The claim that Imam Mahdi will be from the descendants of Hazrat Fatima
Again the same understanding of a spiritual reflection is there when it is quoted that the Imam Mahdi will be from the descendants of Fatima may Allah be pleased with her :-
Argument:
Ummul Mu’mineen, Hazrat Umme Salmah, radhiyallahu anhaa, the Holy Prophet’s wife, narrates that she heard the Holy Prophet, sallallahu alaihi wasallam, say:
The promised Mahdi will be among my progeny, among the descendants of Fatima.
Abu Dawud, Sahih, Vol. 2, P. 207; Ibn Majah, Sahih, Vol. 2, P. 519
The Holy Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alaihi wasallam, announced:
The Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatima (the Prophet’s daughter).
Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Tradition No. 4086
The Holy Prophet, sallallahu alaihi wasallam, taught:
Al-Mahdi is one of us, the members of the household (Ahlul-Bayt).”
Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Tradition No. 4085
Rebuttal:
It is not necessary of a Khalifah (successor) to be from the family of the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, which was one of the main contentions of the Shi’ites, who felt that Hazrat Ali may Allah be pleased with him should have been the rightful Khalifa, not Hazrat Abu Bakr may Allah be pleased with him, Hazrat Umar may Allah be pleased with him or Hazrat Uthman may Allah be pleased with him. Allah judges everyone on merit and their relationship with Him, not just because they belong to the family of the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Therefore we believe that what these kind of Ahadith mean is that he will be representing the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and will attain his prophethood through the love that he has for the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. All these types of Ahadith should never be taken literally. Just because a person is related to the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him is meaningless, they will be judged for what they do, not who they are related to. We see some Prophets’ family who were punished by Allah, like Noah’s son or Lot’s wife etc. so just being related to a prophet does not mean anything. Allah will chose the Imam Mahdi due to his piety and submissiveness to Allah and love for the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, not just because he comes from the family.
Therefore we understand such types of Ahadith to mean that he will be a spiritual reflection of the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and will attain his prophethood through his love for the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and will continue the blessed work of the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
