Quranic Reference for Mahdist Project

One of the most notable aspects of the interpretive role of Prophet (peace be upon him) is represented at two levels: The first is the general one, which he explained to the public according to their needs, the requirements of the situation, and the level of their understanding and reception. This led some to believe that the Prophet (peace be upon him) explained only a limited number of verses from Qur'an, as in the narration reported by al-Bazzar: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not explain anything of Qur'an, except a limited number of verses that Gabriel had taught him." This perspective contradicts what Allal, Almighty, said in Qur'an, which explains the Prophet's mission: {And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them, and that perhaps they will reflect} [Al-Nahl, verse: 44]. Qur'an makes it clear that the explanation of Prophet (peace be upon him) was comprehensive.

 which have inherent and unchanging characteristics that ensure the realization of Allah's justice, wisdom, and greatness.

From this point, the study highlights the strong connection between the inheritance of the Earth, referred to in the research as the "Mahdist project," and the appearance of Islam over all religion, an interconnected relationship of cause and effect, which the research seeks to explain and demonstrate.

One should reflect on the context and form in which this divine clarification is mentioned, because it is clear that many divine truths are not explicitly stated in the apparent words and phrases of the Qur'an. Therefore, it should be searched for in other means. They are conveyed within the framework of the objectives behind the missions of the prophets, and the purpose of human creation. Furthermore, presenting the study of Mahdism and the future of the world in this context highlights many verses that address this issue, and we will not find a practical application for those verses without the realization of Mahdism, as this matter supported by many hadiths and narrations, as well as the writings of both Shia and Sunni commentators.

In this study, the theory of Mahdism will be proven by revealing the objectives of divine succession of humanity on Earth, and the relationship between Mahdism and the future of the world in the Qur'an.

 However, this matter has not been agreed upon by the various Islamic sects. The Imami school, for example, approaches it from an existential ontological perspective linked to the concepts of monotheism, the creation of the world, and its purpose. Thus, the concept of the Imam’s existence is connected to the perspective of the perfect human, and is not merely a matter of general leadership or governance, as is the case in some other schools.

This issue was clearly reflected in the issue of the presence and occultation of the Imam. The occultation was not as strong as the non-existence of the Imam, because the purpose of his existence is not limited to his mere presence, even though presence is the greatest manifestation of the effectiveness and existence of the Imam. However, his occultation, or concealment from people, does not contradict the necessity of his existence in the world of creation.

In this study, an attempt is made to shed light on this issue, to understand its causes, reasons, and philosophy, and to explore whether it is a law of existence. This is done by comparing the occultation of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) with the occultation of Prophet Musa (PBUH), which is considered a brief form of occultation compared to that of the Imam. Through this comparison and reflection on the Quranic stories that mention the absence of several prophets from their people, lessons and insights can be drawn, and morals can be learned. Consequently, this helps us understand the outcomes reaped by these peoples, including the Children of Israel, from the absence of their prophets, to reflect on the results of such absences, and how to deal with the occultation of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) today, in a way that benefits humanity while waiting for the world savior.

This was done through an analytical study of the verses and narrations related to the Mahdist issue. It has reached important results that pertain to the aspects of the Mahdist project, and its connection to the purifying movement of afflictions in human society, since the earlier prophets up to the present day.

 This data concerned with discussing a moral topic, in terms of its concepts, components, the ways in which it is linked to reality, the types of its formations and its goals. This is what the objectives of this research have outlined. 

Comparing the subject by Qur’anic perspective is considered an interpretation that consists of interpreting the Qur’anic verses, by referring to what the narrations of the Mahdi’s appearance refer to in terms of facts and events, in addition to the Quranic verses that the infallible ones interpreted as the emergence of al-Qaim [Imam Mahdi] (peace be upon him).

The advantage of these supplications is that they contain Quranic verses, thus enhancing the ability to bring images and represent meanings. They are, dye to what they include, an approach to life, because they are based on a relationship between Allah, Almighty, and mankind within this world. 

Undoubtedly, the research in such topic is both an arduous and exciting job. 

The Quranic impact - that Imam (peace be upon him) let it in the supplication, in which he called for establishing the pillars of the true Islamic religion - had a great impact in establishing and consolidating those pillars, because it has a profound impact on the recipient in particular, and the Islamic community in general, and the positive results it reflects.

 They ended up denying it and considering it an alien belief to Islam, and from previous religions. This position has no scientific basis, and does not take into account the foundational texts transmitted in succession regarding these beliefs.

In this research, the positions of a number of orientalists (Jews and Christians), regarding the Mahdist thesis, will be reviewed and discussed, in two independent titles. In a third title, in which their Quranic authenticity was investigated, we reviewed a number of verses interpreted in Imam Mahdi (PBUH), which were addressed by interpretive encyclopedias for both Sunnis and Shiites.

Regarding the position of Western Orientalism about the doctrine of Mahdism and salvation, this study shed light on the positions of major European orientalists, such as: The Dutch Orientalist Gerolf van Volten, the Hungarian Goldziher, and the French Henry Corbin. We presented and discussed their perspectives in general, revealing their religious, ideological and political backgrounds, and the weakness of what these Orientalists promoted, especially the claim that the Islamic Mahdist doctrine is plagiarized from religions prior to Islam, while scientific and historical truth confirms the authenticity of this doctrine, and its roots in the texts of Islamic revelation.

 He also reviewed a group of hadiths, narrations of the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt, which were mentioned in the text on the Imamate of the Twelve Imams in general, and Imam Mahdi (PBUH) in particular, in addition to the sayings of the scholars of the famous Islamic sects, and the rational evidence of the necessity of the Imamate. That it is a divine matter, in which the Prophet, or the people, have no role in choosing him. Meanwhile, the author, in the second part, discussed the matter Imam Mahdi (PBUH), doubts related to his birth, occultation [al-Ghayba], and the philosophy of waiting for him.

The author concluded that belief in Imam Mahdi (PBUH), the issue of his occultation, and waiting for his appearance to fill the earth with justice and equity, are among the Islamic beliefs agreed upon by Muslims and their theological sects.