I request my Hanafite brothers not to become blind to truth...

I request my Hanafite brothers not to become blind to truth in their love for their ‘Imam’. The following are the beliefs of Ahlul Sunnat with regard to the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.j.), and along with them are presented the objections of Shias against the concocted beliefs: Ahlul Sunnat believe that Imam Mahdi (a.j.) is the divine Caliph appointed by the Almighty.[^1] The text is as follows: “The Almighty appointed the Qaim, a rightful Caliph.” This tradition is related by Abi Dawood.

Then is the report of Ahmad in the same book. He will be the Caliph in the last age. Then Ali (a.s.) is reported to have said as mentioned on page 233 of Sunan Abi Dawood: The Prophet’s saying is that: “Allah will send a man from my Ahlul Bayt who would fill the earth with justice, just as it is filled with inequity.” The objection applicable to this belief is that according to Ahlul Sunnat, Caliphate depends on consensus and allegiance but there is no consensus of scholars and leaders for Imam Mahdi (a.j.).

Thus, how can his Caliphate be correct from the principles of Ahlul Sunnat? The second objection is that according to Ahlul Sunnat, appointing of the Caliph and the Imam is obligatory on people and not on Allah. But the text of Sunan Abi Dawood says: “Allah appointed Qaim as the rightful Caliph…” This shows that Allah has considered the appointment of Caliph and Imam obligatory on Himself and not on the people.

Thus, we realize that the appointment of Imam Mahdi (a.j.) was by the will of Allah and not by the selection of people. In such circumstances, the application of consensus and allegiance, for Caliphate is invalid. If, according to Ahlul Sunnat, Caliphate and Imamate of Imam Mahdi (a.j.) is from Allah, why the Imamate of other Imams could not be from Allah?

How can the Imamate of the 12th Imam be considered divinely appointed and the Imamate of the other eleven Imams from Ali al-Murtadha’ (a.s.) to Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) be considered the opposite? It is no secret that Shias follow only one principle. That is just as they consider the appointment of eleven Imams to be from Allah, the Imamate of Imam Mahdi (a.j.) is also considered to be from Allah. Now we realize why Ahlul Sunnat believe in the opposite.

It is so because by believing in the divine appointment of the eleven Imams (a.s.), the Caliphate of the three Caliphs would be rendered invalid. According to most Sunni scholars, Imam Mahdi (a.j.) is the twelfth Imam.