«MAHDI IS FROM THE PROGENY OF THE HOLY PROPHET»

Abu Dawoud, in the fourth volume of his «Sahih» on age 87 has written a tradition which has been narrated by Umm-Salma from the Holy Prophet as such:

«Mahdi is from my progeny.»

In «Esaaf ur-Rhagebeen» Page 147 a similar tradition from the Holy Prophet has been narrated by Nesa'ee, Ibn-Maaja, Baihaqi and others.(28)

Ibn Hajar in «Sawa'eq» on page 98 writes: Abu Na'eem has brought a tradition from the Holy Prophet as such - «Indeed, God will send a man from my progeny.» Thereafter he said - «He shall fill the earth with Justice.»

The same has also come in «Es'aaf ur-Rhagebeen» page 149.(29)

In the afore-mentioned book on page 97, the author writes: Abu Dawoud, Tirmidhi and Ibn-Maaja have brought a tradition from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) as such:- «If there remains not more than a day from the life of the earth, indeed God will make a man to appear from my progeny.»

In another tradition the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) says: «He is from my progeny, the one who shall fill the earth with Justice just as it had been filled with oppression.»

The same can be seen in «Es'aaf ur-Rhagebeen» on page 147.(30)

The author of «Mataleb-us-Su'ool» writes:- 'The meaning of (progeny) in Arabic is said to be (family) and as per the saying of others it means (offspring).

Thereafter he says:- "Both the meanings can be found in them because they are his family as well as his offspring. However they are considered to be his (family) because are the near kinsmen and they too were as such. They are reckoned to be his (offsprings) for this reason that are considered to be children of a daughter and they were as such because Allah speaks about Ibrahim as follows: "

Thus Allah, the Exalted placed all the afore-mentioned personalities including Hazrat Isa among the offspring of Ibrahim where the relation of Isa with Ibrahim is only through his mother Maryam and no one else.

Thereafter he writes:- 'It has been narrated that Shobi who was one of the Sunni 'Ulemas' living at the time of Hajjaj-ibn-Yusuf Saqafi was among the lovers of Hassan and Hussein such that whenever he would remember them he would say. "Those two are the children and offspring of the Messenger of Allah." Later some of the people informed Hajjaj about this matter as a result of which he became angry and started to imprecate him. Once Hajjaj called him in one of his gatherings where the aristocrats and 'Ulemas' (scholars) of Basra and Kufa and the Quraish were present. Shobi entered and greeted but Hajjaj did not pay any heed and did not reply his greetings which was indeed the right of Shobi. When he sat down, Hajjaj said: 'O Shobi, Do you know what I have heard about you which indeed proves your foolishness?
Shobi replied: What is it?

Hajjaj said: Don't you know that sons of men are those who are allied to him and kinship is only through fathers. Thus, on what basis do you say that the sons of Ali are the children and offspring of the Holy Prophet! Except for their mother Fatemah, are they having any other connection with the Holy Prophet considering that kinship is not from the daughters' side but rather from the fathers' side. Shobi put down his head for some time until Hajjaj exceeded the limits in his disavowal and notified the others in the gathering about this matter. Shobi continued his silence and the more Hajjaj witnessed his silence the more he rebuked him. Thereafter, Shobi raised his head and said: 'O Amir, I do not see you but a speaker who is ignorant of the Book of Allah and the 'Sunnah' of the Holy Prophet and one who has grown weary of them. Then the anger of Hajjaj intensified and he addressed Shobi as such: 'Woe be upon you, how dare you speak to me in these words!'

Shobi replied: Yes, those present in your gathering - the Chanters (of Quran) from Egypt and the bearers of knowledge of the Book who are dear before you are all aware of what I say. Is it not that when Allah wishes to address His slaves (i.e. servants) He says - 'O Bani (sons of) Adam or 'O Bani-Isra'el. About Ibrahim, Allah says .... (and from his offspring) until He mentions Yahya and Isa. Therefore, 'O Hajjaj how do you see the relationship of Isa with Adam, Isra'el and Ibrahim? Is it through his father or any of his fore-fathers? Is it not that he is connected to them only through his mother Maryam! Moreover, as per the genuine narrators, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) with regard to Hassan has said: Indeed my son (and he pointed out to Hassan) is «Sayyid» (Chief).

When Hajjaj heard such reasonings he lowered his head in shame. Later he showed kindness and politeness towards Shobi and felt ashamed of those present in the gathering.

Now that the matter has become clear (progeny) is the very offspring, children and family of the Holy Prophet and in reality, all the meanings are applied to them.