Question:

Assalamu aleikum,

I want to know if Imam al-mehdi according to ahlul sunna wal gama'a is born because I have read from different scholars that his name will be Mohammad Abdullah and other sunni-muslim shcolars claiming his father's name is Hassan al- Askari .

What is Imam al- Mehdi's name?
Is Imam al Mehdi born? If yes when was he born and where is he now?
If not where are the names of his parents names?

Barak Allahu fekun

Answer:

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah raise the rank of Prophet Muhammad and his Kind Al and companions,

According to the Shiites, they claim that al-Mahdi  was their twelfth imaam who disappeared centuries ago, and that he was still alive in a dungeon and would one day reappear and rescue the world from this state of utter cruelty and injustice, filling it with justice.

We, Ahlus-Sunnah say that Mahdi did not come yet because the Prophet mentioned him in the hadith that he will appear at the end of times, he said: 

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "لا تقوم الساعة حتى يملك الناس رجل من أهل بيتي يواطئ اسمه اسمي واسم أبيه اسم أبي فيملؤها – أي الأرض – قسطا وعدلا" . . وفي لفظ "كما ملئت ظلمًا وجورًا" أخرجه أبو داود في سننه وابن حبان من حديث ابن مسعود عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم.

This Hadith means: "Before the day of Judgment, a man will emerge, He will be a descendant from my family. His name will be like mine, and his father's name is like my father's name (Muhammad son of ^Abdullah). He will fill earth with justice and fairness". And in another narration to the hadith: "As it was filled with injustice and oppression". Narrated by Abu Dawuud in his Sunan and by Ibn Hiban, from the route of Ibn Mas^oud.

So Imam al-Mahdi will appear at the end of times, when earth is full of injustice. His name will be Muhammad the son of Abdullah, from either Imam al-Hassan or al-Hussein (Lady Fatimah's children).

Is he born yet? It's possible, but Allah knows. But he's not announced to emerge yet because when he appears, it's mentioned in the Athar that an angel will go with him and announce: "O people, this is the Khalifah of Allah al-Mahdi so follow him". And he will be supported by one thousand angel. And in Makkah will await him three hundred waliy (Highly ranked pious Muslim) and they will pledged allegiance to him. In the days of the Mahdi there will be a famine, the perfect believer at that time will be satisfied by making Tasbih dhikr, by praising Allah and glorifying him.

We ask Allah to protect us on such days, and to make us among the soldiers of Imam al-Mahdiy, ameen.