Question Summary:
Please tell me the signs which will appear just before the appearance of imaam mahdi,and to recognise him as a true mahdi

Question Detail:

Please tell me the signs which will appear just before the appearance of imaam mahdi,and to recognise him as a true mahdi

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
At the approach of Qiyamah there will be certain tragic incidents which will unfold for example; wide spread ignorance, the common usage of alcohol, the appearance of Imam Mahdi etc.
Abu Huraira (RadiAllahu Anu) narrates that Rasullah (Sallahu Alayhi Wa sallam) is reported to have said; "When Amanat (trust) is misused then, wait for Qiyamah (Qiyamah is near) someone inquired how will trust be misused! He (Sallahu Alayhi Wa sallam) replied when Command (of affairs) is handed over to the wrong people".
(Fath Al Bari Vol.1.Pg.188, Qadimi Kutub Khana)
Anas (RadiAllahu Anu) narrates that Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Salam) is reported to have said; "Verily, amongst the signs of Qiyamah is; Knowledge will be snatched away, ignorance will become wide spread, alcohol will be extensively used and Zina (adultery) will become common". 
(Fath Al Bari Vol.1.Pg.235, Qadimi Kutub Khana)
Abu Musa (RadiAllahu Anu) narrates that Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Salam) is reported to have said; "At the approach of Qiyamah knowledge will be uplifted, ignorance will become widespread and Harj (killing) will become rampant".
(Fath Al Bari Vol.13, Pg.16, Qadimi Kutub Khana)
Hafiz Ibnu Hajar(Rahmatullahi Alayhi) (died 852 A.H) states under the explanation of the above Hadith and others that "At the manifestation of Fitan (turmoil, chaos, and corruptions etc.) killing and murder will become rampant then Imam Mahdi will appear and cause peace to prevail. 
(Fath Al Bari Vol.13, Pg.20, Qadimi Kutub Khana) 
Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Salam) is reported to have said; "If there remain only one day of this world Allah Ta'ala will lengthen that day and send a person from My progeny (who bring peace to the entire world) his name and his father's name will be the same as My name and My father's name. He will liberate the earth with fairness and justice as it was filled before with injustice and oppression".
(A'wn Al-Ma'bud Vol. 7, Pg. 346, Dar Al-Hadith)
Hafiz Ibnu Katheer (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) (died 774 A.H) states Imam Mahdi’s name will be the same as Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Salam's) name Muhammad and his father's name will be the same as Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Salam's) father's name Abdullah. 
(Tafseer Quran Al Azem, Vol.2, Pg.34, Dar Al-Marifah)
Allama Shams Al-Haqq Al-Azem Abadi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) states in his commentary A'wn Al-M'abud that "At the end of time a person will appear who will belong to the progeny of Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Salam) he will assist the Deen of Allah Ta’ala and let justice prevail, the Muslims will accept him as their viceroy and follow his commands, his name will be Mahdi. The appearance of Dajjal and all other signs of Qiyamah will precede his manifestation, until Essa (Alayhi Al-Salam) will descend from the heavens, he will then kill Dajjal and Imam Mahdi will assist him."
(A'wn Al-Ma'bud Vol. 7, Pg. 341, Dar Al-Hadith)
Ummu Salamah (Radiallah Anha) reports that Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Salam) is reported to have said;…………. (Imam Mahdi) will arise from medina fleeing to Makka. The people of Makka will then pledge allegiance to him between Hajar Al-Aswad and Maqamu-Ibrahim (and accept him as their leader). At this time an army from Shaam will be sent to attack him but when they will be at Bayda, which is between Makkah and Madina, they will be swallowed into the ground.  
The people seeing this (the army being swallowed,  they will confirm him as being  their leader) thereafter the Abdals (those whom Allah Ta'ala will use to uplift his Deen) of Shaam and a group (A'saib) of people from Iraq will then approach him and pledge allegiance to him (Imam Mahdi) between Hajar Al-Aswad and Maqamu-Ibrahim. Mean while a person from the Quraysh belonging to the Kalbi tribe will then send an army to attack (Imam Mahdi) and his followers. His (Imam Mahdi's) army will defeat them…. Imam Mahdi will then live among the Muslims for a period of seven years, he will work and establish the sunnah of Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Salam) (among mankind) and Islam will again be universal. He will thereafter die and the Muslims will perform his janazah.
(A'wn Al-Ma'bud Vol. 7, Pg. 350, Dar Al-Hadith)
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Safraz Mohammed,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah