Who is the messiah of islam?
The Muslims do not pin their hopes on someone who will save
or deliver them, as is the case with the Jews, the Christians and the
Raafidis (Shi’ah). Islam is complete and its rulings are complete. Perhaps
what is meant in the question is the Mahdi. He will be one of the reformers
of this ummah through whom Allaah will fill the earth with justice and
fairness after it was filled with injustice and unfairness. Like other
reformers, he will follow the Qur’aan and Sunnah and will rule according to
them.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said:
The issue of the Mahdi is well known and the ahaadeeth which
speak of him are numerous and are mutawaatir and support one another. More
than one of the scholars has narrated that they are mutawaatir in meaning
because of their many isnaads, many narrators and many versions. They
indicate that this person whose coming is promised is something real and
true. His name will be Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah al-‘Alawi al-Hasani, and he
will be a descendent of al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Abi Taalib (may Allaah be
pleased with him). By the mercy of Allaah towards this ummah, this imam will
appear at the end of time and will establish justice and truth and do away
with injustice and oppression. Through him Allaah will spread justice among
the ummah and guide the people.
I have studied many of the ahaadeeth about him and I saw, as
al-Shawkaani and others said, and as Ibn al-Qayyim and others said, that
some are saheeh, some are hasan, and some are da’eef (weak) and manjabir
(may be proven if there is corroborating evidence), containing fabricated
reports. Those which have sound isnaads are sufficient for us, whether they
are saheeh in and of themselves (saheeh li dhaatihi) or saheeh because of
the existence of corroborating reports (saheeh li ghayri), or hasan in and
of themselves (hasan li dhaatihi) or hasan because of the existence of
corroborating reports (hasan li ghayrihi). By the same token, if the da’eef
(weak reports) corroborate and support one another, then that constitutes
evidence according to the scholars. So there are four categories of
acceptable hadeeth according to the scholars: saheeh li dhaatihi (saheeh in
and of itself), saheeh li ghayrihi (saheeh because of the existence of
corroborating reports), hasan li dhaatihi (hasan in and of itself) and hasan
li ghayrihi (hasan because of the existence of corroborating reports).
This has to do with reports other than those which are
mutawaatir. All the mutawaatir reports are acceptable, whether they are
mutawaatir in wording or in meaning. The ahaadeeth which speak of the Mahdi
are mutawaatir in meaning. And the trustworthy scholars have stated that
they are sound and mutawaatir.
We have seen the scholars state many things to be sound on
the basis of less evidence than that. The truth of the matter is that the
majority of scholars – if not all of them – are agreed that the Mahdi is
something proven: he is real and will appear at the end of time.
With regard to those scholars who hold odd views concerning
this matter, no attention is to be paid to what they say on this matter.
Al-Radd ‘ala man kadhaba bi’l-Ahaadeeth al-Saheehah
al-Waaridah fi’l-Mahdi by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Muhsin
al-‘Abbaad, p. 157.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz was commenting on a lecture given by Shaykh
al-‘Abbaad.
There follows some information about the Mahdi:
His name will be Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah.
His description: He will have a high forehead and a hooked
nose.
Al-Qaari: Sharh Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 10/175.
When he will appear: At the end of time, shortly before the
Hour begins. After him the Messiah ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary)
will descend.
There follow some of the ahaadeeth that have been narrated
concerning him:
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said: The Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Mahdi
is from me, with a high forehead and a hooked nose. He will fill the earth
with fairness and justice as it was filled with unfairness and injustice,
and he will reign for seven years.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4275; classed as
hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“This world will not pass away until the earth is ruled by a man from among
my family who whose name will be the same as mine.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi,
2235. Shaykh al-Albaani said: (it is) hasan saheeh.
It was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
say: “A group from among my ummah will continue to fight for the truth and
prevail until the Day of Resurrection. Then ‘Eesa ibn Maryam (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) will come down and their leader will say,
‘Come and lead us in prayer,’ but he will say, ‘No, you are leaders for one
another, as an honour from Allaah to this ummah.’”
Narrated by Muslim, 156.
The leader mentioned in this hadeeth is the Mahdi.
For more reports about the Mahdi, please see question no.
1252.
Note:
Some people misunderstand the ahaadeeth about the Mahdi and
the descent of ‘Eesa ibn Maryam, so they do not work for Islam or to call
people to Allaah because they are waiting for the Messiah to come down or
for the Mahdi to appear. This is undoubtedly a mistake. The Muslims have to
strive to make the word of Allaah supreme, to make His religion prevail and
to convey the message of truth to all people. We can imagine how much the
Muslims would have declined and how weak they would have become if the
earlier Muslims had understood this matter in this mistaken manner and acted
accordingly. Would they have been able to defeat the Tatars and Crusaders,
and conquer other lands? For more information please see question no. (21221)
And Allaah knows best.
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