Guide-to-Sound-Creed-A-Book-on-Muslim-Creed-and-Faith

Principle 5: Belief in Last Day
237
To conclude, concerning the emergence of Al-Mahdi, people adopt three
different views.
The fIrst group renounces the emergence of Al-Mahdi. They are some of the
modern writers who lack expertise, deeply rooted knowledge of religious texts
and transmitted reports of prominent Muslim scholars. They only rely on their
rational deductions and ideas.
The second group excessively believes in Al-Mahdi. They are mostly among the
deviating sects, as each sect of such a group claims that its respective leader is the
Expected Mahdi. Ar-Rafidah, for example, claims that Al-Mahdi is their expected
Imam who will emerge from the vault. They name him Muhammad Ibnul-Hasan
Al- 'Askari, and claim that he entered the vault of Samurra' (Samarra) while he
was a child fIve hundred years ago 3
• They have been waiting for his emergence
until now! Similarly, whosoever would like <strong>to</strong> dominate people or gain control
over them, would call himself the Expected Mahdi. Such is the case of SufIs who
swindle and deceive people by alleging sovereignty and claiming that they belong
<strong>to</strong> the household of the Prophet (PBUH).
The Adherents ofthe Sunnah and Muslim Community adopt the intermediate
view. They agree on the emergence ofAl-Mahdi according <strong>to</strong> what is maintained
in the authentic texts regarding his name, the name of his father, his genealogy,
his personal features and the time of his emergence. They do not exceed the
limits mentioned in b.adiths. Before his emergence, there will appear a number
of portents and indications mentioned by scholars. The prominent scholar, As­
Safarini said:
"Views have dramatically differed regarding the emergence ofAI-Mahdi
<strong>to</strong> the extent that some people maintain that Jesus is the Expected AI­
Mahdi. The sound view, upon which the people of truth agree, is that
AI-Mahdi is different from Jesus. AI-Mahdi will, according <strong>to</strong> their view,
appear before the coming of Jesus (PBUH). Reports, which affirm the
emergence of AI-Mahdi are so numerous that they are authentically
proven. Such a belief is well known among the scholars of the Sunnah
and is certainly held among their established convictions."
He went on saying:
cl1 considerable number ofb.adiths have been reported on the authority
of the Companions mentioned above, and the leading followers which
all provide decisive proofs on the emergence of AI-Mahdi. Therefore,
belief in his emergence is obliga<strong>to</strong>ry according <strong>to</strong> what is stipulated by
the prominent scholars and the established doctrines ofthe Adherents of
the Sunnah and Muslim Community."