Is There A Sequence For Imam AlMahdi Reappearance Signs?

We always read and hear that some of the signs had been realized in the past… but the awaited Imam AlMahdi (AJ) did not appear!

This is a very important point.

As you know, many signs have singularly come true across many eras, which were considered by some knowledgeable men, amongst them some scholars, as an indication of the imminent reappearance of the awaited Imam AlMahdi (AJ), and they gave good tidings to the people about it.

But the promised reappearance did not come true; the matter that caused a reaction and doubts about the credibility of the signs; even about the fact that there will be a Mahdi at the end of time!...

So where is the mistake?

Therefore, we have to study the signs in a scientific way to determine the properties of each sign as accurately as possible, to avoid such disappointing mistakes. There are also some narratives which talk about the signs being connected and sequenced.

The signs are arranged like a system of beads

From the Messenger (S) (Expect sequenced signs from the sky arranged like a system of beads… By then they should anticipate … signs which follow in succession like a worn out order of beads, the cord of which had snapped, and they followed each other.). Mi’jam Ahadeeth Al’imam AlMahdi, vol 3, p 228, h # 542. (nine sources).

From Ali, commander of the believers (AS) (... A system like a chain of beads, one following the other...). Mi’jam Ahadeeth Al’imam AlMahdi, vol 3, p 254, h # 783. (thirty seven sources).

From AlHossain bin Ali (AS) (... It is like a beads ring, one following the other...). Mi’jam Ahadeeth Al’imam AlMahdi, vol 3, p 450, h # 1005. (six sources).

From Ali, the commander of the believers (AS) (... And there will come unto you successive signs like a system of beads, their cord had snapped, and they followed each other...). Mi’jam Ahadeeth Al’imam AlMahdi, vol 3, p 26, h # 582. (two sources).

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful (* Your companion had not gone astray nor has he erred (2). Nor does he speak out of whims (3). It is but an inspiration revealed (4). He was taught by one who is intense in power (5)*). Quran, Alnajm.

Allah (E H) created Mohammad the Messenger (S) guarantying to us that he is he had not gone astray nor has he erred, nor does he speak out of whims. It is but an inspiration revealed.

The Messenger's phrases are accurately chosen by a Godly inspiration, and the Messenger (S) taught that to his Ahlulbayt (People of the Prophetic House) Imams (AS), who followed this noble Prophetic statement of his.

Therefore, there is conformity between the phrases of the Quran and the phrases of the Prophetic statement of the Messenger Mohammad (S), and the narratives of the Imams of Ahlulbayt (People of the Prophetic House)(AS).

We have to benefit from that, to explore the properties and the sequence of the signs by studying the verses, Prophetic statements, and the narratives which conform to each other.

According to this principle, we understand from the phrase: ‘worn out system’ to be a long period, until the time comes of ‘snapping its cord’.

And from the phrase: ‘succession’ we understand that signs will be orderly successive.

From the example of a bead ring we understand the quick succession of the occurrence of signs when their time comes; together with the impossibility of preventing their occurrence, or controlling how or where they occur.

Therefore, there is a certain connection between, and a definite sequence of the signs. As the reappearance cannot be realized before all the signs are realized, so the fifth sign cannot come before the fourth sign, which in turn should be preceded by the third, the second, and the first, successively.

Together with that, the Prophetic statements of the Messenger (S) and the Imams of his Ahlulbayt (People of the Prophetic House) (AS) about the signs of the reappearance of Imam AlMahdi (AJ), indicate that they cannot take place years or centuries before the reappearance.

If they tell us that a sign had occurred, and the Imam (AJ) did not reappear, people will be in despair, and will be doubtful about the signs, even about the credibility of the concept of a saviour to appear at the end of time. We should not confuse Prophetic statements and Imams' narratives which talk about what is likely to happen in the future and have no indications connecting the signs of reappearance, with those which have such indications.

According to most of the Prophetic statements and Imams' narratives related to the signs of reappearance, the signs which are close in time to the reappearance of the awaited Imam AlMahdi (AJ) will take place within the span of one year of the reappearance.

The coincidence in time of the dates of the signs

As for the coincidence of some signs in terms of the calendar, such as the coincidence of the Hijri date with the days of the week, such as the fact that the first day of the month of Ramadan in the year of reappearance is a Friday, as we will see later, this has been repeated many times over the centuries.

It is logical that the signs will not be achieved according to the solar calendar (which is a pagan calendar for the worshipers of the sun) nor the so-called Hijri calendar currently in force (the Umayyad calendar), whose months revolve around the seasons of the year. God Almighty has a calendar that He put in place since creation, and He set the astronomy to control it, and so that people know the calendar. The divine calendar was followed by all the prophets, including the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and it is the original Hijri calendar.

As for the coincidence of the date of an Umayyad day with a solar day, or like the coincidence of the month of Ramadan, the year of reappearance, in the summer season, this is repeated every 33 years, 7 months, and 6 days, according to astronomical calculations. As the Umayyad year is shorter than the solar year by approximately 10 days, 21 hours, 7 minutes and 12 seconds. The 30 days of Ramadan coincide with the 90 days of summer.