Original article authored by Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah), enhanced with headings and additional structuring for easier reading.
Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah believe that the name of Imam Mahdi will be Muhammad ibn Abdullah. He will be from the descendants of Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) and will appear near the end of times. Through him, justice and fairness will be established on earth.
The scholars of Islam are unanimously agreed that the narrations about the emergence of Imam Mahdi are authentic and reliable. The views of various scholars include:
✔ Imam ‘Aqili (322 AH):
“There are excellent Hadiths concerning Imam Mahdi.”
(al-Du‘afa’ al-Kabir)
✔ Imam Bayhaqi (384–458 AH):
“The Hadiths regarding the emergence of Imam Mahdi are authentic and clearly state that he will be from the family of the Prophet ﷺ.”
(Tarikh Ibn ‘Asakir)
✔ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH):
“The Hadiths about the appearance of Imam Mahdi are authentic.”
(Minhaj al-Sunnah)
✔ Allama Ibn al-Qayyim (691–751 AH):
“The Hadiths concerning Imam Mahdi fall into four categories: Sahih (authentic), Hasan (good), Gharib (strange), and Mawdu‘ (fabricated).”
(al-Manar al-Munif)
✔ Allama Katani (1274–1345 AH):
“The narrations about Imam Mahdi are Mutawatir (mass-transmitted).”
(Nadhm al-Mutanathir)
◈ Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If only one day of the world remained, Allah would extend it so that a man from my lineage, from my Ahl al-Bayt, would be sent. His name will be like my name, and his father’s name like my father’s.”
(Musnad Ahmad)
◈ Narrated by Ali (رضي الله عنه):
“A great trial will occur, and then a man from the family of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will emerge who will fill the earth with justice.”
(al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn)
The Shia believe that Imam Mahdi is Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-‘Askari, referred to as the “Hidden Imam” who is concealed in a cave in Samarra. This belief is baseless and unauthenticated according to Ahl al-Sunnah.
✔ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله):
The Shia claim that their Imam Mahdi will emerge from a cave is unfounded and has no basis in reality.
(al-Nihayah fi al-Fitan)
According to Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam Mahdi will be from the descendants of Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) and will bear the name of the Prophet ﷺ.
In contrast, Shia claim their Mahdi is hidden in a cave and will reappear at the end of times—a notion rejected by Sunni scholars.
◈ Narrated by Ali (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If only one day remained of the world, Allah would send a man from my Ahl al-Bayt who would fill the earth with justice, as it was filled with oppression.”
(Musnad Ahmad)
◈ Narrated by Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Imam Mahdi will be from my progeny, from the descendants of Fatimah (رضي الله عنها).”
(Sunan Abi Dawud)
Some claim that Imam Mahdi is actually Prophet ‘Isa (عليه السلام), but this view is rejected by Ahl al-Sunnah.
✔ Imam al-Qurtubi (رحمه الله):
Authentic Hadiths confirm that Imam Mahdi will be from the family of the Prophet ﷺ, hence equating him with ‘Isa (عليه السلام) is incorrect.
(Tafsir al-Qurtubi)
Ahl al-Sunnah believe that Imam Mahdi will appear near the Day of Judgment. He will be from the Ahl al-Bayt and will establish justice in the world. The Shia belief that Imam Mahdi is hidden in a cave is considered baseless by the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah.
❖ Belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah Regarding Imam Mahdi
Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah believe that the name of Imam Mahdi will be Muhammad ibn Abdullah. He will be from the descendants of Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) and will appear near the end of times. Through him, justice and fairness will be established on earth.
❖ Authenticity of Hadiths Regarding Imam Mahdi
The scholars of Islam are unanimously agreed that the narrations about the emergence of Imam Mahdi are authentic and reliable. The views of various scholars include:
✔ Imam ‘Aqili (322 AH):
“There are excellent Hadiths concerning Imam Mahdi.”
(al-Du‘afa’ al-Kabir)
✔ Imam Bayhaqi (384–458 AH):
“The Hadiths regarding the emergence of Imam Mahdi are authentic and clearly state that he will be from the family of the Prophet ﷺ.”
(Tarikh Ibn ‘Asakir)
✔ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH):
“The Hadiths about the appearance of Imam Mahdi are authentic.”
(Minhaj al-Sunnah)
✔ Allama Ibn al-Qayyim (691–751 AH):
“The Hadiths concerning Imam Mahdi fall into four categories: Sahih (authentic), Hasan (good), Gharib (strange), and Mawdu‘ (fabricated).”
(al-Manar al-Munif)
✔ Allama Katani (1274–1345 AH):
“The narrations about Imam Mahdi are Mutawatir (mass-transmitted).”
(Nadhm al-Mutanathir)
❖ Characteristics and Signs of Imam Mahdi
◈ Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If only one day of the world remained, Allah would extend it so that a man from my lineage, from my Ahl al-Bayt, would be sent. His name will be like my name, and his father’s name like my father’s.”
(Musnad Ahmad)
◈ Narrated by Ali (رضي الله عنه):
“A great trial will occur, and then a man from the family of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will emerge who will fill the earth with justice.”
(al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn)
❖ Refutation of Shia Beliefs
The Shia believe that Imam Mahdi is Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-‘Askari, referred to as the “Hidden Imam” who is concealed in a cave in Samarra. This belief is baseless and unauthenticated according to Ahl al-Sunnah.
✔ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله):
The Shia claim that their Imam Mahdi will emerge from a cave is unfounded and has no basis in reality.
(al-Nihayah fi al-Fitan)
❖ The Sunni and Shia Concepts of Imam Mahdi
According to Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam Mahdi will be from the descendants of Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) and will bear the name of the Prophet ﷺ.
In contrast, Shia claim their Mahdi is hidden in a cave and will reappear at the end of times—a notion rejected by Sunni scholars.
❖ Imam Mahdi’s Reign in Light of Hadith
◈ Narrated by Ali (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If only one day remained of the world, Allah would send a man from my Ahl al-Bayt who would fill the earth with justice, as it was filled with oppression.”
(Musnad Ahmad)
◈ Narrated by Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Imam Mahdi will be from my progeny, from the descendants of Fatimah (رضي الله عنها).”
(Sunan Abi Dawud)
❖ Imam Mahdi and Prophet ‘Isa (عليه السلام)
Some claim that Imam Mahdi is actually Prophet ‘Isa (عليه السلام), but this view is rejected by Ahl al-Sunnah.
✔ Imam al-Qurtubi (رحمه الله):
Authentic Hadiths confirm that Imam Mahdi will be from the family of the Prophet ﷺ, hence equating him with ‘Isa (عليه السلام) is incorrect.
(Tafsir al-Qurtubi)
❖ Summary
Ahl al-Sunnah believe that Imam Mahdi will appear near the Day of Judgment. He will be from the Ahl al-Bayt and will establish justice in the world. The Shia belief that Imam Mahdi is hidden in a cave is considered baseless by the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah.
