Mahdi is from the progeny of Imam Husain (a.s)

As for the reports, which say that Imam Mahdi (a.s) is from the descendants of Imam Husain (a.s) are traditional reports based on the fact that Imams are twelve and their explanation includes this meaning as the number [of twelve Imams] we mentioned is authentic and in fact it is believed that Mahdi is from the descendants of Imam Husain (a.s) and this is what we have hinted to make clearer the meaning and more than that which is mentioned before, is the following report:

I heard Zaid bin Ali bin Husain (a.s) say, “The Awaited Savior is from the progeny of Husain Ibn Ali, from the children of Husain and from the heirs of Husain. Husain is the victim, about whom Allah said: “…and whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir…” (17:33) His heir is a man from his progeny, from his children. Then he recited: “And he made it a word to continue in his posterity…” (42:28) “…authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying…” (17:33) Zaid (a.s) said: “His authority is in his proof over all God’s creation, so much so that his proof will prevail over all people and no one will have a reason against him.”

Sufyan Jurairi that he said: I heard Muhammad bin Abdur Rahman Ibn Abi Laila say, “By Allah, the Mahdi will not be, but from the progeny of Husain (a.s).”

“This son of mine is a master, as the Messenger of Allah named him a master. Allah will bring forth from his seed, a man with the name of your Apostle – who will be similar to him in his character as well as his looks – in a time of oblivion of the people and death of righteousness and manifestation of injustice. By Allah, if he should not rise, his neck will be struck. The dwellers of the heavens will rejoice his rise. He would fill up the earth with equity, as it will be replete with injustice and oppression.”

“Behold, by Allah, the world will not end until Allah sends a man from my seed, who will kill from you one thousand and with the thousand another thousand and with the thousand another thousand.” I asked, “May I be your ransom. They are the sons of so-and-so and they do not reach this number.” The Imam said: “Look at you! At that time, a man will have from his seed so-and-­so many men, and their chief will be from themselves.”

“Dear daughter, we Ahle Bayt are given seven things that no one has been given before us. Our apostle is the best of the apostles. Our successor is the best of the successors, and he is your husband. Our martyr is the best of the martyrs, and he is Hamzah, the uncle of your father. From us is the one with two wings, by which he glides in Paradise, and he is your cousin Ja’far. From us are the two heirs of this Ummah, and they are your two sons: Hasan and Husain. And from us is, by Allah, a deity other than Him is not, the Mahdi of this Ummah, behind whom Isa Ibn Maryam will pray.” Then the Messenger of Allah (s) touched Husain’s shoulder and said thrice, “From him.”

He is Hasan Ibn Ali Askari (a.s) and he has not died. Some have said that the Mahdi is his brother, Muhammad Ibn Ali, who is alive and has not died. What is your argument to invalidate these claims? We will say: We have invalidated all of them by proving that the individuals they believe to be alive are dead, and by proving that the Imams are Twelve, and by the rational arguments concluding the Imamate of Ibn Hasan through the miracles that prove his Imamate and through the narratives of his birth and his miracles that prove his Imamate.

The assertion that Amirul Momineen (a.s) is alive is of an obdurate person, for the knowledge of his death and martyrdom is more famed than the story of the death of anyone else. To doubt his death encourages doubting the death of the Prophet and all of his companions. Furthermore, his final will and the prediction of the Prophet (s) that you will be killed and that your beard will be dyed with your blood also invalidates this claim. These are facts that do not require us to bring narrations to prove them.

The Messenger of Allah (s) said to Amirul Momineen (a.s) in his will: O Ali, soon Quraish would unite against you and they would come together to oppress and defeat you; thus if you have supporters, you do Jihad against them and if you don’t, you must refrain from violence and keep yourself secure; since martyrdom would come to you in future and Almighty Allah would curse the one who assassinates you.

Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s) sent me this will [mentioned above] along another will.

This copy is the will of Amirul Momineen (a.s) to Imam Hasan Mujtaba (a.s) and it is also mentioned in Kitab Sulaym Ibn Qays Hilali, which he read out to Aban and Aban also said: I read out this will to Ali bin Husain (a.s) and he (a.s) said: Sulaym has said the truth, may Allah have mercy on him. [Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) said:] Sulaym has said: When Amirul Momineen (a.s) made a bequest to his son, Imam Hasan (a.s), I witnessed it. The Imam made Husain (a.s), Muhammad bin Hanfiyyah, all his sons and elders of Shia and his Ahle Bayt witness this bequest and in his address to Imam Hasan (a.s), he said: My son, the Messenger of Allah (s) ordered me to make a will in your favor and transfer my books and weapons to you. After that he glanced at Imam Hasan (a.s) and said: My son, you are my successor and inheritor of my blood; if you like you have the discretion to forgive my killer; and if you like you can put him to death; but retaliate one hit only with a single hit and don’t fall into sin. Thus he mentioned the rest of the will till the end. When the will of the Imam ended, he said: May Almighty Allah protect you and guard the practice of your Prophet among you. I entrust you to Almighty Allah about you and invoke His peace and blessings for you. After that the Imam continued: ‘There is no god, except Allah,’ till he passed on the 23rd night of Ramadhan, Friday eve in the 40th year A.H. due the fatal injury that he had received on the 21st of Ramadhan.

H 158 - In another traditional report, it is mentioned that Imam (a.s) was wounded on the eve of the 19th and he passed away on the 21st. Obviously the second report is more accurate.