Imam Mahdi's Reappearance Day and Year

Author : Sayyed Sadruddin Sadr

Traditions about the Year and Day of Imam Mahdi's Reappearance

As the title denotes, the following article is dealt with the year and day of al-Mahdi Reappearance according to traditions of Infallible Imams.

Abu Basir has narrated from Sadiq Aal-e -Muhammad as such: "Mahdi shall not emerge but in the odd year i.e. the first, third, fifth, seventh or ninth year."

Again Abu Basir narrates from Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.) who said: "The name of Qa'em will be taken on the 23rd night of the blessed month of Ramadhan. The Qa'em shall emerge on the day of Ashura - the day on which Imam Hussein was martyred. As if I am seeing the Oa'em emerging on Saturday, the tenth of Muharram between Ruku and Maqaem and someone standing in front of him calling out: Allegiance, Allegiance.

Thus Mahdi's followers will turn towards him from all sides and will give allegiance to him. By Mahdi's means Allah will fill the earth with justice just as it was previously filled with cruelty and oppression. Thereafter, Mahdi will turn his attention from Mecca to Kufa and will land in Najaf from where he will send soldiers towards the cities."

It has been narrated from Abdul-Karim Nakh'ee as such: I asked Sadeq Aal-e-Muhammad: For how long will the Qa'em rule?

Imam (A.S.) replied: "Seven years. The days and nights during Mahdi's time will be so lengthy that one year of that time will be like twenty years of today and (seven) years of Mahdi will be equal to seventy years of your reckoning."

In a lengthy tradition, Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.) said: "When the Qaem shall emerge, his attention will be drawn towards Kufa. He will develop the mosques of Kufa, strike down the balconies overlooking the roads, destroy the wells and drain-pipes on the road-paths, uproot all sorts of heresy, enliven every custom and conquer Istanbul, China and the mountains of Dailam. This will remain so for seven years where each year would be equal to ten years of your reckoning."

In another tradition Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.) said: "Due to fear (which the enemies have of Hazrat) the Qa'em will be assisted (by Allah) and due to triumph, will become victorious.

The earth will roll for Mahdi and treasures will loom before him. His rule will extend from East to West. Allah will place his religion above all other religions even though the polythesis may dislike it. There will be no dilapidated place but that Mahdi will develop it. The earth will not cede anything from its herbs but that it will cause it to thrive. During Mahdi's time, the people will enjoy such blessings which they had never enjoyed before."

The narrator says: I said: 'O son of the Messenger of Allah! When will your Qa'am emerge?

He replied: "At the time when men will imitate the women and women will imitate the men; when women will ride on saddles; when people will cause their prayers to die and will follow their carnel desires; when people will turn users; when shedding of blood will become something insignificant; when trade and business of the openly commit adultery; when they will make towering constructions;

when they will consider lie to be lawful; when they will accept bribes; when they will follow their lusts and desire; when they will sell their religion for this world; when they will hold under obligation the one whom they feed; when they will consider forbearance to be the sign of weakness and feebleness and injustice to be an honor;

when their rulers will be evil and their ministers liars; when the trustworthy amongst them will be traitors; when the helpers amongst them will be unjust; when the reciters of Quran will be transgressors; when cruelty and oppression will become manifest;

when divorce will increase; when people will engage in debauchery and libertinism; when forced witness and lie will be accepted; when they will engage in drinking and gambling;

when men will be mounted on; when women shall engage with women (indecent acts); when - people will consider 'Zakat' to be a booty and charity to be a loss; when they will fear from the tongues of the wicked people; when Sufyani shall revolt from Syria and Yemen; when 'Baidah' which is between Mecca and Medina will sink;

wh6n a child from the progeny of Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) will be killed between 'Rukn' and 'Maqaam' and when a live voice will be heard from the heavens trying out that the truth is with Mahdi and his followers. It will be then that our Qaem will emerge. When he re-appears, he will stand with his back against the wan of Ka'aba and 313 of his followers would gather around him. The first speech of Qaem would be the following verse:

"What remains, with Allah is better for you if you are believers."

Then he will say: I am the 'Baqiyatullah' (God's remainder) representative and Proof of Allah upon you. After that, no Muslim would salute him but in this manner:

Assalamu-Alaika - ya Baqiyatullah-Fi-Arzeh (Peace be upon you 'O God's remainder on the earth.)

As soon as 10000 men gather around him, no Jew or Christian will remain but that they will bring faith in him and religion shall be confined only to Islam.

A fire shall descend from the sky and will burn every object of worship (other than Allah) on the earth."