What does Mahdism mean and what subjects are included?
Answer: Mahdism is the belief to a certain rise of a divine leader from the progeny of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who will come before the end of the world to save humans and promote justice and Islam all over the world that his name is Mahdi.
Mahdism subjects are: all teachings related to Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and knowing the savior, Imam Mahdi (PBUH) in the Quran and narrations, reasons and effects and benefits of the absence of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), the duties of the awaiting people, the signs and conditions of the Reappearance, the characteristics of Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) companions and feature of his global government, conditions of the world before the Reappearance, Rajaat (return to the world), debate on the prayers and places related to Imam Mahdi (PBUH), Mahdism pathology, the history of the Minor Occultation, Welayat e Faqih (the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) and general deputation of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) during the Major Occultation.
We have studied some of these subjects up to now. We will state more in the future. Some books for further readings are: Kamal al-Din and Tamam al-Nimeh, Montakhab al-Athar, Mekyal al-Makarem, Musua’a al-Imam al-Mahdi (the encyclopedia of Imam Mahdi)
What are the characteristics and appearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH)?
Answer: According to narrations and some valid meetings it could be said that Imam Mahdi (PBUH):
1. Is the most similar person to the Prophet of Islam, 2. Has a beautiful young face, about 30 to 40 years old, 3. Is average, slender and strong in stature, 4. Has a fair-reddish (tawny) complexion, 5. Has long, curly and wavy hair, 6. Has a broad and shiny forehead with the effects of prostration and a black mole on the cheek, 7. Has strong and big shoulders, 8. Has a broad chest, 9. Has big and black eyes, 10. Has drawn and long eyebrows and narrow nose and calves.
(Sources for further study: 1. “Maa’sum e chahardahom (The fourteenth infallible)” authored by Ayatollahi, 2. “Yoosof e Zahra” authored by Ayati, 3. “Mahdi (PBUH), Imam e hazer (Mahdi (PBUH), the present Imam)” authored by Bahadori Nejad, 4. “Gol e Narges (The flower of Narcissus)” authored by Mohamad Ali Shahab.)
Read the rest
Is it possible for any person like Imam Mahdi (PBUH) to live this much long?
Answer: Now, in the year 2017, Imam Mahdi (PBUH) is 1183 years old. Living long is not impossible, but unusual. While studying history, there is no one who sets a certain age for humans, animals and even for plants. Nowadays, there are some people among us who live a long life because of some conditions like hereditary factors, environment and the job type. For example:
Plants: More than 5000 years old trees exist in California. *1 Animals: A turtle in “Galapagos” islands with 177 years of age is the oldest animal. *2 Humans: Prophet Adam lived for 930 years, Seth son of Adam 912 years, Enosh 960 years, Keyumars 1000 years, Aad 1200 years, Prophet Noah 950 years. *3
Indeed if someone is familiar with holy books specially the Quran, would know miracle and extraordinary actions like Noah's Storm, the fire being cool for Abraham, Moses' rod turning to snake, the virgin birth of Jesus and Jonah’s survival in the whale's belly have already occurred in the world. Also Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) long age is not unique, but persons like Elijah, Idris, Jesus and Khidr are now alive and they are so much older than Imam Mahdi.
(1- The Encyclopedia Of Britain, v. 14; 2- The Encyclopedia of the United States of America, v. 17; 3-Muravvej al-Zahab, v. 1 & 2.)
Does Imam Mahdi (PBUH) need our alms for his well-being or the deeds we do on behalf of him?
Answer: Once someone asked Imam Musa-al Kadhim (PBUH): “I start reading the whole of the Holy Quran on Eid ul-Fitr, one for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), one for Lady Fatimah (PBUH) and one for the Imams…. Does this bring me any reward?” Imam replied: “The reward is that you will be with them on the Day of Resurrection.” (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 98)
In the world of physics and matter, there is no action without an effect and reaction. Even though Imams do not need our actions, Allah does not leave any action fruitless. In sentimental relationships, giving gift is of the best ways to fascinate someone, and it develops love and affection between the one who gives and the one who receives. Is it possible that an Imam, who is the source of love and affection, would not be after appreciating the kindness of the affectionate one?
Indeed it is important to note that according to the narrations, Imam Mahdi (PBUH) also lives a natural life like other people, he can also suffer a disease or spiritual problems. Hence, our alms and prayers... keep misfortunes away and affect Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) physical and spiritual health.
Does Imam Mahdi (PBUH) bring a new religion?
Answer: The Quran is the last divine book and Islam is the seal of all divine religions and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last Prophet. After him, the Imams were interpreters of the religion. During the government of caliphs and tyrants, many affairs were not put into practice and some were changed, and Ahl al-Bayt either remained silent under Taqiyya (religious dissimulation) or didn’t succeed defending the essence of Islam. After Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) Occultation, so many of Islamic issues remained unknown and each of scholars had their own pretentions of Ahkam (commands), while the truth is one and disputations will be removed by Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) presence.
The meaning of the new religion in narrations is that Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will put deviations and false pretentions aside and abolish false opinions and implement Islamic Ahkam carefully. This would be new for the people who are far away from the real Islam, but it is not a new religion.
Is it true that we should sin so Imam Mahdi (PBUH) comes sooner?
There is no reference stating that religious duties like prayer, fast, enjoining what is right, fighting corruption and ... cease at the apocalypse! And in numerous verses of the Quran, observing commandments and ethics are ordered and mischiefs are introduced as criminals.
Secondly, in Hadiths pointing out the duties of the awaiting people, it is talking about piety, modesty, avoiding sins and ... everywhere.
Paying attention to this example will present you a worthy point: You are invited to a party. You ask: “Where is it?” They answer: “In a ruin full of garbage and pollutions.” You ask: “Who are there?” They answer: “A bunch of worthless, cruel, impure people.” You ask: “What kind of food do you serve? They answer: “A contaminated dirty food”! Now, will you go even though you are invited?! (Incomparably) We want to invite Imam Mahdi (PBUH), who is the most special and most important person in the world, to a society full of cruelty and corruption, and full of tyrants and traitors … Will Allah accept this?
Is Imam Mahdi (PBUH) going to be martyred or he passes away?
The narrations about this subject vary:
Imam Hassan Modjtaba (PBUH) says, “We- Imams are definitely either poisoned or martyred” (Bihar al-Anwar, vol.27).
Artah says, “I was informed that Imam Mahdi (PBUH) lives for forty years. Then, he passes away a natural death in his bed” (the book of Fetan by Naim ibn Hammad, p.99).
The book of Elzam al-Naseb (by Yazdi Haeri) describes how the Imam is martyred: “When the year 70 finishes and his death approaches, a woman named Sa’eedeh from “Bani Tamim” tribe martyrs him. Having beard like men is her distinguishing characteristic. From a roof top, she throws a stone at the Imam while he is passing by and martyrs him”.
(Other sources for further reading: Simay-e Aftab (face of sunshine) by Taheri, Mo’ud Shenasi (The Study on the Savior) by Ali Asghar Rezvani, Bamdad-e Bashariyat (the dawn of humanity) by Tabasi, Ayande-ye Jahan (the future of the world) by Berenjian )
Is there any way to test those who claim to be in relation with Imam Mahdi (PBUH)?
If you encountered a person or persons who have even one of these characteristics, they are certainly lying:
1- Claiming to be in relation with Imam Mahdi (PBUH) on their own will.
2- Claiming to have special representation from Imam Mahdi (PBUH). 3- Inviting people to issues contrary to the Quran and Sunnah of Ahl al-Bayt which you must ask for guidance of religious scholars.
4- Having the intention of exaction and blackmailing.
To complete the response, pay attention to this event:
One of the claimers of being in relation with Imam Mahdi (PBUH) called one of the high officials of Iran during Imam Khomeini's era and said: “I have a message from Imam Mahdi (PBUH) for Imam Khomeini that I need to deliver it myself.” Apparently that official believed him and told Imam Khomeini about him. Imam answered: “Tell him I am conscience blind (I don't accept anything without proof). If he is in relation with Imam Mahdi (PBUH), he should answer these questions first, then he can deliver the message: 1- I love something, what is it? 2- I've lost something, where is it? 3- What is the relation between the created and eternal?”
But the claimer wrote a letter full of insults instead of answering his question, saying why Imam has asked Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) representative for a proof of his claim! And Imam sent the letter to be read in the meeting of the heads of the three branches of the government (so the false claimers would be defamed).
(Porsesh-ha wa pasokh-ha e daneshjui (Students' questions and answers), issue 28, p. 101)
We have heard about a lot of signs and symptoms in relation with the Reappearance. What is our duty, in this regard?
1- Since some of the Reappearance signs have yet to happen, it does not mean, denial of the necessity to await for the Reappearance within every day and night. Because according to the narrations, we should await for the Reappearance day and night continuously. There is also a narration saying that God will determine the matter of the Reappearance merely during one night, so we should always be ready.
2- Some of signs are definite and some are indefinite. So; by witnessing the signs and specially the indefinite signs, we should not expect that the Reappearance is going to happen immediately.
3- Some signs will happen as a miracle, for example; the celestial voice. So; since they do not match with the normal life and the natural reasons, they must not be denied.
4- The definite signs are “the Yamani Rise, the Sufyani rebellion, Khasf in Bayda, the heavenly blast, the murder of an innocent person” which must happen prior to the Reappearance. Therefore, there will be no Reappearance before these definite sings.
5- We should understand this point that what makes the Reappearance happen is not the signs. The signs only narrate, what is happening. But the real thing is the conditions of the Reappearance which will set up the ground for it and will make it happen.
Why did Imams also long to see Imam Mahdi (PBUH)?
All Prophets and Imams tried to materialize the religion and attempted perseveringly in this way and sacrificed their own wealth and life and they were so eager to see salvation of people that they even deprived themselves from tranquility. Considering the divine enunciations, they had seen the materialization of this wish, in the promised Imam Mahdi’s hands. This is why, they longed for that ultimate wish and invited people to await for it.
Imam Sadiq (PBUH) says: “If I were in his era, I would serve him all my life”.
Sadir Sirafi says: “One day Mofadhal, Abu Basir, Aban ibn-Taghlab and I entered in Imam Sadiq’s home. We saw him sitting on ground and putting a wool cloak on while crying like a mother with a burnt heart who has lost his child. Sorrow and sadness were all over his face, tears dropping on his cheeks. He was whispering: “O Sayyedi! Your Occultation has stolen sleep from my eyes and taken tranquility away from my heart and tied my sorrow to eternity…””
All Imams have dropped awaiting tears in longing to see Imam Mahdi (PBUH). The eagerness which has been seen in our innocent Imams, is the enlightener of the way which not only Shias but also all humans must step in this way for well-being and happiness.
(1) Bihar al-Anwar, v51, p148; Mekyal al-Makarem, v1, p137; 2) ibid, p258, Hadith 12; Bihar al-Anwar, v51, p219)
Source: Mahdiaran Channel (@Mahdiaran); http://islampfr.com
