Will Imam al-Mahdi Appear in This Generation or Later?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Recently with greenery appearing in Makka, some estimations by scientists say the Euphrates will dry up in 2040, and the situation in Palestine, Syria, and Iraq. I got terrified thinking about all of this and wanted to ask if all this is happening to confirm that the al-Mahdi will come during the lifetime of this generation or if the time is a mystery. It can still happen anytime, whether that be shortly or in the near future.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Estimated Time Left Before the Appearance of Imam al-Mahdi

We should have fear and hope for the future. Fear for obvious reasons and hope as Allah and His Messenger have mentioned the minor and major signs for us to prepare and have given us hope in this way.

No one can determine or specify how many years are left before the arrival of Imam al-Mahdi, Dajjal, etc. What is important is that we need to prepare ourselves and our future generations to work on possessing solid sound faith and increase our good works as a shield for and against the incoming intensity of trials. And this is the only reason these minor and major signs have been mentioned, not specified with a time, so we prepare fully in every way possible.

Prepare – by Loving Allah and His Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)

A Bedouin asked the Prophet about the Hour. He said, “It will surely come to pass. What have you prepared for it?” The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have not prepared much in the way of prayer and good works, but I love Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet said, “You will be with those you love.” The Muslims had never rejoiced as much as they did when they heard this hadith. [Bukhari]

Signs of the Hour

Please see this:
The Signs Before The Day Of Judgement by Hafiz Ibn Kathir [pdf]
The Concise Article by Shaykh Habib Abu Bakr

Related:

• Mahdi Archives
• Judgment Day Archives
• Day of Judgment Archives
• The Coming of The Mahdi – Shaykh Samir al Nass [Video]

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.