Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Prior to the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) appearing in the world, the predominant population in the world will be the Christians. (Muslim #2898) In many parts of the world, the Muslim Ummah will be undergoing difficulty and will be subjected to persecution and hardship at the hands of the kuffaar. Many wars will break out and the Muslims of the world will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to assist them.
At that time, a Sufyaani (a person from the progeny of Hazrat Abu Sufyaan [radhiyallahu ‘anhu]) will have influence and power over Syria. (Haakim #8586) He will be an evil person and he will be hunting down the Sayyids (descendants of the family of Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam]) and he will kill them wherever he finds them. (Al-Fitan li-Nu’aim #923)
He will dispatch his troops to Kufah and Madinah Munawwarah, and they will cause havoc and bloodshed in these cities. (Ishaa’ah pg. 203) The Muslims will be searching for the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) so that through his leadership and guidance, they will be able to overcome their difficulties. (Al-Fitan li-Nu’aim #868)
The Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) will be present in Madinah Munawwarah, and due to him fearing that the people will appoint him as the ruler, he will leave Madinah Munawwarah to go to Makkah Mukarramah. (Mirqaat 8/3440) According to some reports, he will flee to Makkah Mukarramah to escape the army of the Sufyaani who will be killing the Sayyids. (Al-Fitan li-Nu’aim #923, 924)
In some narrations, it is mentioned that prior to the emergence of the Mahdi, the Muslim ruler will pass away and there will be a great controversy among the Muslims regarding which person should be appointed as the next leader.
While the Mahdi will be in Makkah Mukarramah, in the precincts of Musjid-ul-Haraam at a spot between the Hajr-e-Aswad and the Maqaam-e-Ebrahim, the pious servants of Allah Ta‘ala will recognize him to be the Mahdi, and they will then pledge allegiance on his hands. (Abu Dawood #4286)
The Army Sinking into the Ground
When the Sufyaani will learn of the emergence of the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who is from the family of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he will dispatch his army against him.
Once his army reaches Baidaa (an area out of Madinah Munawwarah), they will halt at a mountain to rest. However, on reaching this mountain, all the troops will sink into the ground and will be destroyed. Only one person will survive from this army, and he will go to the people and inform them of what had transpired.
Hazrat Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports that she heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) say, “An army will head towards this house (i.e. the Ka’bah Shareef) waging war against it, until they will reach Baidaa where the middle portion of their army will be sunk into the ground. The front portion of the army will call out to the rear portion of the army, after which they will all be sunk into the ground. Only one person will survive who will inform the people of the plight of the army.” (Muslim #2883)
In some narrations, it is mentioned that two people will survive from this army. One will return to the Sufyaani and inform him of what had transpired, and the other person will come to the Mahdi and inform him of what had happened. (Ishaa’ah pg. 206, Al-Fitan li-Nu’aim #947)
Once the news of the Sufyaani’s army sinking into the earth spreads among the people, the Abdaals of Shaam and the pious people of Iraq will come to the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and pledge allegiance at his hands.
The Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) will then say, “The time has now come for me to emerge from Makkah Mukarramah.” (Ishaa’ah pg. 206)
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had described the unfolding of the events pertaining to the emergence of the Mahdi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in the following Mubaarak Hadith. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:
“There will be a difference of opinion (between the Muslims responsible for appointing the leader) when a ruler will pass away. (At that time,) a man from the people of Madinah Munawwarah will come out, fleeing to Makkah Mukarramah. Some of the people of Makkah Mukarramah will then come to him and take him out (of his home) against his wishes, after which they will pledge allegiance at his hands between the Hajr-e-Aswad and the Maqaam-e-Ebrahim. Thereafter, an army will be sent against him from the people of Shaam. This army will be sunk into the earth on reaching a barren piece of land between Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah. When the people see this, the Abdaals of Shaam and the pious people of Iraq will come to him and pledge allegiance at his hands between the Hajr-e-Aswad and the Maqaam-e-Ebrahim. (Abu Dawood #4286)
