the Promised Mahdi website
The Promised Saviour
The belief in the advent of the Promised Saviour is an important and common principle among all religions and schools of thought optimistic about the end of the world. The Abrahamic religions (including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) also, having an optimistic view of End of the Time, have promised that a pious perfect man will, eventually, put an end to humans’ successive failures and establish a global just government. This does not mean, however, that the teachings regarding Futurism, Saviourism, and Messianism are the same in all religions and schools. Although there are different views or different narrations of this common idea (i.e. Saviourism) even among the believers of a particular religion, one can rarely find a religion or school of thought in which the followers are not awaiting a Promised Saviour. As the name of the Promised Redeemer in Islam and among Muslims is al-Mahdi, the belief in the appearance of the Promised Redeemer is interpreted as Mahdism in Islamic teachings. Since the Quran and the frequent authentic Hadiths narrated from Prophet Muhammad and his infallible household, the doctrine of Mahdism is one of the basic principles and commonalities among all Islamic sects that promise the appearance of a divine man from the family of the Prophet, who will eventually bring and spread justice all over the world in the End of the Time by the will God.
Back to the Quran, one can see that some verses directly refer to the concept of salvation and a bright future for mankind in this world at the End of the Time,[1] and the doctrine of Mahdism is a perfect example of this divine promise. There also other group of Quranic verses, though not explicitly refer to the doctrine of human salvation and the appearance of the promised saviour, which can be, according to many authentic Hadiths, interpreted or construed to implying Mahdism or the Promised Mahdi.[2]
The fact is that many verses in the Quran give glad tidings about promises that have not been fully fulfilled throughout the world yet, and since Muslims believe that these divine promises are inviolable, the expectation of their fulfillment in the near or far future is justified and reasonable. Furthermore, based on many frequently narrated Hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad and the Infallible Shiˈa Imams regarding the physical characteristics of the Promised Mahdi, his occultation, the events before or on the threshold of his appearance, the signs of his appearance, the significant benefits and blessings of his global just government, etc., it is impossible to shed doubt on the authenticity of Mahdism among all Islamic sects.
In the meantime, it can be said that the brightest Islamic view on the issue of Mahdism has emerged among Twelver Shi’as such that Shiˈism is clearly distinguishable from other Islamic sects in this regard. According to Shiˈite teachings, the twelfth Imam is the very Promised Mahdi, who is alive now but is in occultation. It is important to mention that this occultation never means the non-existence or non-presence of the Imam; rather it refers to his non-appearance and having a hidden life. Despite his concealment from the public’s view, the Imam is always aware of the people’s deeds and oversees all their affairs throughout the world by the will of God. Moreover, he has always been a cordial source of guidance to Shiˈas and a helper of those seeking spiritual and esoteric guidance from him; he guides them to high spiritual authorities. The Promised Mahdi will, eventually, appear at a time when no one but the Almighty God is aware of it only, and by revealing and presenting the bare truth of Islam and forming a righteous universal government, he will lead the world to everlasting happiness, prosperity, and perfection.
One of the other unique features of the Twelver Shiˈa regarding the issue of Mahdism, which is not found in any doctrine of Saviourism of different religions and schools of thought throughout the world, is that the Promised Redeemer must be “an Imam appointed by God”. In fact, this infallible leader is the proof and agent of God. In other words, God’s proof is the one who, while being a creature, has divine conditions and attributes. For this reason, the Imam can be called the “God’s representative among people”. Also the title "al-Mahdi" is used as the most famous epithet for the Promised Saviour among the many titles and attributes of the Islamic Saviour, which is an evidence of the importance of "guidance" in the list of his goals and functions. Accordingly, it can be said that the most essential function of the Promised Mahdi is his cognitive and guiding function. The result of this sort of Saviouristic belief in Mahdism will be not only the establishment of justice and prosperity, or the enforcement of religious rules throughout the world, but "Full Manifestation of the Truth on the Earth", something that no Prophet, Imam, or social reformer has succeeded to fully realize it ever.
Eagerly waiting for that blessed day to come soon!
Source: The promised Mahdi in the view Shi’a, p. 184, The final word
[1] The Quran, 21:105; 24:55; 28:5
[2] The Quran, 2:3; 11:6
The belief in the advent of the Promised Saviour is an important and common principle among all religions and schools of thought optimistic about the end of the world. The Abrahamic religions (including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) also, having an optimistic view of End of the Time, have promised that a pious perfect man will, eventually, put an end to humans’ successive failures and establish a global just government. This does not mean, however, that the teachings regarding Futurism, Saviourism, and Messianism are the same in all religions and schools. Although there are different views or different narrations of this common idea (i.e. Saviourism) even among the believers of a particular religion, one can rarely find a religion or school of thought in which the followers are not awaiting a Promised Saviour. As the name of the Promised Redeemer in Islam and among Muslims is al-Mahdi, the belief in the appearance of the Promised Redeemer is interpreted as Mahdism in Islamic teachings. Since the Quran and the frequent authentic Hadiths narrated from Prophet Muhammad and his infallible household, the doctrine of Mahdism is one of the basic principles and commonalities among all Islamic sects that promise the appearance of a divine man from the family of the Prophet, who will eventually bring and spread justice all over the world in the End of the Time by the will God.
Back to the Quran, one can see that some verses directly refer to the concept of salvation and a bright future for mankind in this world at the End of the Time,[1] and the doctrine of Mahdism is a perfect example of this divine promise. There also other group of Quranic verses, though not explicitly refer to the doctrine of human salvation and the appearance of the promised saviour, which can be, according to many authentic Hadiths, interpreted or construed to implying Mahdism or the Promised Mahdi.[2]
The fact is that many verses in the Quran give glad tidings about promises that have not been fully fulfilled throughout the world yet, and since Muslims believe that these divine promises are inviolable, the expectation of their fulfillment in the near or far future is justified and reasonable. Furthermore, based on many frequently narrated Hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad and the Infallible Shiˈa Imams regarding the physical characteristics of the Promised Mahdi, his occultation, the events before or on the threshold of his appearance, the signs of his appearance, the significant benefits and blessings of his global just government, etc., it is impossible to shed doubt on the authenticity of Mahdism among all Islamic sects.
In the meantime, it can be said that the brightest Islamic view on the issue of Mahdism has emerged among Twelver Shi’as such that Shiˈism is clearly distinguishable from other Islamic sects in this regard. According to Shiˈite teachings, the twelfth Imam is the very Promised Mahdi, who is alive now but is in occultation. It is important to mention that this occultation never means the non-existence or non-presence of the Imam; rather it refers to his non-appearance and having a hidden life. Despite his concealment from the public’s view, the Imam is always aware of the people’s deeds and oversees all their affairs throughout the world by the will of God. Moreover, he has always been a cordial source of guidance to Shiˈas and a helper of those seeking spiritual and esoteric guidance from him; he guides them to high spiritual authorities. The Promised Mahdi will, eventually, appear at a time when no one but the Almighty God is aware of it only, and by revealing and presenting the bare truth of Islam and forming a righteous universal government, he will lead the world to everlasting happiness, prosperity, and perfection.
One of the other unique features of the Twelver Shiˈa regarding the issue of Mahdism, which is not found in any doctrine of Saviourism of different religions and schools of thought throughout the world, is that the Promised Redeemer must be “an Imam appointed by God”. In fact, this infallible leader is the proof and agent of God. In other words, God’s proof is the one who, while being a creature, has divine conditions and attributes. For this reason, the Imam can be called the “God’s representative among people”. Also the title "al-Mahdi" is used as the most famous epithet for the Promised Saviour among the many titles and attributes of the Islamic Saviour, which is an evidence of the importance of "guidance" in the list of his goals and functions. Accordingly, it can be said that the most essential function of the Promised Mahdi is his cognitive and guiding function. The result of this sort of Saviouristic belief in Mahdism will be not only the establishment of justice and prosperity, or the enforcement of religious rules throughout the world, but "Full Manifestation of the Truth on the Earth", something that no Prophet, Imam, or social reformer has succeeded to fully realize it ever.
Eagerly waiting for that blessed day to come soon!
Source: The promised Mahdi in the view Shi’a, p. 184, The final word
[1] The Quran, 21:105; 24:55; 28:5
[2] The Quran, 2:3; 11:6