the Promised Mahdi website
Imam Mahdi’s position in Shi'a1 teachings
“Imamate”, in the view of Twelver Shi'a2, is considered as the continuity of divine Messengerhood and Prophethood in the sense that, although divine revelation is not revealed to the “Imam”3, some duties of the Prophets such as the interpretation of religion and the guidance of people are among his responsibilities, because the Muslims, to know their duties towards God, always need an infallible honest leader who knows the right path and guides them towards God. Otherwise, everyone will interpret the religion based on his or her personal interests and preferences, and thereby, will go astray.
What is certain is that fulfilling this important mission will only be handled by a few specific individuals chosen by God. So, an Imam is a man who has been designated by the order of God and introduced to Muslims through the Prophet or the previous Imams. Therefore, in the view of Shi'a, Imamate is a fundamental issue, and the Imam has various characteristics and responsibilities, including explaining and interpreting the religion and guiding the people.
Shi'a believes that Imam Ali and the eleven men from his lineage up to the last of them, who is Imam Mahdi, are the Imams and leaders of Muslims appointed to the position of Imamate by the order of God, and their names are mentioned in some Hadiths narrated by Prophet Muhammad. These Imams in chronological order are as follows: Ali bin Abī Ṭālib, Ḥasan bin Ali, Ḥusayn bin Ali, Ali bin al-Ḥusayn, Muhammad bin Ali, Ja'far bin Muhammad, Mūsa bin Ja'far, Ali bin Mūsa, Muhammad bin Ali, Ali bin Muhammad, Ḥasan bin Ali, and Muhammad bin al-Ḥasan al-Mahdi.4
Indeed, this group of Muslims is called “Twelver Shi'a” because they believe that the real successors of the Prophet are only these twelve mentioned individuals. They also believe that the 12th Imam is the promised Mahdi, who is alive, is currently living in this world, and will appear and rise up one day at the End of the Time, ultimately.
Taking what said into consideration, two basic factors,
i.e. to be the issue of Imamate (and thus, Mahdism) among the basic tenets of Twelver Shi'as, and also to believe in the twelfth Imam (the promised Mahdi) as the living Imam, have caused the teaching of “Mahdism” achieve a magnificent rank among the Twelver Shi'as, in such a way that the reflection of Mahdism has been very extensive in the events and developments of the Shi'ite society throughout the history, and has played a key role in the life of its followers. The history of Shi'a proves that Mahdism and awaiting the advent of the promised Mahdi have always been an important part of the identity of Shi'ism. Furthermore, during the near twelve centuries since the disappearance of Imam Mahdi, the scientific and practical works of Shi'a scholars have continued to promote this truth and explain the related topics and issues.
Footnote:
1.The word “Shi'a” lexically means “follower” and terminologically refers to those Muslims who believe in the immediate Caliphate and Imamate of Imam Ali, and also that the Prophet’s successor is determined by God and not by what the people vote on.
2.Since Shia's are divided into some sects, it is important to pay attention to the various usage of the term “Shi'a” in each case. Currently, Shi'as or followers of Imam Ali are divided into three main groups: Zaydīyyah, Isma’īlyah, and Ja'farī Shias. In the modern day, Shi'as are referred to as Ja'fari or Twelver Shi'as, and two other sects are known as Zaydis and Isma'ilis respectively. So, the Shi'ite opinions presented in this book are limited ex- clusively to Twelver Shi'a viewpoints.
3.Shi'a believes in the Twelve Imams (from Imam Ali to Imam Mahdi), who are the true successors of the Prophet Muhammad.
4.See: Shī'a, by 'Allāmah Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāțabāi, translated by Sayyid Ḥusayn Naṣr.
“Imamate”, in the view of Twelver Shi'a2, is considered as the continuity of divine Messengerhood and Prophethood in the sense that, although divine revelation is not revealed to the “Imam”3, some duties of the Prophets such as the interpretation of religion and the guidance of people are among his responsibilities, because the Muslims, to know their duties towards God, always need an infallible honest leader who knows the right path and guides them towards God. Otherwise, everyone will interpret the religion based on his or her personal interests and preferences, and thereby, will go astray.
What is certain is that fulfilling this important mission will only be handled by a few specific individuals chosen by God. So, an Imam is a man who has been designated by the order of God and introduced to Muslims through the Prophet or the previous Imams. Therefore, in the view of Shi'a, Imamate is a fundamental issue, and the Imam has various characteristics and responsibilities, including explaining and interpreting the religion and guiding the people.
Shi'a believes that Imam Ali and the eleven men from his lineage up to the last of them, who is Imam Mahdi, are the Imams and leaders of Muslims appointed to the position of Imamate by the order of God, and their names are mentioned in some Hadiths narrated by Prophet Muhammad. These Imams in chronological order are as follows: Ali bin Abī Ṭālib, Ḥasan bin Ali, Ḥusayn bin Ali, Ali bin al-Ḥusayn, Muhammad bin Ali, Ja'far bin Muhammad, Mūsa bin Ja'far, Ali bin Mūsa, Muhammad bin Ali, Ali bin Muhammad, Ḥasan bin Ali, and Muhammad bin al-Ḥasan al-Mahdi.4
Indeed, this group of Muslims is called “Twelver Shi'a” because they believe that the real successors of the Prophet are only these twelve mentioned individuals. They also believe that the 12th Imam is the promised Mahdi, who is alive, is currently living in this world, and will appear and rise up one day at the End of the Time, ultimately.
Taking what said into consideration, two basic factors,
i.e. to be the issue of Imamate (and thus, Mahdism) among the basic tenets of Twelver Shi'as, and also to believe in the twelfth Imam (the promised Mahdi) as the living Imam, have caused the teaching of “Mahdism” achieve a magnificent rank among the Twelver Shi'as, in such a way that the reflection of Mahdism has been very extensive in the events and developments of the Shi'ite society throughout the history, and has played a key role in the life of its followers. The history of Shi'a proves that Mahdism and awaiting the advent of the promised Mahdi have always been an important part of the identity of Shi'ism. Furthermore, during the near twelve centuries since the disappearance of Imam Mahdi, the scientific and practical works of Shi'a scholars have continued to promote this truth and explain the related topics and issues.
Footnote:
1.The word “Shi'a” lexically means “follower” and terminologically refers to those Muslims who believe in the immediate Caliphate and Imamate of Imam Ali, and also that the Prophet’s successor is determined by God and not by what the people vote on.
2.Since Shia's are divided into some sects, it is important to pay attention to the various usage of the term “Shi'a” in each case. Currently, Shi'as or followers of Imam Ali are divided into three main groups: Zaydīyyah, Isma’īlyah, and Ja'farī Shias. In the modern day, Shi'as are referred to as Ja'fari or Twelver Shi'as, and two other sects are known as Zaydis and Isma'ilis respectively. So, the Shi'ite opinions presented in this book are limited ex- clusively to Twelver Shi'a viewpoints.
3.Shi'a believes in the Twelve Imams (from Imam Ali to Imam Mahdi), who are the true successors of the Prophet Muhammad.
4.See: Shī'a, by 'Allāmah Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāțabāi, translated by Sayyid Ḥusayn Naṣr.