Where and in Which Nation will Mahdi Carry out His Duty?

There are narratives about Mahdi being from the descendants of the blessed family of the Prophet (PBUH)*. However, it does not mean that Mahdi will appear among the Arabs. 

Moreover, it is possible to infer from hadiths that Mahdi will appear among non-Arabs. For instance, in a Hadith reported by Tirmizî the following is stated, The Doomsday will not come till Mahdi dominates Arabs. 1 

From this, we could understand that he will not arise from the Arabic nations because he must appear among non- Arabs if he is to dominate them.
In another narration, it is informed that Mahdi will appear from theeast. 2

Ibni Khaldun and Qurtubî, scholars of Islam, state that Hazrat Mahdi will come from Mashriq (east), Khurasan and Amuderya. 3 

The reason why Qurtubi said that Mahdi would appear from the North Africa was because there was a need of a reformer and a guide then. 4 

We are informed by another Hadith the following: Some people will come forward from the east and they will pave the way for Mahdi; in other words, Mahdi will rule among them. 5

This Hadith shows he will appear from a nation in the east or coming from the east, - Allah knows the best- this Hadith points at Turks who were in the east once and then settled in Anatolia.
In Is'afu'r-Raghibin, an Islamic book, this matter is explained more: Mahdi will not be separated from Rum, **Turks. 6

In a narrative which is included in the book Mustadrak, written by Hakim, as well as in many books of Hadith and which is deemed suitable by Bukhari and Muslim, a group described as people carrying black flags and their heroic acts are mentioned. 
Here is the hadith:

Three men will fight near your treasures; they are all caliph sons, but none of them could be a caliph. Then some people carrying black flags from the east will appear and they will fight so bravely that no group has ever fought like them. The Prophet (PBUH) said some other things but I couldnt keep them in my mind. 

Then He went on saying: When you see the man coming with those people with black flags go and obey him even if you would have to overcome some difficulties such that creeping on the snow. He is Mahdi, the caliph of Allah. 7

In a narrative in Kitabu'n-Nihaya, an Islamic book, it is stated that Mahdi will be confirmed and obeyed by those people with black flags. 8

Sayyid Ahmed Husamuddin (May Allah be pleased with him), an Islamic scholar, in his treatise Istikhrajnama, noted about the emerging place of Mahdi as follows:
A man will come among Muslims and his glory will spread lights around like the light of sun from the highest mountain of Caucasia. 9

All of those narratives demonstrate that Mahdi will perform his activities among Turks.
Muhyiddin-i- Arabi, an Islamic scholar, who comments that the most of Mahdis enemies will be the muqallids (imitators) of mujtahids and when they observe that Mahdi decrees contrary to the School Imams, they will not be pleased with it, but they will not be able to argue; he also says that Mahdis sword will be his brothers. They will bow to him and accept his sovereignty on account of being afraid of his sword.

Muhyiddin-i- Arabî goes on as follows:

His apparent enemies will be faqihs (the scholars of Islamic Law). If his sword his brothers were not with him, they would decree to kill him. However, God Almighty will purify him with His favor and with the sword, and they will obey Mahdi. Their privilege among people will disappear, and even their knowledge of fiqh will decrease. 

Contradiction between the decrees of the scholars will be abolished with the arrival of Mahdi. They will be scared of him and will expect some help from him. They will detest him in their hearts, but despite this hatred, they will obey his decisions. 10

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Footnotes:

1 Tirmizi, Fitan: 43.
2 Tirmizi, Fitan: 79.
3 Macdonald, İslâm Ansiklopedisi MEB Yayınları (The Encyclopedia of Islam –Ministry of National Education Publications), 7:478.
4 ibid., 7:477.
5 Ibni Majah, Kitabu'l-Fitan: 35 (4088.).
** Turkey was called as the Territory of Rum (Greek) in the past 
6 Tılsımlar, s. 212 (Referred from Isafur-Raghibin). 
7 Ibni Majah, Kitabu'l-Fitan, 34 (H. 4084.); Mustadrak, 4:464; Qurtubi, Tazkira, p. 186.
8 Ibni Kathir, Kitabu'n-Nihaya, 1:29, 30; Suyuti, el-Hawî, 1:61, 62.
9 Osman Yüksel Serdengeçti, Mabedsiz Şehir, Serdengeçti Neşriyatı (City without Temple,Serdengeçti Publishing): VI, p. 107.
10 Muhyiddin-i Arabî, Futuhat-ı Makkiyya, 66th Bab.

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