فصلنامه انتظار موعود
سال سیزدهم شماره 40 (بهار 1392)

The under-investigation subject in this research is Messianism and futurology which examines the concepts of Messianism and futurology and the relationship between them and also their functions. Since futurology examines the knowledge or the study of possible and desired future of a society, we can estimate the possible future of a society based on understanding of the past and conditions of the present time. This issue has a special place in Islamic societies, because in religious perspective, forming future in the appearance of the Expected Imam is a clear and comprehensive answer to the natural and fundamental questions of human in relation to the desirable and aspirational life of future. Despite some differences in assumptions, questions and goals between futurology and Messianic studies, similarities between them has caused a detailed ratio which provides the possibility of close and mutual interaction with maintaining their epistemic and methodic independence of each other.

“Futurology” is the art of shaping the future, the way we want it to be. In this perspective, futurism is the knowledge of understanding changes, and knowing the future is the most critical science human beings need. In Islam, “Messianism” is the beating heart of any futureoriented research and a Muslim futurist cannot ignore the capacities and teachings of Messianic culture in their research; but this field of study demands special research requirements and necessities. It seems these necessities and requirements can be investigated in three theoretical necessities such as 1) hopeful optimism, 2) qualitative view toward appearance not the quantitative one, and methodical requirements such as 1) mechanism to predict the future, 2) calm and legal government in the process of research and its conclusions and propagandistic requisites such as 1) explaining the Messianic doctrine’s fundamentals of thought and epistemical materials and providing indicators of right and wrong, 2) representing the functions of Messianic society. Some of these requisites are presented in this paper.

Manifestation of waiting in the process of future-making is one of the important and non-analyzed effects of Messianism. Imam Mahdi’s dignity in guiding people in Occultation period arouses reflection and thought and has a significant impact on the formation of future trends; to the extent that we can say his name, his perceived actions and character like a lantern in the dark seas guides the lost and confused ships who are exposed to diversion and loss in their own ambiguity in future’s direction. The metaphorical approach to the status of Imam, as a guiding lighthouse and a light illuminating people’s path from present to future is stated along the interpretations in the Fourteen Impeccables’ Sunnah, such as “Misbah al-Huda” (the guidance light) and “Tavoos Ahl al-Jannah” (the peacock of the people of Heaven). This approach is emphasized along the subjects of the holy Quran’s verses and the prayers transmitted by Tradition which consider knowing the Imam as the inevitable condition of salvation, redemption and keeping the faith, and states consciously obeying the Imam is the prerequisite of Islam and servant-hood before the Lord and consider knowing the Imam as the result of knowing Two Weighty Things and obeying God’s orders. Consequently, the Imam’s dignity, in his appearance and occultation, is always guiding every single servant of the Almighty God and is their sign of guidance and the illuminating light of their path to the future that lies deep in the near future.

“Retrospection” is one of the most effective methods of studying future in order to determine long-term future. In the present paper, by utilizing this method, we investigate the modeling aspects of communication in Messianic society for today’s society and answer questions such as the howness of the state of communication in today’s society; the features of communication in a “limited society” (modeling society) and the required steps to achieve the desired prospect; and in relation to the suitable communication in a limited society. The used method in this research is utilizing library and reviewing documents available in relation to Mahdaviat (Messianic) and interviewing a number of media’s specialists. The achievements of this research are as follows: that Islam is the religion of Truth and we should make its call heard by everyone and since Muslims desire goodness and prosperity for all human being, this benevolence calls for the preparation of the awaiting and paving-the-ground media for the realization of Utopia and Imam Mahdi’s desired society by utilizing communication knowledge. We should present Islam’s content and its valuable effects to the world with the appropriate use of hardware and software options which itself requires training manpower and building technical infrastructures.

Futurology, as one of the fields of studies, is accountable for the mission to trace the future management of the world. On the same basis, world leaders set the documents as “the perspective” considering various factors (ideas, aspirations, opportunities, threats and talents) in order to achieve and determine future precisely. Accordingly, the “perspective” is an organized expression about moving from present to the future, and from current situation to the desired one. One of the needs of our religious community is compiling a cultural outlook based on Messianism. The outlook based on this belief, while it presents a desirable, aspirational and achievable picture of values and beliefs in front of the society, indicates a point that a future, based on justice and the rule of monotheism throughout the world, awaits us. The perspective document of Islamic Republic of Iran entailing its cultural, political, social and economic perspective has not observed Messianism and Messianic properly and imperatively and this deficiency can be compensated by compiling the cultural perspective document of Islamic Republic of Iran based on the Messianic vision. Tracing Messianic principles as a cultural perspective, in fact, promises the fulfillment of values expected to be fulfilled by the advent of Imam Mahdi (A.S), the most important of which are: human’s dignity and return to one’s true nature and true-heartedness, true freedom, the rule of moral values, and practical development…. In this direction, it is necessary a cultural meeting is held in the holy city of Qom and becomes responsible for developing the cultural perspective of Islamic Republic of Iran.

Futurology is a relatively new field which in terms of its broadness and variety of related areas has had very important outcomes for countries and communities so that today it has become one of the decision-making tools. Already in this area, extensive studies have been carried out by powerful countries in order to gain competitive advantages and dominate the world. This event adds up to the importance of achieving more powerful approaches in the field of futurology. Undoubtedly, the intellectual system of Islam, especially Shi’a’s sources, more than any human’s school of thought, has the ability to define the most strategic issues of futurology. One of the transcendental grounds in this system is the Messianic thought. As we know, the belief in the Savior is favorable by most of religions, but the capacity to benefit from the forward-looking teachings on the basis of Divine inspiration can only be found in Shi’ism and Messianic teachings and it is not in the capability of other movements. So there are rooms for more comprehensive studies in the system of Messianic futurology. The present review is a comprehensively analytical review in the field of Messianism and its forward-looking functions based on reputable sources of Shi’a. This research is in the realm of discussions on philosophical scientology including the five dimensions: “Epistemology”, “Methodology”, Ontology”, “Axiology” and “Semiotics”. As the results show the system of epistemological futurology embodies concepts, methods and tools, some of which can be applied properly for broad studies and understandings of Divine teachings of Messianism.

Nowadays, “futurology” as the knowledge of knowing and shaping the future has taken an important place in the world and entered the various spheres of human life. Desired future, based on the teachings of most religions is achievable in the advent of the Savior and in Islam the Messianic doctrine is considered as the most important aspect of futurology. The present paper, by using analytic-descriptive method and with the aim to deepen and stabilize the position of religious futurology based on Messianic teachings and to study the role of Messianism in futurology and shaping a desirable future, investigates the role of futurology and its cultural-social functions, especially the function of the unity of Islamic nation, as one of the main functions in this domain, in order to fulfill the conditions of appearance and explores the future of the world based on the explanatory hypothesis which is suggested in Messianic teachings. The conducted surveys show that the Islamic unity is formed when people with common goals and ideals take the same approach. Achieving a better society (Utopia), promised in all religions, and reaching prosperity and perfection is all monotheists’ ideal and it is realized when all the monotheistic seekers of justice are lined up in a single queue and under the leadership of the promised by joining the Messianic global governance. In conclusion we can say this shared ideal is reached under the light of Islamic unity.