What are the immutable signs of Imam Mahdi's Reappearance? (question)

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What are the immutable signs of Imam Mahdi's Reappearance?
Upper entryMahdism / Preconditions for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi / Signs for Imam Mahdi's reappearance
Main entryImmutable signs of Imam Mahdi's Reappearance

In accordance to narrated traditions, there are five immutable signs that shall definitely occur before or alongside Imam Mahdi's (a) reappearance. They are: the uprising of the Yamani, the uprising of the Sufyani, the celestial proclamation, the sinking of the Earth at Bayda' in which the army of the Sufyani will be swallowed up by the ground, and the murder of Nafs al-Zakiyyah.

Short Comprehensive Answer

The immutable signs of Imam Mahdi's reappearance are signs that shall definitely occur before or alongside the emergence of Imam Mahdi (a) from the occultation.[1] The occurrence of these signs is not contingent upon any factor or prerequisite,[2] and they will come to pass without an iota of doubt. The exact time of their occurrence is either slightly prior to Imam Mahdi's return or during the first stages of Imam Mahdi's uprising.[3] Since some of these signs will manifest themselves slightly before or alongside Imam Mahdi's reappearance while the rest will happen after the Imam's emergence from occultation, it is more accurate and befitting to call them signs of Imam Mahdi's uprising instead of signs of the Imam's reappearance. We find this same title present within a narrated tradition as well:[4] “Five (are the signs and events that shall occur) before the uprising of the Qa'im.”[5]

In accordance to narrated traditions as well as popular academic opinions, research scholars have isolated five events that constitute the immutable signs of Imam Mahdi's return. These are: the uprising of the Yamani, the uprising of the Sufyānī, the Celestial Proclamation, the sinking of the Earth at Bayda' in which the army of the Sufyani will be swallowed up by the ground, and the murder of Nafs al-Zakiyyah.[6] Some narrated traditions also report certain other events as immutable signs but only the immutability of these aforementioned five occurrences enjoys unanimous acknowledgement amongst the scholars.

Numerous narrated traditions exist in this regard. Some of them are as follows:

  1. Imam Sadiq (a) is reported to have said:[7] “Before the reappearance of the Qa'im, there exist five signs: the uprising of the Yamani, the uprising of the Sufyānī, the celestial outcry, the murder of al-Nafs al-Zakiyyah, and the sinking of the Earth in the desert.”[8]
  2. In another narrated tradition, Imam Sadiq (a) is reported to have said:[9] “The celestial proclamation is from amongst the immutable signs, and the Sufyānī is from amongst the immutable signs and the uprising of a man from Yemen as well as the murder of al-Nafs al-Zakiyyah is beyond doubt.”[10][11]

In what follows, we will analysis some of these immutable signs of Imam Mahdi's reappearance:

  1. The Uprising of the Sufyānī: According to narrated traditions, a man from the lineage of Abu Sufyan will instigate an uprising within the Levant prior to the uprising of Imam Mahdi (a). Through his hypocritical expression and assumption of religiosity, he will be able to deceive and misguide a large number of Muslims. He will also be successful in conquering a significant portion of territory within the Islamic lands. Ultimately, his reign and hegemony will spread over five principal areas: the Levant (or Syria), Homs, Palestine, Jordan, Qinnasrin (or “Chalcis ad Belum”) and Iraq. Similarly, he will commit a genocide against Shi'ah Muslims within Kufa and Najaf, and will announce rewards for anyone who finds and murders innocent Shi'ah individuals.[12] The total duration of his rule will be nine months.[13] When news of the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a) will reach the Sufyānī, he will march to meet the Imam in battle alongside a great army. His troops will confront the army of Imam Mahdi(a) in a place called Baydah which lies between Mecca and Medina. However, by the will of God, his soldiers be swallowed up by the Earth and only a handful of them will survive.[14][15]
  2. The Sinking of the Earth at Baydah: According to narrated traditions that speak about the signs of Imam Mahdi's return, the sinking of the Earth at Baydah constitutes one of the immutable signs of Imam Mahdi's emergence from occultation. This particular sign is mentioned frequently within narrated traditions that talk about the Sufyānī.[16][17] In this event, the army of the Sufyānī, marching to meet Imam Mahdi (a) in battle, will miraculously be eaten up by the Earth in a place called Baydah which lies between Mecca and Medina.[18][19]
  3. The Uprising of the Yamani: Another one of the immutable signs of Imam Mahdi's reappearance is the uprising led by a commander from amongst the people of Yemen who will call people towards truth and justice.[20] There exist numerous narrated traditions in this regards. For instance, Imam Baqir (a) is reported to have said:[21] “The uprisings of the Sufyānī, the Yamani and the Khurasani will take place within a single year, a single month and a single day. (These events will follow one another) like the methodical and quick succession of beads within a rosary thread. Amongst the flags (of that age), none will be more rightly guided than the flag of the Yamani whose standard will represent the banner of true guidance. Whenever the Yamani begins his uprising, you must make haste to go towards him, for his banner is the banner of true guidance. No Muslim must stand in opposition to this flag. He who opposes this flag will surely be from amongst the people of Hellfire, because (this flag) calls (everyone) towards the truth and invites them to the steadfast path.”[22]
  4. The Murder of al-Nafs al-Zakiyyah: According to narrated traditions, a pure and sincere man will struggle for the cause of Imam Mahdi (a) during the threshold of the Imam's reappearance and will be unjustly and tyrannically killed in this path. This is happen during a time when different groups will be busy in struggling to prepare the groundworks for Imam Mahdi's revolution. As per the narrated traditions related to this issue, the murder of this pious person will happen between the Rukn of the Holy Ka'bah and the Maqam of prophet Ibrahim (a) within the Sacred Mosque in Mecca. Furthermore, the individual in question will be a descendant of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (a).[23][24]
  5. The Celestial Proclamation: The Arabic word Nidā' literally means a “loud sound” and is sometimes used to denote any “sound” in general.[25] The Nidā' or celestial proclamation that we find mentioned within narrated traditions will be a great sound that shall resonate from the heavens at the threshold of Imam Mahdi's reappearance. This sound will emanate from the sky and every human being will be able to hear it.[26] Imam Baqir (a) is reported to have said:[27] “A celestial harbinger will cry out the name of the Qa'im, and every single soul in the West and the East will be able to hear his sound. The sheer dread brought upon by this sound will wake up those who are asleep. The same horror will force those who are standing to sit down and those who are sitting to stand up. May God's mercy be upon he who heeds the warning of this celestial announcement and answers its call, for indeed this first sound will be the sound of Jibra'il the Trusted Soul.”[28]

References

  1. ↑ See: Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262.
  2. ↑ See: Mūsawī Nasab, Sayyid Jaʾfar, Diwīst Pursish wa Pāsukh Pīramūn-e Imām Zamān (a) vol. 2, pp. 43-45.
  3. ↑ See: Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262.
  4. ↑ Ibn Babawayh, Muhammad ibn Ali, Al-Khisal, vol. 1, p. 303.
  5. ↑ See: Salīmīyān, Khudāmurād, Pursimān-e Mahdawīyyat, pp. 226-229.
  6. ↑ See: Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262.
  7. ↑ Ibn Babawayh, Muhammad ibn Ali, Kamal al-Din, p. 650.
  8. ↑ See: Mūsawī Nasab, Sayyid Jaʾfar, Diwīst Pursish wa Pāsukh Pīramūn-e Imām Zamān (a) vol. 2, pp. 43-45.
  9. ↑ Nu'mani, Muhammad ibn Ali, Al-Ghaybah, pp. 252-257.
  10. ↑ See: Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262.
  11. ↑ See: Mūsawī Nasab, Sayyid Jaʾfar, Diwīst Pursish wa Pāsukh Pīramūn-e Imām Zamān (a) vol. 2, pp. 43-45; Mahdī ʿAlīzadih, Nishānihā-ye Yār wa Chakāma-ye Intiẓār, p. 33; Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262.
  12. ↑ Ibn Babawayh, Muhammad ibn Ali. Kamal al-Din, vol. 2, p. 651.
  13. ↑ Nu'mani, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, Al-Ghaybah, p. 449.
  14. ↑ Nu'mani, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, Al-Ghaybah, p. 279. Hadith 67; Also Kitab-e al-Fitan, p. 168.
  15. ↑ See: Salīmīyān, Khudāmurād, Pursimān-e Mahdawīyyat, p. 226-229; Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262; Ayandih-ye Rawshan Institute, Mahdawīyat, Pursishhā wa Pāsukhhā, p. 384; Yūsufīyān, Mahdī, Nigīn-e Āfarīnish, pp. 173-177.
  16. ↑ Nu'mani, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, Al-Ghaybah, p. 34. Hadith 14.
  17. ↑ See: Salīmīyān, Khudāmurād, Pursimān-e Mahdawīyyat, pp. 226-229.
  18. ↑ Kulayni, Muhammad ibn Ya'qub, al-Kafi, vol. 8, p. 310, Hadith 483; Shaykh al-Saduq, al-Khisal, vol. 1, p. 303, Hadith 82; Muhammad ibn Ibrahim. Al-Ghaybah Nu'mani, Hadith 15, p. 257.
  19. ↑ See: Salīmīyān, Khudāmurād, Pursimān-e Mahdawīyyat, p. 226-229; Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262; Ayandih-ye Rawshan Institute, Mahdawīyat, Pursishhā wa Pāsukhhā, p. 384; Yūsufīyān, Mahdī, Nigīn-e Āfarīnish, vol. 1, pp. 173-177.
  20. ↑ See: Salīmīyān, Khudāmurād, Pursimān-e Mahdawīyyat, p. 226-229; Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262; Ayandih-ye Rawshan Institute, Mahdawīyat, Pursishhā wa Pāsukhhā, p. 384; Yūsufīyān, Mahdī, Nigīn-e Āfarīnish, vol. 1, pp. 173-177.
  21. ↑ Ibn Abi Zaynab, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim. Al-Ghaybah Nu'mani, Hadith 13, chapter 13, p. 369.
  22. ↑ See: Salīmīyān, Khudāmurād, Pursimān-e Mahdawīyyat, p. 226-229.
  23. ↑ Ibn Babawayh, Muhammad ibn Ali. Kamal al-Din, vol. 1, Hadith 16, p. 330.
  24. ↑ See: Salīmīyān, Khudāmurād, Pursimān-e Mahdawīyyat, p. 226-229; Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262; Ayandih-ye Rawshan Institute, Mahdawīyat, Pursishhā wa Pāsukhhā, p. 384; Yūsufīyān, Mahdī, Nigīn-e Āfarīnish, vol. 1, pp. 173-177.
  25. ↑ Raghib Isfahani, Husayn ibn Muhammad, al-Mufradat, The word "Nida'".
  26. ↑ See: Salīmīyān, Khudāmurād, Pursimān-e Mahdawīyyat, p. 226-229; Alīpūr Mahdī, Ẓuhūr, pp. 252-262; Ayandih-ye Rawshan Institute, Mahdawīyat, Pursishhā wa Pāsukhhā, p. 384; Yūsufīyān, Mahdī, Nigīn-e Āfarīnish, vol. 1, pp. 173-177.
  27. ↑ Nu'mani, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim. Al-Ghaybah Nu'mani, Hadith 13, p. 235.
  28. ↑ See: Salīmīyān, Khudāmurād, Pursimān-e Mahdawīyyat, p. 226-229.
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