¶ Misconceptions About the Mahdi
¶ Misconception 1: The Mahdi (From Him is Peace) first appears at the Kaaba
The Mahdi does not appear spontaneously out of nowhere with an army of supporters. This is a false idea that has no basis or evidence from any authentic or weak narration. Rather, this idea has been circulated by the non-working scholars of our time who laid out a fictional day-dream like script for the people on the exact move and strategy of the Mahdi (From Him is Peace) as if they were Prophets who can foresee future events.
The appearance at the Kaaba is meant to be an event that takes place during the phase called the Emergence. Currently, the phase we are in is called the Appearance. This is the time when the true supporters of the Qaim (From Him is Peace) gather around him.
¶ Misconception 2: The Mahdi (From Him is Peace) uses the same Qur’an and doesn’t bring a new book
The Qur’an amongst the people today is not complete and evidence for this can be found in both Sunni and Shia sources.
Ibn Omar states in one narration:
“Let none of you say, ‘I have acquired the whole of the Qur’an.’ How does he know what all of it is when much of the Qur’an has disappeared? Rather let him say, ‘I have acquired what has survived.’ ” - Al-Itiqan fi’ulum Al-Qur’an (The Perfect Guide to the Sciences of the Qur’an), Al-Suyuti, Vol. 2, p. 66
In Sahih Muslim, Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari is recorded to have said:
“We used to recite a Surah which resembled in length and severity [Surah] ‘Bara’at’. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this which I remember out of it: ‘If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust.’ ” - Sahih Muslim, Muslim ibn Al-Hajjaj Al-Naysaburi, Book 12, Hadith 156
And that is why it is mentioned about the Mahdi that he will bring a new book, because the Qur’an as it is today is not the same as it was when it came down.
Abu Ja’far (From Him is Peace) said:
“The Qaim/Riser shall rise with a new matter, and a new book, and a new jurisprudence/rule which will be hard for the Arabs.” - Kitab Al-Ghayba (Book of Occultation), Al-Numani, Vol. 1, p. 236
¶ Misconception 3: The Mahdi (From Him is Peace) will not know he is the Mahdi
If the Mahdi (From Him is Peace) does not know that he is the Mahdi then he cannot be a Mahdi, the Mahdi means “guide”. If the guide does not know that he is a guide, then how can he be a guide for others? Did Prophet Mohammed (PBUH & His Family) receive revelations while not knowing that he was a Prophet or Messenger sent by God?
This false idea comes from the misinterpretation of the following hadith by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH & His Family) who said:
“The Mahdi is one of us, the people of the Household. Allah will rectify him in a single night." - Sunan Ibn Majah, Ibn Majah, Book of Tribulations, Hadith No. 4085
¶ Misconception 4: The Mahdi (From Him is Peace) will come for the Arab Muslims only
The Mahdi (From Him is Peace) is coming for the entire world and not just for a particular race and people. And that is evident in many of the narrations that indicate and state that he will fill the whole Earth with justice and equity and not a particular piece of land or nation.
Abu Ja’far Al-Baqir (From Him is Peace) said:
“And the Riser/Qaim will be given what no one was given before him and he shall fill the Earth with justice and equity and light as it had been filled with injustice and oppression and evil.” - Kitab Al-Ghayba (Book of Occultation), Al-Numani, Vol. 1, p. 241
¶ Misconception 5: The Mahdi (From Him is Peace) preaches the same Islam
This is completely wrong because the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH & His Family) had said the complete opposite about the Islam that reaches the people in the end times at the hand of the Mahdi (From Him is Peace).
“Islam began as something strange and it will return to being strange, so blessed are the strangers.” - Sunan Ibn Majah, Ibn Majah, Book of Tribulations, Hadith No. 3986
¶ Misconception 6: The Mahdi (From Him is Peace) will be accepted by all Muslims
Rather most of the Muslims will not accept him but rather they will fight him, especially the Arab Muslims.
Aba Abdillah (From Him is Peace) said:
“Fear O Arabs, for verily I have bad news for them, there shall not emerge from them with the Qaim one.” - Ghaybat Al-Tusi, Al-Shaikh Al-Tusi, Vol. 1, p. 496
Imam Al-Sadiq (From Him is Peace) says:
“If the Riser/Qaim emerges there shall not be between him and the Arabs and the Persians except for the sword.” - Bihar Al-Anwar, Al-Allamah Al-Majlisi, Vol. 52, p. 389
¶ Misconception 7: The Mahdi (From Him is Peace) is known and supported by the scholars
This is the most dangerous misconception that must be addressed. The person who thinks this way must first ask themselves “Have I asked Mohammed and the Family of Mohammed about the scholars of the end times before I ask the scholars about the Mahdi?”
They said the scholars of the end times are:
“the most evil of scholars under the sky.” - Al-Kafi, Al-Shaikh Al-Kulayni, Vol. 8, p. 308
They also called them,
“traitors.” - Bihar Al-Anwar, Al-Allamah Al-Majlisi, Vol. 52, p. 277
They also said that they are,
“more dangerous to the weak ones of our Shia than the army of Yazid” - Exegesis of Al-Imam Al-Askari (PBUH), Attributed to Al-Imam Al-Askari, p. 301
And they are,
“the worst of God’s creation.” - Mo’jam Ahadeeth Imam Al-Mahdi (AS), Al-Shaikh Ali Al-Korani, Vol. 1, p. 47
So do not be fooled by their clothing and costumes and their seemingly beautiful words which are filled with venom.
The Ahlul-Bayt (From Them is Peace) have said:
“When Imam Mahdi emerges he shall not have a more clear enemy than the religious scholars, and for that reason he and the sword are brothers, because if it were not for the sword, the religious scholars would have issued decrees that he be killed, but God makes him appear with the sword and with generosity and kindness so that they may obey him and fear him and accept his judgment without believing in it, rather they hold within their hearts the opposite of belief.” - Yanabi’ Al-Mawadda Li-Dhawi L-Qurba, Sulayman b. Ibrahim Al-Qunduzi Al-Hana, Vol. 3, p. 215