Mahdaviyat and Imam Mahdi from the view point of Muslim thinkers

MAHDAVIYAT AND IMAM MAHDI FROM THE VIEW POINT OF MUSLIM THINKERS

In this article we will discuss about Mahdaviyat and Imam Mahdi from the viewpoint of Muslim thinkers from different perspectives.

Muslim Community and Imam Mahdi

All Muslims believe that Muslim community has a Mahdi. There is no difference among Muslims about it. The Holy Prophet (s) informed Muslims about his reappearance, telling his names, attributes, appellations and peculiarities.

The traditions narrated in this regard in Shiite and Sunni sources are far above the standard of succession (tawatur). That is the reason why there is no difference among Muslims in this connection. Anyone who is aware of such traditions and their accuracy and despite that refutes the doctrine of Mahdaviyat, rejects the words said by the Holy Prophet (s).

Shiite and Sunni hadith collections contain traditions in this regard. Great present and past scholars have compiled works on this issue, touching the traditions said by the Holy Prophet (s) concerning Imam Mahdi (a.s.).

Moreover, there are numerous verses in the Holy Quran that on some interpretations deal with Imam Mahdi (a.s.).

Given all these, one cannot pay heed to what a few historians such as Ibn Khaldun have pinpointed.[1] Ibn Khaldun’s opinion in this regard is so queer and strange that even some Sunni scholars have also rejected it.

Imam Mahdi and famous Sunni writers

Here are the names of some of the most famous Sunni writers who have recorded traditions concerning Imam Mahdi throughout history.

– Abu Bakr bin Abi Khaithama (d. 279 AH)

– Na’aeem bin Hamad Maruzi (d. 288 AH)

– Abu Husain bin Munadi (d. 336 AH)

– Abu Na’aeem Isfahani (d. 430 AH)

– Abu Ula ‘ANar Hamadani (d. 569 AH)

– Abd al-Ghani Maqdisi (d. 600 AH).

– Ibn ‘Arabi Andulusi (d. 638 AH)

– Sa’ad al-Din Hamuvi (d. 650 AH)

– Abu Abdullah Ganji Sha’fi’ai (d. 658 AH)

– Yusuf bin Yahya Maqdisi (d.658 AH)

– Ibn Qayyim Jawziyya (d. 685 AH)

– Ibn Kathir Demishqi (d. 774 AH)

– Jalal al-Din SuyuP (d. 911 AH)

– Shahab al-Din Ibn Hajar Makki (d. 974 AH)

– Ali bin Hisam al-Din MuNaqi Hindi (d. 975 AH)

– Nur al-Din Ali Qari Hiravi (d. 1014 AH)

– Muhammad bin Ali Shukani Qazi (1250 AH)

– Ahmad bin Saddiq Ghamari (d. 1380 AH)

These are some of the most popular Sunni writers who have written books on traditions concerning Imam Mahdi (a.s). At present as well, there are writers who have written books on this issue. There is however no need to mention these books.

Companions as narrators of traditions on Imam Mahdi (a.s)

As mentioned above, there are traditions said by the Messenger of Allah (s) on Mahdviyat and imamate of Imam Mahdi (a.s). These traditions are reported by many of his great companions. Muslim scholars have narrated these traditions from the companions of the Apostle of Allah. Since their names are too many, we suffice to mentioning some of them.

– Imam Ali, commander of the faithful (a.s)

– Fatima al-Zahra (daughter of the Holy Prophet)

– Imam Hasan Mujtaba (Prophet’s grandson)

– Imam Husain (Prophet’s grandson)

– Abdullah bin Mas’ud

– Abudar Ghaffari

– Abu Ayyub Ansari

– Abdullah bin Abbas

– ‘Ammar bin Yasir

– Abu Sa’aeed Khadri

– Hudayfa bin Yaman

– Umar bin Khattab

– Abd al-Rahman bin ‘Awf

– Uthman bin ‘Afan

– Talha bin Ubaidullah

– Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari

– Umm al-Mu’amineen Umm Salama

– ‘Aisha, daughter of Abu Bakr

Sunni Scholars and the successively reported traditions on Imam Mahdi (a.s.)

There are many Sunni scholars who have dealt with the issue of the succession of traditions on Imam Mahdi (a.s), throughout different centuries in history. Below are the names of some of these scholars:

– Hafiz Jamal al-Din Mazzi (d. 742 AH) [2]

– Qurtubi, a great jurist and exegete (d. 671 AH) [3]

– Ibn Qayyim Jawziyya (d. 751 AH) [4]

– Ibn Hajar ‘Asqalani (d. 852 AH) [5]

– Jalal al-Din SuyuP (d. 911 AH) [6]

– Ibn Hajar Makki (d. 974 AH) [7]

– Sheikh Ali MuNaqi Hindi (d.975 AH) [8]

– Faqih Ahmad Zaini Dahlan Shaf’ae (d. 1304 AH) [9]

Sunni scholars and authenticity of traditions on Mahdi

There are other Sunni scholars who (have not narrated these traditions in their books but) have however confirmed that these traditions are authentic. Among such scholars are:

– Timidhi, author of al-Sunan, one the six sihah collections.

– Muhammad bin Husain Abri (d. 363 AH)

– Abu Bakr Baihaqi, author of al-Sunanal-Kubra

– Farra Baghvi Muhyi al-Sunna

– Ibn Athir Jazari

– Shams al-Din Dahabi

– Nur al-Din Haithami

Given all these, there is no place for controversy over the doctrine of Mahdaviyat in Islam. Thus anyone who denies the existence of Imam Mahdi (a.s) is no longer according to all, a Muslim.

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[1] Tarikh Ibn Khaldun, vol. 1, p. 311.

[2] Tahdib al-Kamal, vol. 25, p. 146.

[3]  Tafsir al-Qurtubi, vol. 8, p. 121.

[4]  Al-Minar al-Nunif, p. 135.

[5]  Tahdib al-Tahdib vol. 9, p. 125 and Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6, p. 385.

[6]  Ibraz al-Wahm al-Maknoon, p. 436 complied by Abu al-Fayz Ghamari.

[7]  Al-Sawaeq al-Muhriqa, p. 162.

[8]  Al-Burhan fi ‘Alamat Mahdi ‘Akhir al-Zaman, p. 178

[9]   Al-Futuhat al-Islamiyya, vol. 2, p. 211.

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