✦ Authentic Ḥadīths on the Emergence of al-Mahdī and Refutation of Its Denial ✦
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 113
Is the appearance of Imām al-Mahdī an established belief? Or are the narrations concerning him weak and unauthoritative? Some modern figures, such as Maulana Maududi رحمه الله, opine that the ḥadīths about the Mahdī are not strong. Is this view correct?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The promise of the emergence of al-Mahdī عليه السلام has been clearly conveyed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and there is no room for doubt or skepticism in this matter. Multiple authentic (ṣaḥīḥ) ḥadīths have been transmitted regarding this issue.
Those who claim that because the ḥadīths about the Mahdī are not in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī or Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, they cannot be part of Islamic creed, are incorrect for two reasons:
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ḥadīth No. 2/395), it is narrated from Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“There will be a caliph in the end times who will distribute wealth without counting it.”
While the name “al-Mahdī” is not explicitly mentioned in this particular narration, it is found in other ḥadīths outside Ṣaḥīḥayn, clearly indicating that this caliph is al-Mahdī, thus linking them together.
It is a well-established fact that not all authentic ḥadīths were compiled in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim. The two authors selected narrations based on their specific criteria, and therefore, the absence of a ḥadīth from these collections does not render it weak.
From ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Hour will not be established until a man from my family, whose name will be my name, becomes ruler.”
(Musnad Aḥmad 1/276, Sunan Abī Dāwūd – with an authentic chain)
From Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“When the earth becomes filled with oppression and injustice, a man from my family (al-Mahdī) will emerge and fill it with justice and equity as it had been filled with tyranny and oppression.”
(This narration is also classified as authentic.)
From ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Even if only one day remains of the world, Allah will send a man from my family who will fill the earth with justice and fairness just as it was filled with injustice and oppression.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3/80 – with an authentic chain)
From Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها, narrated in
Sunan Abī Dāwūd (Ḥadīth No. 3/9808) — this also supports the emergence of al-Mahdī.
Whoever denies the appearance of al-Mahdī is following personal desires and disregards the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the authentic books of ḥadīth. This attitude undermines the very foundation of authentic prophetic tradition.
✔ Al-Iḥtijāj bil-Athar fī al-Mahdī al-Muntaẓar – by Ḥamūd ibn ʿAbdillāh al-Tuwaijirī
✔ Al-Radd ʿalā man Kadhdhaba bil-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah al-Wāridah fī al-Mahdī – by ʿAbd al-Muḥsin ibn Ḥamad al-ʿAbbād
✔ Al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, Vol. 4, p. 40 – by Shaykh Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī رحمه الله
✔ Numerous authentic aḥādīth exist affirming the emergence of al-Mahdī.
✔ Denying this without solid evidence is contrary to truth and scholarly consensus.
✔ This matter is among the accepted beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah, and those who reject it possess no credible scholarly foundation.
ھٰذا ما عندي، واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 113
❖ Question:
Is the appearance of Imām al-Mahdī an established belief? Or are the narrations concerning him weak and unauthoritative? Some modern figures, such as Maulana Maududi رحمه الله, opine that the ḥadīths about the Mahdī are not strong. Is this view correct?
❖ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The promise of the emergence of al-Mahdī عليه السلام has been clearly conveyed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and there is no room for doubt or skepticism in this matter. Multiple authentic (ṣaḥīḥ) ḥadīths have been transmitted regarding this issue.
Those who claim that because the ḥadīths about the Mahdī are not in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī or Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, they cannot be part of Islamic creed, are incorrect for two reasons:
✦ ➊ First Reason:
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ḥadīth No. 2/395), it is narrated from Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“There will be a caliph in the end times who will distribute wealth without counting it.”
While the name “al-Mahdī” is not explicitly mentioned in this particular narration, it is found in other ḥadīths outside Ṣaḥīḥayn, clearly indicating that this caliph is al-Mahdī, thus linking them together.
✦ ➋ Second Reason:
It is a well-established fact that not all authentic ḥadīths were compiled in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim. The two authors selected narrations based on their specific criteria, and therefore, the absence of a ḥadīth from these collections does not render it weak.
✦ Authentic Aḥādīth Concerning the Emergence of al-Mahdī:
➊ Ḥadīth #1:
From ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Hour will not be established until a man from my family, whose name will be my name, becomes ruler.”
(Musnad Aḥmad 1/276, Sunan Abī Dāwūd – with an authentic chain)
➋ Ḥadīth #2:
From Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“When the earth becomes filled with oppression and injustice, a man from my family (al-Mahdī) will emerge and fill it with justice and equity as it had been filled with tyranny and oppression.”
(This narration is also classified as authentic.)
➌ Ḥadīth #3:
From ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Even if only one day remains of the world, Allah will send a man from my family who will fill the earth with justice and fairness just as it was filled with injustice and oppression.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3/80 – with an authentic chain)
➍ Ḥadīth #4:
From Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها, narrated in
Sunan Abī Dāwūd (Ḥadīth No. 3/9808) — this also supports the emergence of al-Mahdī.
✦ Scholarly Confirmation and Reference Works:
- Sunan Abī Dāwūd has a dedicated chapter titled “Kitāb al-Mahdī”, containing eight authentic narrations.
- Sunan al-Tirmidhī (2/47) also includes mention of al-Mahdī.
- Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ (2/470–471) cites multiple relevant narrations.
✦ Warning Against Denial of al-Mahdī’s Emergence:
Whoever denies the appearance of al-Mahdī is following personal desires and disregards the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the authentic books of ḥadīth. This attitude undermines the very foundation of authentic prophetic tradition.
✦ Recommended Books for Further Study:
✔ Al-Iḥtijāj bil-Athar fī al-Mahdī al-Muntaẓar – by Ḥamūd ibn ʿAbdillāh al-Tuwaijirī
✔ Al-Radd ʿalā man Kadhdhaba bil-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah al-Wāridah fī al-Mahdī – by ʿAbd al-Muḥsin ibn Ḥamad al-ʿAbbād
✔ Al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah, Vol. 4, p. 40 – by Shaykh Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī رحمه الله
✦ Conclusion:
✔ Numerous authentic aḥādīth exist affirming the emergence of al-Mahdī.
✔ Denying this without solid evidence is contrary to truth and scholarly consensus.
✔ This matter is among the accepted beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah, and those who reject it possess no credible scholarly foundation.
ھٰذا ما عندي، واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
