http://www.al-islam.org/explore.php is a Shia site.
The exact same wording is found on
http://shiachat.forumotion.com/ahlebaytas-f5/imam-al-mahdias-is-sunni-hadiths-t266.htm
There is no mention of the Mahdi in the Quran and very little mention in the hadiths. The Prophet spoke in a few hadiths of a "Mahdi" or guided one who will unite Muslims in a great future battle against the Dajjal. The guided one who was spoken of in the Hadiths is an ordinary man who leads Muslims during a time of great trial.
There are, however, a lot of writings about the Dajjal who will rule the world at the end of time.
Sunni scholars currently compare the Dijjal (antichrist) to the Shia Mahdi with the same cheerfulness that in some in your own circles compare the antichrist to the Pope. The Dijjal will present himself as a savior. He will be followed by both Jews and misguided Muslims. He will be able to perform great miracles, including raising the dead. His kingdom is said to begin in the east and spread to Medina, but he will be excluded from Mecca. Arabia will fall to him. There will be a leader who unites an army to oppose him. In only one Hadith is this leader referred to by the prophet as a "Mahdi" or "guided one".
Only when Isa (Jesus) returns to earth to rule will the Dijjal be destroyed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquila
I found this on a website addressing Sunnis:
Sunni Documentation on Imam al-Mahdi (AS)
For the Sunni brothers, there are six major collections of traditions based on the Sunni standards for verifying the authenticity of a tradition. These six books are: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud, and Sahih al-Nisa'i. I just quote few traditions from these six books to prove that a knowledgeable Sunni brother/sister can NOT deny that:
al-Mahdi (AS) will come in the last days to make a universal Government,
al-Mahdi (AS) is from the Ahlul-Bayt of the Prophet (PBUH&HF),
al-Mahdi (AS) is from the progeny of Fatimah (AS), the daughter of the Prophet (PBUH&HF),
al-Mahdi (AS) is different than Prophet Jesus (the Messiah),
Prophet Jesus (AS) will come as one of the followers of Imam al-Mahdi and will pray behind him in congressional prayer.
http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter2/2.html
It would appear that many Sunni do believe in the coming al-Mahdi. |