A Brief Discussion On Mahdi (A.S.) From Two Perspective -By Muhammad Sagir Bauchi

Islam is a complete religion brought by Muhammad Bin Abdullah(S.a.w.w).In the course of delivering his message, Qur’an was revealed to him, the book that comprise all the teachings of the other religions and it make it mandotary upon every Muslim to believe in the prophethood of the prophets of other Religions; as, a Muslim, is not a complete Muslim until he believe in the prophethood of all the prophets.

In Islam, there are different schools of thought that differ in some aspect of understanding the Religion, but all believes in the Fundamental aspect of the religion.They all accept the Oneness of Allah, Prophethood of Muhammad (S.a.w.w), performing the five daily Salats, fasting in the month of Ramadan and Pilgrimage to Mecca.But in some cases, there are some slide variation in the mode of practicing those religious rituals!

The major thing that differ the two Sects of Shi’a and Sunnah is the issue of Caliphate, where the Shi’as believe that Allah (Swt) through His Prophet appointed Aliyu Bin Abu Dhalib (A.s) as the divinely appointed successor.While the Sunnis believe that the Issue of Caliphate should emerge through Consensus (Ijmah).Meanwhile, they (The Sunnis) held the view that there are four Rightly guided Caliphs starting From Abubakar Bin Abu Quhafa, followed by Umar Ibn Khaddab, Usman Bin Affan and Aliyu Bin Abu Dhalib (R.A),and the Shi’a Imamiyya Ithna Ashar held that the divinely appointed successors are twelve in number, starting from Ali (A.s) followed by Hassan and Hussein, Aliyu Bin Hussein (Zainul-Abideen), Muhammad Baqir, Ja’afar Assadiq, Musa Al-Kazeem, Ali Rida, Muhammad Al-Jawad, Aliyu Hadi, Hassan Al-Askary and Imam Muhamad Mahdi Bin Hassan Al-Askary.These are the Twelve Imams of Shi’a ( The twelvers).While, Some other groups of Shi’a Such as the Zaidites, Ismailis et el has their own,but starting from Ali, Hassan,Hussein and Zainul-Abideen.

In this piece, my greatest concern is not to discuss on who is right between the Shi’a or the Sunnis? Rather, to discuss about the last Imam of Shi’a, Muhammad Mahdi.Although, there some certain dispute between the different schools of thought regarding his birth.

The Shi’as believe that he was born on 15th Sha’aban, in the year 255 After Hijrah, and he is still alive and will reappear at the end of the world and filled the earth with Justice.While the Sunnis held the believe that he was not born yet, but to be born before his appearance.

What ever the case may be, they all agreed that the Imam will appear at the end of the world and filled the earth with justice, in the time that the earth was filled with corruption by corrupt merchants.

Who is Al-Mahdi?

Imam Mahdi Al-hujjah (The authority) was the son of Imam Hassan Al-Askary and Al-Sayyidah Narjis.His lineage is traced back to Ali and Fatima and to his Grand-father, prophet Muhammad (S.a.w.w).

He was born on Fifteen of Sha’aban in Samarrah, Iraq, in the year two hundred and fifty five after hijrah.

He is the last of the Imams of the people on earth and with Him the line of succession to holy prophet ends.He is, by Allah’s will living on this earth, but he does not appear in the public sight.

There are a lot of Ahadiths from the Sunnis and the Shi’a source that indicate his appearance towards the last days of human civilization at a time when the earth will become full of injustice and he will resume order and make justice prevail.

All the Shi’a twelver Scholars believe that Al-Mahdi is alive, and will appear at the end of the time; this can be seen in all Shi’a books.For that, Sunni sources will be sufficient for us to decipher who this pious Imam Is!

Sayyid Mustapha Al-Qazwini in his book “The Shi’a Islam” cited ahadith which he also quoted from Sahih al-Bukhari Vol.4,P.143.He wrote “A caliph will appear at the end of time from my nation”.

Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud, commenting on this hadith, say that this caliph will be Al-mahdi.”

He also cited ahadith from Abu Dawud, the prophet (S.a.w.w) said “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 will fill the earth with justice and equity an it had been filled with oppression and tyranny”

Al-tirmidhi, in his Al-jami’ah-Sahih Vol 9,P.74-75 narrate ahadith from the holy prophet who said ” A man from my Ahlulbyt 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”

With these, we could understand that, all Muslims agree that at the end of time Imam Al-mahdi will (re)appear to make justice prevail on earth after being overwhelmed with injustice, corruption and tyranny.However, there dispute is only to who he is, and whether or not he is already born?

May Allah hasten his appearance.

Happy birthday anniversary of our Imam Al-mahdi A.s.