Hazrat Imam Mahdi (as) bears the special characteristics and more from the previous prophets. He is the embodiment of their virtues and qualities. He carries their signs and is the inheritor of all that they stood for and what was revealed upon them. The following article mentions the similarity between Hazrat Yaqub (as) and Imam Mahdi (as).
Almighty Allah, after a long time, brought Hazrat Yaqub’s dispersed affairs together and removed his distress.
Imam Mahdi (as) is also such that the Almighty Allah would solve his problems and remove his distress after a long time (after a long period of occultation).
Weeping in grief
Hazrat Yaqub (as) wept so much for Yusuf (as) that his pupils became white with blindness. (Chapter 18 verse 84)
Imam Mahdi (as) weeps intensely for his great grandfather, Imam Husayn (as). In Ziarat Nahiya he says, “And I weep on you blood instead of tears.” (Beharul Anwar volume 101, page 320)
Awaiting the reappearance
Yaqub (as) was in anticipation of reappearance and he said, “O my sons! Go and inquire respecting Yusuf and his brother, and despair not of Allah’s mercy; surely none despairs of Allah’s mercy except the unbelieving people.” (Chapter 18 verse 87)
Hazrat Imam Mahdi (as) is also waiting for his reappearance as proved by the traditional reports regarding this matter.
(The above article was taken and adapted from the book Mikyalul Makarim Fee Fawaedid Dua Lil Qaem)