Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin

”’Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin”’ (‘‘Forty [Hadith] concerning the Mahdis‘‘) by [[Shah Ismail Shaheed]] (26 April 1779 – 6 May 1831) [[Balakot]], Pakistan. ”Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin” is a small book consisting of 50 pages. As the name suggests it has forty [[Ahadith]] in it, all these traditions pertain to the appearance of ”Imam” [[Mahdi]] in the [[Ummah]] of [[Muhammad]]. The author [[Shah Ismail Shaheed]] was the son of Shah Abdul-Ghani, and the grandson of [[Shah Waliullah Dehlawi]]. Shah Ismail died in action at [[Balakot]] fighting against the [[Sikh]] Raj on 6 May 1831. The book has been published some 20 years after his death by a Publisher at Misri Ganj [[Calcutta]] on the 25 Muharram 1268 Hijri (21 November 1851 G). The publisher writes, he has appended the “very famous Ode” of [[Shah Nimatullah Wali]](1330-1431) at the end of the book.<ref>”Ni’matullah Wali is famous in India as a man of vision and a prefect saint. … these verses, famous in Hindustan, are found. They are published here since they contain a description of the [expected] Mahdi. Written on the 25th of Muharram, 1268 ” [http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00litlinks/naim/txt_naim_prophecies_2011.pdf]</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/ArbaeenFiAhwaalUlMahdiyyeein Arbaeen-Fi-Ahwaal-al-Mahdiyyeen by Shah Ismail Shaheed (1851)]</ref> This printed copy of the “Ode” [1851 AD] of [[Shah Nimatullah Wali]](1330-1431) is probably the oldest published copy available at this time. According to Professor [[C. M. Naim]] of Chicago University,calling this copy of the “Ode” Q1, “ …had long existed, and was undoubtedly copied and shared by thousands of people, its debut in the political discourse of South Asian Muslims occurred near the middle of the 19th century. According to Qamar Islampuri, it appeared as a part of a book called Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin (“Forty [Hadith] concerning the Mahdis”), ascribed to “Shah Isma’il ‘Shahid’ and published at Misri Gunj, Calcutta, on Muharram 25, 1268 AH (21 November 1851)”.<ref>‘Prophecies’ in South Asian Muslim Political Discourse: The Poems of Shah Ni’matullah Wali by C M Naim Professor Emeritus of South Asian Languages and Civilisations at the University of Chicago, United States.[http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00litlinks/naim/txt_naim_prophecies_2011.pdf]</ref>

””’Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin””’ (‘Forty [Hadith] concerning the Mahdis’) is a book by [[Shah Ismail Dehlvi|Shah Ismail Dehlawi]] (1779 – 1831) containing forty traditions ([[Ahadith]]) pertaining to the appearance of the ”Imam” [[Mahdi]]. Shah Ismail Dehlawi was the son of Shah Abdul-Ghani and grandson of [[Shah Waliullah Dehlawi]]. Shah Ismail died in action at [[Balakot]] fighting against the [[Sikh]] Rule in 1831. The book was published some 20 years later from [[Calcutta]] in 1851. It appends an apocalyptic ode of Sufi saint [[Shah Nimatullah Wali]] (1330-1431) at the end of the book.<ref>”Ni’matullah Wali is famous in India as a man of vision and a prefect saint. … these verses, famous in Hindustan, are found. They are published here since they contain a description of the [expected] Mahdi. Written on the 25th of Muharram, 1268 ” [http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00litlinks/naim/txt_naim_prophecies_2011.pdf]</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/ArbaeenFiAhwaalUlMahdiyyeein Arbaeen-Fi-Ahwaal-al-Mahdiyyeen by Shah Ismail Shaheed (1851)]</ref> This 1851 copy of the ode is probably the oldest published copy. According to Professor [[C. M. Naim]] of Chicago University, this copy, which he calls Q1, “had long existed, and was undoubtedly copied and shared by thousands of people, its debut in the political discourse of South Asian Muslims occurred near the middle of the 19th century.<ref>‘Prophecies’ in South Asian Muslim Political Discourse: The Poems of Shah Ni’matullah Wali by C M Naim Professor Emeritus of South Asian Languages and Civilisations at the University of Chicago, United States.[http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00litlinks/naim/txt_naim_prophecies_2011.pdf]</ref>

==Contents==

==Contents==

:: ” ”Narrated by Thobaan, the Messenger of Allah said,”Two parties of my [[Ummah]] have been saved from the Fire (of Hell) by Allah. One, who will wage [[Jihad]] in India, and the other, who will accompany the [[Messiah]] [[Jesus]] son of [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]]” “.[Sunan Al-Nisai, chapter: [[Jihad]] in India by [[Al-Nasa’i]] (829-915 CE)]

:: ” ”Narrated by Thobaan, the Messenger of Allah said,”Two parties of my [[Ummah]] have been saved from the Fire (of Hell) by Allah. One, who will wage [[Jihad]] in India, and the other, who will accompany the [[Messiah]] [[Jesus]] son of [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]]” “.[Sunan Al-Nisai, chapter: [[Jihad]] in India by [[Al-Nasa’i]] (829-915 CE)]

===Khilafat to Khilafat===

===Khilafah===

On page 12, the author mentions a prophecy of [[Muhammad]] as narrated by Huzaifa, to the effect that Muhammad’s Prophethood shall be followed by a [[Khilafat]] on the principles of Prophethood and then…:

On page 12, the author mentions a prophecy of [[Muhammad]] as narrated by Huzaifa, to the effect that Muhammad’s Prophethood shall be followed by a [[Khilafah]] (Caliphate) on the principles of Prophethood:

::””Prophethood shall remain among you as long as Allah shall will. He will bring about its end and follow it with Khilafat on the precepts of prophethood for as long as He shall will and then bring about its end. A tyrannical monarchy will then follow and will remain as long as Allah shall will and then come to an end. There will follow thereafter monarchial despotism to last as long as Allah shall will and come to an end upon His decree. There will then emerge Khilafat on the precept of Prophethood.” The Holy Prophet said no more and became quiet””. (Masnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Mishkat, Chapter Al-Anzar Wal Tahzir.) (”Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin” page 12-13)

::””Prophethood shall remain among you as long as Allah shall will. He will bring about its end and follow it with Khilafat on the precepts of prophethood for as long as He shall will and then bring about its end. A tyrannical monarchy will then follow and will remain as long as Allah shall will and then come to an end. There will follow thereafter monarchial despotism to last as long as Allah shall will and come to an end upon His decree. There will then emerge Khilafat on the precept of Prophethood.” The Holy Prophet said no more and became quiet””. (Masnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Mishkat, Chapter Al-Anzar Wal Tahzir.) (”Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin” page 12-13)

===Predicting the year of Jesus Descent===

===Predicting the year of Jesus‘ Descent===

[[File:A page from Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin page-28.jpg|thumb|left|A page from Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin page-28 (Line with words 1883 and 1300 Hijri)]]

[[File:A page from Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin page-28.jpg|thumb|left|A page from Al-Arba’in fi Ahwal-al-Mahdiyin page-28 (Line with words 1883 and 1300 Hijri)]]

This booklet contains many [[Ahadith]] about the [[Second Coming]] of [[Jesus]] son of Mary from different sources of [[Ahadith]] like the [[Al-Bukhari]], the [[Sahih Muslim]], [[Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal]], [[Ibn Hibban]] and Sunan al-Bayhaqi of [[Al-Bayhaqi]] etc. The recurring theme is, “”How (happy) will you be when the son of Mary (Jesus) descends amongst you””.

This booklet contains many [[Ahadith]] about the [[Second Coming]] of [[Jesus]] son of Mary from different sources of [[Ahadith]] like the [[Al-Bukhari]], the [[Sahih Muslim]], [[Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal]], [[Ibn Hibban]] and Sunan al-Bayhaqi of [[Al-Bayhaqi]] etc. The recurring theme is, “”How (happy) will you be when the son of Mary (Jesus) descends amongst you””.