The Sunnis have narrated...

The Sunnis have narrated: The Apostle of Allah (PBUH&HF) said, "Even if only one day has remained for the duration of the world's existence, Allah shall prolong that day to send a person from my Ahl al-Bait whose name is the same as my name… He shall fill out the earth with peace and justice just as it has been filled with injustice and tyranny."[^1] The above tradition shows that although Allah may delay this divine promise even as much as the last days of the world's duration, nevertheless it will certainly take place.

As such, all the true believers should expect its happening through the hands of the Mahdi of the family of Muhammad (PBUH&HF). The signs before reappearance of al-Mahdi (AS) There are many traditions narrated by all Islamic schools where the Apostle of Allah (PBUH&HF) has portrayed the events just prior to the uprising of al-Mahdi (AS).

The Shi'ite traditions that have been narrated from the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and the Imams of Ahl al-Bait (AS) provide much more details for the events that are supposed to take place before the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (AS). Some of these signs are about the hard condition of people in the world before his reappearance.

For instance, Abu Hamza al-Thumali and Abu Basir both narrated: Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS) said, "The Qa'im shall not rise until after a great fear from people, the earthquake, afflictions, trials, and the disease have inflicted people, the war between Arabs, great disagreement between people, break ups in their religion, changing their state such that the wishers wish death every morning and night due to the greatness of what is observed, and the eating of people by people.

The rising of (al-Qa'im) shall be at the time of despair and hopelessness of people for finding any opening/relief."[^2] On the other hand, some signs are about the miraculous events that will happen just prior to the rising of al-Qa'im. For instance, there will be a lunar eclipse at the end of the month of Ramadhan. The eclipse at the end of the month is a supernatural phenomenon that has never happened before.

Badr Ibn Khalil al-Azdi narrated: I was sitting with Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS) when he (AS) said, "There shall be two signs before the rising of al-Mahdi (AS) that have not occurred since Adam (AS) descended on the earth.