Hazrat Mahdi (as) will have around 300 followers

The fact that Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) community will number around 300 people again shows that they will not be recognized by the greater part of society. It is most astonishing that so few people will believe in such a valuable personage who calls on people to have faith in Allah and who performs such valuable services for the faith. The hadiths describe how so few people will follow Hazrat Mahdi (as):

It was related from Muhammad ibn Hanafi that: Their numbers will be those of the people of Badr [313]. In the same way that those before them cannot match them, neither can those who come after. Their number is as many as those who crossed the river with Saul. (Mari’ bin Yusuf Karami Hanbali, Fawaid Fawaid al-Fikr fil Mahdi al-Montazar)

Upon this call, 313 people, as many as the People of Badr, who were not previously allied together will immediately appear, and worship by night and act as lions by day. (Mari’ bin Yusuf Karami Hanbali, Fawaid Fawaid al-Fikr fil Mahdi al-Montazar)

They consist of a group, including women, of 314 people. They will overcome all tyrants. Their hearts are like iron, and they are lions by day and devout believers by night. Neither those before nor after them can match them in self-sacrifice. (Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu's-saqib fi Bayan Anna'l Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Ale't-Tamam wa al-Qamal)  

Three hundred and fourteen people, among them women, will pledge allegiance to Hazrat Mahdi (as). (Al-Uqayli, An-Najmu's-saqib fi Bayan Anna'l Mahdi min Awladi Ali b. Abu Talib Ale't-Tamam wa al-Qamal)

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi has also recalled this fact, and stated that no matter how small their number, each of the members of the community of Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be spiritually very strong:

The force and spiritual army this duty depends on is some followers in full possession of titles of loyalty and solidarity. No matter how few they may be, they are as powerful and valuable as a literal army. (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Emirdag Addendum, p. 259)   

Another striking element in the hadiths of our Prophet (saas) is how valuable the believers in the End Times will be. In the End Times, when irreligion is prevalent all over the world and moral degeneration is gathering increasing pace, believers and those living by religious moral values will be exposed to great difficulties and social pressure:

Believers being less valued than rams among the people is a condition and portent of the Day of Judgment. (Al-Barzanji, Al-Isha'ah li-ashrat al-sa'ah, 8th edition, p. 138)

Such a time will come that it will be as if someone who has fortitude in the faith is holding a glowing coal in his hand. (Tirmidhi; Ash-Sharani, Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 413)

According to the indications in the hadiths, very few people will follow Hazrat Mahdi (as) because of this climate of pressure that will be directed against Muslims in the End Times, and because of the propaganda and slanders made against him. (Allah knows the truth.)

The fact is, however, that Hazrat Mahdi (as) is a most worthy and esteemed individual who will act as imam during the prayer when the Prophet Jesus (as) returns to Earth. As our Prophet (saas) says:

A section of my people will not cease fighting for the Truth and will prevail till the Day of Resurrection. Jesus son of Mary would then descend and Muslims' commander would invite him to come and lead them in prayer, but he would say: “No, some amongst you are commanders over some (amongst you). This is the honor from Allah for this community.” (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, 293)

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi also referred to this in his works:

... The Prophet Jesus (as) will come and will perform the obligatory prayers behind Hazrat Mahdi and follow him. (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Rays / The Fifth Ray - Second Station, p. 109)  

One would expect there to be countless people around such a worthy individual and that people would compete with great joy and enthusiasm to take their places as his helpers. However, the fact that the period concerned is the End Times, when truth will in practice be replaced by falsehood, when people will turn away from the moral precepts of the Qur’an, and when moral collapse will reach enormous dimensions, may prevent people from following such an honorable believer and joining his community.