What prevents the Mahdi from knowing or declaring himself, and why would he flee from those who will pledge allegiance to him at the Kaaba, despite his knowledge of his own characteristics and the allegiance there? And how will he and the Muslims know the sign of the army's swallowing by the earth?

The answer clarifies several possibilities regarding the Mahdi's unawareness of his Mahdihood:

First: That physical descriptions do not necessitate the belief in Mahdihood, and that the Mahdi's righteousness and piety would drive him to flee from such an attribution out of humility and asceticism. Many may possess these descriptions and the name without claiming Mahdihood, and many who claimed Mahdihood came from sedition and delusion.

Second: It is not necessary for the Mahdi to have studied the Prophetic traditions that foretell his coming, as knowing them is not among the pillars of faith or action.

Third: The Mahdi's initial refusal of allegiance might be in hope of God's success for him, acting upon the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Do not ask for leadership, for if you are given it because you asked for it, you will be left to it; but if you are given it without asking, you will be helped in it."