| There is no confusion or difference
of opinion among the Muslim scholars about the arrival of Imam Mehdi (as) before
the Doomsday. In a hadith, unanimously accepted by all Muslims as an authentic
one, the Holy Prophet (sws) stressed that Imam Mehdi (as) will certainly come
before the commencement of the Doomsday. The Holy Prophet
(sws) said;
“If there were to remain in life of the world but one day,
Allah (swt) would prolong that day until He sends in it a man from my family and
my household. His name will be the same as my name. He will fill the earth with
equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny.” Shia
and Sunni ahadith about Imam Mehdi(as). There are
more than 3000 ahadith of the Holy Prophet (sws) and Holy Imams about Imam Mahdi
(as) recorded by Shia scholars. Also, there are more than 70 books written by
renowned Sunni scholars about Imam Mahdi (as). For example, Hafiz Muhammad ibn
Yusuf ash-Shaafi, a renowned Sunni scholar, has written a book, “Al- Bayan
fi Akhbar Sahibi’z Zaman,” in two volumes, in which he has recorded
the traditions regarding the coming of the Holy Imam. The
other books written by Sunni scholars in which they have recorded hundreds of
traditions about the Imam Mehdi (s) are: - Al Masnad
of Ahmad bin Hanbal (d.241AH)
- Sahih Bukhari (d. 256
AH)
- ahih Muslim (d.261 AH)
-
Sunan of Abu Dawood (d.275 AH)
- Sahih Tirmidhi (d.279
AH)
The above most famous books are considered
by all Sunni scholars as the most authentic books. As mentioned in the brackets,
the authors of these books died either before the birth of Imam Mahdi (as) or
shortly after his birth. Difference of opinion between
Shia and Sunni about the appearance of Imam Mehdi(as) Both
Shia and Sunni are united in their basic belief that Imam Mahdi(as) will certainly
rule the whole world before the occurrence of the Doomsday.But, there is a strong
controversy among Muslims on the issue of occultation (Ghaibat). Sunni
scholars believe that Imam Mehdi (as) will be born anytime before the day of Qiyamat
and will rule the world. Whereas, all Shia scholars have a strong belief based
on Quran and hadith that Imam Mehdi (as) was born in 255 AH, and is still living
in concealment as the Imam of his time, and will reappear by the order of Allah
(swt) at His appointed time. He has a title Imam ul-Asr,
meaning the Imam of the period. Briefly, Imam Mehdi(as) is the son of the 11th
Imam, Hazrat Hasan al - Askari and Bibi Nargis. He is
our 12th and the last Imam. He was born on 15th Shaban 255 AH / 869 AD in Samarra,
Iraq. He lived under his father ’s care until 260AH / 874 AD. As
a normal trend of Imamat, just after the martyrdom of his father, Imam Hasan al
- Askari (as), he became the Imam in 260 AH. He then by the Allah’s Command
went into occultation (ghaybah) immediately. The occultation
(period of ghaibat) of Imam Mehdi (as) is divided into two parts. -
The minor occultation ( ghaibatu’l-sughra ), which occurred from 260 AH /
872 AD to 329 AH /939 AD, lasting 70 years.
- The major occultation ( ghaibatu’
l- kubra ), which occurred from 329 AH / 939 AD and is still in process.
No
one, except Allah (swt), knows the length of the major occultation. Even the Imam
himself does not know about the time when his occultation will be over.
No
one, except Allah (swt), knows the exact place of Imam’s residence. However,
there are some reliable narration and reasonably trustworthy clues to form a hypothetical
opinion about his station.
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