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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Inquiries About Shi'a Islam Imam al-Mahdi All Muslims agree that at the end of time al-Mahdi will reappear to make justice prevail on earth after being overwhelmed with injustice, corruption, and tyranny. However, the dispute between the different schools of thought is as to who he is, and whether or not he is already born.

Great scholars emphasize that al-Mahdi is a member of the Ahlul Bayt (the Family of the Prophet): Imam al-Bukhari narrates from the , “How will you feel once the son of Mary descends among you, and your leader (imam) is from you?”[^1] Imam Muslim narrates from the , “A caliph will be appearing at the end of time from my nation.” Timridhi and Abu Dawud, commenting on this hadith, say that this caliph will be al-Mahdi.[^2] Abu Dawud narrates from the Noble Prophet, “If there remained but a single day until the end of time, Allah will prolong that day until He sends a man from my progeny whose name will be like mine and who fill the earth with justice and equity as it had been filled with oppression and tyranny.” [^3] Ibn Majah narrates from the , “We are the Ahlul Bayt for whom Allah has chosen the hereafter to this world.

My Ahlul Bayt after me will face difficulties, hardships, and persecution in the land until a group of people will come from the East, bearers of black banners. They will demand the right, but it will be denied. So they will fight and emerge victorious.

They will be given what they demanded but will not accept it until they give the right to rule to a man from my Ahlul Bayt*,* who will fill the earth with justice as it was filled with oppression.”[^4] Ibn Majah also narrates from the , “The Mahdi is from us, the Ahlul Bayt.

He is among the children of Fatima.”[^5] Tirmidhi narrates from the , “A man from my Ahlul Bayt whose name is like mine will verily rule the world and if there remains but a single day before the end of time, Allah will prolong that day until he assumes rule.”[^6] According to the Shi‘a school of thought, Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hassan al-Mahdi was born in 255H (869AD) on the 15th of the month of Sha’ban in the city of Samarra in northern Iraq.

His father was Imam Hassan al-Askari, whose lineage traces back to Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, and his mother’s name was Narjiss. He is the last of the twelve imams for the people on earth, and with him the line of succession to the Prophet ends.