How to reconcile your statement that the Mahdi will emerge in Damascus with the well-known report that he will take refuge in the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and be forced to pledge allegiance?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : You said that the Mahdi will emerge from Damascus!
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : We know that a man will take refuge in the Sacred Mosque and be forced to pledge allegiance, and that he is the Mahdi.
The Shaykh : Yes, do you know if the hadith is authentic? I do not know its authenticity.
The questioner : Am I asking you now?
The Shaykh : I do not know its authenticity. We know that regarding the Mahdi, he will meet 'Isa (peace be upon him) there. If it is established, then the earlier and later timeframes must be determined, and this requires research. This is sufficient.
The questioner : You said that the Mahdi will emerge from Damascus!
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : We know that a man will take refuge in the Sacred Mosque and be forced to pledge allegiance, and that he is the Mahdi.
The Shaykh : Yes, do you know if the hadith is authentic? I do not know its authenticity.
The questioner : Am I asking you now?
The Shaykh : I do not know its authenticity. We know that regarding the Mahdi, he will meet 'Isa (peace be upon him) there. If it is established, then the earlier and later timeframes must be determined, and this requires research. This is sufficient.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.