The Mahdi Times April 2012 | Page 28

The Holy Qur’an Surah Yaseen Verse 12 “Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them), and their traces [their footsteps and walking on the earth with their legs to the mosques for the five compulsory congregational prayers,Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause) and all other good and evil they did, and that which they leave behind], and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Imam.” way that has never before been done by a nation….. if you see him give him your allegiance, even if you have to crawl over ice, because surely he is the Caliph of Allah, The Mahdi. If you see the black flags coming from Khurasan (present day Afghanistan), join that army, even if you have to crawl over ice, for this is the army of the Caliph, the Mahdi and no one can stop that army until it reaches Jerusalem.” And we say that Imam Mahdi (a.s) is the 12th Imam (a.s) from the lineage of Muhammad (s.a.w), born at a time when Islam was pure and pristine and has seen how the Muslims deviated away from the religion brought by the Prophet (s.a.w) and only to return to the world to reform it and fill the earth with justice as it was filled with injustice, and re-introduce the norms of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) tender and fresh. Hadith 2 The Prophet (s.a.w) did not set a time. And yes this we believe is correct as the knowledge of the hour (of appearance) is known only by Allah (swt) and all we have are the narrations of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) pertaining the signs for the coming of the hour (of appearance). Al-Huda mentions 2 Hadith in trying to establish the location and proximity of where the Mahdi (a.s) would appear. (Ibn Majah and Ahmed) Umm Salamah (r.a) narrates, The Prophet (sawas) said: “Disagreement will occur upon the death of the Caliph and a man of the people of Medina will flee to Mecca. Some of the People of Mecca will come to him, bring him out against his will and make him accept their Bay’a (being chosen as a leader) (at a location) between the Rukn (Corner of the Ka’ba containing the Black Stone) and the Maqam (Place) of Abraham (Located at the side of the Ka’ba). An army from the people of AshSham (Greater Syria) will then be sent against him, but khusf (land collapse) will happen to them (they will die) in the Baidaa (desert) between Mecca and Medina. When the people see this, the Abdal (pious eminent individuals) of Syria and the Asa’ib (pious individuals) of the people of Iraq will come to him and offer Bay’a (accept his leadership) between the Rukn and the Maqam” Hadith 2 states that a man will come from Medina go to Mecca and that people will come to pledge allegiance to at the Ka’ba is the Mahdi (a.s) and that the army of with the black flags come to Mahdi (as) and pledges allegiance to him at the Ka’ba. So the author summarizes as follows: He will be from Medina and on hearing his appearance the army from the East with black flags will come to support him. When this army emerges then go and give your allegiance to him even if you should crawl to him on snow. We are in total agreement that allegiance will be given to the Mahdi (a.s) at the Ka’ba and that is the location from which Imam Mahdi (a.s) appears. However the Hadith states that the army with black flags are the army of the Mahdi (a.s) and that the army comes to the Mahdi (a.s) only once at the Ka’ba to pay Allegiance. Does this not imply that the army with the black flags must exist before the appearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s) at the Ka’ba?? And if so, how can the army with the black flags be the army of the Mahdi (a.s) if the Mahdi (a.s) is not with them, and is only with them at the time when the army comes to him at the Ka’ba? Hadith 1 (Abu Dawud) On the authority of thawban, The Prophet (sawas) said: “Before your treasure, 3 will kill each other – all of them are sons of a different caliph but none will be the recipient. Then the Black Banners will appear from the East and they will Kill you in a Hadith 1 states black flags from the East will appear and to crawl over ice if you have to join that army for that is the army of the Caliph of Allah, The Mahdi (a.s). How will the army of the black flags be known that they are indeed the army of the Mahdi (a.s) then? Al-Huda claims Imam Mahdi (a.s) will not have any fantastical powers and that neither did the Prophet (s.a.w) have fantastical powers and 28