Hazrat Imam Mahdi (as) bears the special characteristics and more from the previous prophets. He is the embodiment of their virtues and qualities. He carries their signs and is the inheritor of all that they stood for and what was revealed upon them. The following article mentions the similarity between Hazrat Hud (as) and Imam Mahdi (as).
Glad tidings of his arrival
The actual name of Hud (as) is Aabir, and Nuh had given glad tidings about him.
It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (as) in Kamaluddin that he said: “When the demise of Nuh approached, he summoned his Shiahs and followers and said: You should know that after me there shall be an occultation when false deities would appear. And indeed Allah, the Mighty and Sublime would bestow victory upon you through my descendant who would be named Hud. He shall be having awe, tranquility and dignity and in his appearance and manners, he shall resemble me. During his reappearance the Almighty Allah would destroy your enemies through a wind. Thus they began to continuously await and anticipate the reappearance and advent of Hud till the period became prolonged and the hearts of most of them hardened.
Then Allah, the Mighty and the High sent His Prophet, Hud when they had become despaired and calamities and hardships had surrounded them fully and the enemies were destroyed by a wind sans benefit, a wind that the Almighty Allah has described as follows in the Holy Quran: “It did not leave aught on which it blew, but it made it like ashes.” (Surah Zaariyat verses 41-42) After that occultation occurred for him till the advent of Salih (as).” (Kamaluddin volume 1, page 135)
The advent of Imam Mahdi (as) along with his distinctive qualities were also prophesied by his honorable forefathers and they mentioned his occultation and reappearance.
Destruction of infidels
Allah, the Mighty and Sublime destroyed the infidels through Hud (as) and He sent Aqeem on them as the Almighty Allah says: “When We sent upon them the destructive wind. It did not leave aught on which it blew, but it made it like ashes.” (Surah Zaariyat verses 41-42)
Imam Mahdi (as) is also having the same situation that Allah, the Mighty and the High would also destroy some disbelievers through a black windstorm – as mentioned in the lengthy tradition quoted by Mufaddal.
(The above article was taken and adapted from the book Mikyalul Makarim Fee Fawaedid Dua Lil Qaem)