Imam Mahdi (as) in the eyes of our Sunni Brothers

Salam Alaykom, 

With the third night of lectures in commemoration of the commemoration of the martyrdom of the Master of Martyrs, Imam Hussain (as), Shabab al Sibtayn invited a promising youth speaker to shed his thoughts on the topic of 'Imam Mahdi (as) in the eyes of our Sunni brothers.' I am privileged to share the notes from this lecture, presented by brother Kerrar Al-Khayat (video link to be added soon inshaAllah). Please take a moment to read through and contemplate on the points raised during his exploration of the topic. 

As Muslims, we believe in a saviour that will rid the world from tyranny and injustice. In fact all the main religions of the world believe in a saviour or ‘messiah’. Prophet Isa (as) is regarded as the messiah prophesised in the Hebrew Bible, whilst Jews believe in an anointed King that will lead the Jews back to the land of Israel. Therefore there is no denying that a saviour will come.

In the Quran it says:

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ

And certainly We wrote in the Book after the reminder that (as for) the land, My righteous servants shall inherit it. [Al- Anbi'a, 105.] Therefore it’s clear that the holy Quran is very explicit that a time will come that a universal just and Islamic state will be established when those who were oppressed will lead the world. 

It is narrated by Shi’a and Sunni narrators that:

 a) The Day of Judgment will not come until a man from the offspring of the Prophet rises to spread peace and justice in the world. (Mosnad Ahmad 3:36 , H. 10920)

b) Whoever dies not knowing the Imam of his time has died the death of Ignorance (Kofr). (Muslim 3:239, H 1851)

c) Hadith al-Thaqalayn in which the Prophet (P) says: the Book of Allah and his Ahlul-Bayt (P) will never be separated until they join him at the Pool of Kouthar. (Mostadrak al-Hakim 3:10)

d) 12 Imams: The Prophet foretold that the Kholafa (successors after him shall be 12 Imams, that are all from Qoraysh). (Muslim 3:220, H. 1821). This hadith can only apply to the 12 Imams of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s). Also, there is no doubt that Imam Askari (a.s) was martyred and died, so has to lead on. 

Furthermore, all Muslims believe in the Mahdi (as), though the Sunni brothers believe that he is to be born at the end of time. If this was the case then it goes against their own Hadiths too as there will be a separation between the Quran and Ahlulbayt (as). Violating Hadith Al-Thaqalayn where it states that “The Book of Allah and his Ahlulbayt (P) will never be separated until they join him at the Pool of Kawthar.” The Imams won’t be 12 Violating the fourth hadith where the Prophet foretold “Kholafa"(successors after him shall be 12 Imams, that are all from Quraysh). Most importantly, all Muslims would die the death of Jahiliyah because there is no Imam of their time for them to know violating the first hadith “Whoever dies not knowing the Imam of his time has died the death of Ignorance”.

Their main arguments are the age of the Imam: how could it be possible for him to still be alive? If he was, he would be roughly 1300 years old. A simple answer is that Prophet Nuh lived just as long, if not longer. It says in the Quran: 

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمُ الطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ

And certainly We sent Nuh to his people, so he remained among them a thousand years save fifty years. And the deluge overtook them, while they were unjust. [Al- Ankabut,14]. And so, the Quran is saying he lived for 950 years, just as a prophet, he probably lived much longer than that. Furthermore, as Muslims we believe that Prophet Isa is still alive. We have various narrations to say that prophet Ilyas, Prophet Idris, Al-Khidr (though some say he’s not a prophet) are still alive.

We need to remember how difficult a revolution is, let alone a world revolution to get rid of all tyranny and injustice. At a recent lecture the Sayed brought up an interesting point where he said, who would be better suited for a world revolution: someone who lived through the tyranny and injustice, or someone who would read about it all on Wikipedia? He went on to use the example of Saddam and suggested that when that dictator was removed, who truly appreciated it- the youth or their parents? Obviously the parents, as they had to live through the injustice that we weren’t directly affected by.

It is important to remember that we are not talking about any individual. People seem to forget that he has the Support of Allah (S.W.T) There were cases where natural laws were hindered to protect some of the prophets or Proofs of Allah on earth.  We take for example Prophet Ibrahim and the case of the fire.  The only way to preserve life was by hindering the burning  process of the fire in which he was thrown:

قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

We said: O fire! be a comfort and peace to Ibrahim. [Al-Anbiya, 69].

Also when the sea was split for Prophet Musa, or when the Romans were misled in thinking they had caught Prophet Isa, or when Mohammed (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his progeny) left his house, while it was surrounded by the troops of Quraysh who were waiting for hours to attack him; Allah hid him from their eyes while he was walking in their midst. All of these cases show a hindrance of the laws of nature to protect an individual, whom the Divine wisdom wished to preserve. Therefore, why not include here the process of old-age?

This misconception can be cleared by the Quran; Allah (swt) stated in the Holy Quran that the Day of Reckoning will come unannounced and suddenly:

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي لاَ يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَا إِلاَّ هُوَ ثَقُلَتْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ لاَ تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلاَّ 

بَغْتَةً يَسْأَلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَا قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ اللّهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ

They ask you about the destined hour, when will be its taking place? Say: The knowledge of it is only 

with my Lord; none but He shall manifest it at its time; it will be momentous in the heavens and the earth; it will not come on you but of a sudden. They ask you as if you were solicitous about it. Say: Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most people do not know. [Al-Araf, 187]. Therefore the Mahdi (as) has to exist already as the Judgment day can take place any time

And so, what are the signs of his reappearance? There are many authentic hadiths that are reliable with regards to the reappearance, in particular, with relation to the definitive signs of the reappearance. There are definitive signs that are based on hadiths that are authenticated and are accepted by a large number of scholars:

The revolt of Sufyani

The appearance of Yamani

The scream from the sky (a caller will call out from heaven)

Sinking of the land

Killing the Innocent Soul (an-Nafs az-Zakiyya)

A pure soul will be killed in the outskirts of Kufa with seventy righteous men;

The sun will rise from the West (Changing the Earth's Rotation)

Abu Hamza al-Thumali asked Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "Is the revolt of the Sufyani one of the things which must happen?"

"Yes," he replied. "The call is one of the things which must happen as is the rising of the sun from the west one of the things which must happen. The dispute of the Abbasids over the state is also one of them and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya). The appearance of the one who will arise (al-qa'im) from the family of Muhammad, may God bless him and his family, is another of the things which must happen."

"How will the call be?" he asked.

"There will be a call from the sky at the beginning of the day, indeed the truth is with Ali; and his Shia,'' 

How is this Related to Imam Hussain?

Wishing to be with the Imam means were preparing for something big. The entire mission of cleansing the world, ridding them of tyrant and oppressors, revolves around the slogan that he will restore justice for Imam Hussain. Another Sayed mentioned yesterday in one of his lectures that the first thing that the Imam will do is head to Karbala, dig up the grave of Imam Hussein, pick up 6 month year old baby Ali-alasghar after centuries of him being buried on the Imams chest and the first thing he will say is: "What crime has this six month old baby committed?"The companions will start to scream with agony and pain. All these years we've been waiting for the imam at least for last 12 centuries

People been yearning and longing. People and scholars have claimed that had not been for verse in the Quran that says “God can change his will at anytime” they would have thought he would have appeared by now.

In conclusion, I remind myself first, that those who are truly awaiting the Imam, its like waiting for a guest to arrive. You don't prepare when they come and you get ready all the things before the guest arrives. If the Imam was to knock at your door you have to say hold on and go hide a few things? If so, this means that you are not ready for the Imam. We can only look at Imam hussain and his companions as they are the best of examples.

Imam Ali was once asked why don't you avenge your right and take back what's yours. He said if I had as many supporters as this flock of sheep I would rise. The man counted the sheep there was only 40. Imam Mahdi wants the same thing: he has been waiting for 1300 years for 40 people. This simply means that he hasn't even got 40 yet.

Finally, as we are all living the occultation period in waiting, and we constantly ask Allah (swt) in our prayers to grant us the fortune to be the selected ones who would server the Imam and fight before him. But for us to be the selected ones we have to be qualified for this holy task, by following the Prophet’s Sunnah (as narrated by his Ahlulbayt) and the holy book so that we are always ready for the day of his re-appearance, and that he would be proud to have us as his helpers and soldiers, and that he will not be alone in his mission in the way his grandfather Imam Hussein was on the day of Ashura. 

Until next time, salaams.