Al-Mahdi (a.s.)

«Mahdi and paradise»

the author «eqdud-durar» narrates (in the seventh chapter) from ibn-maaja, tabarani, abu naeem and some others who in turn narrate from ana-ibn-malik that the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:- 'we, the seven sons of abdul-muttalib - ali my brother, hamza my uncle, jafar my cousin, hassan, hussein, Mahdi and myself are the 'chiefs of the people of paradise'.(70)

ibn-hajar in 'sawa'eq' (page 112) narrates from ibn-maaja and he, from anas that the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: 'we, the sons of abdul-muttalib - ali, jafar, hassan, hussein, Mahdi and myself are the chiefs of the people of paradise'.

in nahjul-balagha, ali (a.s.) says as such:- 'know, o' creatures of Allah, that the one who fears Allah will certainly be shown (by Allah) the path of exit from seditions and will be bestowed a light for his darknesses. whatever he describes, will be granted to him. moreover Allah shall give him mansions besides himself in a beautiful place - a mansion which he himself has constructed, its canopy will be his throne and its brightness will be his own self, angels will be his visitors and prophets shall be his friends.'

the author says:- 'paradise is a place which Allah has prepared for his obedient servants. thus its inhabitants are the best ones and its residents are the most righteous ones. in them are the prophet, messengers, veracious believers and martyrs. with these specifications, Mahdi (a.s.) is amongst the seven chiefs of paradise and the great chief over here refers to the greatness of spirituality and not greatness in age.

the author of «nur-ul-absar» on page 229 writes: 'ibn-shirwiya writes in his book 'firdaus' as such: ibn-abbass says- the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: 'Mahdi is the peacock of the inhabitants of paradise'.

the author of «yanabi-ul-muwadda» too has narrated a tradition similar to this one from 'kanzul-ul-daqa'eq' quoted from ahmad-ibn-hanbal.(71)

the author says:- comparing Mahdi with a peacock amongst the inhabitants of paradise (in spite of knowing who its inhabitants are) is a good indication of his superiority which is the speciality of Mahdi and no other human-being.

verily, whatever is derived from Mahdi's existence and his emergence such as divine magnificience, elegance, greatness and glory is such an affair which has not occurred for any of the prophets or messengers. why should not it be so when traditions which are 'mustafiza' clearly stipulate that hazrat shall fill the earth with equity and justice and illuminate it with the light of Allah and his kingdom shall engulf the east and west.

these signs of elegance and majesty are specialities of Mahdi, the awaited one. thus, from the view-point of beauty, he shall be like a peacock (as compared to other birds) among the inhabitants of paradise.