Like i said, it is not an obligatory to believe in coming of Mehdi… many leaders have been born in the history, he will be just one of them!!! secondly, these traditions are weak and i don’t think an important belief can be based on a weak tradition. most importantly, Islam is not a religion of tradition, the islamic believes are based on facts rather traditions.
These so-called traditions was back-door of fitns through out the islamic history, many have made a claim to be Mehdi & Essa, millions of innocents have lost their lives and that was because of these tradition which i niether in Quran nor in any Sahi Hadees.
Most interestingly, this tradition exist in almost all the religions in the world, Hindus are waiting for the Kalki Avtar, Jews and looking forward to Anti-Christ and so on.
Muslims, who said to be the followers of the most correct book in the world, the Quran, are also looking forward to some Mehdi, who will come and get them out of misery, for this Iqbal has said
thay tu woh aba tumharay tum kiya ho
hath per hath dharay muntazir-e-FARDA ho.
If muslims practice islam per Quran and Sunnah then they do not need to wait for these kind of Leaders, but yes, if the Muslims have to base their religion on traditions, then they need some excuse of their lazyness, hence, they are waiting for some one to come and lead…
Anyway, this is my view point, u need not to agree with it!!!