“Verily, the master of the affairs (i.e. Hazrat Mahdi) possesses the characteristic of the prophets; he bears resemblance with Moses and………” (Muntakhab-ul-Athar: 301, Hadith 5)
This is the most famous remark revealing the resemblance of Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) with Hazrat Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the holy Prophet.
He bears a similarity to Adam and Noah in longevity. It has come down in the holy Qur’an that before the occurance of storm, Hazrat Noah had lived for 950 years.[95] As per historical evidences and traditions, he lived a long life even after the event of storm. His likeness to Abraham (a.s.) is his secret birth and his isolation from the people. The trait similar to Moses (a.s.) is his fear and hope. In explanation of this fear, two points have been discussed: One that when Moses abandoned his tribe and left the city he disappeared for a while and then, entered the city with“fear” .[96] He feared lest the people would recognise him. For this reason, Hazrat Mahdi’s disappearance is likened to the period of disapperance of Hazrat Moses (a.s.). Another similarity is the fear for Moses’s secret birth. By Allah’s Will, Moses (a.s.) was born safe and sound and grew up in Pharoah’s palace. Just like Pharoah who was in search for Moses (a.s.), the Abbassid Caliphs too were on the track of Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) but failed to find him. They had news that someone from the holy Prophet’s progeny would come and destroy the tyrants and their government. Nevertheless, Hazrat Mahdi (a.s.) took birth in the military campus of the ruling government under divine protection.
His similarity with Jesus Christ (a.s.) lies in this that a few say,“Jesus has been born and killed” . Another group says,“He has not been born…….” The same talks are uttered about Hazrat Mahdi (a.s.) too. A few say,“He is not yet born” while others say,“He is born and has died” .
He resembles the holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in two things: One is his uprising with the sword and the other is that he would re-establish Islam from its very pillar. When he would come and present Islam before the people, they would say,“This appears to be a new religion” [97] This is because during the length of time, the Islamic ordinances would undergo a change and the meanings and concepts of Qur’an would be so distorted that when he would introduce Islam and Qur’an to the people, they would say,“This is a new faith; these are new sayings and a new religion” . In reality, this is not true. Rather, it would be presentation of the real Islam which appears new to the people. The holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:
“Mahdi shall follow my way, and he shall never forsake my sunnah” .[98]
The holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) also said:
“He (Mahdi) shall be the follower (of my sunnah); not a heretic………”
Hazrat Mahdi (a.s.) bears resemblance to other prophets, like Joseph, who remained concealed from the people including his brothers and the matter of people seeing him but not recognising his identity; or like Job (a.s.) in patience and deliverance.