The signs before reappearance of al-Mahdi (A.S)
Introduction
During their missions, all the Prophets and Apostles have emphasized the fact that a savior will arrive at the end of time who will implement the government of justice over the globe. This news has been heard since the human being appeared on the earth. Allah has indicated this promise in all the early scriptures and commanded humans throughout ages to wait for the manifestation of the kingdom of Allah. The Holy Qur’an also gives glad tidings of the day for which all the believers of the world are enthusiastically awaiting, and confirms that the righteous and virtuous servants of Allah shall finally inherit the earth:
"The earth is Allah's. He gives it as a heritage to whom He wills, and the end is for the watchful. (7:128)"
The Most Glorious also said:
"And indeed We wrote in the Psalm (Zabur) after the reminder that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth." (21:105)
Allah confirmed that He will revive the earth and will give it a true life after it has become dead as a result of corruption by mankind:
"And indeed We wrote in the Psalm (Zabur) after the reminder that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth." (21:105)
Allah confirmed that He will revive the earth and will give it a true life after it has become dead as a result of corruption by mankind:
In a number of verses in Qur’an Allah has emphasized that what He has promised will certainly take place. For instance:
"Verily that which you are promised is true. (51:5)" "And Allah shall never break His Promise. (22:47)" "Surely, Allah shall never fail to keep the promised event. (3:9)" "Glory to our Lord! Truly the promise of our Lord is a fulfilled one! (17:108)" Besides the indications in the Quran and the early scriptures, the testimonies of the last Apostle of Allah (PBUH&HF) that have been narrated by all Islamic schools in numerous traditions leave no doubt that this promise will be fulfilled by the hand of a man from his progeny. The Sunnis have narrated:
The Apostle of Allah (PBUH&HF) said, "Even if only one day has remained for the duration of the world's existence, Allah shall prolong that day to send a person from my Ahl al-Bait whose name is the same as my name… He shall fill out the earth with peace and justice just as it has been filled with injustice and tyranny."
The above tradition shows that although Allah may delay this divine promise even as much as the last days of the world's duration, nevertheless it will certainly take place. As such, all the true believers should expect its happening through the hands of the Mahdi of the family of Muhammad (PBUH&HF).
The signs before reappearance of al-Mahdi (AS)
There are many traditions narrated by all Islamic schools where the Apostle of Allah (PBUH&HF) has portrayed the events just prior to the uprising of al-Mahdi (AS). The Shi'ite traditions that have been narrated from the Prophet (PBUH&HF) and the Imams of Ahl al-Bait (AS) provide much more details for the events that are supposed to take place before the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (AS). Some of these signs are about the hard condition of people in the world before his reappearance. For instance, Abu Hamza al-Thumali and Abu Basir both narrated:
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS) said, "The Qa'im shall not rise until after a great fear from people, the earthquake, afflictions, trials, and the disease have inflicted people, the war between Arabs, great disagreement between people, break ups in their religion, changing their state such that the wishers wish death every morning and night due to the greatness of what is observed, and the eating of people by people. The rising of (al-Qa'im) shall be at the time of despair and hopelessness of people for finding any opening/relief."[2]
On the other hand, some signs are about the miraculous events that will happen just prior to the rising of al-Qa'im. For instance, there will be a lunar eclipse at the end of the month of Ramadhan. The eclipse at the end of the month is a supernatural phenomenon that has never happened before. Badr Ibn Khalil al-Azdi narrated:
I was sitting with Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS) when he (AS) said:
"There shall be two signs before the rising of al-Mahdi (AS) that have not occurred since Adam (AS) descended on the earth. The sun shall be eclipsed in the middle of the month of Ramadhan and the moon (shall be eclipsed) in the end of that month."
A man in the presence said, "O Son of the Apostle of Allah (PBUH&HF)! The sun shall be eclipsed in the end of the month and the moon in the middle." The Imam replied, "I know what you say. But these are the signs that have never happened since Adam descended."
Source: alhassanain.com
