Does the Mahdi appear before the Malhama, during it, or after it? And does the hadith "The flourishing of Jerusalem is the desolation of Medina" indicate that the Mahdi appears after the Malhama? And does the hadith "If the Mahdi dies, there will be no good after him" contradict the hadith that Jesus, peace be upon him, will succeed the Mahdi? Is it sufficient for the Mahdi's name to be "Muhammad" only, based on Imam Ahmad's hadith "His name is like my name," without "his father's name is like my father's name"?

Summary:

The Mahdi will appear before the Malhama (great battle) and will be the leader of the Muslims during it. He will emerge before the Dajjal and will continue to exist until he meets Jesus after his descent.

The Hadith (definition) of 'Imran concerning Jerusalem indicates the proximity of the Dajjal's emergence from the conquest of Constantinople and the destruction of Medina, but it does not explicitly mention the Mahdi.

The Mahdi will come with the Black Banners from the East, and the Ahadith about the Black Banners confirm this, among them the Hadith of Thawban: "So when you see him, pledge allegiance to him, even if you have to crawl over ice, for he is the Caliph of Allah, the Mahdi."

The Mahdi's emergence originates from the East, and allegiance will be pledged to him near the Kaaba. His name is Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah.

There is no validity to the saying "There is no good in living after the Mahdi." The Mahdi and Jesus, peace be upon him, will live in the same era, and the Messiah will remain for seven years after his descent.