The Appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) why
This is Part 2 of a series on the end times according to Shia sources. Part 1 gathered narrations concerning the signs before the appearance. This part covers the promise of justice, al-Yamani, the occultation and its test, the day of the appearance, and the companions of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.).
HE WILL FILL THE EARTH WITH JUSTICE
Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Shaykh al-Saduq, vol. 1, p. 286, ch. 25, hadith 1
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:
"The Mahdi is from my descendants. His name is my name and his kunya is my kunya. He is the person most similar to me in appearance and character. He will have an occultation and a state of confusion in which nations will go astray. Then he will come like a piercing shooting star and fill the earth with justice and fairness just as it had been filled with injustice and oppression."
THE BANNER OF AL-YAMANI
Al-Ghaybah, al-Nu'mani, ch. 14
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said:
"There is no banner among the banners more guided than the banner of al-Yamani. It is a banner of guidance because he calls to your master."
The Imam (a.s.) continued:
"When al-Yamani rises, then rise toward him, for his banner is a banner of guidance. It is not permissible for a Muslim to turn away from him. Whoever does so is from the people of the Fire, because he calls to the truth and to a straight path."
The same narration states that the Sufyani, Yamani and Khurasani will rise in one year, in one month and in one day, following one another like the beads of a rosary.
THE OCCULTATION IS A TEST
Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Shaykh al-Saduq; also transmitted in al-Ghaybah, Shaykh al-Tusi
Imam Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.) said:
"When the fifth from the descendants of the seventh is absent, then fear Allah regarding your religion and let no one remove you from it. My son, there must be an occultation for the master of this affair, until some of those who believed in this affair turn away from it. It is only a trial from Allah by which He tests His creation."
THE BELIEVERS WILL BE TESTED AND SIFTED
Al-Kafi, Shaykh al-Kulayni, vol. 1, p. 370, hadith 6
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said:
"Far from it! Far from it! By Allah, that toward which you stretch your eyes will not occur until you are sifted. By Allah, it will not occur until you are purified. By Allah, it will not occur until you are distinguished, until the one who is to be miserable becomes miserable and the one who is to be happy becomes happy."
Al-Ghaybah, al-Nu'mani, ch. 12
Imam al-Rida (a.s.) similarly said:
"By Allah, that toward which you stretch your eyes will not occur until you are purified and distinguished, and until none of you remains except the rarest of the rare."
THE DAY OF THE APPEARANCE
Al-Ghaybah, Shaykh al-Tusi, p. 274
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said:
"It is as though I can see the Qa'im on the day of Ashura, on Saturday, standing between the Rukn and the Maqam, with Jibril before him calling: 'The allegiance is for Allah!' Then he will fill the earth with justice just as it had been filled with injustice and oppression."
Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Shaykh al-Saduq, vol. 2, p. 653, ch. 57, hadith 19
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) also said:
"The Qa'im will rise on Saturday, the day of Ashura, the day on which al-Husayn (a.s.) was killed."
THE 313 COMPANIONS
Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Shaykh al-Saduq, vol. 2, p. 654, ch. 57, hadith 21
Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn, Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.), said:
"Those who will disappear from their beds are three hundred and thirteen men, the number of the people of Badr. They will find themselves in Mecca."
The Imam (a.s.) then recited the words of Allah:
"Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you all together." (Qur'an 2:148)
He then said:
"They are the companions of the Qa'im."
THE 313 ARE NOT HIS ENTIRE ARMY
Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Shaykh al-Saduq, vol. 2, p. 654, ch. 57, hadith 20
A man from Kufa asked Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) how many people would rise with the Qa'im, mentioning the report that they would number three hundred and thirteen like the people of Badr.
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) replied:
"He will not rise except with people of strength, and the people of strength will not be fewer than ten thousand."
Therefore, the famous 313 should not be understood as the total number of Imam al-Mahdi's followers or army. They are a special group of his companions who gather to him, while other narrations mention a larger force.
THE COMPANIONS WILL GATHER FROM DISTANT LANDS
Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Shaykh al-Saduq, p. 377, hadith 1
Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (a.s.) said concerning the Qa'im:
"His companions, numbering the people of Badr — three hundred and thirteen men — will gather to him from the farthest parts of the earth."
The Imam (a.s.) connected this gathering with the words of Allah:
"Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you all together. Indeed, Allah has power over all things." (Qur'an 2:148)
He then said that when this number gathers to him, his affair will become manifest, and when the full number reaches ten thousand men, he will rise by the permission of Allah.
FROM OCCULTATION TO JUSTICE
The narrations of the Ahlulbayt (a.s.) describe the occultation as a severe test of faith. People will be examined, purified and distinguished from one another before the appearance.
At the appointed time, Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) will appear. Among those who gather to him will be the special 313 companions, equal in number to the people of Badr. The narrations describe them gathering to him from distant parts of the earth.
The purpose of his mission is repeatedly described in the Shia narrations: he will fill the earth with justice and fairness after it has been filled with injustice and oppression.
CONCLUSION
The Ahlulbayt (a.s.) taught their followers to remain steadfast during the occultation and warned that this period would test and distinguish the believers.
The narrations promise that this occultation will not continue forever. Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) will appear, his companions will gather around him, and he will establish justice after oppression has spread across the earth.
Part 3, insha'Allah, will cover what Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) does after his appearance.