THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HAZRAT MAHDI (PBUH) IN JUDAIC SCRIPTURES

The Messiah (Hazrat Mahdi [pbuh]) whose coming is awaited in the Judaic tradition—will be a spiritual leader who will establish world peace. Besides being a guide to nations, he will be a just and honest judge who always makes the most accurate decisions. He will have exemplary moral values and be a model for the entire humanity, simply because of his fear and love of Allah. Since Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will fill the world with justice, neutralize all corrupt societies and be a guide for all nations to follow, Jews refer to him using the title "Yahev" or "Shahev" (The one who restores the people, returns the people to God).

In addition, Judaic tradition says that Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh) personality and beauty of soul will influence others, and that he will turn people in the direction of faith with very wise words. However, this servant whom Allah chooses and supports will very definitely not be any superhuman entity. He will be an individual born normally to ordinary parents, but whom Allah supports in every way physically and spiritually and bestows glory upon. Some of the characteristics ascribed to Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) according to Jewish references are:

1. He will be just:

With righteousness he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will judge the needy... (Isaiah, 11:4)
... In judging, [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] seeks justice... (Isaiah, 16:5)
... A scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom... (Psalms, 45:6-7)
Righteousness will be his [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] belt, and faithfulness the sash around his waist. (Isaiah, 11:5)
[Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is] righteous and having salvation, gentle ... (Zechariah, 9:9)
"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a righteous branch [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... who will... do what is just and right in the land... (Jeremiah, 23:5-6)

2. He will protect the rights of the oppressed:

With righteousness shall he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] judge the poor, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth... (Isaiah, 11:4)

3. He will bring justice to the whole world:

Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight!... He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will bring justice to the nations. (Isaiah, 42:1)
... In faithfulness he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. ... (Isaiah, 42:3-4)
Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] in righteousness to his service... (Isaiah, 41:2)

4. He will be honest and truthful:

You love righteousness and hate wickedness... (Psalms, 45:7)
... With righteousness shall he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] judge the poor... (Isaiah, 11:4)
"In those days and at that time I will make a righteous branch sprout from David's line; he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will do what is just and right in the land." (Jeremiah, 33:15)
One from the house of David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... who in judging seeks justice... (Isaiah, 16:5)
... [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] shall reign in righteousness... (Isaiah, 32:1)
The Messianic age [the Golden Age] will be ruled by the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)], a righteous and honest king... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Sanhedrin 10:1)

5. He will be a savior:

... [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is] righteous and having salvation... (Zechariah, 9:9)

6. His message will influence the world:

He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth [he will influence with his words without having a weapon]; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked [he will make them spiritually ineffective by his speech.] (Isaiah, 11:4)
... And he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will be called wonderful counselor. (Isaiah, 9:6)
You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery [that is, Hazrat Mahd (pbuh) will demolish the irreligious systems by his ideas]. (Psalms, 2:9)

7. His words will act on people's hearts:

Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh) words are so wise and affective that he will make the irreligious ideologies ineffective]. (Psalms, 45:5)

8. He will turn the whole world toward belief in Allah:

He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will [then] correct the entire world to serve God together, as is written: "For then I shall turn to the nations a pure tongue, that all shall call upon the name of God to serve Him shoulder to shoulder." [Zephaniah, 3:9] (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws of Kings 11:4)

9. He will spiritually cleanse mankind:

But who can endure the day of his [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify... and refine them like gold and silver. (Malachi, 3:2-3)
... I will... make you [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... a light for the nations, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah, 42:6-7)

10. He will succeed with the power of faith, without resorting to force:

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah, 4:6)

11. He will possess power and success:

See, My servant [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. (Isaiah, 52:13)
"Here I will make a horn grow for David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] and set up a lamp for My anointed one. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown on his head will be resplendent." (Psalms, 132:17-18)
Through the victories You gave, his glory is great; You have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely You have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence. For the king [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. (Psalms, 21:5-7)
... He [Lord] will give strength unto His king [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)], and exalt the horn of His anointed. (1 Samuel, 2:10)
... A son is given unto us; and the government is upon his [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] shoulder... That the government may be increased, and of peace there be no end... (Isaiah, 9:6-7, Targum and Debarim Rabbah)

12. He will be a spiritual leader to nations:

The Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will be a very great king... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Sanhedrin 10:1)
He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] was given authority, glory and sovereign power. All the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him... (Daniel, 7:14)
 [He] will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... (Isaiah, 11:10)
All the nations will come to listen to him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Repentance 9:2)
In his [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] law, the islands will put their hope. (Isaiah, 42:4)
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you... (Isaiah, 60:3-4)
... Until Shiloh [sent by God] comes, and to him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will be the obedience of peoples. (Genesis, 49:10)

13. People will be subjected to Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh):

May the king's [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] name endure for ever; may his name be continued as long as the Sun; may men also bless themselves by him; may all nations call him happy. (Psalms, 72:17)
His [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] great righteousness and the wonders that he will bring about will cause all peoples to make peace with him and all lands to serve him... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Sanhedrin, 10:1)
... Let the nations fall beneath your feet [All the people will be subjected to Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]. (Psalms, 45:5)

14. He will possess hegemony:

... There was given him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom. All the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel, 7:14)
... He [your king] will proclaim peace to the nations. His [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah, 9:10)
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever... (Isaiah, 9:7)
Here I will make a horn grow for David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown on his head will be resplendent. (Psalms, 132:17-18)
He [God] gives His king [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] great victories. He shows unfailing kindness to His anointed. (2 Samuel, 22:51)
In future time, the King Moshiach [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will arise and renew the Davidic dynasty, restoring it to its initial sovereignty... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws of Kings 11:4)
He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will rule from sea to sea and from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth. (Psalms, 72:8)

15. He will rule the world from his own base:

... Son of David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), like the the Prophet Solomon (pbuh)]... reigned only over his couch... (Talmud, Sanhedrin 20b)

16. He will rule the world through his helpers:

... Son of David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), like the Prophet Solomon (pbuh)]... reigned only over his staff [helpers]. (Talmud, Sanhedrin 20b)

17. He will establish world peace:

I will take away the chariots... and the battle bow will be broken... He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will proclaim peace to the nations... (Zechariah, 9:10)
His [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] great righteousness and the wonders that he will bring about will cause all peoples to make peace with him... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Sanhedrin 10:1)
(In the days of the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)])... battles and wars will cease... "They will not lift a sword, nation against nation." (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Sanhedrin 10:1)

18. He will be chaste:

... And the glory of the Lord rises upon you... and His glory appears over you. (Isaiah, 60:1-2)
Through the victories You gave, his [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] glory is great; You have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. (Psalms, 21:5)

19. He will trust in Allah and rely on Him:

... For the king [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. (Psalms, 21:7)

20. Allah will support Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) in every way:

Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... (Isaiah, 42:1)
I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you... a light to the nations ... (Isaiah, 42:6)
And the Spirit of Lord shall rest upon him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)], the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Lord. (Isaiah, 11:2)
You welcomed him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked You for life, and You gave it to him... (Psalms, 21:3-4)
Our Rabbis taught, The Holy One, blessed be He, will say to the Messiah, the son of David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]: "Ask of Me anything, and I will give it to you." (Talmud, Sukkah 52a)
This is what the Lord says: "In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people..." (Isaiah, 49:8)
The spirit of the God is upon me... (Isaiah, 61:1)
O Lord, the king [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories You give! You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. (Psalms, 21:1-2)

21. He will be intelligent and wise:

"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a righteous branch, a king [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land." (Jeremiah, 23:5)
That king who will arise from the descendants of David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will be even wiser than Solomon... (Mishnah Torah, Repentance 9:2)
The Messianic age [Golden Age] will be ruled by the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... outstanding in wisdom... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Sanhedrin 10:1)
Rabbi Nahman said: If he (the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]) is of those living today... he would be our holy master. (Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b)

22. He will be a servant beloved of Allah:

He gives His king [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] great victories; He shows unfailing kindness to his anointed ... forever. (2 Samuel, 22:51; Psalms, 18:50)
... Through the unfailing love of the Most High, he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will not be shaken. (Psalms, 21:7)
Here is My servant [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)], whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight... (Isaiah, 42:1)

23. He will be filled with the fear of Allah: 

... The spirit of the fear of Lord shall rest upon him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... His delight shall be in the fear of Lord... (Isaiah, 11:2-3)

24. He remains close to Allah:

The Messianic age [Golden Age]... will be ruled by the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... outstanding in wisdom, close to God. (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Sanhedrin 10:1)

25. He is good-looking:

Your eyes will see the king [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] in his beauty... (Isaiah, 33:17)
You are the most excellent of men... (Psalms, 45:2)

26. Allah's glory will be upon him:

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you... Nations will come to your light. (Isaiah, 60:1-3)

27. His speech is wise:

... And your lips have been anointed with grace... (Psalms, 45:2)

 28. He will teach and call people to Allah's path:  
... That king who will arise from the descendants of David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... will therefore [be able to] teach the people the ways of God and to fear them. (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Repentance 9:2)
If a king [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will arise from the House of David... and repair the breaches [in the observance of Allah's Laws]... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws of Kings 11:4)
... He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will then perfect the entire world, to serve God together... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws of Kings 11:4)

29. He will have majesty and splendor:

... You have bestowed on him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] splendor and majesty. (Psalms, 21:5)

30. His dwelling will be magnificent:

... His [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] resting-place shall be glorious. (Isaiah, 11:10)

31. He will have humility:

... He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] is triumphant, and victorious, lowly... (Zechariah, 9:9)

32. He will act in accord with Allah's approval:

If a king [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] will arise from the House of David... and if he will fight the wars of God [if he wages intellectual struggle for Allah]; we may, with assurance, consider him Mashiach [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]. (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws of Kings 11:4)

33. He will rule not superficially, but with the knowledge of the hidden (ladun):

... He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears... (Isaiah, 11:3)
He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] smells [a man] and judges, as it is written, and he will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. [Isaiah, 11:3-4] (Talmud, Sanhedrin 93b)

34. He will possess love and compassion:

For he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. (Psalms, 72:12)
He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will have pity on the poor and needy, and the souls of the needy he will save. (Psalms, 72:13)
He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will redeem their soul from oppression and violence, and precious will their blood be in his sight. (Psalms, 72:14)
He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will defend the afflicted among the people, and save the children of the needy... (Psalms, 72:4)

35. He will be good-natured:

He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. (Isaiah, 42:2)
A bruised reed he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. (Isaiah, 42:3)

36. He will be courageous:

... He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth... (Isaiah, 42:4)
O mighty one [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. (Psalms, 45:3)

37. He will be given abundance:

He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] grew up before Him [the Lord] like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground... (Isaiah, 53:2)
He [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. (Psalms, 72:6)
Surely You have granted him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] eternal blessings... (Psalms, 21:6)

38. He will impart glad tidings:

How beautiful... are the feet of those... who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation... (Isaiah, 52:7)

39. He will epitomize Allah's title of the Salam (Peace):

... And he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will be called... prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end... (Isaiah, 9:6-7)

40. He will have human form, and be a genuine human being:

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)], coming with the clouds of heaven... (Daniel 7:13)
Rabbi Nahman said: If he [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] is of those living [today], it might be one like myself, as it is written. And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governors shall proceed from the midst of them. [Jeremiah, 30:21] (Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b)

41. He will rule the world without working miracles:

Do not consider it possible that the King Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] must make signs and wonders and make new things in the world or revive the dead and the like, as the matter is not so... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws of Kings 11:3)
Let no one consider that in the days of the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] anything of the customary way of the world will be defunct, or that there will be anything new in Creation, rather the world will remain as it is. (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws of Kings 12:1)
Do not think that the ways of the world or the laws of nature will change in the era of the Messiah [in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... The world will continue as it is. (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Sanhedrin 10:1)
The Sages did not ask him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] for any signs or wonders. (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws of Kings 11:2)

42. He will be known throughout the world:

He [Messiah (Hazrat Mahdi [pbuh])] will achieve great fame, and his reputation among the nations will be even greater than that of King Solomon... (Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Sanhedrin 10:1)

43. He will appear in the End Times:

... And in the last jubilee* the son of David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will come. (Talmud, Sanhedrin 97b)
*Jubilee: a period that the Jews regard as holy and occurs once every 50 years.

44. He will appear unexpectedly:

(In calculating the time of the Messiah's [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] coming)... Three come unawares... Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)], a found article and a scorpion. (Talmud, Sanhedrin 97a)

45. He will be Allah's blessing upon humanity:

... What is his (the Messiah's [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)]) name?... His name is Shiloh [sent by God]... His name is Yinnon [His name shall endure for ever]... His name is Haninah [blessed by God]... His name is Menahem [the comforter]... Because Menahem [the comforter], that would relieve my soul... Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows... (Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b)

46. His value was unknown at first:

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah, 53:3, Messianically quoted in Targum, Talmud Sanhedrin 98b)

47. He will be tested with hardships:

In the generation in which the son of David [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will come there will be prosecution against scholars. When I repeated this statement in the presence of Samuel, he exclaimed, [there will be] test after test... (Talmud, Kethuboth 112b)
The Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]—as it is written, and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge of the fear of the Lord... Rabbi Alexandri said: "This teaches that He loaded him [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] with good deeds and suffering as a mill [is laden]. [Isaiah, 11:2] (Talmud, Sanhedrin 93b)
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His anointed one [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." (Psalms, 2:1-3)

48. His helpers' main task will be to serve Allah:

And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. (Isaiah, 61:6)

49. Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh) being is predestined:

The world was created only on David's account; Samuel said: On Moses account; Rabbi Johanan said: For the sake of the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]. (Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b)
Seven things were contemplated (by the Holy One, Blessed be He) before Creation: The Torah, repentance, the Garden of Eden and Gehinnom, the Throne of Glory, the Holy Temple and the Messiah's [Hazrat Mahdi's (pbuh)] identity. (Talmud, Pesachim 51a)
Seven things were created before the world, viz., the Torah, repentance, the Garden of Eden, Gehenna, the Throne of Glory, the Temple, and the name of the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)]... The name of the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)], as it is written, his name shall endure forever, and [has existed] before the Sun! [Psalms 72:17] (Talmud, Nedarim 39b)

50. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will have a serving period of 40 years:

It has been taught: Rabbi Eliezer said: The days of the Messiah [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh)] will last forty years, as it is written, forty years long shall I take hold of the generation. (Talmud, Sanhedrin 99a)