a.s)

As for the number of the companions of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) who shall pay allegiance to him are same as the number of the warriors of Badr, that is 313. Sulaiman bin Haroon Ajali narrated that he heard His Eminence, Imam Sadiq (a.s) saying, “Indeed the master of this affair, that is the Qaim of the Progeny of Muhammad is safe, such that if all the people go away, the Almighty Allah shall bring his companions and they are the same that are implied in the words of Allah:

O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people, He shall love them and they shall love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the unbelievers…”[331]

And also:

“…wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together…”[332]

They shall be the companions of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s). His Eminence, Imam Ali (a.s) said, “By Allah! I am aware of the companions of Imam Mahdi (a.s); I know their names, tribes and the names of their chiefs. These are the people whom Almighty Allah shall gather in ones and twos from different tribes and communities till they are nine. Then their number shall reach the warriors of Badr, that is 313 persons. And that is the saying of Almighty Allah:

“…wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together; surely Allah has power over all things.”[333]

So much so, that people would not have time to change and Allah would make them reach the Imam.[334]

Abu Khalid Kabuli narrated from His Eminence, Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s) that he said, “They are such that they sleep on their beds (It means that they were asleep and Allah took them out and gathered them in Mecca). They are 313 persons, same as the number of Badr warriors and they shall be in Mecca overnight and that is the saying of Allah:

‘…wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together…’[335]

And these are the companions of the Qaim of the Progeny of Muhammad.”[336]

Venue of Allegiance

The venue where companions of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) pay the oath of fealty at his hands is between the Rukn and Maqam, which is the most sanctified and exalted spots. And a many traditions have been recorded on this subject.[337]

Conditions imposed by the Imam of the time (a.s) for giving allegiance

Narrators of traditions and historians have mentioned that His Eminence, the Master of the Age (a.s) would put some conditions for accepting allegiance. They are as follows:

His Eminence, Amirul Momineen (a.s) after describing the characteristics of the companions of Imam Mahdi (a.s) mentions the conditions that Imam Mahdi (a.s) shall impose for those who wish to pay allegiance to him: They should promise that they shall not steal and commit fornication. Should not commit murder or defile honor. They must not speak ill to the Muslims. They must not attack any house and must not kill anyone except for justification.

(He would mean to say:) You shall not tie bands of gold or wear silk. You shall not desecrate the mosque and you shall not block the paths. You shall not oppress the orphans and make the paths insecure. You shall not resort to intrigue and deceit. You shall not usurp the property of the orphans. You shall not commit sodomy, drink wine and do misappropriation with Imamate and guidance. You shall not break oaths and promises. You shall not hoard wheat and barely. You shall not kill the one who has taken asylum with you. Do not pursue those who flee. Do not shed blood and do not attack an injured person. Wear coarse garments and prostrate on the bare earth. Eat barely bread and fight on the way of Allah. Wear perfumes and despise the impure things.

Meanwhile, His Eminence will impose upon himself the condition that there shall be no obstacle between him and his followers. All his activities shall be before them. He shall be satisfied with less and by the help of Allah he shall fill the earth with justice just as it would be fraught with oppression. And he shall serve Allah as He ought to be served…[338]

These conditions and characteristics show that the aim of His Eminence is spreading justice and equality and the establishment of the rule of Allah on the earth in such a way that no power and value remains for the tyrants. Also it shows that the ruler and the subjects are eligible for equity and there shall be no kind of discrimination between different classes of people except that it be having a firm base. His humility and his being with the common people shall be among the characteristics of His Eminence, the Master of the Age, the Remnant of Allah the Great (a.s).

The Standard-Bearer of Imam Mahdi (a.s)

According to traditions, the standard bearer of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) shall be Shuaib, the son of Salih, who shall be the commander of a huge army. He shall arrive from Khorasan to help and pay oath of allegiance to Imam Mahdi (a.s).[339] And it is said that he is from the Tamim and he is the one who shall defeat the Sufyani so that they come to Baitul Maqdas and prepare the ground for the government of His Eminence, the remnant of Allah. And from the time of the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s) till the time his command gains absolute authority, there is a period of 72 months.[340]

It is narrated that on the flag of Imam Mahdi (a.s) shall be written: The allegiance is only for Allah.[341] The philosophy behind it is that the allegiance to His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) is allegiance to Allah, and his command is the Command of Allah.

Period of Imam Mahdi’s Government

There is difference of opinion among narrators of traditions as regards the period of the Imam’s government since there are various narrations on this subject.

1. The period of his government shall be 40 years and this is narrated from Imam Ali (a.s).[342]

2. It is 30 years[343]

3. It is 21 years[344]

Abundance of riches and blessings during the reign of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s)

Numerous traditions are recorded that convey that during the period of the Imam’s government there shall be widespread blessings:

1. Abu Saeed Khudri narrated from the Prophet of Islam (a.s) that he said, “Mahdi will be from my progeny. In his regime, my nation shall be bestowed with bounties, without parallel in the history of mankind. Everything will be available and distributed freely. Wealth and riches will be in excess. A person shall implore, ‘O Mahdi, give me,’ Imam (a.s) will reply, ‘Take whatever you please.’”[345]

2. Abu Saeed Khudri narrated from the Prophet of Islam (a.s) that he said, “In the last age of my nation, the Mahdi shall reappear. And the Almighty Allah would shower His blessings upon him and the earth shall put forth its wealth. And the earth shall produce more and perfect economic possibilities. (Good Vegetation).”[346]

3. His Eminence, Imam Ali (a.s) says regarding His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) that, “Imam Mahdi (a.s) shall instruct his representatives in all cities that they should deal justly with people in such a way that the jackal and the ewe may graze at the same place. And evil may disappear and only goodness remains. Those who sow one mudd (unit) shall reap seven mudds as the Almighty Allah has said. Fornication, wine drinking and usury shall be finished and people shall be inclined towards worship, Islamic Law, charitable deeds, Prayers and religious programs. And the trusts shall be restored to their owners; there shall be increase in vegetation and blessings shall increase. Evils shall be destroyed and goodness shall remain and none who harbors animosity towards Ahle Bayt (a.s) shall survive.”[347]