Al-Mahdi (a.s.)

he replied: haven't you read (the book) where Allah says:

they said: 'is it that » refers to you people!?'

he replied: 'yes.'

the author of «matalib-us-su'ool» writes:

'know that those in the verse who have been asked to be loved are indeed the «--». therefore any one who is bestowed with the attribute of « - ghorba» deserves love as per specification of the afore-mentioned verse because if there is a decree for any particular case and at any other occasion, that case stipulates that the same decree too will be applicable and with regards to love towards those who have been mentioned in the verse even though they themselves are associates to each other (from the view-point of their similarity in a case which is expedient for love) yet, love posses different levels. therefore, anyone who is the more nearer to the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.), that case will become more firm in him. as per research, the consensus of «ulemas» is firm in this regard that the matter of level of love and friendship does indeed carry priority over all other levels such that in their writings and compositions they have specified that:

'if a person endows or makes a will to the most nearest person to zaid and if zaid does not have a father, the most preferable person with regards to the endowment and will are his children as compared to his other near ones. if he has a father, then there exists a difference as to whether the children are having priority over father or are equal to him. through this reasoning it becomes clear and obvious that fatemah possess the highest level in the matter of love and being the (kinsfolk). when it becomes apparent to what has been written about the pleasing expressions and attractive statements about fatemah (a.s.), (especially her purity) and the fact that the superfluous virtue and lofty position which the imams behold is through her means, then we are helpless in being loyal to her right in such affairs just as we are bound to do so in the subsequent chapters about the circumstances of imam and the days of their birth and death.'

«Mahdi is from the offspring of
the holy prophet»

the author of «yanabi-ul-muwadda» on page 234 narrates from the author of firdaus who narrates from jaber-ibn-abdullah ansari who said:

holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: indeed Allah, the exalted placed the offspring of every prophet from their own rear and placed my offspring from the rear of ali-ibn-ali talib.

the author says:- the explicitness of this valuable ,tradition is .that the children of ali-ibn-abi talib amir-ul-mumineen (a.s.) from fatemah (a.s.) are indeed the offspring of the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.)and there is no difference between hassan and hussein. verily, as Mahdi, the awaited one is from this particular house and this pure offspring, he is therefore counted to be from the offspring of muhammad (s.a.w.a.) (as per research and previous explanation of the meaning of offspring).