Deep down in Futuhal Al Makkiya you can find Ibn Arabi’s قدس الله سره , pronouncements on Al Mahdi رضى الله عنه and his helpers رضى الله عنهم، much like the Futuhal al Makkiya is only to be read by chosen mureeds of most tariqah similarly are the statements or manners such as these to be left to those select groups. But Alas! a “Nizamite,” myself , I must admit seeing how certain “representatives” have acted or propagated certain matters, have into made matters problematic for the Tariqah, but I personally deject those “sub groups or parties within tariqah for their methodologies , and encourage others upon the same manner. Most of what Shaykh Nazim reports regarding about Imam Mahdi is through his experience and knowledge of/with his shaykh, Shaykh Abdullah Daghestani رضى الله عنه , who of course who relate through Kashf and visions, which for onlookers isn’t to be taken face value, but for mureeds definitely is worth attention. Shaykh Abdullah had strong affinity and connection with Ibn Arabi’s works hence I can understand the how the end result, the khulafas names and “appearances” can breads confusion and criticism. Shaykh Al Akbar mentions a whole chapter regarding Imam Mahdi and his helpers of which I will provide some snippets the material he reveals (through kashf) chapter 366, of which I highlighted a few interesting points
I'm pretty sure deep down in the archives of the Nazimites there must be these manuscripts about Imam Mahdi passed down from generation to generation. And I'm also sure it will be written in these scripts that only a few select mureeds of this group will be honoured with this secret knowledge. I'm pretty sure these chosen few will only comprehend how the deputies of Imam Mahdi were actually sent way before his time rather than being his deputies in his actual presence. It's quite obvious why the rest of us have no clue.
It looks like they are not claiming to know the Mahdi but the Mahdi was known to be in this state and residing there by Grand Shaykh (wali) who told them from unveiling (kashf) and or whilst meeting Abdur Ra'uf Al Yamani (one of the hidden ones, has authority over China)
This is what I found from Naqshbandi sources: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=726879870851840 A rare physical appearance of Shaykh Abdul Rauf al-Yamani with Shaykh Syed Nazim al-Haqqani at a meeting in Namangan, Uzbekistan in 2001. Shaykh Abdullah Faiz al-Daghestani spoke of Shaykh Abdul Rauf al-Yamani during his time and he made the following prediction which is in page 371 of History and Guidebook of the Saints of the Golden Chain of The Naqshbandi Sufi Way: “China is under the authority of a Great Saint, who will be one of the Greatest Saints in the time of Mahdi and Isa. His name is Abdul Rauf al-Yamani. Through his influence China will sign an agreement with the West not to use its nuclear weapons. China will split into many different small countries.There will be problems in the Far East, in the Korean Peninsula, and a great power will intervene to stop that conflict. A non-Arab Middle Eastern country will attack the PersianGulf area, which will put the whole world into fear that the source of petroleum will be cut off.” His name is also written on the Naqshbandi Taweez and he is present with him [al-Mahdi] in Ghar as-Su`ada, the Happy Cave, in the Rub` al-Khali, in Hadramawt, YEmen The Seven deputies of Imam al-Mahdi: Mawlana Shahamatul Fardani Mawlana Yusuf al-Siddiq Mawlana Abdul Rauf al-Yamani Mawlana Imam al-Arifin Aman al-Haq Mawlana Lisanul Muttakalimin Awnallah Sakhawi Mawlana Arrifal Tayar al Ma’ruf bil Mulhan Mawlana Burhanul Karama Ghauthulannam