What the Imam of the Time (a.s.) Is Like?
Imam of the Time ,Mahdi (a.s.), has the same traits and honors as the holy agents and legatees. In the face of the Holy Imam (a.s.), you could see the light of Imamate and the fear of the prophets. Imam of the Time story and facts have been told in the following ways:
1. Abu Saeed Khudri says that the Messenger of Allah (S) said, “In fact, the Almighty Allah (SwT) will raise from my children and Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) a man who will have the right amount of space between his front teeth and a bright forehead so that he can bring justice, welfare, and economic equality to the whole world.”1
Scholars and storytellers of Ahle Sunnat have written down many similar stories from the Holy Prophet (S) about the different qualities of Imam of the Time, who is the Prophet’s descendant and great-grandson.
2. Imam of the Time Eminence, Abu Jafar, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.), through his forefathers, has heard from the leader of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), His Eminence, Amirul Momineen (a.s.), that His Eminence said from the pulpit, “In the last age, a man from my offspring would rise with a fair complexion that has some redness, a clear and wide belly, broad thighs, He will stand up.”
3. In another story, Imam of the Time Eminence, Ali (a.s.), says the following about Imam Mahdi (a.s.):
“He will have a wide forehead, big eyes, a clear and wide belly, wide thighs, white teeth in front, and a mole on his right thigh,” it says.2
From legends and stories about the Holy Prophet (S), we know that he has the most beautiful and elegant face. Before Imam Mahdi’s (a.s.) beauty, all physical and face beauty would be humble and submissive.
Agha Sayyid Hasan, a well-known and respected artist, has said this about His Eminence (a.s.):
“His clear face showed the elegance that was in him.”
His calm face gave off a breeze in the morning.”3
The Imam of the Time (a.s.) was like the Prophet (a.s.) in many ways.
Imam of the Time Eminence (a.s.) is the most like his great-grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S), in terms of method, Jihad and revolution against oppression and transgression, and changing the system of the oppressive rulers in society, from theft and destruction, humiliation, affliction, and problems. Imam of the Time would get rid of all of this and put in place a system that would give people every kind of comfort and protection and make everyone in the country happy and healthy.
When the Qaim of Muhammad’s (S) descendants came, he would do the same work as his great-grandfather. So, he would destroy the false forces and tyrannical masters whose power is based on lies and hypocrisy, and he would get rid of them totally. Then he would make sure that justice and fairness were done in every way.
There are many stories about the Holy Prophet (S) and the Imams of direction (a.s.) that say Imam of the Time looks like his great-grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S). Here are just a few of them:
1. Abdullah Ibn Masud says that the Messenger of Allah (S) said, “A man from my family will come up with my name, and his manners and habits will be like mine, and he will fill the world with justice and fairness.”
2. Huzaifah says that the Messenger of Allah (S) said, “Even if there is only one day left in the life of the earth, God will bring forth a man whose name and character will be like mine, and whose patronymic will be Abu Abdillah. Between the Rukn and Maqam4 of Kaba, people would swear to Imam of the Time. God will bring back the glory of the beginning of His religion through him. God will also give him a lot of wins, and the only people left on earth will be those who say, “There is no god but Allah.”
Sulaiman got up and asked which of his children’s descendants Imam of the Time would be.
The Prophet (S) hit Husain (a.s.) with his hand and said, “From his (descendants).”
3. Ayesha told me that the Messenger of Allah (S) said, “Mahdi (a.s.) is one of my children. He will fight for my Sunnah the way I have fought for guidance.”5
4. Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari said that the Messenger of Allah (S) said, “The Mahdi (a.s.) is from my children, and his name and patronymic are the same as mine. He would be the only one who would be like me. He would have an occultation, which would make people confused. After that, he would come back like a bright star and fill the earth with justice and fairness, even though it had been full of unfairness and abuse.”
5. Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) heard from his ancestors that the Messenger of Allah (S) said, “The Mahdi (a.s.) will come from my family.” He would have the same first name and surname as me. He would be most like me in personality, and his occultation would make people so confused that they would leave their faith. When he comes back, he will be as bright as a star. Then he would bring justice and fairness to the world, which would have been full of wrong and unfairness.”6
6. The Holy Prophet (S) told Imam Jafar as Sadiq (a.s.) through his blessed ancestors, “The Qaim (a.s.) is from my descendants. He has the same name as me and the same last name as me. His looks are like mine, and he does things the same way I do. He will teach the people my faith and my law and call them to the Book of my Lord, the Mighty and the Supreme.
If you obey him, you have obeyed me, and if you don’t, you have disobeyed me. And whoever denies his hiddenness denies me. And anyone who lies about him lies about me. And someone who speaks up for him has spoken up for me. I would talk to Allah (SWT) about those who lie about me and those who lead people astray. And the people who hurt others would know right away where they would go when they are sent back (Hell).”7
This is the most complete story about howImam of the Time will be like his great-grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S), in many ways.
7. Abu Salih Saibi wrote in Al-Fitan that His Eminence, Amirul Momineen (a.s.), said, “His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s.), in appearance, character, habits, and good virtues, would most resemble the Messenger of Allah (S).”8
From the Holy Prophet (S) and the Holy Imams (a.s.), we have heard a lot of these kinds of stories. All of these things show beyond a question that Imam Mahdi (a.s.) not only looks and is built like the Holy Prophet (S), but also has the same kind of character and habits. Because of this, he is better than the other prophets of God.
He is more like his great-grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S), in the way he tries to change things, what he does, and how he fights to end oppression and unfairness and bring fairness and justice to the world.
Traditions Made Up
The Holy Quran and the actions of the Infallibles (a.s.) are what Muslims believe came from God. Almighty God has given us reason, understanding, morality, and nature so that we can find the true and right holy sciences and escape the traps of departure. All of these are given to people as mental guides. Because of this, Islamic ideas that come from these pure sources are really gifts from God. All of them are honest and true to life.
Even with all of this, bad people and people who don’t like religion have always tried to put question on religion and religious leaders and make them look bad.
Because of this, people who don’t believe in Islam or are just mean have made up a lot of traditions to discredit and ruin the real facts and beliefs of Islam, and these made-up traditions were sneakily put into collections of traditions.
In terms of traditional science, these made-up beliefs are called “Israiliyat.” One of these made-up stories is that the Prophet of Allah (S) said, “Imam of the Time is from my descendants.” Ganji and others told this story. His skin is Arab, but his body is Israelite. His face is like a bright star.
Imam of the Time would fill the world with both justice and tyranny. During his kingdom and reign, everyone in heaven and on earth, as well as the birds, would be happy. He would be king for 20 years.
9. Imam of the Time story is made up because the Holy Imam’s (a.s.) body is made up of parts of the Prophet’s (S) and Amirul Momineen’s (a.s.) bodies, which were the most pure and clean and filled with the light of guidance. How can the body of Imam (a.s.) be like that of the Israelites, who have the worst bodies and look the worst?
They are the animals among people, the germs, and the embodiment of bad character. Most likely, the Jews made up this custom because they hate Islam and wanted to hurt the reputation of Muslims while making their own flaws look better.
