Part 2 : The Global Revolution of Ima-m al-Mahdi- (‘atfs)
 

Chapter 1 : The Uprising of the Ima-m of the Time (‘atfs)

There are different hadi-ths regarding the day of the uprising of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs). Some say, Nu- Ru-z (Iranian New Year) is the day when the uprising begins while others mention ‘A-shu-ra-’ (Muharram 10) as the day. A number of hadi-ths say Saturday while others say Friday as the day of the uprising.

There is no contradiction for it to be on Nu- Ru-z and ‘A-shu-ra-’ at the same time because the two are calculated based on the Islamic solar and lunar calendars respectively, and the occurence of these two occasions at the same time as well as their coincidence with either Friday or Saturday is possible. What seems problematic and contradictory is the mention of two days of the week (Friday and Saturday) as the day of the uprising.

This group of hadi-ths, however, can also be reconciled, for if we grant that the chains of transmission of the hadi-ths are authentic, then the hadi-ths that specify Friday as the day of advent [z.uhu-r] allude to the day of the advent and uprising [qiya-m] while those that specify Saturday can be interpreted to mean the day of the establishment and stabilization of the divine system and the subjugation of opponents.[1]

It must be stated that the hadi-ths that regard Saturday as the day of uprising are worthy of consideration in terms of the chains of transmission. But from the same perspective the hadi-ths that mention Friday also do not present a problem.

Now, let us draw our attention to the pertinent hadi-ths:

Ima-m as.-S.a-diq (‘a) said: “The Qa-’im of ours, the Ahl al-Bayt, will appear on Friday.”[2]

Ima-m al-Ba-qir (‘a) said: “It is as if I can see Hadrat Qa-’im on Saturday on the day of ‘A-shu-ra-’ standing between Rukn and Maqa-m (Mecca) with Jibri-l (Archangel Gabriel) standing in front of him and calling on the people to pay allegiance to him.”[3]

Ima-m al-Ba-qir (‘a) also said: “Hadrat Qa-’im (‘a) will stage the uprising on Saturday on the day of ‘A-shu-ra-’, the day when Ima-m Husayn (‘a) was martyred.”[4] He (‘a) also said: “Do you know what day—’A-shu-ra-’—is this? It is the day when God accepted the repentance of A-dam (Adam) and Hawwa- (Eve); the day when God split the sea for the Children of Israel, drowned Pharaoh and his legion and made Mu-sa- (Moses) triumphant over Pharaoh; the day when Ibra-hi-m (Abraham) was born; the day when God accepted the repentance of the people of Yu-nus (Jonah); the day when Hadrat ‘I-sa- was born; and the day when Hadrat Qa-’im will stage the uprising.”[5]

Another hadi-th with the same content has also been reported from Ima-m al-Ba-qir (‘a),[6] but in this hadi-th the reliability of Ibn Bat.a-’ini- who is included in the chain of transmitters is debatable.

Ima-m as.-S.a-diq (‘a) said: “On the night of twenty-third (Dhu-’l-Hijjah), there will be a call in the name of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) and on the day of ‘A-shu-ra-’, the day of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn ‘Ali- (‘a), he will stage the uprising.”[7]

He (‘a) also said: “Nu- Ru-z (Iranian New Year) is the day when the Qa-’im from among us, the Ahl al-Bayt, will appear.”[8]

Announcement of the Advent

The advent of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘a) will be announced first by a heavenly harbinger. Then, while leaning against the Ka‘bah (in Mecca) he (‘a) will announce his advent in inviting to the truth.

The Commander of the Faithful (‘a) said: “When the harbinger from heaven calls, ‘The truth is with the Progeny of Muhammad; if you are looking for guidance and felicity, cling steadfastly to the Progeny of Muhammad (s.),’ Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) will appear.”[9]

Ima-m al-Ba-qir (‘a) also said in this regard: “Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) will appear in Mecca during the ‘Isha-’ (night) prayer. Having with him the banner and shirt of the Prophet and having performed the ‘Isha-’ prayer, he will raise his voice, saying: ‘O people! I remind you to remember God and your standing before God (on the Day of Resurrection) while He has completed His proof (in the world) on you, commissioned the prophets, and sent down the Qur’an.

God commands you not to associate partners with Him and be obedient to Him and His prophets. Revive that which has been enjoined by the Qur’an to revive, and extinguish that which has been urged by the Qur’an to be extinguished. Be the votaries of the path of guidance and have piety and virtue because the annihilation and doom of the world has come and the trumpet of farewell has already been blown.

‘I invite you toward God and His Messenger, the implementation of His Book, the annihilation of falsehood, and the revival and restoration of the life conduct [si-rah] of the Prophet (s.).’ Then, he will appear in the midst of his three hundred and thirteen companions.”[10]

The Slogan on the Flag of the Uprising

Every government has a flag by which it can be recognized, and uprisings and revolutions also have particular flags whose logos bespeak of the objectives of their leaders. The global revolution of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘a) has also a specific flag on which a slogan has been inscribed. Of course, although there are differences with respect to the slogan on his flag, there is a common point in all the statements and that is: It invites the people to obey him (‘a).[11]

Now, it would suffice to mention some pertinent instances:

It has been recorded in a hadi-th: “It is thus written on the flag of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs): ‘Listen and obey him’.”[12]

Elsewhere, we read: “The slogan of al-Mahdi-’s (‘atfs) flag is al-bay‘atu lilla-h [the allegiance for the sake of Allah].”[13]

The Gladness of the People of the World for the Uprising

It can be understood from the hadi-ths that the uprising of al-Mahdi- (‘a) will bring delight to the people of the world. This gladness and pleasure has been expressed in various forms. Some hadi-ths mention the gladness of the inhabitants of the heaven and the earth while others mention the gladness of the dead ones. Some hadi-ths discuss the people’s reception of the uprising and others mention their wish for their dead to be revived.

Here, we will quote some of these hadi-ths:

The Messenger of Allah (s.) said: “All the inhabitants of the heaven and the earth—the birds, beasts of prey, and fishes of the sea—will be happy and glad at the advent of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs).”[14]

The Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali- (‘a) said in this regard: “When Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) appears, his blessed name will be mentioned on different tongues and people will be so full of love for him that no name other than his will be on their minds and tongues and friendship with him will enliven their spirits.”[15]

The phrase “yashribu-na h.ubbuh”—“they are imbibing his love”—has been used in hadi-th where love for him has been compared to water or a pleasant beverage, which the people will drink with the utmost pleasure and their love for him will influence their existence.

While enumerating the painful events and seditions prior to the advent of al-Mahdi- (‘a), Ima-m ar-Rida- (‘a) said concerning the progress and relief after the advent [z.uhu-r]: “At that time, progress and relief will be experienced by the people such that the dead will wish for a new life.”[16]

Ima-m as.-S.a-diq also said in this regard: “It is as if I can see the Qa-’im (‘atfs) sitting on the pulpit of Ku-fah and wearing the armor of the Messenger of Allah (s.).” Then, he (‘a) mentioned some of his characteristics and continuing, he said: “No believer will be left in the grave without having such a delight and rejoicing that the dead will visit one another and congratulate each other on his advent.”

In some hadi-th the phrase “tilka’l-farajah”—“progress in the affair”—has been used. By the blessing of his advent, the dead will be revived, and based on this report, the grandeur of the movement and leadership of the uprising will be such that it will also impact upon souls.[17]

Deliverance of the Deprived

There is no doubt that the uprising of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) will lead to the establishment of justice and the uprooting of all deprivations from human society. In this section, we will examine the steps he (‘a) will take at the time of the uprising for the oppressed and the deprived, which will render him as the sanctuary of the deprived.

The Noble Prophet of Islam (s.) said: “The Mahdi- (‘atfs) will appear from my ummah. God will send him as the redresser of the people’s grievances. At that time, the people will live in grace.”[18]

The Messenger of Allah (s.) did not confine the redresser of grievances to a particular sect or nationality; rather, by using the word “na-s” [people or mankind] he (s.) regarded him (‘atfs) as the savior of all human beings. Prior to his advent, therefore, the state of affairs will be such that all peoples of the world would pray for his advent.

Ja-bir said: Ima-m al-Ba-qir (‘a) said: “Hadrat Mahdi- will appear in Mecca… God will relieve the land of Hija-z (through him) and he (‘a) will set free the prisoners from among the Bani- Ha-shim.”[19]

Abu- Art.a-t said: “(From Mecca) Hadrat Mahdi- will go to Medina and set free the prisoners from among the Bani- Ha-shim. Then, he will go to Ku-fah and set free again the prisoners from among the Bani- Ha-shim there.”[20]

Sha‘ra-ni- said: “When Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) arrives in the west, the people of Andalus (Spain) will meet him, saying: ‘O Wali- [Friend] (and Proof) of Allah! Assist the Iberian Peninsula as it and its people have been in perdition.”[21]

The Role of Women in the Uprising of Ima-m al-Mahdi- (‘atfs)

In studying the hadi-ths on the role of women before and after the advent of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs), we find that a few important points need to be made. Although some hadi-ths say that most of the followers of Dajja-l (Anti-Christ) would consist of the Jews and women,[22] there would be also faithful and chaste women, who had experienced hardships in preserving their faith, and would have been profoundly affected by the state of affairs prior to the advent [z.uhu-r].

Some women would possess firmness of stance and jiha-d-like spirits, and wherever they go, they would expose the inhuman essence of the Dajja-l as part of their propaganda war against him.

Some hadi-ths say that during the uprising of al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) four-hundred women will accompany him and most of them will be engaged in activities concerned with health and medical treatment. Of course, there is disagreement in the hadi-ths concerning the number of women who will be accompanying al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) during his uprising.

Some hadi-ths mention thirteen women who will be with Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs) during his advent, who perhaps would be among his earlier forces. Other hadi-ths have mentioned seven thousand eight hundred as the number of women who will assist him (‘atfs), and they are the women who will accompany him (‘atfs) after the uprising and help him (‘atfs) in many activities.

In the book, Fitan, Ibn Hamma-d said: “The number of the faithful at the coming of Dajja-l will be twelve thousand men and seven thousand seven or eight hundred women.”[23]

The Messenger of Allah (s.) said: “‘I-sa- ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary) will descend from heaven in the midst of eight hundred men and four hundred women who would be the best inhabitants on the surface of the earth and the most righteous of the people of the past.”[24]

Ima-m al-Ba-qir (‘a) said: “By God, three thousand or so will come and there will be also fifty women from among them.”[25]

Mufad.d.al ibn ‘Umar said: Ima-m as.-S.a-diq (‘a) said: “Thirteen women will accompany Hadrat Qa-’im.” I asked: “What will they be doing and what role will they play?” He (‘a) replied: “They will treat the wounded and attend to the sick just like what the [female] companions of the Messenger of Allah (s.) were doing.” I asked: “Will you mention the names of the thirteen women?” He (‘a) said: “They are Qanwa- the daughter of Rashi-d, Umm Ayman, Haba-bah Wa-labiyyah, Sumayyah the mother of ‘Amma-r ibn Ya-sir, Zubaydah, Umm Kha-lid Ah.masiyyah, Umm Sa‘i-d Hanafiyyah, S.iya-nah Ma-shat.ah, and Umm Kha-lid Jahaniyyah.”[26]

In the book, Muntakhab al-Bas.a-’ir, two women with the name of Wati-rah and Ah.bashiyyah have been mentioned and they have been considered as among the companions and supporters of Hadrat al-Mahdi- (‘atfs).[27] Some hadi-ths have only mentioned the existence of women among those who will accompany him (‘a) and have not mentioned their number.