Is widespread death and mortality a sign of Imam Mahdi's reappearance? (question)

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Is widespread death and mortality a sign of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance?
Upper entryMahdism / Preconditions for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a) / Signs for Imam Mahdi's reappearance
Main entryWidespread death and mortality
Number of answersFour

A reading of hadith or narrated traditions points out that on the cusp of Imam Mahdi's (a) reappearance the world shall witness widespread killings and deaths as a result of wars and illnesses. Killing that shall take place through weaponry is identified as ‘red death’ in these traditions, whereas death due to illness and contagion is identified as ‘white death’.

Short Comprehensive Answer

Does widespread death and mortality constitute a sign of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance?

  • According to narrated traditions, in the era before Imam Mahdi (a)'s return,[1] two types of deaths will become prevalent within human society: the “red death” and the “white death”. The “red death” is death by the sword (or any other form of weaponry), whereas the “white death” is death by contagion and plague.[2] At the cusp and threshold of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance, bloody warfare will take place in which many people will die. The “red death” represents this genocide.[3]
  • The following are some of the narrated tradition indicating that widespread death and mortality will become common place immediately before Imam Mahdi’s reappearance:
  1. Imam ‘Ali (a) is reported to have said : “At the threshold of the Qa’im’s uprising, (there shall occur) red death, white death, locust plagues during the appropriate season and locust plagues outside the appropriate season – red like the color of blood. As for the red death, it represent death by the sword. As for white death, it represents death by contagion”.[4]
  2. Imam Sadiq(a) is narrated to have said : “Two types of deaths will appear before the reappearance of the Qa’im (i.e. Imam Mahdi): the red death and the white death. A large number of people will be killed, such that five in every seven people will die”.[1]
  3. Imam Sadiq (a) is also reported to have stated : “The Imam of the Age will not reappear until two-thirds of the world’s population is eliminated.” Someone asked, “If two-thirds of all people are killed, then how many will remain?” The Imam replied, “Are you not satisfied in being amongst the one-third who survive”.[2]
  • Narrated traditions relevant to this question collectively show us that at the threshold of the Imam’s reappearance the world will indeed witness widespread death and mortality. Some of these deaths will be caused by genocidal wars, while others will happen as a result of epidemic plagues. When we take into consideration the weapons of mass destruction available to humanity during these modern times, the prophesy under discussion seems closer than ever to its final fulfillment.[2]

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