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Shia's Imam Mahdi

A. Shia's Imam Mahdi vs. Sunni's Al-Mahdi

Both Sunni Muslims and Shia are awaiting a person whose is referred to as Al-Mahdi.  However, both the identity and characteristics of the Mahdi of the Sunnis are significantly different from the identity and characteristics of Twelver Shia's Imam Mahdi.

For Sunni Muslims, the Mahdi is a Muslim leader who will act as a Caliph, ruling the Muslim World. For Sunnis, the Mahdi must be a descendant of Prophet Mohammad. Sunni Muslims' Al-Mahdi has to be a good man. In contrast, Shia's Imam Mahdi, as portrayed in Shia's books, seems to be an evil man whom the Shia expect will persecute Sunni Muslims, resurrect and crucify Prophet Mohammad's صلى الله عليه وسلم  Companions, Abu Bakr and Omar as well as Prophet Mohammad's صلى الله عليه وسلم  wife, Aisha.

Twelver Shia's Imam Mahdi is their 12^th Imam. Shia believe that Imam Mahdi  is Mohammad, the only son of their 11^th Imam, Hasan Al-Askari. They believe that when he was a young boy at the age of 5, he disappeared and went into hiding (or state of occultation) and has been hiding for 12 centuries up till now. Some Shia say he is hiding in a tunnel. The Shia are awaiting for him to emerge from his state of occultation in the End Times. By the way, there is no proof that his father, Hasan Al-Askari, had a son, named Mohammad. So, Shia's Imam Mahdi seems to be a fictitious, imaginary character. He never existed as a child. He does not exist now, contrary to what they believe, and will not appear in the End Times. 

According to Shia's books, the Shia's Imam Mahdi will be someone who rules based on the Laws of David. He will rely on scriptures, other than the Quran.

Based on how Shia'a books describe their Mahdi, his characteristics seem to resemble the characteristics of the Dajjal (Anti-Christ) in many ways.

For more information and details:

   (a) Sunni Muslim's Al-Mahdi

   (b) The Dajjal (Anti-Christ)

B. What do Shia's books say about what Shia's Imam Mahdi will do after he emerges ?
 

1.      Shia’s Mahdi kills and does not accept repentance

           ان القائم امر ان يسير بالقتل ولا يستتيب احدا

“The Qa’im (Shia’s Mahdi) has been ordered (by God) to go forth killing (people) and does not ask for or accept repentance of anyone.”  (Al-Numani, Al-Ghaiba , p. 153 and Baqir Al-Majlisi’s Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52, page 353)

         ان الامام المهدي (ع) سوف يضع السيف في كل المنحرفين ...فيستاصلهم جميعا ولا يقبل اعلانهم التوبة

“Al-Imam Al-Mahdi will strike with the sword all those who deviate (meaning deviate from Shiism or the new religion he will be spreading) … and will eradicate all of them and will not accept the declaration of repentance.”  (Al-Sadr, Tarikh ma ba’d Zuhur (History of After the Emergence) p. 558 )

2.       Shia’s Mahdi will be cruel  towards  defenseless  people

      القائم له أن يقتل المولي ويجهز على الجريح

     الغيبة للنعماني ص121

“It is permissible for Al-Qa’im to kill Al-Mawla (the captive person) and finish off (kill) the wounded person.” (Al-Numani Al-Ghaiba, p. 121)

3.        Shia’s Mahdi is sent as a Vengeance

   :  عن عبد الرحمن القصير عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام 

 قال:    إن الله بعث محمدا رحمة وبعث القائم نقمة    

Abd-Rahman Al-Qaseer reported that Abi Ja’far (a. s.) said: 

 “ Allah sent Mohammad (p) as a Mercy, and sends Al-Qa’im (Mahdi) as a Vengeance (Revenge).”   (Baqir Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52,  p. 314-315)

 Imam Mahdi will take revenge against all the sins (meaning the sinners) since Adam (a.s). (Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Saffar, Bashairu al-Darajat, p. 83)

4.      Shia's Mahdi will persecute the Sunni Muslims

فإذا قام قائم عرضوا كل ناصب عليه فإن أقر بالإسلام وهي الولاية وإلا ضربت عنقه أو أقر بالجزية فأداها كما يؤدي أهل الذمة

       52/357   بحار الأنوار  ,   تفسير فرات ص 100

“ When Qa’im (Shia refer to their Mahdi as Al-Qa’im) appears, they (the Shia) will bring every Nasib (a term used by Shia to refer to Sunnis)  to him (Shia’s Mahdi). If  he (the Nasib) accepts Islam, and it is recognition of Al-Wilaya (meaning Imam Ali is Representative of God), he will be freed; otherwise his head will be cut off. Alternatively, if  he accepts jizyah (penalty tax), he will be required to pay as a Zhimmi (Zhimmi is a status given by Islam to Christians & Jews)..  (Baqir Al-Majlisi’s Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52, page 373 and  Furat ibn Ibrahim’s Tafseer , page 100)       

According to Shia’s book, Baqir Al-Majlisi’s Haq Al-Yaqeen, page 527, Imam Mahdi will kill all Sunni Scholars:

      يناكحوننا ويوارثوننا الى ان يظهر المهدي حيث يبدا بقتل علماء اهل السنة ثم عوامهم
“They (Sunnis) may marry from us and inherit from us until the Mahdi emerges.  He starts by killing the scholars of the Sunnis and then ordinary Sunnis.”  (Baqir Al-Majlisi’s Haq Al-Yaqeen)

According to Shia’s book, Al-Kulaini’s Al-Rawdah min al-Kafi, Vol. 8, page 160,  the Sunnis who do not accept his teachings of Shiism will be beheaded.

In a narration attributed to Imam Abu Abdullah [a.s.], (Shia’s 6^th Imams), he says: “As mankind realize what is going to be done by Al-Qaim (Shia’s Mahdi) when he appears, most people will prefer not to  see him because of the killings he will do to mankind, it makes most  mankind say: ' He is not from the House of Muhammad, if he were from the House of Muhammad, he would certainly have compassion.' ” (Baqir Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52, page 353)    Nuaim bin Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan mentions a variation of this narration, but says “from the progeny of Fatima” (Prophet Mohammad’s daughter and wife of Imam Ali), instead of “from the House of Muhammad”.
 

Sayid Sadr states: “Indeed, most the killings (by the Mahdi & his followers) that happen to mankind will be directed against the Muslims. Then, he (Shia’s Mahdi) will distribute a copy of his book (a new scripture, not the current Quran)...” (Sayyid Husein Al-Musawi, Li Allah Thumma Li Tarikh, p.137)

    ما لمن خالفنا في دولتنا نصيب إن الله قد أحل لنا دماءهم عند قيام قائمنا

      بحار الأنوار 50/373

“For those in our (Shia’s) State who differ with us, there is a punishment. God has made their blood Halal (permissible to be shed) when our Qa’im (Shia’s Mahdi) emerges.”( Baqir Al-Majlisi’s Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 50, p. 373)

        مال الناصب وكل شيء يملكه حلال

         وسائل الشيعة للحر العاملي 11/60  ,  تهذيب الأحكام للطوسي 2/48

“ The money of the Al-Nasib (the Sunni) is Halal (permissible to be stolen) and every thing he owns is Halal.” ( Al-Tusi, Tahzeeb Al-Ahkam, Vol. 2, p. 48 and  Al-Hur Al-Amili, Wasil Al-Shia, Vol. 11, p.60)

      خذ مال الناصب حيثما وجدته وأدفع إلينا الخمس

      وسائل الشيعة للحر العاملي 6/340  ,  السرائر لابن أدريس ص 484  , تهذيب الأحكام للطوسي 1/384

“Take the money (meaning by stealing or rip-off) of Al-Nasib (the Sunni) wherever you find him and pay to us Al-Khums (one fifth of the money).”  (Al-Tusi, Tahzeeb Al-Ahkam, Vol. 1, p. 384, Ibn Idriss,  Al-Sarair p. 484,  and Al-Hur Al-Amili, Wasil Al-Shia, Vol. 340, p.6)

     5.  Shia's Imam Mahdi will be an Anti-Arab bigot who will massacre the Arabs

The following is some of what Shia books say their Mahdi’s massacres of the Arabs:

      ما بقي بيننا وبين العرب إلا الذبح

الغيبة للنعماني ص155,  بحار الأنوار 52/349
“There will be nothing left between us and the Arabs, except slaughter.” (Baqir Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52, p. 349  and  Al-Numani, Al-Ghaiba, p. 155)

 
 
“Al-Muntazar (the Awaited One, meaning Shia’s Mahdi) will walk amongst the Arabs and kill them.” (Baqir Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 52, p. 318)

 إتق العرب فإن لهم خبر سوء أما إنه لم يخرج مع القائم منهم أحد

      52/333  بحار الأنوار   ,    الغيبة للنعماني ص254

“Fear the Arabs because there will be very bad news for them, which is that none from amongst them will come out with Al-Qa’im (Shia’s Mahdi).” (Baqir Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52,  p. 333, and Al-Numani, Al-Ghaiba, p. 254)   This Shia narration is warning the Arabs of bad things that will happen to Arabs because none of the Arabs, including Shia Arabs, will follow the Mahdi.

يروي المفيد عن أبي عبدالله أنه قال

إذا قام القائم من آل محمد عليهم السلام أقام خمسمائة من قريش فيضرب أعناقهم ثم خمسمائة أخر حتى يفعل ذلك ست مرات

In a Shia narration attributed to Imam Abi Abdullah (Shia’s 6^th Imam), he say: "When the Qa’im (Shia’s Mahdi) from the family of Mohammad (peace be upon him) rises, he will resurrect five hundred from Quraish (dead people of Prophet Mohammad's tribe) and cut off their necks, then another five hundred, until he does this (action) six times." (Al-Mufeed Al-Tusi, Al-Irshad)

6.      Digging up the graves of Prophet Muhammad’s Companions

                     وأجيء إلى يثرب فأهدم الحجرة وأخرج من بها وهما طريان فآمر بهما تجها البقيع وأمر بخشبتين يصلبان عليهما 

        بحار الأنوار ج 53/104-105

 “(When Shia’s Mahdi) Will come to Yathrib (Medina’s old name), and destroy the Al-Hijra Al-Nabawiyya (the Room of Aisha in which Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.) was buried and later Abu Bakr and Omar were also buried there) and will dig out who is in it while they are lean and will order them to be sent to Al-Baqi and order two pieces of wood to be crucified on them…”  (Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 53, p. 104 -105)

 

The graves of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq (r.a.) and Umar bin al-Khattab (r.a.) (Prophet Mohammad’s companions and successors as Caliphs) are to be dug up, and they are to be crucified and flogged in front of the crowds. Both of them will be resurrected to receive their sentences. (Ni’matullah Al-Jazairi, Al-Anwar Al-Numaniyah, Vol.2, p. 85 and Baqir Al-Majlisi, Haq al-Yaqeen, Vol. 2, p. 242)

   :  عن عبد الرحمن القصير عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام

قال : أما لو قام قائمنا ، ردت إليه الحميراء حتى يجلدها الحد ، و حتى ينتقم لأمه فاطمة
قلت : فكيف أخر الله ذلك إلى القائم ؟
قال : إن الله بعث محمدا رحمة و بعث القائم نقمة  

Abd-Rahman Al-Qaseer reported that Abi Ja’far (a. s.) said:  “When our Qa’im (Shia’s Mahdi) rises, Al-Humaira (Aisha, Prophet Mohammad’s wife) will be returned (resurrected) so that he flogs her according to the law of hudud, and takes revenge for the Umma (nation or people) of Fatima (meaning the Shia).”

So, I (Abd-Rahman Al-Qaseer) said: “How come Allah (God) delays this punishment to (be performed by) the Qa’im (Mahdi) ?”

He said: “ Allah sent Mohammad (p) as a Mercy, and sends Al-Qa’im (Mahdi) as a Vengeance (Revenge).”   (Baqir Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52,  p. 314-315)

     7.   Shia's Mahdi will destroy the Ka’ba and the two Holy Mosques of Mecca and Medina

            القائم يهدم المسجد الحرام حتى يرده إلى أساسسه ومسجد الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم وإله إلى أساسه   

             بحار الأنوار 52/338   ,   الغيبة ص 282

“Al-Qaim (Shia’s Mahdi) will demolish Haram Mosque (in Mecca) down to its foundation and the Messenger’s Mosque (Prophet Mohammad’s s.a.w. Mosque in Medina) down to its foundation.” (Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 338, and Al-Tusi, Al-Ghaibah, p. 282)

                  …  إذا قام المهدي هدم المسجد الحرام
          الغيبة للطوسي ص282   ,  الإرشاد للمفيد ص411

“When Imam Mahdi rises up, he will demolish Al-Haram Mosque ( in Mecca) …'” (Al-Mufid, Al-Irshad. p. 411 and At-Tusi, Kitab al Ghaibah, p. 282)

 هل تدري أول ما يبدأ به القائم . أول ما يبدأ به يخرج هذين رطبين غضين فيحرقهما و يذريهما في الريح و يكسر المسجد

 بحار الأنوار 52/386

 “Do you know what the Qa’im (Shia’s Mahdi) will start with ? What he will start with is that he will dig up/out  the graves of these two (Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq r.a. and Umar bin Al-Khattab r.a., Prophet Mohammad’s companions and successors as Caliphs) while they are still wet and fresh and burn/cremate them and throw them (their ashes) into the wind. And he will break/destroy the Mosque (meaning the holy Al-Haram Mosque of Mecca).” (Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52, p. 386)   

8.      At the time of Shia’s Mahdi, the Shia will be gathered from all over the World

This is similar to the notion that the Jews will gathered from around the World, according to Jewish beliefs as well as the Quran)

                                                                                عن أحد موالي أبي الحسن عليه السلام قال

                                       {أينما تكونوا يأت بكم الله جميعا }  سألت أبا الحسن عليه السلام عن قوله تعالى

                                    وذلك والله أن لو قد قام قائمنا يجمع الله إليه شيعتنا من جميع البلدان : قال

                                                                                            - بحار الأنوار -                               

A follower of Imam Abu Al-Hasan (Shia’s 7^th Imam) asked him about his interpretation of (verse 148 of Sura Baqara) {From wherever you are, Allah will bring forth (or gather) all of you...}, Imam Abu Al-Hasan said: " When our Qa’im (Imam Mahdi) rises up, Allah will gather for him our Shia from all countries." (Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar) Please note that the Sunni classical interpretation of this verse is that it pertains to God's gathering people around the time of the Day of Resurrection.

       9.  Jews  & prominent Prophets will be among the followers of Shia’s Mahdi

According to the Shia, the Jews will also be among the followers of Imam Mahdi:

عن المفضّل بن عمر عن أبي عبد الله قال

    يخرج مع القائم عليه السلام من ظهر الكوفة سبعة وعشرون رجلا من قوم موسى، وسبعة من أهل الكهف ويوشع بن نون وسليمان وأبو دجـانة الأنصاري والمقداد ومالك الأشتر فيكونون بين يديه أنصارا

 الإرشاد للمفيد الطوسي ص402

Sheikh al-Mufeed has reported in his Al-Irshaad based on al-Mufadhaal ibnu Umar that Imam Abu Abdullah [as] said: “With the Qa'im twenty seven men from the people of Moses (meaning Jews or Israelites), seven from Ahl Al-Kahf (People of the Cave), (prophet) Joshua bin Nun, (prophet) Solomon, Abu Dajana Al-Ansari, Al-Miqdad, Malik Al-Ahtar  will come out and they will be his supporters."  (Al-Mufeed Al-Tusi, Al-Irshaad  p.402)

         10.   Shia's Imam Mahdi will bring the compete, original Quran

“ …The Qur'an which we have in our hands today, has suffered some changes after the Messenger of Allah [pbuh]. Those who collected it after him, dropped and deleted many words and verses, and that the protected Qur'an from such changes and agreeable to the (true & original) revelation of Allah (Ta'ala) is the one which was collected by Ali [as] and guarded until it reached his son Al-Hasan [as] and so on until it ended in the possession of Al-Qa'im (Imam Mahdi) who has it with him today…" (Hashim At-Tubari Al-Bahrani’s Al-Burhaan fi Tafseer al-Qur'an, Introduction: the second premise, Volume 1, p.36,  and last paragraph, p. 49)

"The Quran has been purposely altered by the drunkard Caliphs {Abu-Bakr (r.a), Umar (r.a) and Usman (r.a)}. The present Quran is false; It is the duty of Imam Mehdi to bring it in its original form. When Imam Mahdi comes, the Quran will be recited in its original form." (Quran Translation by Maqbool Hussain Delhvi, Chapter 12, p. 384 & p.479 – Published in India)

"The Original Quran will not be known until the manifestation of Imam Mahdi." (Ni’matullah al-Jazairi, Al-Anwar Al-Numania, Vol. 2, p. 360 - Published in Iran)

"The present Quran is abridged (an an abbreviated version) whereas the Original Quran is kept by Imam Mahdi." (Hazaar Tumhari Das Hamari, p. 553)

"The original Quran (which was compiled by Imam Ali (r.a)  will be brought by Imam Mahdi when he appears before the Day of Judgment." (Usul Kaafi, Vol. 2, p. 123)

         11.  Shia’s Mahdi will bring and rule based on a New Book of Scriptures

 عن أبي جعفر أنه قال
 فوالله لكأني أنظر إليه بين الركن والمقام يبايع الناس بأمر جديد شديد ، وكتاب جديد ، وسلطان جديد من السماء

 (الغيبة للنعماني ص 107 )

 A narration attributed to Imam Abi Ja'far (Shia’s 5^th Imam): " By Allah, as if I see him (Imam Mahdi) between Rukn & Maqam (of Kaba, Mecca), people are declaring allegiance  (to the Mahdi) based on a new, powerful matter, a new Book (scripture), and a new authority from Heaven." (Al-Numani, Kitab al-Ghayba, p. 107)

“Imam Mahdi will bring new Sharia (divine law) and commandments.” (Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 10, p. 597)

“Al-Qa’im (Imam Mahdi) will bring a new teaching, a new book and a new law.” (Al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 52, p. 354 )

       12.  Shia’s Mahdi will declare himself to be a prophet

 Imam Mahdi will declare himself to be a prophet. (Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 10, p. 550)

       13.  All angels will swear allegiance to Shia’s Mahdi

All angels will swear allegiance to Imam Mahdi. (Syed Najmul Hasan, Chodah Sitaray, p. 594)

       14.  Shia believe Prophet Mohammad (p) will return and be the first person to pledge of allegiance to Shia's Imam Mahdi
 
 The first disciple to take a pledge of allegiance (bay’a) to him will be Prophet Mohammad ( Al-Majlisi, Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52, p. 348)

The Shia believe Prophet Mohammad (p) and many of the early Muslims will come back to life at the End Times and they call this “Raj’ah” meaning the “Return”.

     15.   Shia’s Mahdi was born before God created human beings

            مهدي الشيعة خلق قبل خلق الخلق (بحار الأنوار 51/144)

According to Al-Majlisi’s Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 51, page 144, Shia’s Mahdi was born before God created human beings.

      16.   Mahdi’s Shia does not have a shadow

             مهدي الشيعة ليس له ظل (بحار الأنوار 52/322)

According to Al-Majlisi’s Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 52, page 322, Shia's Mahdi does not have a shadow.

       17.  Mentioning the name of the Shia’s Mahdi is not permissible

               مهدي الشيعة لا يحل ذكر اسمه ومن سماه ملعون (بحار الأنوار 51/33)

According to Al-Majlisi’s Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 51, page 33, it is not permissible to mention the name of the Shia’s Mahdi and whoever refers to him by his name shall be cursed.

        18.  Shia’s Mahdi will Rule according to the Law of David

    محمد بن أحمد عن محمد بن خـالد عن النَضر بن سويد عن يحي الحلبي عن عمران بن أعين عن جعيد الهمداني عن عليَ بن الحـسين عليه السَلام :                                   

     سألته بأي حكم تحكمون ؟ قال: روح القُدُس به تلقَانا شيء فإن أعيانا بحكم آل داود

Muhammad ibn Ahmad  attributes to Jaeed al Hamdani asking Ali ibn Al-Hussein [a.s.] (Shia's 4^th Imams): “I asked him by which law will you (the 12 Imams) rule?” Ali ibn Al-Hussein [as]: said: “By the ruling (law) of the family of David, and if we encounter something perplexing, Ruh Al- Quds ( Holy Spirit, meaning Angel Gabriel ) will solve it for us.” ( Al-Kulayni , Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 397)

   :  عن أبي عبيد الحذَاء

      قال جعفر عليه السلام  : يا أبا عبيدة إذا قام قائم آل محمد عليه السلام حكم بحكم داود وسليمان ولا يُسأل بيننة  

Abu Obeida Al-Hazza  attributed to Imam Abu Abdullah [a.s.] (Shia’s 6^th Imam) saying: “O  Abu Obeida when  Qa’im (Imam Mahdi) of  the House of Muhammad (s.a.w.) rises up, he will rule according to the law of David and Solomon and  he will not be asked  for evidence.” (Al-Kulayni, Usul Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 397 ,  Al-Mufeed Al-Tusi, Al-Irshad, p. 413, and Alam Al-Wara, p. 433  )  

Note what this narration says, “he will not be asked for evidence.”  Islam emphasizes that in order to make a fair judgment, you need to rely on evidence.  So, the Shia expect their Mahdi to break that rule of fairness. In other words, Shia's Mahdi is above the laws of Islam. He will not follow the Quran, but rather he will follow Jewish laws.

      19.  The source of Shia’s knowledge is from the Israelites, most probably, the Talmud

 The Imam (a.s.) remained silent for a while and then said, “(Held) With us, there is Al-Jifr (the parchment). Do you know what Al-Jifr is?” I then asked, “What is Al-Jifr ?” The Imams (a.s.) said, “It is a container made of leather that contains knowledge of the prophets and the executors of their wills and the knowledge of the scholars of the past from the Israelites.”  (Al-Kulayni, Al-Kafi,  Vol. 1, Chapter 40, p. 635)

       20.  Shia’s Mahdi will call God by God’s Hebrew name

   ( إذا أذَن الإمام , دعا الله بإسمه العبراني  ( كتاب الغيبة للنعماني

Al-Mufadhal ibn Umar is reported to have said  that Abu Abdullah [a.s.] (Shia’s 6^th Imams) said: “When the Imam (Mahdi) makes a call (for prayer), he will supplicate to God using God's Hebrew name...” (Al-Numani, Al-Ghayba , p.326)

       21. When Shia's Imam Mahdi appears, Shia's Taqiyyah will be annulled

Taqiyyah is something compulsory to be practiced by one who is following the Shiism .

In a narration attributed to the 8th Shia Imam, Ali bin Musa, he said,“ The one who is not wari (pious) has no religion and the one who does not practice Taqiyyah has no Iman ( deep faith).” So he was asked, "O grandson of the Messenger, until when (is one required to practice Taqiyyah)?" He replied, “Until a certain day (i.e. the day Imam Mahdi appears). Whoever does not practice Taqiyyah before the appearance of Imam Mahdi, is not one of us.” (Al-Ardabili, Kashf al-Ghummah , p. 341).

        22.  At the time of Shia's Mahdi, people will rise from the dead

وروى العاملي عن المفضل بن عمر قال : ذكرنا القائم عليه السلام ومن مات ينتظره من أصحابنا فقال لنا أبو عبدالله عليه السلام : إذا قام أتى المؤمن في قبره فيقال له : يا هذا إنه قد ظهر صاحبك فإن شئت تلحق به فالحق وإن تشأ تقيم في كرامة ربك فأقم

In a narration attributed to Imam Abu Abdullah, he said: " When he (Imam Mahdi) rises, he will come to the believer (meaning a Shia) in his grave. The dead believer will asked: ' O you, your friend (Imam Mahdi) has emerged. If you wish to follow him, follow him. However, if you wish to stay in the dignity (or honored status) provided by your Lord, you may stay '." (Baha' Din Al-Amili) 

       23.  Imam Mahdi recited the Sura Al-Qadr (Chapter 97 of Quran) before his birth. (Jalau Al-Uyoun, Vol. 2, p. 475)

        24.  The Sun will rise from the West at the time of Imam Mahdi's appearance. (Syed Najmul Hasan, Chodah Sitaray, p. 585)

        25.  Imam Mahdi will appear when only forty two believing Shia will be left on the face of the Earth. (Syed Najmul Hasan, Chodah Sitaray, p. 571)