It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn al-Hanafiyyah (the son of Sayyiduna Ali) that he said: We were sitting with Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when a man asked him about the 'Mahdi'. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "How far off he is! (His time has not yet come.)" Then he tied a knot of seven (eras or periods) with his hand and said: "He will emerge at the end of time, when (the situation will be such that) if a man says 'Allah, Allah', he will be killed. Then Allah Almighty will gather for him (the Mahdi) a people who will come together like scattered patches of cloud (coming from different places). Allah will create such harmony in their hearts that they will neither feel lonely (at anyone leaving) nor rejoice (on a worldly basis) at anyone joining them. Their number will be equal to the Companions of Badr (313); those before them did not outstrip them, and those after them will not attain their rank. And their number will be equal to the companions of Talut who crossed the river with him." Abu al-Tufayl said: Ibn al-Hanafiyyah asked me: Do you wish to see him? I said: Yes. He said (pointing towards Makkah): He will emerge from between these two pieces of wood (or pillars). Abu al-Tufayl said: I said (to myself): By Allah! I will not leave these two until I die. And so he died there. (Makkah is meant.) This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.