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The author of Fusul al-Muhimma (who is one of the Sunni authors) in chapter 12 says:
Traditions have come down about the signs of Mahdi's emergence and the events which would occur before his uprising and the evidences which would be discovered before his emergence. They are as such: (1) Sufyani's revolt, (2) killing of Hasani, (3) discord amongst Bani-Abbass about possession of kingdom, (4) eclipse of the sun during mid-Shaban, (5) unusual eclipse of the moon during the end of Shaban contrary to astronomies calculations. The moon will not be eclipsed but during the thirteenth, fourteenth or fifteenth of the month. The moon will be eclipsed at the time when the sun and the moon would be facing each other in a special form.
The eclipse of the sun will not occur but on the twenty-seventh, twenty-eight or twenty-ninth of the month. The sun will be eclipsed at the time when it comes close to the moon in a special form, (6) rising of the sun from the West, (7) killing of seventy pious people (3) killing (9) destruction of the wall of the Mosque of Kufa, (10) advancement of the holders of black flags from Khorasan, (11) Yamani's revolt, (12) Maghrabi's revolt in Egypt and becoming the ruler of Syria, (13) descencion of Turks in an island, (14) the coming of Romans in Rumalah, (15) the rising of a star in the East which would be like a sparkling moon, (16) that star would bend and break into two in such a manner that they would come close to each other, (17) a redness will appear in the sky and it will cover its surrounding, (18) a fire would appear throughout the East and it would remain so for three or seven days, (19) Arabs would set free their rein, (20) Arabs would become owners of cities, (21) Arabs would exit from the rule of Iranian Kings, (22) the inhabitants of Egypt would kill their ruler and his commands, (23) Syria would be destroyed and three flags will advance towards it, (24) the flags of Qais and Arab would advance towards Egypt, (25) engraved flags would advance towards Khorasan, (26) The entry of some Arabs in the outskirts of Hirah (27) the coming of black flags from the East, (28) A split shall occur in Euphrates as a result of which its water would flow on the roads of Kura, (29) Sixty liars will emerge where each of them will claim Prophethood for themselves, (30) twelve persons from the progeny of Abu-Talib would revolt and each of them would claim Imamate for themselves, (31) A dignified person from the followers of Bani-Abbass will get drowned near the bridge of Karkh in Baghdad, (32) A black wind will blow in Baghdad, (33) An earthquake shall occur in Baghdad where a greater portion of the city will collapse, (34) fear will encompass the inhabitants of Iraq, (35) death will swiftly overtake the people of Iraq, (36) The people of Iraq will face deficience in their property and fruit, (37) locusts will appear during the normal season as well as during off-season and they will get attracted to plants and cereals, (38)the agriculture output of the people will be poor, (39) discord will arise amongst non-Arabs and they will shed blood of one another, (40) slaves shall disobey their master and will kill them.
(41) After that, it would rain successively for twenty-four times. The earth would become alive after its death and would throw out its treasures. At that time, all types of calamities will be kept away from Mahdi's believers. At that moment they will realize that Mahdi has emerged in Mecca. As a result, they will move towards Mecca for assisting Hazrat and the same can be seen in the traditions.
Some of these events are sure and certain to occur while some others are conditional. Allah Knows better what might take place. We have mentioned the afore-mentioned happenings as per the traditions.
Ali-ibn-Yazid Ezadi narrates from his father who narrates from his grand-father that Amirul-Mumineen (A.S.) said: 'When the Qaem's emergence shall draw near, red and white deaths will appear. Red-coloured locusts shall become visible during the normal and off-season. Red death refers to the sword and white death refers to plague.
Jabir Tuafi narrates that Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.) told him as such: Remain firm in your place. Do not move until you see for yourself these signs. I do not think that you will perceive these signs. They are as such: Discord amongst Bani-Abbass, a caller who will call out from the heavens, sinking of a village (called Jobiah) in Syria, descension of Turks in an island descencion of Romans in Rumalah and discord in every part of the land until Syria will be ruined. The reason for destruction of social life will be the hoisting of flags where one of them would be red and white, the other black and white and the third flag will belong to Sufyani.
It has been narrated from Abdul-Karim Nakh'ee as such: 'I asked Sadeq Aal-e-Muhammad: For how long will the Qa'em rule?
Imam (A.S.) replied: Seven years. The days and nights during Mahdi's time will be so lengthy that one year of that time will be like twenty years of today and (seven) years of Mahdi will be equal to seventy years of your reckoning.
In a lenghty tradition, Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.) said: 'When the Qaem shall emerge, his attention will be drawn towards Kufa. He will develop the mosques of Kufa, strike down the balconies overlooking the roads, destroy the wells and drain-pipes on the road-paths, uproot all sorts of heresy, enliven every custom and conquer Istanbul, China and the mountains of Dailam. This will remain so for seven years where each year would be equal to ten years of your reckoning.
In another tradition Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.)said:- Due to fear (which the enemies have of Hazrat) the Qa'em will be assisted (by Allah) and due to triumph, will become victorious. The earth will roll for Mahdi and treasures will loom before him. His rule will extend from East to West. Allah will place his religion above all other religions even though the polytheists may dislike it. There will be no dilapidated place but that Mahdi will develop it. The earth will not cede anything from its herbs but that it will cause it to thrive. During Mahdi's time, the people will enjoy such blessings which they had never enjoyed before.
The narrator says: I said: 'O son of the Messenger of Allah! When will your Qa'em emerge?
He replied: At the time when men will imitate the women and women will imitate the men; when women will ride on saddles; when people will cause their prayers to die and will follow their carnel desires; when people will turn usurers; when shedding of blood will become something insignificant; when trade and business of the people will be based on usury; when people will openly commit adultery; when they will make towering constructions; when they will consider lie to be lawful; when they will accept bribes; when they will follow their lusts and desire; when they will sell their religion for this world; when they will sever their relation (with others); when they will hold under obligation the one whom they feed; when they will consider forbearance to be the sign of weakness and feebleness and injustice to be an honour; when their rulers will be evil and their ministers liars; when the trustworthy amongst them will be traitors; when the helpers amongst them will be unjust; when the reciters of Quran will be transgressors; when cruelty and oppression will become manifest; when divorce will increase; when people will engage in debauchery and libertinism; when forced witness and lie will be accepted; when they will engage in drinking and gambling; when men will be mounted on; when women shall engage with women (indecent acts); when people will consider 'Zakat' to be a booty and charity to be a loss; when they will fear from the tongues of the wicked people; when Sufyani shall revolt from Syria and Yemen; when 'Baidah' which is between Mecca and Medina will sink; when a child from the progeny of Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) will be killed between 'Rukn' and 'Maqaam' and when a live voice will be heard from the heavens .crying out that the truth is with Mahdi and his followers. It will be then that our Qaem will emerge. When he re-appears, he will stand with his back against the wall of Ka'aba and 313 of his followers would gather around him. The first speech of Qaem would be the following verse:---
'What remains, with Allah is better for you if you are believers'.
Then he will say: I am the 'Baqiyatullah,' (God's remainder) representative and Proof of Allah upon you. After that, no Muslim would salute him but in this manner:
Assalamu-Alaika - ya Baqiyatullah-Fi-Arzeh (Peace be upon you 'O God's remainder on the earth)
As soon as 10000 men gather around him, no Jew or Christian will remain but that they will bring faith in him and religion shall be confined only to Islam.
A fire shall descend from the sky and will burn every object of worship (other than Allah) on the earth.
Some of the historians say: Mahdi is the same Awaited Qa'em. Traditions about Mahdi's emergence substantiate each other. Traditions manifest the luminous of Hazrat's light. It will not be long when the gloomy day and night of his Occultation will turn into brightness and luminosity. Due to his emergence the desired dawn shall rise and the veil of darkness of the night will be set aside. Hazrat will emerge from behind the veil of Occultation and the hearts will be filled with joy. His Justice, will reach the horizons and the luminousness of his Justice will be more than luminousness of the luminous moon.
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