The Messiah - The Mahdi
By Caleb Carter
In the teachings of Islam, Imam Mahdi (the 12th Imam of the Progeny of Prophet Mohammad) is the person who will rise near the end of time and rid the world of tyranny and injustice, replacing them with justice, peace, and general well-being for the world. Imam Mahdi will also resolve the many distortions in religious teachings generally and any misinterpreted Qur'anic teachings more specifically, thereby making his mission one of both intellectual and spiritual natures. His mission’s profound purpose is to bring humankind closer to God by removing the many obstacles which have arisen through the corruption of individuals, groups, and societies. The eventual rising and mission of the twelfth Imam has been outlined by Prophet Mohammad and the eleven Imams who succeeded him as well as by various Qur’anic verses, such as 5:4, 7:128, 21:105 and 24:55.
Imam Mahdi is a manifestation of a more general and universal concept, namely that of a messiah for mankind who will put an end to worldwide disorder, injustice, and oppression. As the great Islamic scholar Ayatullah Muhammad Baqir as-Sadr said, “the concept of the Mahdi is not just the embodiment of an Islamic doctrine possessing a religious character but rather signifies a universal aspiration of mankind with the variety of its religions and creeds.”1 Many other faiths, most notably Judaism and Christianity, adhere to the idea of a messiah arising at the end of times to defeat the forces of evil and establish widespread goodness on Earth. All faiths are in agreement in regards to the general, universal idea of a savior, the difference between the faiths centers mainly around who this messiah or savior actually is.
Focusing on the Islamic perspective, it is important to examine the relationship between Imam Mahdi and his great-grandfather Imam Hussein. For just as Imam Mahdi will put an end to tyranny and establish a correct interpretation of Islam worldwide, Imam Hussein had already led such a mission amongst his own people fifty years after the death of Prophet Mohammad. Both revolutions, one led by Imam Hussein and the other by Imam Mahdi, can only take place according to the same set of ideals as both Imams are inheritors of Prophet Mohammad, his actions and teachings. Their missions can only differ based on the specific context in which they take place.
After the death of Prophet Mohammad, the tribe of Bani Umayyah aspired to capture power within the Caliphate and use it for their own corrupted, worldly purposes rather than the lofty, divine intentions of Islam. As a result of their actions and aspirations, many Islamic tenets and teachings were corrupted and the true intention and meaning of Islam itself came under threat. In fact, had Imam Hussein not launched his mission, it is possible that the actions of such corrupted men would have continued completely unchecked to extreme and expedient full detriment of Islam overall.
In the year 680 CE/60 AH, Imam Hussein set off from the holy city of Mecca towards Kufa, a city in Iraq whose inhabitants had pledged their assistance to the Imam against Yazid, the Caliph of the time. In the course of his journey, Imam Hussein and his companions were intercepted at Karbala by Yazid’s forces and were subsequently ruthlessly slaughtered. Nonetheless, the efforts of the Imam became widely known and helped the people understand the severity of the threat to Islam and to human freedom from the existing political powers. Thus, the Muslim nation was awakened from its slumber and began making greater efforts at protecting the message of Islam from corruption.
These efforts would not last, however, as misinterpretation of Islam and its misuse as a political tool by those in power started growing again. Oppression and injustice have progressively become more frequent in the political rule under the guise of the religion. The practice of distorting the meanings of the Qur'an has led to not only deadly misguidance in the understanding of religion, but also to violence and oppression by self-proclaimed religious groups who put such distortions into practice. Therefore, just as Imam Hussein revolted against the oppressive powers of his time, Imam Mahdi will do the same against the powers in existence at the time of his rising, regardless of their claimed religion. Both Imams’ missions center around freedom and integrity for all human beings and the protection of Islam and the intellectual sciences from corruption and tampering.
Imam Hussein wrote in his will to his brother Muhammad ibn Haniffiya:
“I have not risen to spread evil or to show off, nor for spreading immorality or oppression. But I have left for the betterment of the ummah (nation) of my grandfather and I desire to propagate the religion and forbid against evil, thus following the foot-steps of my grandfather and father Ali ibn Abi Talib.”2
Another statement quoted in most books on the tragedy of Imam Hussein, “I have come out to reform the followers of my grandfather,” also clearly outlines the parameters of his mission. While Imam Hussein’s mission left its impact far beyond the plains of Karbala, it had mainly focused on awakening Muslims to protecting the true message of the religion from tyrants such as Yazid. On the other hand, Imam Mahdi’s mission will be worldwide and will have an immediate effect on all people, nations and societies. His mission is to put an end to all injustice and tyranny, across the whole world and not just the Muslim parts of it.
This raises an important question, for if Imam Mahdi is the Imam for all people, including those of faiths other than Islam, what will happen to those who wish to stay Jewish or Christian and not convert to Islam? Contrary to what has unfortunately been asserted by many people, including Muslims, the mission of Imam Mahdi is ultimately one of peace and justice, and non-Muslims, and also Muslims for that matter, will receive no harm so long as they do not act as obstacles to justice and peace, and do not continue to spread the very same issues that the Imam has been sent to remove.
Imam Mahdi's mission, then, is not to rid the world of all non-Muslims and establish a world where only Muslims can live in peace and happiness. The objective of his mission is simply to rid the world of oppression and injustice, and to properly explain and advance our understanding of Islam and religion in general, resolving the many problems and issues which have unfortunately arisen over time. Whether one chooses to accept the Imam’s teachings is between him and his Lord. As God says in the holy Qur’an, “There is no compulsion in religion”3, “to you your religion and to me my religion”4, and “your Lord wished, all those who are on earth would have believed. Would you then force people until they become faithful?”5
The only violence that will take place at the hands of Imam Mahdi will be against the oppressors of this world, and will solely be in defense of those who have suffered at their hands and in defense of those who could have suffered in the future. It will not make a difference whether those oppressors or oppressed are Muslims or non-Muslims.
This has only been a brief introduction to a very vast and complex topic within Islamic studies. There are numerous books on this topic, including but not limited to, Ayatullah Baqir al-Sadr and Ayatullah Mutahhari's Awaited Saviour, Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini's Al-Imam Al-Mahdi: The Just Leader of Humanity, Ayatullah al-Gulpaygani's Discussions Concerning al-Mahdi, and Ayatullah Mahdi Tehrani's Faith and Reason. These books are all available at www.al-islam.org.
Endnotes
1. Muhammad Baqir as-Sadr. The awaited Savior. (Karachi, Pakistan: Islamic Seminary Publications) Chapter 1: ‘Who and What of the Mahdi?’
2. Hajj Sheikh Abbas Qummi. Nafasul Mahmum: Relating to the Heart-Rending Tragedy of Karbala. (Qum: Ansariyan Publications, 2005) Page 85.
3. Qur’an 2:256.
4. Qur’an 109:6.
5. Qur’an 10:99.