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 Nuh (as) and Imam Mahdi (as).
Long life
Hazrat Nuh is the senior-most (in age) of the prophets. It is narrated from Imam Sadiq and Imam Hadi (as) that Hazrat Nuh (as) lived for 2500 years.
Imam Mahdi (as) is the senior-most (in age) of the successors. He was born on the 15th of Shaban 255 AH (Read more). Thus the age of Imam Mahdi (as) is more than 1,180 years.
Imam Sajjad (as) said, In the Qaem is present the characteristics of Adam and Nuh (as), and that is a long life…” (Kamaluddin volume 1 page 322)
Purify earth of disbelievers
Hazrat Nuh, by his words, purified the earth from the disbelievers and said, “My Lord! Leave not upon the land any dweller from among the unbelievers.” (Chapter 71 verse 26)
Imam Mahdi (as) will also clear the earth from infidels with the help of his sword till not a trace of them would remain. (Read more)
Patience in time of difficulties
Nuh remained patient for 950 years and the Almighty Allah says regarding this, “…so he remained among them a thousand years save fifty years. And the deluge overtook them, while they were unjust.”
The Qaem is also observing patience since the beginning of his Imamate till now, and I don’t know till when he would be patient.
Destruction of enemies
Those who opposed Nuh (as) were destroyed. All those who oppose Qaem would also be destroyed. In Beharul Anwar it is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (saws) that he said, Qiyamat will not be established till our Qaem arises, and that is the time when the Almighty Allah would give him permission. And one who follows him will be delivered and one who deserts (or opposes) him will be destroyed. O people, for the sake of Allah, for the sake of Allah go to him even if you have to crawl on snow and ice, as he is the caliph of Allah and my caliph. (Read more)
Desertion of followers
Almighty Allah delayed the success of Nuh and his followers to such an extent that a majority of his followers deserted him.
Almighty Allah would also delay the reappearance of Qaem to such an extent that the majority of his followers would desert him – as mentioned in a tradition of Imam Hasan Askari (as)-.
Idrees gave the glad tidings of the advent of Nuh. (Kamaluddin volume 2 page 385)
Almighty Allah gave glad tidings about the reappearance of Qaem to the angels. Holy Prophet (saws) and Imams (as), and rather the past prophets gave glad tidings of his reappearance.
Invitation towards Allah
The call (voice) of Hazrat Nuh (as) reached to the East and the West of the earth and it was one of his miracles.
A tradition narrates that the Qaem (as) also would stand between the Rukn and Maqaam and call out and say, O my deputies and representatives, and my special assistants, and those whom the Almighty Allah had treasured on the earth for my help before the reappearance, come to me with fervor and devotion. The voice of Imam Mahdi (as) would reach them whether they are in the prayer niche (praying) or on their beds (sleeping); all would hear the call at once. And all of them would reach between Rukn and Maqaam in a fraction of a moment.
This matter is mentioned in the tradition of Mufaddal quoted from Imam Sadiq (as). (Beharul Anwar volume 53 page 7)
(The above article was taken and adapted from the book Mikyalul Makarim Fee Fawaedid Dua Lil Qaem)