According to Hadith, Imam Al-Mehdi (A.S.) will appear with 40 years of age and he will bring peace and justice into the world. When we read about sings how we will recognize him, we find that the Imam will be wearing Qutwani Cloak (Tzizit, Tallit), which is typical Jewish clothing and it is mentioned that his body is the body of Bani Israel (Israelites).
The Imam Mahdi (AS) will appear at the age of 40 and He will have:

  • wheatish complexion like the Arabs and body of the Israelites,
  • Arab type skin color, between red and white, but it will become darker under the sun,
  • medium height,
  • long straight nose,
  • eyes brows round like bow,
  • big eyes,
  • slanting eyes,
  • his eyebrows are curved,
  • a broad forehead,
  • a mole on his forehead,
  • a spacing between the teeth,
  • a small mark (mole) in the palm of his left hand,
  • a mark (mole) on his right cheek,
  • face glowing like a shining star,
  • a mark (mole) on his back between his two shoulder blades,
  • a mark on his right leg,
  • his thighs are broad,
  • a big abdomen,
  • his whole body will be wide (broad shouldered),
  • he will wear beautiful fabrics and bright clothing,
  • a mark to the left of and below his left shoulder bone (like a three-dimensional skin color myrtle leaf),
  • he will be slow in speech,
  • while praying to GOD, he will expand his hands for prayers like birds expanding their wings,
  • he will be around 40.


    • He will not be recognized when he first comes. It is the same in other hadith. The Prophet (saas) says, “He is like the Prophet Yusuf (as).” “Hazrat Mahdi (as) will move among the people and through the markets. He will know the people, but the people will not recognize him.” And that is what has happened; Hazrat Mahdi (as) has come but nobody is aware of him.

    The blessed Mahdi’s stature and posture resemble those of the People of Israel. (Reference:Al-Qawl Al-Mukhtasar Fi alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, pp. 36-29.)
    His body is an Israelite one. (Reference: Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, p. 24.)
    The Mahdi is one of the People of Israel. (His demeanor resembles theirs, it is majestic and wise) (Reference: Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, pp. 23-30.).
    The blessed Mahdi has an Israelite body. He resembles one of the greatest of the People of Israel. (Reference: Ibn Hajar al-Makki).
    His body is that one of an Israelite. (Reference: Mar’i ibn Yusuf al-Maqdisi, Fera Idu Fevaidi’l Fiqr Fi’l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar).
    He will resemble one of the Israelites. (Reference: Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu’s-saqib fi Bayan Anna’l Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Ale’t-Tamam ve’l Qamal).
    He is a man from the people of Israel.  (Reference: Nuaym ibn   Hammad, vr. 52a; Mar’i ibn Yusuf al-Maqdisi, Fera Idu Fevaidi’l Fiqr Fi’l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar).
    He will be wearing Qutwani Cloaks. He will resemble in character Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم , but in appearance, he will be different. (Muhammad Al-Barzanji’s book Isha’ah li Ashrat Al-Sa’a)
    Abu Umamah says that Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The people asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم , who will be the Imam of the people at the time? ‘ He said: ‘He will be from my progeny and will be forty years of age. His face will shine like a star and he will have a small black spot on his right cheek. He will don two Qutwaani cloaks of the Israelites. He will rule for 20 years and will conquer the cities of the Mushrikeen (Polytheists).” (Tabrani)
    Abu Saeed Al-Khudri reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said “The Mahdi is from me (my progeny) and will have a broad, clear (of hair) forehead and a prominent nose and will fill the Earth with fairness and justice as it was filled with oppression and injustice, and will reign for seven years.” (Abu Dawud).
    أخرج أبو نعيم (12) عن أبى أمامة قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : [ سيكون ] بينكم وبين الروم أربع هدن, يوم الرابعة على يدي رجل من أهل هرقل , يدوم سبع سنين, فقال له رجل [ من عبد القيس يقال له المستورد بن خيلان ] : يا رسول الله من إمام المسلمين يومئذ ؟ قال: المهدي من ولدي, ابن أربعين سنة, كأن وجهه كوكب دري, في خده الأيمن خال أسود, عليه عباءتان قطوانيتان, كأنه من رجال بني إسرائيل, يستخرج الكنوز, و يفتح مدائن الشرك
    Abu Umamah says that Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ” There will be four Hudna (truces) between you and the Romans (Europeans). The fourth (truce) will be mediated through a person who will be from the descendants of Prophet Aaron (the first High Priest of the Israelites) and will be upheld for seven years. The people asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم , who will be the Imam of the people at the time? ‘ He said: ‘( Nuaim bin Hammad mentions ‘The Mahdi ‘) He will be from my progeny and will be forty years of age. His face will be a shining star and he will have a small black spot on his right cheek. He will wear two Qutwaaniataan cloaks from the Israelites. He will reign for 20 years, extract the treasures, and conquer the cities of Shirk (Polytheism).” (Tabrani, Nuaim bin Hammad’s Kitab Al-Fitan)
    حديث شماره : 222
    سليمان حبيب ، از ابو امامه از رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله نقل كرده كه فرمود : بين شما وبين روميها چهار صلح واقع خواهد شد . صلح چهارم با شخصى بنام ، هرقل مىباشد كه هفت سال طول مى كشد ، آنگاه شخصى از عبدالقيس ، بنام ، مستورد بن خيلان . عرضكرد : يا رسول الله در آنروز چه كسى امام مردم خواهد بود حضرت فرمود : ( مهدى از فرزندان من ) كه جوانى چهل ساله است ، چهره اش مانند ستارهء درخشان ، مى درخشد وسمت راست صورت خالى سياه داشته ودو عباى ( قطوانى ) در بر دارد ، گويى از مردان بني إسرائيل مىباشد ، وى بيست سال حكومت مىنمايد . گنج ها را ( از زمين ) خارج كرده وتمام ممالك شرك را فتح مىكند .

    The appearance of Imam Mahdi (according to Hadith) is that he has deep wheatish complexion, light stature, medium height, beautiful broad complexion,long straight nose, eyes brows round like bow, big natural eyes, with a spacing between the teeth, a mole mark on the right cheek, face glowing like a shining star, a mark on shoulder like that of Dear Prophet Muhammad (Salallaho alayhay wa Sallam), complexion like the Arabs and body of the Children of Israel, slow in speech, will appear at the agae of 40, while praying to Allah he will expand his hands for prayers  like  birds expanding their wings, will be wearing QUTWANI CLOAKS (the clothes of Children of Israel), will resemble in character to Dear Prophet Muhammad (Salallaho alayhay wa Sallam) but in appearance he will be different from Dear Prophet Muhammad (Salallaho alayhay wa Sallam). (Reference. Al-Asha-ah Page 194-195 )