Why is Imam Mahdi leading the uprising of the end of the time despite Jesus?
Short answer:
First:
If this objection is accepted, this question should be raised before the skeptic's objection: Why was the Messenger of God Mohammad (PBUH) not preserved and alive like Jesus (PBUH)? That instead of him to be the leader of the end-time uprising?! If the longevity of Jesus (pbuh) is acceptable, and it is scientifically possible through religious faith, this longevity will be more appropriate and more possible for the Messenger of God Mohammad (pbuh). But God's will and expediency required that the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) should pass away and Jesus (PBUH) should live. Therefore, the divine wisdom of the Imam and the leader of the apocalyptic uprising is one of the descendants of the Messenger of God Mohammad (PBUH), which is also confirmed by the narrations of the Fariqain (Shias and Sunnis).
Secondly:
The higher dignity of the position of Imamate compared to positions such as "Prophecy" and "Resalat", which in a way fulfills all the duties and brings to fruition the values and ideals of those two positions, requires that Imam Mahdi (A.S.) have such a dangerous mission. Especially since his light of existence is an extension of the light of existence of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with all its virtues -. such as completeness, the breadth of the audience of the mission forever in history, the wider circle of knowledge and education, the transmission of the highest heavenly book the Qur'an, the absolute infallibility which is not distorted... -.it is above all the other prophets. As a result, Imam Mahdi’s uprising, is as if the uprising of the Prophet (PBUH) his own.
Detailed answer:
According to hadiths and traditions reported in Shia and Sunni sources, Jesus (peace be upon him) is alive and has a long life until the rise of Imam Mahdi (A.S.).[1] For example, we read in a tradition narrated by Shia and Sunni: “The Mahdi is the one to whom Jesus son of Mary (pbuh) descends and prays behind him”.[1] Now the question that may come to mind is that: despite the presence of Jesus (peace be upon him) as a Great prophet, why is it the responsibility of the Mahdi to lead the uprising of the end of time?
The possibility of making such a comparison about the Noble Prophet Mohammad (PBUH):
If this objection is accepted, this question should be raised before the skeptic's objection: Why was the Messenger of God (PBUH) not preserved and alive like Jesus (PBUH) in his place, to be the leader of the end-of-time uprising?! If the longevity of Jesus (pbuh) is acceptable through religious faith and it is scientifically possible, then this longevity will be more appropriate and more possible for the Messenger of God Mohammd (pbuh). But God's will and expediency required that the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) should pass away and Jesus (PBUH) should live. According to this, the divine wisdom of the Imam and the leader of the end of time is one of the descendants of the Messenger of God Mohammad(PBUH), which is also confirmed by the narrations of the Fariqain (Shias and Sunnis”. The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: “What will happen to you when the son of Mary descends among you while your Imam is from among you?”.[2], [3]
[1] Al-Fattan, Na'eem bin Hammad, research: Samir Amin Al-Zuhiri, Al-Tawhid Library, Cairo, 1412 AH, first edition, vol. 1, p. 373, 1103 AH; Al-Malaham and Al-Fatn, Ibn Tavus, Ali Ibn Musa, Islamic Publications, Tehran, first edition, p. 70.
الْمَهْدِيُّ الَّذِي يَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ، وَيُصَلِّي خَلْفَهُ عِيسَى، عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ
[2] Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 168, H. 3449. كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ إِذَا نَزَلَ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ فِيكُمْ، وَإِمَامُكُمْ مِنْكُمْ
[3] Translated: https://makarem.ir/maaref/l/0429001
One of the great scholars of the West says: If Ali (peace be upon him) had not been martyred by Ibn Muljam, he might have lived forever in the world, because complete moderation ruled his existence in all aspects of life.[1] Natural laws and attention to things such as the environment, proper nutrition, healthy mental and physical activities, etc., as effective factors in health, longevity can be justified. This shows that longevity all the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them) have existed. Therefore, just as God gave Jesus (peace be upon him) a long life, He could also give such a long life to the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) so that he could carry out such a mission. However, his divine wisdom did not have such a requirement. Among the Prophets and Imams, Imam Mahdi's (peace be upon him) duty is to appear after a long life and fulfill such a mission because of his superiority and excellence, for which we were forced to provide preliminary explanations.
The supremacy of the Prophet (PBUH) over all divine prophets from various aspects:
The Holy Prophet says in a hadith: “...The Almighty God gave His messengers the superiority over His close angels and me over all the prophets and messengers...”.[2]
One of the most important aspects of the superiority of the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) over other prophets is his finality and universality of his mission. Although he was sent to Hijaz, his mission was not limited to the borders of that land. [3]
[1] Our religion (the origin of Shia), Makarem Shirazi, Nasser, Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be upon him), Qom, 1388 AH, first edition, p. 162.
[2] Bihar Al-Anwar, vol. 57, p. 303
قال رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ : ...انَّ اَللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى فَضَّلَ أَنْبِيَاءَهُ اَلْمُرْسَلِينَ عَلَى مَلاَئِكَتِهِ اَلْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَ فَضَّلَنِي عَلَى جَمِيعِ اَلنَّبِيِّينَ وَ اَلْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ اَلْفَضْلُ بَعْدِي لَكَ يَا عَلِيُّ وَ لِلْأَئِمَّةِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ...
[3] Translated: https://makarem.ir/maaref/l/0429001
In verse 158 of Surah Al-A'raf, we read:
“Say, ‘O mankind! I am the Apostle of Allah to you all, [of Him] to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god except Him. He gives life and brings death.’ So have faith in Allah and His Apostle, the untaught prophet, who has faith in Allah and His words, and follow him so that you may be guided”.[1]
From these attributes of the Prophet, it can be concluded that the perfect religion that guarantees a good human life in every place and time is with him.[2]
Another component that causes this superiority is the holy book of this prophet, the Holy Quran. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) says about the incomparable and exalted position of the Qur'an:
God Almighty sent down a heavenly book on the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and it is a light that never goes out and it is a lamp whose burning will never fade. It is a deep sea, the bottom of which cannot be grasped by the understanding of a person (ordinary human being). It is a path in which there is no error. It is a ray whose light does not darken... God made it the quencher of scientific thirst of scientists and the heart of jurists and the clear path of righteous seekers... The Holy Qur'an is a medicine after which sickness does not remain... and it is a shelter whose high peak is an obstacle to the enemy...[3], [4]
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself also says in the description of the Qur'an: “The supremacy of the Qur'an over other words is like the supremacy of God Almighty over His creation”.[1]
Another aspect of the superiority of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) over other prophets is related to the access of each of them to different sciences and knowledge. It is clear that humans have different levels of superiority in terms of knowledge and sciences. Another aspect they have is that the higher the knowledge, piety, and righteous action, shows the higher status of a person. The difference between the hierarchies of the prophets is a clear truth in the Qur'an. In verse 253 of Surah Al-Baqarah, we read:
“These are the apostles, some of whom We gave an advantage over others: of them are those to whom Allah spoke and some of them He raised in rank...”[2]
In another place, in verse 55 of Surah Al-Isra, we see that this truth is expressed in a different way: “Certainly, We gave some prophets an advantage over the others”.[3]
Accordingly, the superiority of the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) over other prophets has been specified in the hadiths. As an example, it is stated in a narration of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that: “Jesus son of Mary was given two letters of the great name that he worked with, Moses was given four letters, Abraham was given eight letters, Noah was given fifteen letters, Adam was given twenty-five letters... [4]
[1] Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 89, p. 19.
فَضْلُ الْقُرْآنِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَلَامِ كَفَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَى خَلْقِه
[2] Quran [2–253]
تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۘ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ ۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ ۚ
[3] Quran [17–55]
وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ
[4] Translated: https://makarem.ir/maaref/l/0429001
...The God Almighty collected all these letters for Muhammad (pbuh). Indeed, the great name of God is seventy-three letters, and seventy-two letters were given to Muhammad (pbuh). Only one word was hidden from him”.[1]
In a narration from Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) it is also stated that all seventy-two letters of the great name that was given to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) were also given to the infallible Imams (peace be upon them): “We [Ahl al-Bayt] have seventy-two letters of the Great Names, and one letter is with God, who has made it special for Himself in the knowledge of the unseen”.[2]
Another direction that can be used to argue for the superiority of the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) compared to other divine prophets is the issue of “infallibility”. In the Holy Qur'an, many cases of the first desertion are attributed to divine prophets, even the “Resolute apostles”[3].[4] This is despite the fact that no case of the “lapse”[5] has been issued by the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him). If it was done, the enemies of Islam would abuse it and make stories out of it. [6]
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[1] Ibid
إِنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أُعْطِيَ حَرْفَيْنِ كَانَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِمَا وَ أُعْطِيَ مُوسَى أَرْبَعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ وَ أُعْطِيَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَحْرُفٍ وَ أُعْطِيَ نُوحٌ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ حَرْفاً وَ أُعْطِيَ آدَمُ خَمْسَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ حَرْفاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى جَمَعَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ(ص) وَ إِنَّ اسْمَ اللَّهِ الْأَعْظَمَ ثَلَاثَةٌ وَ سَبْعُونَ حَرْفاً أُعْطِيَ مُحَمَّدٌ(ص) اثْنَيْنِ وَ سَبْعِينَ حَرْفاً وَ حُجِبَ عَنْهُ حَرْفٌ وَاحِدٌ»
[2] Ibid:
نَحْنُ عِنْدَنَا مِنَ الِاسْمِ الْأَعْظَمِ اثْنَانِ وَ سَبْعُونَ حَرْفاً وَ حَرْفٌ وَاحِدٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى اسْتَأْثَرَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَهُ...
[3] The 5 Great prophets who had the Sharia ( law ): Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the Noble Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon them)
[4] See: Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 36; Surah Qasas, verse 16; Surah Anbiyyah, verse 87; Surah Taha, verse 94 and 121; Surah Hajar, verse 52; Surah Hud, verses 45-47; Surah Safat, verses 88 and 89; Surah al-Shura, verse 82; Surah A'raf, verse 15; Surah Yusuf, verse 24.
[5] Doing what was better not done
[6] Translated: https://makarem.ir/maaref/l/0429001
The special dignity of Imam and Imamate:
God's messengers have degrees in rank and are superior to each other. Some of them are “Nabi” (prophets). Some are “Rasul” (the messengers). Some others reach the position of Imamate. The position of “Nabuwat” (prophecy) means the position of receiving revelation from God. Therefore, a “prophet” is someone to whom revelation is revealed. What he receives through revelation, he leaves it at the disposal of the people as they ask him. The position of “Resalat” is promulgating God's decrees. Rasuls educate people through teaching and awareness. Therefore, a messenger is someone who is obliged to make efforts in the field of his mission. To use any means to call people to God and convey his command. To strive for a cultural, intellectual and religious revolution.
But the position of “Imamate” is the position of overseeing religious programs. They are including the formation of the divine government. The implementation of God's “Hodud” (limits) and “Ahkam” (decrees). The implementation of social justice. It is also the education and upbringing of people in “outside” and “inside”. According to this definition, the position of Imamate is higher than the position of Prophethood.
In fact, the position of Imamate is the position of achieving the goals of the religion. It is the position of guiding in the sense of reaching the desired. It is not only providing the way. In addition, the position of Imamate also includes “formative guidance”. That is, the inner and the spiritual influence of the Imam. It is the radiation of his presence in the hearts of prepared people and their spiritual guidance.[1], [2]
[1] Tafsir Nomonah, (Exemplary interpretation), Makarem Shirazi, vol. 1, pp. 437 and 438.
[2] Translated: https://makarem.ir/maaref/l/0429001
Sheikh Mofid in the book “Awael al-Maqalaat” defines Imamate as the successor of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the execution of Ahkam/decrees and the establishment of Hodud/boundaries. The Imam knows how to maintain the Sharia and educate the people.[1] According to this definition, which is based on the belief of the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt, Imamate is something beyond the leadership and government over the people. Rather, all the duties of prophets - except receiving revelation and what is similar to it - are determined for Imams.[2]
Imam Reza (peace be upon him) says about the position of Imamate:
“Imamate” is the rulership of the religion and system of Muslims. It is the welfare of the world and the honor of the believers. Imamate is the basis of fruitful Islam and its long branch. With the Imam, prayer, zakat, fasting, Hajj and Jihad will be completed. The wealth of the Treasury and charity will be increased. The limits and rules of Islam will be enforced by the Imam. He prohibits [fulfills] and establishes the divine limits/Hodud and defends the religion of God. He calls to his Lord by means of knowledge, good admonitions, clear and firm proofs”.[3], [4]
[1] Awael al-Maqalat, Sheikh Mufid, p. 65.
[2] Payam e Quran (The Message of the Qur'an), Makarem Shirazi, vol. 9, p. 21.
[3] Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 200.
«إِنَّ الْإِمَامَةَ زِمَامُ الدِّينِ وَ نِظَامُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ صَلَاحُ الدُّنْيَا وَ عِزُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَةَ أُسُّ الْإِسْلَامِ النَّامِي وَ فَرْعُهُ السَّامِي بِالْإِمَامِ تَمَامُ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الْجِهَادِ وَ تَوْفِيرُ الْفَيْءِ وَ الصَّدَقَاتِ وَ إِمْضَاءُ الْحُدُودِ وَ الْأَحْكَامِ وَ مَنْعُ الثُّغُورِ وَ الْأَطْرَافِ الْإِمَامُ يُحِلُّ حَلَالَ اللَّهِ وَ يُحَرِّمُ حَرَامَ اللَّهِ وَ يُقِيمُ حُدُودَ اللَّهِ وَ يَذُبُّ عَنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ وَ يَدْعُو إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّهِ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَ الْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَ الْحُجَّةِ الْبَالِغَة»؛
[4] Translated: https://makarem.ir/maaref/l/0429001
The difference between the position of Imamate and the position of Prophethood can be well seen in verse 124 of Surah Al-Baqarah, in this verse we read:
“When his Lord tested Abraham with certain words and he fulfilled them, He said, ‘I am making you the Imam of mankind.’ Said he, ‘And from among my descendants?’ He said, ‘My pledge does not extend to the unjust.”[1]
This verse is generally used to say that the position of Imamate, which was given to Ibrahim (peace be upon him) after he had won the tough and difficult tests, was above the position of Nabuwat/Prophethood and Resalat/Mission. Because Abraham had reached the position of prophethood before suffering from the divine tests and divine revelation - which is a sign of prophecy - descended on him. After that, he reached the position of Imamate. Allameh Tabataba'i clarified about this verse. He says that before suffering and succeeding in those divine exams, Abraham (peace be upon him) did not have the capacity to accept the position of Imamate.[2]
Conclusion:
Based on these two long introductions, we say that the mission of apocalyptic uprising was entrusted to Imam Mahdi (may God speed him up), firstly because he, due to the unity of the light of his being with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is a kind of extension of the Prophet’s light. His rise is as if the rise of the Prophet himself with all his excellences and virtues compared to other prophets. Secondly, the position of "Imamate" of Imam Mahdi (AS) requires his superiority over prophets like the prophet Jesus (AS). [3]
[1] Quran [2–124]:
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
[2] Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, Tabatabayi, vol. 1, p. 341.
[3] Translated: https://makarem.ir/maaref/l/0429001
Many narrations about the superiority of the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt over the Prophets (include Jesus) have been narrated from the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him and his Ahl al-Bayt).[1] Among these narrations, there is a narration that was narrated from Abu Dharr: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) while looking at Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be upon him) said: “He is the best of the first and the last of the people, the people of the heavens and the earth”.[2] In a narration from Imam Reza (peace be upon him), who narrated from his pure ancestors to Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and he was also narrated from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him), who said to Amir al-Mu'minin: “...O Ali! Indeed, God gave the prophets superiority and virtue over the close angels and gave me superiority and virtue over all the prophets. O Ali! Grace and supremacy after me is for you and the Imams after you...”[3] Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) also says: “Fourteen thousand years before the creation of Adam, God created fourteen lights from the light of His greatness. . So those fourteen were the lights of our souls”.[4]
The narrations whose subject is the supremacy of the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) over all the creatures of the world - including the prophets - are very numerous and reach the stage of frequency.[5] Therefore , we see that Allameh Majlisi believes that one who follows the narrations, if he is knowledgeable, he admits to such a virtue, and the deniers are the only people who are unfamiliar with the Shia hadith heritages.[6], [7]
[1] It is clear that this position was given to them because of Imamate; Because according to verse 124 of Surah Baqarah: (My covenant [and the position of Imamate] does not reach the wrongdoers [and only those of your children who are pure and innocent are worthy of this position]), the position of Imamate is the most important position that pure people have after Hard tests can achieve it.
[2] Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 27, p. 315, and vol. 57, p. 302.
نَظَرَ النَّبِيُّ(ص) إِلَى عَلِيِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ(ع) فَقَالَ هَذَا خَيْرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ خَيْرُ الْآخِرِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ أَهْلِ الْأَرَضِين
[3] Ayoun Akhbar al-Reza (AS), Sadouq, vol. 1, p. 262.
[4] Bihar Anwar, vol. 25, p. 4.
[5] Bihar Anwar, vol. 26, p. 297.
[6] Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 26, pp. 297 and 298.
[7] Translated: https://makarem.ir/maaref/l/0429001
