HAQEEQAT E MEHDI

Imam Mehdi (AS) is such a noble personality whose arrival’s good news is present in all the Holy Books. Not only is every man of every religion waiting for him but even Allah also. According to some interpreters, following verses of Quran are about the arrival of Imam Mehdi (AS):

Say: “the unseen is for Allah alone. So wait. I too am with you among those who wait”. (Younas, Verse 20, Chapter 11, Part 7)

Say: ‘wait; no doubt, we too are waiting.’ (Al-Inam, Verse 158, Chapter 8, Part 7)

This VIP is called the spiritual teacher of a Prophet namely Jesus. There is in Hadiths, Jesus will take oath of Imam Mehdi (AS). This will be a single and unique instance that some noble character would be a guru of any resolute Prophet. For his dignity, this saying of Hazrat Imam Jafer Sadiq (AS) is sufficient: “Knowledge consists of 27 alphabets whereas the knowledge which all prophets took with them was only of 2 alphabets. So people know only these 2 alphabets’ knowledge till today; when our Qaim (Imam) will make himself raised, God will reveal the knowledge of remaining 25 alphabets and will spread it in the people and earlier 2 alphabets’ knowledge would also be mingled with it. Then complete knowledge of 27 alphabets will be familiar to all”. (Bahar ul Anwaar)

Meaning thereby, till the arrival of approximately 124,000 Prophets including the Last One (PBUH) and all the saints, just 2 alphabet of knowledge were opened while honor of exposing the remaining 25 alphabets of knowledge has been given just to this single personality by which a bit of his superiority could be guessed. Whereas if the knowledge consisting of 2 alphabets is calculated and this saying of Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) would be kept in mind who said: I gained two types of knowledge from the Holy Prophet (PBUH), one of which I had disclosed before you but if the other one I would publicize, might be murdered. It means the knowledge of 2 alphabets was not completely acceptable for Muslim, so what will be happened when the remaining 25 alphabets of knowledge would be disclosed but since the coming person neither will be specified for any religion nor will be stopped to do his work by any pressure or fear. Therefore, this distinct knowledge will must be disclosed before the world and this Holy man will also convince the world to accept this unusual knowledge through his firm control. Anyhow, pray to God that He would give us the ability and power to accept this knowledge without any hesitation.

Further, all the Prophets, spiritual leaders, Innocents and Saints have been used to express their keen interest to meet with this noble personality whereas such interest has never been shown for any other dignitary. For example, in Islam, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was also advised to love and honor for Imam Mehdi (AS). Therefore, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to weep in Imam’s remembrance and wish to meet him even hiccough for long. Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: at the time of ascension God said to me: Have you a wish to see your executors? I replied: Yes. God said: see before you. When I saw there were magnificent pictures of my twelve executors in which the picture of Imam Mehdi (AS) was shining prominently like a glowing star. I asked: O God! Who is that? God said: these are the real knowledgeable men and that which is prominent in all will make legal of my legal and illegal of my illegal and will take revenge from my those enemies who made my legal forbidden and made my illegal admissible. O Muhammad! (PBUH) love him and make him friend because I like him and fond of him. Who make him friend I will make him friend. (Ghayat ul Haram Vol.1)

Hazrat Ali (AS) also heaved a deep sigh pointing towards his chest and expressed his desire to meet Imam Mehdi (AS) (Akmaal ud Deen). Hazrat Ali (AS) says: my parents would be devoted to him; he is son of the best out of finest human being. (Sharah Nehj ul Balagha) Hazrat Imam Jafer (AS) says that if I would live in his (Imam’s) age, I serve him till death. (Bahar ul Anwaar)

Though, by sequence and age, personalities of these telling apparently are higher than Imam but most love and honors have been expressed just for the coming VIP. Every Imam and saint is not only in waiting of him but also displaying his (Imam’s) glory whereas narration of remaining Imams arriving within this period had not been used to make by this way. Even Day of Judgment has been set with his arrival and it has been said in every religion that world could not get its end without his unveiling. The honor to unite all the religions at one place and to uproot the untrue and to full the world of peace and justice has been made specialized only for him.

It is said when the religion of Moses (Musa) has been completed then he thought that maybe this is the end of knowledge which bestowed upon me but on asking from God he has been ordered to go to Hazrat Khizar (AS). He passed some time with Khizar but could not go on with him. At separation, Moses asked Khizar: is this end of knowledge which you have? Then Khizar told him an incident. Once passing by a bank of river, I saw a pious man resting there. (Saints identify each other by viewing lusters of God and rays of light showering on him.) I made him awaked and said: get up and serve me! He said: go your way. I said: if you will not serve me then I will call the villagers and tell them that you are from the people of unseen (Rijal ul Ghaib) who will persecute you. (Know that saints related to people of unseen used to make themselves hidden from public) Then he said: when villagers will come, I will tell them that you are Khizar then they will persecute you. Khizar said: I became surprised that how he knows my name? I was thinking that in the meanwhile he said to me: O Khizar! Tell me my name! I used my complete knowledge to know his name but could not do it; then he became invisible. Again I used my complete knowledge but could not see him. Then I asked: O God! I am the chief of saints. Till today, no one could become invisible before me. Who he is that became unseen before me? Then God said: O Khizar! You are the chief of those who love me but he is from those whom I love. Khizar says Moses: that noble man met me once more. I asked him: is this end of knowledge which you have? Then he replied: at the time near to Day of Judgment, Imam Mehdi (AS) will come; his knowledge starts from where my knowledge ends.

It is out of thinking to make an estimate of the knowledge of that personality whose knowledge starts from the end of Moses, Khizar and that dervish’s knowledge and state of whose knowledge’s beginning would be as like this, who can recognize the reality of that dignitary. Hence, it is impossible for human being to make guess at the superiority and dignity of Imam Mehdi (AS). Hamvini says that Imam Mehdi (AS)’s body has no shadow. (Ghait ul Maqsood)

About the discourse “the time has come to give up the respect of Kaaba” sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, it is well-known by public that this has been written about the age of Imam Mehdi (AS) and who will become the midpoint of human being after its appearance and people will give more attention to him than Kaaba. Following Hadiths of Sahee Bukhari have probably been written for this very age:

• Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: Kaaba will be destroyed by a short-legged Negro. (Kitaab Al-Manasak, Raqam 1490)

• Hazrat Ibn e Abbas describes that Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: Though I am seeing that short legged Negro who will remove every stone of Kaaba. (Kitaab Al-Manasak, Raqam 1494)

• Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: A man whose oath would be taken between “Rukan” and “Maqaam” (names of two special places of Kaaba) and who should have a desire not to quarrel in Kaaba (but by force). After that, whole of them will be died, then Abyssinian will come and make Kaaba destroyed after which Kaaba will not be constructed and these very people will dig up the treasury of Kaaba. (Selected Kanzul Ummal by Mufti Nizam ud Din Shamzai)

Majesty of Imam’s companions has been told in this Al-Mustadrak’s Hadith:

• Hazrat Abu Tufail Muhammad bin Al-Hanfia describes that Muhammad bin Al-Hanfia said that he was sitting in the gathering around Hazrat Ali (AS) meanwhile a man asked Hazrat Ali (AS) about Imam Mehdi. Hazrat Ali (RA) said: “be away” then said, pointing by hand, Mehdi will be come into view at last period. At that time, he who would call the name of Allah will be murdered. God will assemble a group of persons near him as he brings the pieces of clouds together and will create love and affection among them. They will neither get fear from anyone nor will be made happy to see any award. Numbering of these people gathered around Imam Mehdi (AS) will be equal to the Badar companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH) who were 313. This group would have a special superiority which had the people neither of earlier age nor of coming; also, the numbering of this group will be equal to companions of Saul (Talut) who crossed Jordan canal with Saul. Hazrat Abu Tufail says that Muhammad bin Hanfia asked gathering: Have you wish to join that group? I replied: Yes. Then he said pointing to two pillars of Kaaba: Mehdi will appear between those two pillars. Then Hazrat Abu Tufail said: By God! I will never leave these pillars for whole of my life. Due to this very reason, Hazrat Abu Tufail died in Makkah. (Haakam Al-Mustadarak, Raqam 8659)

From these words of above narration “superiority which might have the people neither of earlier age nor of coming”, estimate of the superiority of companions of Imam Mehdi (AS) can be calculated.

• Hazrat Abu Ubaida bin Jarrah describes that I heard Holy Prophet (PBUH) who said: No Prophet has come after Hazrat Noah but he made his nation afraid of Dajjal and I also make you afraid of him (Dajjal). He said describing his symbols: Maybe anyone out of my looker or hearer finds him. People requested: O Beloved Prophet! What will be the condition of our hearts in those days? Replied: As similar as is today or better. (Mishkaat, Kitaab al Fitan, Raqam 5250)

In above Hadith, condition of Imam’s companions’ hearts has been called equal to as of Last Prophets’ companions’. Age of Imam Mehdi has also called the best age ever as Allah says in Holy Quran: “And no doubt, coming age is better for you than earlier”. (Ad Duha, Verse 4, Chapter 30, Part 18)