পৃষ্ঠা 250: তৃতীয় অধ্যায়: কিয়ামতের মহা আলামতসমূহ (মাহদী, দাজ্জাল, ঈসা (আ.), ইয়াজুজ-মাজুজ, পশ্চিমাকাশে সূর্যোদয়)

Discussion regarding al-Mahdi: Is he an independent jurist (mujtahid) or a follower (muttabi')?

Furthermore, it is apparent that the one who brings the revelation to him [i.e., 'Isa (peace be upon him)] is Gabriel (peace be upon him); in fact, this is something we affirm conclusively without hesitation, because that is his assigned function. He is the emissary between Allah and His prophets, a role not known for any other among the angels. Abu Hatim narrated in his Tafsir that Gabriel (peace be upon him) was entrusted with the scriptures and the revelation to the prophets.

As for the widespread popular notion that Gabriel (peace be upon him) never descends to the earth after the demise of the Prophet (ﷺ), it has no basis. Indeed, it has been mentioned in numerous hadiths that he descends to earth, such as attending the death of someone who dies in a state of ritual purity, his descent on the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), his preventing the Dajjal from entering Makkah and Madinah, and other instances.

Then I came across a question presented to Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani: "Will 'Isa (peace be upon him) descend at the end of time having memorized the Magnificent Qur'an and the Sunnah of our Noble Prophet (ﷺ), or will he receive the knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah from the scholars of that era?"

He replied: "Nothing explicit has been transmitted regarding this matter. However, what is befitting the lofty status of 'Isa (peace be upon him) is that he directly receives that from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and thus he will judge among his Ummah just as he received it from him, because in reality he is his successor (khalifah)."

Here ends what we intended to cite from the words of the erudite scholar Shaykh 'Ali al-Qari al-Hanafi (may Allah treat him with His subtle grace), and it is of utmost value and preciousness.

Then he also refuted with decisive proofs the statement of one who claimed that al-Mahdi will follow (make taqlid of) Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him). However, he determined that al-Mahdi is an absolute independent jurist (mujtahid mutlaq). This contradicts what was previously mentioned by Shaykh Muhyi al-Din in al-Futuhat that al-Mahdi does not learn analogical deduction (qiyas) to judge by it, but rather learns it in order to avoid it. Thus, al-Mahdi only judges by what the angel delivers to him from Allah, whom Allah sent to direct and guide him. That is the true primordial Muhammadan Sacred Law, such that if our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) were alive and that particular case were brought before him, he would not judge concerning it except with the ruling of al-Mahdi. Thus, it is known that this is indeed the Muhammadan law; consequently, analogical reasoning is forbidden for him in the presence of the texts and direct divine insights Allah granted him. For this reason, the Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding his description: "He follows in my footsteps and does not err." Thus, we know that he is a follower (muttabi') and not an independent lawgiver (musharri'). End of quote from al-Futuhat.

Accordingly, al-Mahdi is not a mujtahid, because a mujtahid rules by analogical deduction (qiyas), whereas for him that is forbidden.