Yemen and its role at the Time of Appearance of Imam Mahdi (A.S.)

Source: Chapter 7 from the famous book ‘Asre Zahoor’ [The Time of appearance of Imam Mahdi (A.S.)] written by famous Lebanese scholar Allama Ali al-Korani which was first published in 1984
Yemen and its role at the Time of Appearance
Many narratives from Ahlul Bayt (A.S.)[The Family members of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)] have been reported about the Islamic revolution in Yemen and preparation of Yemeni Muslims for the appearance of Imam Mahdi (A.S.). Some of narratives are from authentic Islamic sources that emphasize the occurrence of this Islamic revolution in Yemen and describe it as a guiding flag, aiming to prepare for the Imam Mahdi’s uprising. [1] Even some of the traditions consider the Islamic Revolution of Yemen as the most imminent and absolute guiding flag before appearance of Imam Mahdi (A.S.) and emphasize helping this Islamic movement in Yemen more than helping the flags that will rise in favour of Imam Mahdi (A.S.) from the east from Khurasan (Iran). These authentic Islamic narratives also mention the time of its occurrence in the month of Rajab concurrent with emergence of Sufyani in Syria which will be few months before the appearance of Imam Mahdi (A.S.) and mention Sanaa as the capital city of this Islamic movement in Yemen.

However, the name of its leader according to these narratives is ‘Yemeni’ and other narratives mention ‘Hasan’ or ‘Hussein’ and that he be from the progeny of Zayd, son of Imam Ali ibn Husain (A.S.).
Now the most important narratives about the Yemeni revolution:
From Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (A.S.), it has been narrated that he said:
قبل قيام القائم خمس علامات محتومات: اليماني ، والسفياني ، والصيحة ، وقتل النفس الزكية ، والخسف بالبيداء.
“Before the uprising of Imam Mahdi (A.S.) there will be five certain signs: Yemeni, Sufyani, the call from the sky, murder of Nafs Zakiyyah, a pure soul (a pious personality), and the rift in the desert”. [2]*
And Imam Jafar al-Sadiq also said:
خروج السفياني واليماني والخراساني في سنة واحدة ، في شهر واحد ، في يوم واحد ، نظام كنظام الخرز يتبع بعضه بعضاً ، فيكون البأس من كل وجه ، ويل لمن ناواهم. وليس في الرايات راية أهدى من راية اليماني ، هي راية حق لأنه يدعو إلى صاحبكم ، فإذا خرج اليماني حرم بيع السلاح على الناس ، وإذا خرج اليماني فانهض إليه فإن رايته راية هدى ، ولا يحل لمسلم أن يلتوي عليه ، فمن فعل ذلك فهو من أهل النار ، لأنه يدعو إلى الحق وإلى طريق مستقيم.
“Emergence of Sufyani and Yemeni and Khurasani in one year, and one month and one day and they are consecutive like beads falling from string. Difficulty, hardship and distress will come from every side, Oh! On someone who disagrees and has enmity with them, among all flags, there is no flags like Yemeni flag for guidance, because this is the flag of just and truth and invites you to your leader Imam Mahdi (A.S.). When Yemeni uprises, selling arms and weapons will be illegal and forbidden for the people. And when he emerges, hurry towards him because his flag is the flag of guidance, and insubordination is not permitted to any Muslim and if someone does, he/she will go to hell, because he invites people to the righteous and straight path”. [3]From it is reported that Imam Reza (A.S.), when someone claimed to be Mahdi, said:
قبل هذا الأمر السفياني واليماني والمرواني وشعيب بن صالح ، فكيف يقول هذا هذا.
“Before this event, there will be Sufyani, Marwani, and Shu’ayb Ibn Saleh so how does he say this and that”. [4]Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi (RA) says: أي كيف يقول هذا الذي خرج أني القائم ، يعني محمد بن إبراهيم ، أو غيره ‘That is how when Muhammad bin Ibrahim or other emerge will say I am the upriser’ and the meaning of Marwani that has been mentioned in this narrative, perhaps is ‘Abqe’ or is the one mentioned in the narratives about Khurasan and there is a mistake in the version by writers.
From Imam Sadiq (A.S.) it has been narrated that he said:
خروج الثلاثة الخراساني والسفياني واليماني في سنة واحدة في شهر واحد في يوم واحد وليس فيها راية بأهدى من راية اليماني يهدي إلى الحق.
“Emergence of these three men, Khurasani, Sufyani and Yemeni would happen in one year and one month and one day. And the flag of Yemani is the most righteous flag, because it invites to the truth”. [5]Hasham ibn Hakam has been quoted that he said:“When the ‘truth seeker’ emerged, Abu Abdullah (Imam Sadiq (A.S.)) was asked: “Do you hope this person is Yemeni? Imam (A.S.) said: لا . اليماني يتوالى علياً ، وهذا يبرأ منه “No, Yemeni is lover of Imam Ali (A.S.) and this person hates him”. [6]And in this narrative it has also been quoted thatاليماني والسفياني كفرسي رهان “Yemeni and Sufyani are like two racing horses, each tries to overtake from the other”.
And in some traditions about Imam Mahdi (A.S.), it has been narrated: يخرج من اليمن من قرية يقال لها كرعة “He [Yemeni] would emerge from Yemen and from a village named Kar’ah.” [7]*
It may not be unlikely that this person is the same Yemeni and his followers that will uprise from this region, because what is frequent and constant in these narratives is that Imam Mahdi (A.S.) will appear from Makkah and holy Masjid al-Haram located in Hejaz.
In the book of ‘Bashara al-Islam’ it has been narrated that:
ثم يخرج ملك من صنعاء اسمه حسين أو حسن ، فيذهب بخروجه غمر الفتن ، يظهر مباركاً زاكياً ، فيكشف بنوره الظلماء ، ويظهر به الحق بعد الخفاء.
“Then a commander from San’aa [present capital of Yemen] called Hassan or Hussein will uprise and with his uprising all seditions will end, he will appear blessed and pure and under his light, the darkness will disappear and the truth will appear and reveal”. [8]Now let us mention few important points about the Yemeni’s revolution
It’s not unusual that since those involved in supportive activities for Imam Mahdi’s (A.S.) revolution from Yemen will have major role in revolution of Imam Mahdi (A.S.) in Hijaz, their names or exact roles are not mentioned in narratives. This could be for the purpose of protection of Yemeni’s Islamic revolution and as preventive measure to avoid destructive harm to it. We will soon mention in the chapter of Imam Mahdi’s revolution that the human forces (soldiers) that will revolt in Makkah and Hejaz and will establish Imam Mahdi (A.S.) army there will be mostly his supporters from Hejaz and Yemen.
1. The role of Yemenis in Iraq
According to some of the narratives in order to chase and fight with Sufyani, Yemeni will enter Iraq with his army. Yemenis and Iranian forces will enter Iraq to face Sufyani and from these narratives we can interpret that the Yemanis troops will have supportive the role under the command of Iranian forces in Iraq, because apparently the side which will be involved with Sufyani are the Orient i.e. they will companions of Khurasani army and Shu’ayb and looks like the Yemenis will go back to Yemen after helping them.
On the other hand, in addition to the Hejaz, Yemenis will play major role in the Persian Gulf region. However, the narratives have not mentioned it precisely but naturally by succession of the events at the time of appearance and considering geopolitical situation of region, the control and sovereignty of Yemen, Hejaz and Persian Gulf countries will be mainly in Yemenis forces and Imam Mahdi’s (A.S.) followers’ hands.