Another sign is that the passage of time will not render him...

Another sign is that the passage of time will not render him old till such time that his life would end.”[^6] Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ) said: “Certainly, like Ibrahim Khalilullah (Abraham the Friend of Allah), Wali Allah (Friend of Allah) (Imam al-Mahdi) will be one hundred and twenty years old, and he will appear with a youthful perfect thirty-year-old face and visage.”[^7] The late Majlisi said: “Perhaps it (one hundred and twenty years) means the term of his ( ‘atfs ) governance and rule, or that it is his age but God has extended it.” What is meant by the word “proportioned” ( muwaffaq ) is the normalcy of the bodily limbs and it is an allusion to his being in middle age or the last phase of youth.

^8 There are also other statements concerning the age of Hadrat al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) at the time of the advent ( zuhur ). Artat said: “Hadrat al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) will be sixty years old (at the time of the advent).”[^9] Ibn Hammad said: “Hadrat al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) will be eighteen years old.”[^10] 2.

Bodily Characteristics Abu Basir said: I said to Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ): “I have heard from your father that the Imam of the Time ( ‘atfs ) has a broad chest and wide shoulders.” He ( ‘a ) said: “O Abu Muhammad! My father tried on the armor of the Prophet (S) but it was so big for him that it would touch the floor. I also put it on but it was too large for my stature. That armor is as appropriate and fitting for Hadrat al-Qa’im ( ‘atfs ) as it was for the Prophet ( ‘atfs ).

Its lower portion is short to the extent that anyone who saw it would think that they have formed a knot around it.”[^11] Riyan ibn Salt said: I asked Imam ar-Rida ( ‘a ): “Are you the master of this affair?” He ( ‘a ) replied: “I am the Imam and master of the affair but not the master of the affair who will fill the earth with justice and equity at the time when it would be full of oppression and injustice. How could I be the master of that affair when you can see my physical limitations?

Hadrat al-Qa’im is he who, at the time of his advent, will be of old age but he will look young. He will have a strong and well-built body such that if he would extend his hand toward the largest tree, he would be able to uproot it; if he shouted across the mountains, the rocks will crack and be pulled up.