Signs/Traits of the Messiah/Mahdi - A Compendium of My Research

The following words are from Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution

Islamic traditions and literature record numerous additional signs foretelling the advent of the Promised Mahdi/Messiah. A summary of these signs follows:

1. A Restorer ("Mujaddid") will be raised at the head of every century (Abu Daud, Vol.2, p.241)

2. The Promised Messiah will be called "Prophet of God," Nabiyullah. (Muslim, Vol. 2, p.515)

3. The Mahdi ("Guide") and the Messiah ("Chosen One") will be the one and same person. (Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, p.257)

4. The second advent of Jesus will be in the person of an Imam (religious leader) from amongst the Muslims. (Bukhari, Vol.2, p.159)

5. The Messiah will kill the swine and break the Cross. This means he will rescue Muslims from depravity and expose the false beliefs on which Christianity was founded. (Bukhari, Vol.2, p.159)

6. The Mahdi will abrogate religious wars.(Ibn Hanbal, Masnad Vol.2, p.411)

7. At the time of the Mahdi’s coming, there will be great increase in knowledge and much mixing of the people (Tirmidhi)

8. At that time, new means of transport will come into use and camels will be redundant (Mishkat-ul-Masabih)

9. There will be decline in religious faith, and nothing will be left of Islam except its name and nothing of the Quran except its text. (Mishkat-ul-Masabih, Kanaz-ul-Ammal, Vol. 6, p.43)

10. The Christian nations will hold supremacy in the world (Hujazil Karama)

11. When they hear of the Mahdi’s advent, Muslims are required to give him "ba'iat" (allegiance) even if they have to crawl on snow to get to him (Kanaz-ul-Ammal, Ibn Hanbal, Masnad Vol.6, p.29-30)

12. He will have 313 companions. (Ghayat-ul-Muqsud)

13. He will be born a twin (Ibn Arabi, Sharah Fasus-ul-Hakam)

14. He will recall the teachings of Jesus. (Holy Quran 61:7)

15. He will suffer from two illnesses, one in the upper part of the body and one in the lower part.(Tirmidhi Vol.2, p.38)

16. The pilgrimage to Mecca will be impeded (Kanaz-ul-Ammal, Vol.6, p.13)

17. There will be plague at the time. (Iqmal-ud-Din, p.348)

18. The Messiah will rise in the East. (Ibn Majah) (Matthew 24:27)

19. He will come from a place called Kada (Juwahir-ul-Asrar, p.56)

20. He will be of Persian decent (Bukhari 65:62, 1)

21. There will also be false claimant.(Bukhari, Fitan) (Muslim, Fitan)

22. Islam would have three centuries of greatness, then it would ascend back to heaven for a thousand years.67 (This brings the start of its revival to the 14th century of the Hijrah). (Bukhari, Vol.4)

The following conclusions can be drawn from the above evidence:

1. The New Testament establishes the "second coming of Jesus" and describes the signs before his advent namely "the sun and moon will loose their light."

2. The Quran supports the concept of a divinely inspired teacher, or Mahdi or Messiah for the Muslims, like Jesus was the Messiah to the Israelites after Moses.

3. The traditions of the Holy Prophet overwhelmingly support the concept and also define the conditions and signs before his advent. Interestingly, the most important sign about lunar and solar eclipses before Messiah's advent in Islam is consistent with Jesus' prophecy about his second coming in the New Testament.

4. The timing for the Promised Mahdi-Messiah was ripe in the late 1800's or early 1900's according to both Christian and Muslim sources. According to both beliefs, his second coming is imminent.

5. The string of reformers (mujadids) in Islam, which was to continue till the end of time, has been discontinued?

Abu Daud, Vol.2, p.241 Abu Daud, Vol.2, p.241 (Muslim, Vol. 2, p.515)