Belief in the advent of Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) constitutes one of the fundamental teachings of Islam and represents a shared doctrinal principle among Islamic schools of thought, rooted in the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah. This belief is reflected not only in Shiʿi theological and hadith sources, but also extensively in the most authoritative Sunni references, particularly the Ṣiḥāḥ al-Sittah (the Six Canonical Collections).

Employing a descriptive–analytical method, the present study examines the status of Imam al-Mahdi (AJ) in the Qur’an and Sunni sources. Drawing upon the Ṣiḥāḥ al-Sittah, as well as Sunni hadith, historical, and theological works, the study elucidates the Qur’anic and narrational foundations of Mahdism, the lineage and identity of Imam al-Mahdi (AJ), his universal government, the descent of Prophet Jesus (ʿĪsā), the signs of reappearance, and the viewpoints of Sunni scholars regarding him.

Through an analysis of the traditions concerning Mahdism found in Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Sunan Ibn Mājah, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, this study demonstrates that the essential belief in the advent of Imam al-Mahdi (AJ), his affiliation with the Prophet’s Household (Ahl al-Bayt), his descent from Lady Fāṭimah (peace be upon her), the establishment of a universal government of justice, and the occurrence of the signs of reappearance are among the issues accepted by many Sunni traditionists and theologians.

Furthermore, an examination of independent works authored by Sunni scholars on Imam al-Mahdi (AJ) reveals that the doctrine of Mahdism has consistently occupied an important place in Islamic intellectual history and has received sustained attention from major Sunni scholars, many of whom have regarded the traditions concerning al-Mahdi as authentic and recurrently transmitted (mutawātir).

The findings of this study indicate that Mahdism, beyond its theological significance, possesses important social, civilizational, and unifying dimensions within the Muslim world.