In the following few pages we shall try to bring some...

In the following few pages we shall try to bring some evidence from the Qur’an and the authentic Hadith of the Prophet to prove the point to interested readers. This is an essential belief that Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (as) Sahibuz zaman, is alive and guide's his followers whenever such need arises. This is based on the verses of the Holy Qur’an that express the idea of Divine Guidance through the Prophets and Imams.

“And among those whom we have created are a people who guide others with truth, and in accordance therewith act justly.” (7:180) “We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere” (2:155) A great Hanafi scholar Muhammad ibn Muslim cites Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (as) explaining the meaning of the above Verse.

Imam indicated that there would be signs indicating the coming (reappearance) of al-Mahdi (as) which are the means whereby God tests the faithful.

“Something of fear” is a reference to masses perishing by contagious diseases; “hunger” is a reference to high prices of foodstuffs; “Some loss in goods” is a reference to scarcity and famines; “Lives” is a reference to mass destruction of human lives, probably global wars; “Fruits” is a reference to lengthy periods of draughts; so when all that happens, then give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.” “This is its interpretation,” continued the Imam , quoting Verse 7 of Sura 3, which indicates that “only those who are firmly grounded in knowledge are capable of interpreting the verses of the Holy Qur’an”, adding, “ We the Ahlul Bayt are the ones firmly grounded in knowledge”.

In the book “Yanabi al Muaddah”, the Hanafi scholar and Mufti of Istanbul during the Osmani Caliphate in Turkey writes on page 321, quoting Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (as) interpreting Verse 83, Sura III of the Holy Qur’an comments as follows:- “When the Qa’im al-Mahdi reappears, there will be no land on earth where the Kalima is not said. “This could be a reference to the fact that by the time al-Mahdi reappears, all continents of the world will have Muslim populations. They already do now.

After presenting the above proofs from the Qur’an, the following are authentic traditions from the Prophet of God regarding Imam Mahdi (as) .