21. Who is Al Mahdi and when will he come?

Muslims believe that Jesus (Isa) will descend on a Jamaat (group) that will be righteous at the end- time, comprising 800 men and 400 women. The people will be preparing for war at the time against Dajjal (the anti-Christ). It will be time for Fajr prayers, and Imam Mahdi will be the Amir (leader). From the darkness of the dawn, a sound will suddenly be heard that “one who listens to your pleas has come” — the righteous people will look everywhere and their eyes will fall on Isa (A.S.). Briefly, at the time of Fajr, Isa (A.S.) will descend. When descending, Isa (A.S.)’s hands will be on the shoulders of two angels (according to another source (Kab Abrar), a cloud will carry him). On their insistence Isa will introduce himself. He will inquire about their enthusiasm and thoughts on Jihad against Dajjal. Isa (A.S.) will descend on the eastern side near the Minaret in Damascus (or in Baitul-Muqaddus near Imam Mahdi). At the time Imam Mahdi will have proceeded forward to lead the Fajr Salaat. The Iqamat of the Salat would have been said (already recited) and Imam Mahdi will call Isa (A.S.) for Imamat (to lead the prayer), but he Isa (A.S.) will instead tell Imam Mahdi to lead the prayer since the Iqamat of that Salat has already been said for him. Thus Imam Mahdi will lead the prayer, and Isa (A.S.) will follow him. After the ruku, he will make this statement: ‘Allâh has killed Dajjal and the Muslims have appeared.’ So from Muslim beliefs and teaching we see that Al Mahdi is a witness to assure Muslims that Isa is the Prophet who has come to judge the world. He is the One who will overcome Satan the Prince of darkness called Dajjal.

The Bible teaches something similar to this in Revelation 11 verses 3-14 ‘And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1260 days. These two prophets are two olive trees, and two lamp-stands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. If anyone tries to harm them fire flashed from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain for as long as they prophesy. And they have power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood and strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish. When they complete their testimony the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them and he will conquer them and kill them. And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, that city that has figuratively been called ‘Sodom’ and ‘Egypt’ the city where the Lord was crucified. And for three and a half days all the peoples, tribes and languages and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them. But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them and they stood up and ‘Terror’ struck all who were staring at them. Then a loud voice from heaven called the two prophets, ‘Come up here!’ And they rose to heaven in a cloud and their enemies watched.’