Mahdi and his looks

Abu dawoud in his 'sahih' (vol. 4 pg. 88) has narrated from abu sa'eed khudri as such:- messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) said: mahdi is from me having a sparkling forehead and protracted nose.(47)

On page 98 of sawa'eq, ibn-hajar has narrated from abu na'eem a tradition from the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) as such:-

'Verily allah shall make a person to appear from my progeny. his front teeth is spaced a little and his forehead sparkling with light.'

The author of (es'aaf-ur-raghebeen) too has narrated the same tradition of the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) from abu na'eem.

In the afore-mentioned book, ibn-hajar narrates (on page 98) from ruyani and tabarani and they two from the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying: 'mahdi is from my progeny. his face is like a twinkling star; his colour 'arabi' and his figure like the figure of isra'eel. (speaking allusively of his wheatish complexion, tall height and stoutness).

The same tradition can be seen in (es'aaf-ur-rhagebeen) (page 149).

Author of (es'aaf-ur-raghebeen) on page 140 narrates from (huliat-ul-aulia) of abu na'eem esfahani as such:- 'it is said that mahdi is a youth with black eyes, extended eye-brows, protracted nose, curly beard and a spot on his right cheek and right hand.'

Author of (nurul-absar) narrates on page 229 from abu dawoud and tirmidhi and they two from abu sa'eed who said:- 'i have heard that the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say: mahdi is from me, having a sparkling forehead and protracted nose.

In the afore-said book, the author on page 230 narrates from ibn-shirwiya and he, from huzaifa - ibn - yaman and he, from the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) who said: 'mahdi is my son. his colour is the colour of 'arabi' (wheatish complexion) and his figure is like the figure of isra'eel.(48)

Author of (eqdud-durar) narrates in the third chapter from ali (a.s.) who, while describing the disposition of mahdi said:-

'He is a man with sparkling forehead, protracted nose and broad thighs. there exists a spot on his right cheek and there are gaps between his teeth.(49)

In the same chapter of the afore-said book, the author narrates from abu jafar muhammad-ibn-ali baqer (a.s.) who said:-

'Amir-ul-mumineen ali-ibn-abi talib was asked about mahdi's physical appearance and he replied: he is a youth with an average stature and a handsome face with hairs falling over his shoulders and light gleaming from his face.(50)

Mahdi and his character

Ibn-hajar in 'sawa'eq) (page 98) has narrated from rauyani and tabarani and they too from the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) as such: 'mahdi is from my progeny'. thereafter he said: 'the inhabitants of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth are happy with his reign.(51) tabarani adds: and the birds of the sky.

The same tradition can be found in (es'aaf-ur-raghebeen on page 149.(53)

Author of (es'aaf-ur-raghebeen) on page 151 has narrated from ahmad and mawardi that the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:- 'glad tidings be to you about mahdi'. thereafter he said:- 'the inhabitants of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth are happy with him. he shall distribute the wealth equally, free muhammad's 'ummah' from need or want and comfort them with his righteousness.'

The author of (eqdud-durar), in the eighth chapter of his book narrates from ta'oos as such: 'the sign of mahdi is that he shall be harsh with rulers, generous with the people in distributing wealth and gentle with the helpless in caressing them.' thereafter he writes: 'this tradition has been taken from abu abdulla na'eem-ibn-hemad from the book of 'fatan.'(54) in the third chapter and the ninth section of the afore-mentioned book, the author narrates from the book of (fatan) of hafez abu abdullah na'eem-ibn hemad who narrates from abu rumiyah as follows: 'mahdi shall feed the helpless.'

Author of (nur-ul-absar) narrates (on page 230) from (musnad) of imam ahmad who narrates from saeed khudri who said:- 'messenger of allah (s.a.w.a.) said:- 'i give you glad-tidings about mahdi.'

Thereafter he said:- 'the inhabitants of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth are happy with him. he shall distribute wealth equally amongst the people and will fill the hearts of muhammad's 'ummah' with needlessness (a metaphoric remark of making the people wealthy). he shall comfort them with his righteousness.(55)

Furthermore, in the afore-mentioned book the author on the same page, narrates once again from (fatan) from huzaifa-ibn-yamaan that the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:-

'Mahdi is my son.' thereafter he said: 'the inhabitants of the heavens, the inhabitants of the earth and the birds of the sky are happy with his reign.'