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 Sulayman (as) and Imam Mahdi (as).
Position at a young age
Hazrat Sulayman (as) was such that Hazrat Dawood appointed him as his vicegerent and caliph while he had not reached the age of maturity. Imam Jawad (as) said, “Allah, the Mighty and the High revealed to Dawood to make Sulayman his caliph while he was yet a child and used to graze sheep. The priests and scholars of Bani Israel rejected this proposal. Then the Almighty Allah revealed, Take the staffs of these persons and also the staff of Sulayman and put them in a room and seal that room with your seal. The next day whoever’s staff puts forth leaves and fructifies, he would be the caliph. Thus Dawood (as) told them about this and they replied: We agree to this.” (Kamaluddin volume 1, page 156)
The Almighty Allah appointed Imam Mahdi (as) as the caliph when he was a child of around five years and during the lifetime of his father he replied to the questions of Saad bin Abdullah Qummi.
A Kingdom – Never before nor after
Hazrat Sulayman (as) said: “O Lord, give me such a kingdom that none after me should have such dominion.” (Chapter 38 verse 35)
From the view of condition and quality, all the rulers of the world have based their dominance on oppression and corruption, but Sulayman desired that his kingdom should not be like that, and also the dominion and kingdom of the kings and rulers of the earth is limited only on human beings, however the power of Sulayman extended even upon the Jinns and birds. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime says: “And his hosts of the jinn and the men and the birds were gathered to him, and they were formed into groups.” (Chapter 27 verse 17)
Allah will bestow such a kingdom to Imam Mahdi (as) – in quality and quantity – as He has not bestowed to anyone before or would give to anyone after him. As for quantity, Imam Mahdi (as) would have power on the east and the west of the earth as mentioned in traditions. As for quality, it is so because it is justice and only justice. Because his kingdom includes all the inhabitants of the heavens and the earths, as explained above.
Control over the wind
Sulayman (as) was such that the Almighty Allah gave him control over the wind. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime says: “Then We made the wind subservient to him; it made his command to run gently wherever he desired.” (Chapter 38 verse 36)
Almighty Allah has also appointed the wind in service of Imam Mahdi (as) as mentioned in the tradition of Imam Sadiq (as) in Kamaluddin, “Then the Almighty Allah shall send a breeze that shall call out in every valley, ‘This is Mahdi, who shall judge like Prophet Dawood and Sulayman and he would not ask for proof.’” (Kamaluddin volume 2 page 671)
Occultation from people
Hazrat Sulayman (as) disappeared from his people for a period of time as Shaykh Sadooq has narrated in Kamaluddin. The occultation of Imam Mahdi (as) is longer than that of Sulayman (as).
Rising of the sun
The sun rose again for Sulayman (as) after setting. Imam Mahdi (as) is such that he would call out to the sun and the moon and they would respond to him.
Hazrat Sulayman (as) was the modesty (Hashmat) of Allah. Imam Mahdi (as) also is the modesty of Allah.
(The above article was taken and adapted from the book Mikyalul Makarim Fee Fawaedid Dua Lil Qaem)