Hazrat Mahdi (as) will not say, ''I am Hazrat Mahdi (as)'' but he will permit them to grasp ''the truth of the Mahdi'' by lifting the fog of unawareness from their eyes
Hazrat Mahdi (as) will never say, “I am the Mahdi.” Allah will reveal him to people through the signs described through the mouth of our Prophet (saas). One of these signs is that “HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) IS AGAIN THE PERSON WHO BEST DESCRIBES HAZRAT MAHDI (AS).” Hazrat Mahdi (as) will present Hazrat Mahdi (as) in the best possible way, through his work and by his wise and accurate interpretation of the hadith of our Prophet (saas) and statements of Islamic scholars. One hadith reveals that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be someone who has personal knowledge of the information about the End Times imparted by our Prophet (saas), for which reason he will be the only person best able to interpret the hadith of our Prophet (saas) concerning the End Times:
Abu Bashir says: I heard Imam Muhammad Baqr say: “...He said: When Hazrat Mahdi (as) appears he will follow in the path of the Messenger of Allah (saas). ONLY HE [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)] CAN EXPLAIN THE WORKS OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH...” 1
Hazrat Mahdi (as) will sharpen people’s foresight and understanding through these wise accounts. He will not openly say, “I am Hazrat Mahdi (as).” But he will clear the fog of unawareness from in front of people’s eyes by indicating the existence and power of Hazrat Mahdi (as), thus enabling them to see “the truth of Hazrat Mahdi (as).” The more Hazrat Mahdi (as) speaks about Hazrat Mahdi (as), the more people will form a definite opinion regarding him and wish to follow him spiritually.
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1 (Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Nomani, al-Ghaybah al-Nomani, p.. 191