Hazrat Mahdi (as) Will Look Young Even in Advanced Age

Hazrat Mahdi (as) Will Have a Clean and Peaceful Countenance

The prominent and acknowledged poet, Agha Sayyid Hasan has thus mentioned about His Eminence [Hazrat Mahdi (as)]: "THE ELEGANCE CAME UP (AROSE) THROUGH HIS CLEAR FACE. THE MORNING BREEZE SPREAD FROM HIS CALMING COUNTENANCE."[Minanur Rahman, 2/237]

Hazrat Mahdi (as) is one of my grandchildren. HIS FACE IS BRIGHT LIKE A STAR ... Everything living in the earth and sky, even the birds, will be delighted with his rule and happy with his ssuccessio. He will rule for twenty years."[Abu Abdillah Muhammad bin Yusuf Ganji Shafei, Al-Bayan Fi Akhbar Sahib az-Zaman]

Hazrat Mahdi's (as) Age

The ages stated in hadiths as those at which Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be sent are those at which he starts work, and at which people will recognize him and witness his activities.

He [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] will be sent when he is between 30 and 40 years old… Hazrat Mahdi (as) is one of my children. He is around 40. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 41)

Hazrat Mahdi (as) is one of my line. He is 40 years old. His face is like a bright star…(Mari' bin Yusuf Karami Hanbali, Fawaid Fawaid al-Fikr fil Mahdi al-Montazar)

He [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] is a young man. (Mari' bin Yusuf Karami Hanbali, Fawaid Fawaid al-Fikr fil Mahdi al-Montazar)

Hazrat Mahdi (as) will Have a Slight Concavity on His Forehead

His [Hazrat Mahdi's (as)] hair is thick, his forehead is broad and there is a slight concavity on his forehead. His nose is small, and there is a very small protrusion right on the bridge. A small mole protrudes on his cheek. (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 13)

The hadith notes the presence of a small concavity on Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) broad forehead. There will be an almost unremarkable protrusion in the middle of his small, straight nose. The hadith also says that the mole on Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) cheek will be protruding.

Hazrat Mahdi's (as) Skin Will Be Bright

The color of his face is described variously as shining like a gold-bronze coin; so bright that it is almost impossible to recognize the real color. (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 13, p. 263)

The hadith draws attention to the beauty of Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) skin. Many hadiths reveal that Hazrat Mahdi (as), who will appear to be aged around 40 even when he is older, will have strikingly bright, beautiful and healthy skin.

Hazrat Mahdi (as) will Have a Small Dip Between His Eyebrows

Hazrat Mahdi (as)… WILL HAVE A SMALL DIP BETWEEN HIS EYEBROWS…(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 13, p. 243 [Farsi translation])

In this hadith of the Prophet (saas), it is said that Hazrat Mahdi (as) WILL HAVE A NATURAL BROW FURROW LINE (IN THE FORM OF A SINGLE LINE)between his eyebrows.

Hazrat Mahdi (as) Will Look Young Even in Advanced Age

Hazrat Mahdi (as) will grow older in years along with everyone else. But he will always remain youthful in appearance. He will always have the appearance of a man of around 40. The reason why the hadith draws attention to his youthful appearance as a distinguishing feature is that people will age quickly in the End Times. Indeed, in the End Times in which we are living, it is notable how many young people undergo a rapid physical collapse. Many young people develop wrinkly skin very early, with lines constantly developing around their eyes and signs of aging rapidly manifesting themselves. Allah will preserve Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) youthful appearance, and he will look 40 even in advanced years.

And ONE OF HIS [HAZRAT MAHDI'S (AS)] SIGNS IS THAT HE WILL NOT AGE WITH THE PASSAGE OF DAYS AND NIGHTS. (Lutfullah Saafi Gulpaygani, Muntakhab al-Asar Fee Al Imam al-Saani al-Ashar, p. 285)

All the information given in the hadiths is highly detailed. Nobody else is described in such detail in the hadiths of the Prophet (saas). The fact that, like all the information provided about the life of Hazrat Mahdi (as), all the characteristics of his physical appearance are so distinguishing is an important sign and also a blessing for all Muslims awaiting him with great love and excitement and who are eager to be able to recognize him.

Together with all the other signs we are given, such as the fact that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will assume the spiritual leadership of all Muslims by being instrumental in unifying the Islamic world, that he will establish Islamic moral values on the world by neutralizing irreligious ideologies, that he will perform the prayer (salat) with the Prophet Jesus (as) and be a means whereby the whole Christian world turns to Islam, a consideration of all the details in his physical appearance will leave no room for doubt as to the identity of Hazrat Mahdi (as) when, by Allah’s leave, he appears.