Al-Mahdi (a.s.)

the author of 'yanabi-ul-muwadda' narrates (on page 486) from the book 'manaqib' which narrate from hazrat ali-ibn-musa ar-ridha who narrates from his father that the messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) while mentioning about the virtues of his household and his 'meraj' (ascension to heaven) said: i asked: 'o my lord, who are my legatees? i heard a call saying: 'o muhammad! your legatees are those whose names have been written on the enclosure of my throne.'
i looked and saw twelve lights. a green cover spread over each light and the names of my legatees were written on each of them where the first of them was ali and the last of them Mahdi.
i asked: 'o lord, are they the legatees after me?
i heard a call saying: after you, they are my friends, chosen ones and proofs upon my creatures. they are your legatees. i swear by my glory and majesty that i will cleanse the earth from its tyranny by the hands of the last of the one who is Mahdi. i will make him conquer the east and west. i will make the wind to conquer for him and make the clouds submissive to him. i will grant him power through some means and will help him by means of his own army. i will assist him through the angels until he gains power over my government and gathers the people towards my 'tauheed' (monotheism). thereafter, i will expand his and extend the days for my friends until the day of judgement.

again, the author of 'yanabi-ul-muwadda' nattates (on page 486) from abul-mu'aiyyed muwafiq-ibn-ahmad khawrazmi that abu sulaiman has said: 'i heard the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) saying: 'the night when i was made to ascend to the heavens... (hazrat mentioned partly about his ascension and its virtues and about the virtues of his progeny and his twelve legatees)... i heard a cry: 'o muhammad! would you like to see your legatees?
i said: 'yes.'
i was addressed: look towards the right of the 'arsh'. (throne)
as soon as i cast my glance, i saw ali, fatemah, hassan, hussein, ali-ibn-hussein, muhammad-ibn-ali, jafir-ibn-muhammad, musa-ibn-jafar, ali-ibn-musa, muhammad-ibn-ali, ali-ibn-muhammad, hassan-ibn-ali and muhammad-ibn-hassan who appeared amongst them like sparkling star.

later, i was addressed: 'o muhammad! they are my proofs upon my servants. they are your legatees and Mahdi who is the avenger of your progeny is amongst them. i swear by my glory and majesty that Mahdi will take revenge from my enemies and will assist my friends.

the author of 'eqdud-durar' (section one, chapter four) narrates from abu na'eem (from the book sefat-ul-Mahdi) who narrates from huzaifa-ibn-yaman that the messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said:

'woe to this nation because of its oppressive rulers. how they kill the believers and create fear in them leaving aside those who obey them. a believer is one who withholds himself from those who are good to him by tongue but weary of him by heart. whenever Allah wills to hold islam in high esteem, he will destroy the oppressors. Allah has power over all things and he is able to rectify a nation which has gone corrupt.

thereafter the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: 'o huzaifa! if there remains not more than a day from the life of this world, then Allah will prolong that day to such an extent that a man from my progeny will appear and rule. he will conduct important affairs and will manifest the religion of islam. Allah does not break his promise and he is quick in reckoning.

in section three, chapter nine of the afore-said book, its author narrates that amir-ul-mumineen ali-ibn-abi talib while mentioning about Mahdi and his reforms says: there is no heresy but that Mahdi will uproot it and there is no 'sunnah' (practice) but that Mahdi will enliven it.'

in the seventh chapter of the same book, he narrates from a congregation of traditionists namely abu na'eem esfahani, abul-qasim tabarani, abu abdur-rahman-ibn-abu hatim, abu abdullah na'eem-ibn-hemad who narrate form ali-ibn-abi talib that the messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) while mentioning about Mahdi and the fact that Allah would terminate the religion by his hands said:

'people will be delivered from the troubles due to Mahdi just as they found deliverence from polytheism through us. due to him, Allah will make them intimate with each other after having been hostile (hostility of troubles) just as he made them intimate towards each other though after hostility of blasphemy.

in section three, chapter nine of the same book, he narrates from abdullah-ibn-atha as such: 'i asked imam muhammad baqir: when Mahdi emerges what will be his ways?
he replied: he will destroy the heresys which had been laid down before him just as the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) too had done the same. Mahdi will set forth islam in a new and fresh manner.