↑[1] . Al-An‘am/ 108

↑[2] . Al-Hujurat/ 11

↑[3] . Of course, in a narration found in Sunan of Abi Dawud (vol. 4, p. 108), “Hasan” has been stated instead of “Husain.” However, this is most likely a mistake or a scribal error. The evidence for this lies in the variation that exists in different copies; for example, al-Qunduzi (d. 1294 AH) narrated it from Abu Dawud with the wording “Husain” (see Yanabi‘ al-Mawaddah by al-Qunduzi, vol. 3, p. 259), which suggests that the copy available to him had it that way. Moreover, this narration is weak, since its chain of narrators is interrupted (see al-Mawsu‘ah Fi Ahadith al-Mahdi al-Da‘ifah Wa al-Mawdu‘ah by al-Bastawi, p. 347). Its text also contradicts the ruling of the Quran, which indicates the priority of one’s own children over the children of one’s brother, as explained (refer to p. 272). Moreover, it conflicts with other narrations indicating that the Mahdi is from the descendants of “Husain.” For example, it has been narrated from Ali that he mentioned the Mahdi and stated that he is from the descendants of Husain, describing him as having a broad forehead, a slightly curved nose with a fine tip, wide-set thighs, and slightly spaced front teeth. This is a well-known narration from Ali, which scholars of the Arabic language have cited for explaining the meaning of “al-Zayal” (see Tahdhib al-Lughah by al-Azhari, vol. 13, p. 174; al-Gharibain Fi al-Quran Wa al-Hadith by Abu Ubaid al-Harawi, vol. 3, p. 844; al-Muhkam Wa al-Muhit al-A‘zam by ibn Sidah, vol. 9, p. 90; Lisan al-Arab by ibn Manzur, vol. 11, p. 317. The term “al-Zayal” is «الزَّيَل» in Arabic, which resembles the term «أزيل», used to describe the Mahdi as having wide-set thighs). Also, it has been narrated from Husain, who said: «سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ مِنِّي يَعْنِي الْمَهْدِيَّ»; “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘He is from me’—meaning the Mahdi” (al-Kamil by ibn Adi, vol. 7, p. 398), and from Hudhayfah that the Messenger of Allah mentioned the Mahdi; then Salman asked: “O Messenger of Allah! From which of your descendants is he?” He replied: «مِنْ وَلَدِي هَذَا»; “From this son of mine,” and he placed his hand on Husain (see al-Arba‘un al-Hadithan Fi al-Mahdi by Abu Nu‘aym al-Asbahani, p. 57). It has also been narrated from Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari that the Messenger of Allah promised him that he would see Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husain, and he said to him: «اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْمَهْدِيَّ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ»; “Know that the Mahdi is from his descendants” (see History of Damascus, vol. 54, p. 276). Yes, if the Mahdi’s lineage traces back to “Husain” through Abu Ja‘far, then it is correct to say that he is also from the descendants of “Hasan,” since Abu Ja‘far’s mother was Fatimah, the daughter of Hasan (see al-Tabaqat al-Kubra by ibn Sa‘d, vol. 7, p. 315; Ansab al-Ashraf by al-Baladhuri, vol. 3, p. 147), and based on this, the Mahdi can be considered from the descendants of Husain on his father’s side and from the descendants of Hasan on his mother’s side, thereby reconciling the reports and statements.