Morality and Character of Imam Al-Mahdi (A.J.)

The Imams of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s), due to restrictions imposed on them from every side, had no chance to fully reveal their capacities. The Imam of the Time, may Allah expedite his reappearance, will have a chance to reveal his multi-dimensional capacity as foreseen by the Holy Prophet and the Imam’s of Ahl al-Bayt. Therefore, his behavior, conduct and temperament have a dimension wider than those of the other Imams. In most narrations, we read that the time of Imam al-Mahdi will be replete with bloodshed and killing. In certain narrations, it has even been pointed out that Allah will remove love for the enemies from the heart of Imam al-Mahdi so much so that people will say,

…لَيْسَ هَذَا مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، لَوْ كَانَ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ لَرَحِمَ!

“This is not from the Household of Muhammad. Were he from the Household of Muhammad, he would have some mercy.”[1]

However, one must note that when Imam al-Mahdi reappears, the world will be at the enemies’ hand and they strongly resist against him. In this connection, Imam al-Sadiq has said:

إنَّ قَائِمَنَا إذَا قَامَ اسْتَقْبَلَ مِنْ جَهَلَةِ النَّاسِ أشَدَّ مِمَّا اسْتَقْبَلَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ (ص) مِنْ جُهَّالِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ.

When our Imam rises up, he will find people more ignorant than that of the time before Allah’s Messenger.

In this case, Imam al-Mahdi has no option other than resorting to war and a revolutionary decisiveness. When the resistance of the sworn enemy is broken, justice, welfare, peace and security will prevail everywhere. What follows are narrations showing the morality and corrective character of Imam al-Mahdi in relation to the world and man at large:

Resemblance To The Holy Prophet

Looking at Husayn, Imam `Ali said:

إنَّ ابْنِي هَذَا سَيِّدٌ كَمَا سَمَّاهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ (ص) سَيِّداً. وَسَيُخْرِجُ اللهُ مِنْ صُلْبِهِ رَجُلاً بِاسْمِ نَبِيِّكُمْ، يُشْبِهُهُ فِي الْخَلْقِ وَالْخُلُقِ.

This son of mine is a master as the Holy Prophet called him a master and from his issue will come a man who has the same name of the Messenger of Allah and resembling to him in creation and character.[2]

`Abdullah ibn `Ata reports: I asked Imam al-Sadiq about the character of Imam al-Mahdi, the Imam said:

يَصْنَعُ مَا صَنَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (ص).

He will do what the Holy Prophet did.[3]

Quoting Allah’s Messenger, Ibn `Abbas has reported:

التَّاسِعُ مِنْهُمْ، قَائِمُ أهْلِ بَيْتِي وَمَهْدِيُّ أمَّتِي، أشْبَهُ النَّاسِ بِي فِي شَمَائِلِهِ وَأقْوَالِهِ وَأفْعَالِهِ.

The ninth of them, the support of my Household and al-Mahdi of my ummah is the most similar to me in appearance, speech and deed.[4]

Abu-Muhammad Hasan ibn `Ali `Askari (a.s) was quoted by Ahmad ibn Ishaq ibn Sa`d as saying:

ألْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يُخْرِجْنِي مِنَ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى أرَانِيَ الْخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِي، أشْبَهَ النَّاسِ بِرَسُولِ اللهِ (ص) خَلْقاً وَخُلُقاً.

I praise Allah that before I die He has shown me my successor who is the most similar to Allah’s Messenger in appearance, speech and deed.[5]

Quoting Qatadah, Ka`b al-Ahbar has reported:

ألْمَهْدِيُّ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ... مَحْبُوبُ الْخَلأئِقِ.

Al-Mahdi is the best of the people… the most beloved of people.[6]

Dispensing Justice

`Ali ibn Musa al-Ri¤a (a.s) was asked, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! Who is the support of you Ahl al-Bayt?” The Imam said:

الرَّابِعُ مِنْ وُلْدِي… يُطَهِّرُ اللهُ بِهِ الأرْضَ مِنْ كُلِّ جَوْرٍ… فَإذَا خَرَجَ أشْرَقَتِ الأرْضُ بِنُورِهِ، وَوُضِعَ مِيزَانُ الْعَدْلِ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَلأ يَظْلِمُ أحَدٌ أحَداً.

The fourth of my sons is. Allah will remove injustice from the earth through him. When he reappears, the earth will be illuminated with his heavenly light. He will dispense justice among people so much so that no one will do any injustice to others.[7]

Quoting his father, `Ali ibn `Aqabah has reported:

إذَا قَامَ الْقَائِمُ، حَكَمَ بِالْعَدْلِ وَارْتَفَعَ فِي أيَّامِهِ الْجَوْرُ... وَرَدَّ كُلَّ حَقٍّ إلَى أهْلِهِ.

When Al-Mahdi rises up, he will rule with justice; there will be no injustice in his time and he will restore justice to its owner.[8]

Quoting Allah’s Messenger, Imam `Ali has expressly said:

آخِرُهُمْ إسْمُهُ عَلَى اسْمِي. يَخْرُجُ فَيَمْلأُ الأرْضَ عَدْلاً كَمَا مُلِئَتْ جَوْراً وَظُلْماً.

The last of them (i.e. the Imams) has my names. He will reappear and fill the earth with justice when it is replete with injustice.[9]

Quoting Allah’s Messenger, Imam `Ali has reported:

…وَمُنَادٍ يُنَادِي: هَذَا الْمَهْدِيُّ خَلِيفَةُ اللهِ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ. يَمْلأُ الأرْضَ قِسْطاً وَعَدْلاً كَمَا مُلِئَتْ جَوْراً وَظُلْماً. وَذَلِكَ عِنْدَمَا يَصِيرُ الدُّنْيَا هَرَجاً وَمَرَجاً، وَيَغَارُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ؛ فَلأ الْكَبِيرُ يَرْحَمُ الصَّغِيرَ وَلأ الْقَوِيُّ يَرْحَمُ الضَّعِيفَ، فَحِينَئِذٍ يَأذَنُ اللهُ لَهُ بِالْخُرُوجِ.

The herald will call: This is al-Mahdi, Allah’s caliph. Follow him. He will make the earth replete with justice when it is filled with injustice. When chaos overwhelms the world and some attack others by night, when the grown-up have no mercy on the small ones, nor the powerful are kind to the weak, Allah will permit him to reappear.[10]

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has reported:

أوَّلُ مَا يُظْهِرُ الْقَائِمُ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ أنْ يُنَادِي مُنَادِيَهُ أنْ يُسَلِّمَ صَاحِبُ النَّافِلَةِ لِصَاحِبِ الْفَرِيضَةِ الْحَجَرَ الأسْوَدَ وَالطَّوَافَّ.

The first sign of al-Mahdi’s justice is that a herald on his behalf will call: One who is performing minor Hajj should give his place to one on whom major Hajj is incumbent.[11]

There are a hundred and twenty narrations on how al-Mahdi will make the earth replete with justice.

Peace and Security

Imam `Ali (a.s) has reported:

وَلَوْ قَدْ قَامَ قَائِمُنَا... لَذَهَبَتِ الشَّحْنَاءُ مِنْ قُلُوبِ الْعِبَادِ.

When our support rises up, enmity will leave the people’s hearts.[12]

Imam al-Baqir (a.s) has reported:

فَيَبْعَثُ الثَّلاثَمِائَةٍ وَالبِضْعَةَ رَجُلاً إلَى الآفَاقِ كُلِّهَا... حَتَّى تَخْرُجَ الْعَجُوزُ الضَّعِيفَةُ مِنْ الْمَشْرِقِ تُرِيدُ الْمَغْرِبَ فَلا يَنْهَاهَا أحَدٌ.

When three hundred and odd companions of the Imam rule across the world, a feeble old woman in the east will set off for the west in peace and security.[13]

Quoting his father, `Ali ibn `Aqabah has reported:

إذَا قَامَ القَائِمُ... أُمِّنَتْ بِهِ السُّبُلُ.

Should the Rising Imam rise up, all roads will become safe.[14]

Public Welfare

Imam al-Baqir (a.s) has reported:

مَنْ أدْرَكَ قَائِمَ أهْلِ بَيْتِي مِنْ ذِي عَاهَةٍ بَرَأ وَمِنْ ذِي ضَعْفٍ قَوِيَ.

Should those who have been hurt see the support of the Ahl al-Bayt, they will be relieved; and the feeble ones who see him will become powerful.[15]

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has reported:

إنْ قَامَ قَائِمُنَا... يَطْلُبُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْكُمْ مَنْ يَصِلُهُ بِمَالِهِ وَيَأخُذُ مِنْ زَكَاتِهِ فَلأ يُوجَدُ أحَدٌ يَقْبَلُ مِنْهُ ذَلِكَ. إسْتَغْنَى النَّاسُ بِمَا رَزَقَهُمُ اللهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ.

Should our support (al-Mahdi) rise up, a man from among you will look for a needy person to help him and to take alms from what is incumbent to him; but he will not be able to find such a person to accept it from him; and people will become independent due to what Allah has given them out of His grace.[16]

Quoting the Holy Prophet Imam `Ali has reported:

يَأتِيهِ الرَّجُلُ وَالْمَالُ كُدْسٌ فَيَقُولُ: يَا مَهْدِيُّ أعْطِنِي. فَيَقُولُ: خُذْ.

Everyone goes to him with wealth accumulated beside him. He will ask al-Mahdi, “Grant something to me.” And he will say, “Take whatever you wish.”[17]

Imam al-Baqir (a.s) has reported:

إذَا ظَهَرَ الْقَائِمُ... يُعْطِي النَّاسَ عَطَايَا مَرَّتَيْنِ فِي السَّنَةِ وَيَرْزُقُهُمْ فِي الشَّهْرِ رِزْقَيْنِ وَيُسَوِّي بَيْنَ النَّاسِ حَتَّى لأ تَرَى مُحْتَاجاً إلَى الزَّكَاةِ. وَيَجِيءُ أصْحَابُ الزَّكَاةِ بِزَكَاتِهِمْ إلَى الْمَحَاوِيجِ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ فَلأ يَقْبَلُونَهَا. فَيُصِرُّونَهَا وَيَدُورُونَ فِي دُورِهِمْ فَيَخْرُجُونَ إلَيْهِمْ فَيَقُولُونَ: لأ حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِي دَرَاهِمِكُمْ!

When the Rising Imam reappears, he will give away to people twice a year and he will provide people with sustenance twice a month equally so that you cannot find anyone in need of alms. Alms-payer will come to the needy followers of al-Mahdi but the needy will not accept their alms. Alms-money is put in a purse to be taken to the houses of the Shi`ites. They come out of their houses, addressing them: We are not in need of your money!

Imam al-Baqir (a.s) has further reported:

وَيَجْتَمِعُ إلَيْهِ أمْوَالُ أهْلِ الدُّنْيَا كُلِّهَا مِنْ بَطْنِ الأرْضِ وَظَهْرِهَا، فَيُقَالُ لِلنَّاسِ: تَعَالَوا إلَى مَا قَطَعْتُمْ فِيهِ الأرْحَامَ وَسَفَكْتُمْ فِيهِ الدَّمَ الْحَرَامَ وَرَكَبْتُمْ فِيهِ الْمَحَارِمَ. فَيُعْطِي عَطَاءً لَمْ يُعْطِهِ أحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ.

All the people’s wealth, both inside and outside the earth will be accumulated for al-Mahdi and then they will be said: Come to what for which you became merciless and shed the blood unlawfully and for which committed sins. Here, Imam al-Mahdi will award to people such a grant that no one has ever awarded.

The Holy Prophet has said:

يَكُونُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ خَلِيفَةٌ يُعْطِي الْمَالَ وَلا يَعِدُّهُ عَدّاً.

At the end of the world, there will be a caliph who will divide the wealth without counting them.[18]

Allah’s Messenger (s) has also said:

وَيَمْلأُ اللهُ قُلُوبَ ُأمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ غِنَىً.

At the time of al-Mahdi, Allah will make the hearts of the community of Muhammad free from want.[19]

Removing Harms From Shi`ites

Imam `Ali ibn Musa al-Ri¤a (a.s) has said:

(ألْمَهْدِيُّ) يَكُونُ رَحْمَةً لِلمُؤْمِنِينَ وَعَذَاباً عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ.

Al-Mahdi is a source of mercy for believers and punishment for the unbelievers.[20]

Imam `Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-`Abidin (a.s) has said:

إذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَا أذْهَبَ اللهُ عَنْ شِيعَتِنَا الْعَاهَةَ.

When the Rising Imam rises up, Allah will remove all harms from the Shi`ites.[21]

Imam al-Baqir (a.s) has said:

(نْ قَامَ قَائِمُنَا) يُوسِعُ اللهُ عَلَى شِيعَتِنَا، وَلَوْ لأ مَا يُدْرِكُهُمْ مِنَ السَّعَادَةِ لَبَغَوْا.

At the time of al-Mahdi, Allah will improve the situation of the Shi`ites, for if they are not happy, they will rebel.[22]

Imam `Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s) has said:

إذَا قَامَ الْقَائِمُ أذْهَبَ اللهُ عَنْ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ العَاهَةَ وَرَدَّ إلَيْهِ قُوَّتَهُ.

When our support rises up, he will remove harms from believers and restore them their power.[23]

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has said:

إذَا قَامَ الْقَائِمُ جَاءَتِ الْمُزَامَلَةُ؛ وَيَأتِي الرَّجُلُ إلَى كِيسِ أخِيهِ فَيَأخُذُ حَاجَتَهُ لأ يَمْنَعُهُ.

When our support rises up, the era of concord will come about and every person takes what he needs from the purse of his brother without being prevented.[24]

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has also said:

لَمَّا ُأسْرِيَ بِي أوْحَى إلَيَّ رَبِّي… وَبِهِ (الْمَهْدِيّ) أنْتَقِمُ مِنْ أعْدَائِي. وَهُوَ رَاحَةٌ لأِوْلِيَائِي، وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَشْفِي قُلُوبَ شِيعَتِكَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ وَالْجَاحِدِينَ وَالكَافِرِينَ.

During the Holy Prophet’s Night Ascension, Allah said to him about al-Mahdi: I will take revenge from enemies through him. He is the source of tranquility for My friends and it is he who will calm the Shi`ites feeling of revenge from oppressors and unbelievers.[25]

Promoting Intellect, knowledge and Morality

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has said:

إذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَا وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى رُؤوسِ الْعِبَادِ، فَجَمَعَ بِهِ عُقُولَهُمْ، وَأكْمَلَ بِهِ أخْلأقَهُمْ.

When our support rises up, he puts his hand on the heads of the servants whereby he promotes their wisdom and morality.[26]

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has said:

إنَّ قَائِمَنَا إذَا قَامَ مَدَّ اللهُ لِشِيعَتِنَا فِي أسْمَاعِهِمْ وَأبْصَارِهِمْ حَتَّى لأ يَكُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْقَائِمِ بَرِيدٌ؛ يُكَلِّمُهُمْ فَيَسْمَعُونَ وَيَنْظُرُونَ إلَيْهِ.

When our support rises up, Allah will strengthen the Shi`ites’ vision and hearing where by there is no need for a link between them and the standing Imam. He will speak to them while they listen and look at him.[27]

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has also said:

ألْعِلْمُ سَبْعَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ حَرْفاً. فَجَمِيعُ مَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الرُّسُلُ حَرْفَانِ. فَلَمْ يَعْرِفِ النَّاسُ حَتَّى الْيَوْمَ غَيْرَ الْحَرْفَيْنِ. فَإذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَا أخْرَجَ الْخَمْسَةَ وَالْعِشْرِينَ حَرْفاً فَبَثَّهَا فِي النَّاسِ وَضَمَّ إلَيْهَا الْحَرْفَيْنِ حَتَّى يَبُثَّهَا سَبْعَةً وَعِشْرِينَ حَرْفاً.

Knowledge has twenty-seven parts. What the prophets have brought are two parts and people do not know more than these two parts to date. When our support rises up, he will bring with him the other twenty-five parts and spread them among people so that they will become twenty-seven parts all together.[28]

Final Rule

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has said:

إنَّ دَوْلَتَنَا آخِرُ الدُّوَلِ. وَلَمْ يَبْقَ أهْلُ بَيْتٍ لَهُمْ دَوْلَةٌ إلأ مَلَكُوا قَبْلَنَا، لِئَلأ يَقُولُوا إذَا رَأوْا سِيرَتَنَا: إذَا مَلَكْنَا سِرْنَا بِمِثْلِ سِيرَةِ هَؤُلأءِ! وَهُوَ قَوْلُ اللهِ تَعَالَى:وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ (83)

Our rule is the last one. No dynasty will come after our rule lest they will say if the rule were ours we would act like them. This is the meaning of Allah’s saying:(28:83)

The good end is for those who guard against evil.[29]

How to Salute Imam al-Mahdi?

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) has said:

Should you survive as to see him, when you look at him, say:

السَّلأمُ عَلَيْكُمْ أهْلَ بَيْتِ الرَّحْمَةِ وَالنُّبُوَّةِ وَمَعْدِنَ الْعِلْمِ وَمَوْضِعَ الرِّسَالَةِ. السَّلأمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بَقِيَّةَ اللهِ فِي أرْضِهِ.

Peace be upon you, O people of the House of the Prophet and of Mercy, source of knowledge, and seat of Divine Mission. Peace be upon you, O Allah’s Remainder on the earth.

[1] Bihar al-Anwar: 354/52, H 13.

[2] Bihar al-Anwar: 39/51, H 20.

[3] Bihar al-Anwar: 352/52, H 108.

[4] Bihar al-Anwar: 379/52, H 187.

[5] Kamal al-Din: 118/2.

[6] `Aqd al-Durar fi Akhbar al-Muntazar: 152.

[7] Kamal al-Din: 371/2, Chapter: 35, H 5

[8] Al-Irshad by al-Mufid: 384/2.

[9] Bihar al-Anwar: 379/52, Chapter: 27, H 186.

[10] Bihar al-Anwar: 380/52, H 182.

[11] Al-Kafi: 427/4, H 1.

[12] Al-Khisal: 626/2, H 10.