When Will the Mahdi Appear? 

Praise be to Allah.

The Quran and Sunnah as Equal Sources of Guidance

The Muslim must understand that evidence from both the Quran and Sunnah are of the same level and must be followed equally. Both the Quran and Sunnah are Revelation from Allah and must be followed. Allah says concerning His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning):

{Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed.} [An-Najm 53:4-3]

It was narrated from Al-Miqdam ibn Ma`dikarib that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Beware! I have been given the Quran and something like it, yet the time is coming when a man replete on his couch will say: ‘Keep to the Qur’an; what you find in it to be permissible treat as permissible, and what you find in it to be prohibited treat as prohibited.’” (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 4606; classed as authentic by Al-Albani – may Allah have mercy on him – in Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud, 3848)

Obeying the Messenger Independently of the Quran

Allah has enjoined that His Messenger is to be obeyed independently of the Quran. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority.} [An-Nisa’ 4:59]

{And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).} [Al-Hashr 59:7]

No Exact Time for the Mahdi’s Emergence

It is not narrated in either the Quran or the Sunnah precisely when the Mahdi will emerge , but he will emerge at the end of time. However, we must point out the following:

• The emergence of the Mahdi will be one of the last minor signs of the Hour .
• Many people claimed that the Mahdi has emerged or will emerge to support their personal aims and misguided beliefs, such as the Qadianis (Ahmadis), Baha’is, Shi`ah and other deviant groups. This has led some later scholars to reject the Ahadith which speak of the Mahdi or to misinterpret them by saying that what is meant by the Mahdi is the descent of `Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary – peace be upon him) at the end of time. Some of them quote a Hadith that is attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) which says, “ There is no Mahdi apart from `Isa ibn Maryam.”

This Hadith is weak and cannot be soundly attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). See As-Silsilah Ad-Da`ifah, 1/175, by Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him).

• Many scholars have written books confirming that the Mahdi will emerge, and describing that as part of the belief (`Aqidah) of the Muslim. For example: Al-Hafidh Abu Na`im, Abu Dawud, Abu Kathir, Ash-Sakhawi, Ash-Shawkani, and others.
• It is proven in the Sunnah that the Mahdi will meet `Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) and that Isa will pray behind him.

Muslim (156) narrated that Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, ‘A group of my Ummah will continue to fight for the truth and prevail until the Day of Resurrection. Then `Isa ibn Maryam will come down and their leader will say, “Come and lead us in prayer.” But he will say, “No, you are leaders of one another” – as an honour to this Ummah.’”

The leader mentioned in this Hadith is the Mahdi . According to a report narrated by Abu Na`im and Al-Harith ibn Usamah, “Their leader the Mahdi will say…” Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Its chain of narration is good.”

• The Muslim should not wait for the emergence of the Mahdi, rather he has to strive hard and devote his efforts to support Islam, and to do whatever he can for the religion. He should not hope and wait for the emergence of the Mahdi or anyone else, rather he should correct himself, his family and the people around him, so that when he meets Allah he meets Him having done his best. (See Al-Mahdi: Haqiqah la Khurafah by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Isma`il)

And Allah knows best.