পৃষ্ঠা 176: দ্বিতীয় অধ্যায়: মধ্যবর্তী আলামতসমূহ যা দৃশ্যমান হয়েছে এবং ক্রমবর্ধমানভাবে সংঘটিত হচ্ছে

... miles, and it has three hundred and sixty gates, from each gate emerges a thousand warriors. It is located by the sea, which does not carry a vessel (meaning: a ship) upon it."

It was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, why does it not carry a vessel upon it?"

He replied: "Because it has no bottom. Rather, they pass through gulfs and inlets of that sea which Allah made of benefit to the children of Adam, which do have a seabed and thus carry ships. They will proclaim the Takbir over it four times, and its wall will collapse; they will seize its spoils, then reside in it for seven years. Thereafter, they will move from it toward Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), whereupon news will reach them that the Dajjal has emerged among the Jews of Isfahan."

Abu 'Amr al-Dani transmitted it in his 'Sunan'.

In another narration: "Then he comes to a city called al-Qati', situated on the Green Ocean that encompasses the world, beyond which there is nothing except the decree of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. Its length is one thousand miles, and its width is five hundred miles. They will proclaim the Takbir three times, whereupon its walls will collapse, and they will slay one million warriors within it. Then al-Mahdi will set out from it toward Bayt al-Maqdis with one thousand ships, and they will land on the coast of Palestine between Acre, Tyre, Ashkelon, and Gaza. They will bring out with them the wealth contained therein, and al-Mahdi will descend upon Bayt al-Maqdis and remain there until the Dajjal emerges. That is to say, the camp of the Muslims during the Great Epic Battle (al-Malhama al-Kubra) will be in Damascus, and when the Dajjal emerges, he will be in Bayt al-Maqdis. He will enter all horizons, such that no city entered by Dhu al-Qarnayn will remain except that he will enter it and rectify it, and no tyrant will remain except that he will perish."

And from him (ﷺ): "The world was ruled by two believers and two disbelievers. As for the two believers, they were Dhu al-Qarnayn and Solomon (Sulayman). As for the two disbelievers, they were Nimrod (Namrud) and Nebuchadnezzar (Bakht Nassar).

And a fifth from my progeny will rule it, and he is al-Mahdi."

Ibn Mardawayh narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) in a marfu' transmission: "The Companions of the Cave (Ashab al-Kahf) are the helpers of al-Mahdi."

The scholars said: The wisdom behind their delay until this era is so that they may attain the honor of entering into the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ), as an honor bestowed upon them.

And it is reported that the first banner al-Mahdi ties and dispatches will be sent against the Turks.