Identifying the Mahdi (a.t.f.s.)

The contemporary Scholar, Safi Golpaygani, has collected all these traditions in his book: Muntakhab al-athar, citing their Sunni and Shi'i sources. Following is the list of the subject and the number of traditions on that subject:

91 Hadith on: "The Imams are twelve in number, among whom the first is Ali b. Abi Talib and the last is the Mahdi."

94 Hadith on: "The Imams are twelve, and the last one is the Mahdi."

107 Hadith on: "The Imams are twelve, nine among whom are the descendants of Husayn, and the ninth is the Qa'im."

389 Hadith on: "Mahdi is from among the progeny of the Prophet."

214 Hadith on: "Mahdi is from among the descendants of Ali."

192 Hadith on: "Mahdi is from among the descendants of Fatima."

185 Hadith on: "Mahdi is from among the descendants of Husayn."

148 Hadith on: "Mahdi is the nineth descendant of Husayn."

185 Hadith on: "Mahdi is among the descendants of Ali b. al-Husayn."

103 Hadith on: "Mahdi is among the descendants of Imam Muhammad Baqir."

103 Hadith on: "Mahdi is among the descendants of Imam Ja'far Sadiq."

99 Hadith on: "Mahdi is the sixth descendant of Imam Sadiq."

101 Hadith on: "Mahdi is among the descendants of Imam Músa al-Kazim."

98 Hadith on: "Mahdi is the fifth descendant of Imam Kazim."

95 Hadith on: "Mahdi is the fourth descendant of Imam Ali Ridha."

90 Hadith on: "Mahdi is the third descendant of Imam Muhammad Taqi."

90 Hadith on: "Mahdi is among the descendants of Imam Ali al-Hadi."

145 Hadith on: "Mahdi is Imam Hasan Askari's son."

148 Hadith on: "The name of Mahdi's father is Hasan."

47 Hadith on: "The name and patronymic of the Mahdi will be that of the Prophet's name and patronymic."