Introduction

In this brief treatise, I wished to inscribe, in extreme brevity, some general words on the topic and matter of the Mahdi, peace be upon him.

The scholars are the proof against the Ummah: Here, the disbelieving West and East were able to make the Muslim an adversary of the scholars of the Ummah. They are, as has been described, the prayer of the Ummah and the ship of Noah for the Ummah, because they are the most knowledgeable of people and the most capable of knowing the will of Allah Almighty. In the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, one of its clauses was that Muslims would rally around their scholars – the scholars of religion. This is a point of strength for them, and they sought to make Muslims not rally around them and not trust them, so that devils would snatch them away in religion and in their affairs. If a person wants treatment, they go to a doctor. If they want to build a house, they go to an architect, and so on. Likewise, matters of religion are decided by a scholar, not just anyone. But today, we have been afflicted by people who do not specialize and know their limits. A person studies, for example, in engineering, then wants to decide on everything in the universe, even the atom. As for religion, even ignorant people have emerged to give fatwas. There is no power or strength except with Allah.

If we confine scholars to matters of jurisprudence only, and give fatwas on matters of creed and other things based on our own opinion, then we have corrupted speech and belief. Why don't we ask the scholars about all matters of religion?! Just as we ask about worldly matters.

My Muslim brother: We have no honor or elevation as we were before except by returning to religion, by sitting and listening to the scholars, by giving them the status that Allah has ordained for them.

The claim of the Mahdi is not valid because many have claimed it: In extreme brevity, can a rational person use this doubt as an excuse to reject the matter of the Mahdi, as previously stated? And before that, people claimed prophethood. So, do we deny the prophethood of the prophets because of that? Do we deny the prophethood of Muhammad bin Abdullah because Musaylimah the Liar claimed it? Or do we deny divinity to Allah Almighty because Pharaoh claimed it?

Ask yourself, O Muslim: If two people claim ownership of something, do we reject both because a liar claimed it? Or do we see the truthful one and follow what he said?

The matter of the Mahdi has opened the door of falsehood to claimants: As for this, it is the most absurd doubt that has been said to reject the matter of the Mahdi. People have claimed prophethood, so do we disbelieve the prophethood of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, or anyone before him because of this claim?

Some have claimed divinity, like Pharaoh. So, do we deny the divinity of Allah Almighty – far be it from Allah –? The Antichrist will come and claim lordship. So how will we deal with that? We seek refuge in Allah from ignorance and misguidance.

Belief in the Mahdi is a call to complacency and laziness: Some others argue that the matter of Imam Mahdi calls for complacency and laziness. So, what prevents migrating to the place of migration of Imam Mahdi?! And what prevents seeking victory through him against the enemies and preparing the forces to support him?! And what prevents promoting him with media and advertising campaigns?!

The Jews, until the advent of the Messenger, used to seek victory through him in their battles and used to give him glad tidings.

So, will someone come and say that he prevented prayer, fasting, or any obligation or pillar because of this false claim?

Or is it a doubt from a misguided person, following only their desires, nothing else? So, who will come with a single word from a Muslim scholar telling people not to do what is right and not to speak what is right, and not to work for the unity of the Ummah, and not to carry out its commands, on the pretext that this will only happen at the hands of the Mahdi?

It is impossible, and the fourth impossibility, for a scholar of the Ummah to tell people to be lazy and complacent and to abandon work for the sake of the Ummah. So where did these doubts come from to those with deviated hearts?

Hadith: From Al-Hasan, he said: Al-Mahdi is Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him.