Is the awaited Mahdi a messenger from God? Is it true that he exists now and has followers? And is this inferred from His, the Almighty’s, saying: "but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and Seal of the Prophets"?

The emergence of the Mahdi at the end of time, before the Hour is established, is affirmed by authentic hadiths. He is a righteous man, not a prophet or a messenger, and his name is Muhammad ibn Abdullah, from the progeny of Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her. Our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers. Whoever claims prophethood or messengership after him is a liar and a disbeliever, in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and Seal of the Prophets." The Mahdi does not exist now, and specifying the time of his emergence is among the matters of the unseen. Many have falsely claimed to be the Mahdi. For further information, one can refer to books such as: "Al-Fitan wal-Malahim" by Ibn Kathir, and "Aqidat Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Athar fi al-Mahdi al-Muntazar" by Sheikh Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbad.