What are those signs?

Then, glad tidings be to the steadfast for hastening the advent of al-Qa’im ( ‘a ) at that moment.”[^14] As reported in A‘lam al-Wara , “ qillah al-mu‘amilat ” means market recession and lack of transactions.[^15] Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ) said: “...At that time when the Sufyani emerges, food items will be scarce; people will experience famine; and rainfall will be scarce.”[^16] Ibn Mas‘ud said: “At the time when there would be no more trade and roads are destroyed, al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) will appear.”[^17] Perhaps, the bad conditions of the markets at that time would be the result of destruction of the centers of production and industry, the decrease of manpower, the diminution of purchasing power, famines, insecurity on the highways, etc.

It has been stated in Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal : “Before the advent of al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) people will experience intense starvation for three years.”[^18] Abu Hurayrah said: “Woe to the Arabs for the evil approaching them!

Intense starvation will break out and mothers will cry because of their children’s hunger.”[^19] The Bartering of Women in Exchange for Food Items The depth of the tragedy of famine and starvation prior to the advent of Imam al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) will be such that some will be forced to barter their daughters for meager quantities of food.

Abu Muhammad reported from a man from Morocco: “Al-Mahdi will not appear unless a man (due to the intensity of poverty and indigence) would bring his daughter or beautiful bondwoman and say: ‘Who will buy this girl from me for food items?’ It is under these circumstances that al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) will appear.”[^20] [^1]: Jami‘ al-Akhbar, p.