The Analysis of the Increasing Trend of Narration of Traditions of the Signs of Appearance in the Course of Compilation of Narrative Resources

Talking about the “signs of appearance” of Imam Mahdi (A.S) as the apocalyptic predictions is questionable and appealing to many people and the traditions related to this issue have always had special prominence among the Mahdism traditions. The book of “Al-Fetan” written by Na’eem Ibn Hemad Marvazi from the Sunni sources has taken the first step in the extensive transmission of the traditions of the signs of appearance, but what is assured is a number of Shiite tradition sources specially the three prominent Shiite tradition sources (Al-Ghaybat Ibn Abi Zayneb Na’mani, Kamal Al-Ddeen, and Tamam Al-Nne’mah by Sheikh Sadouq and the book of Al-Ghaybah by Sheikh Sadouq) are engaged in narrating some of these traditions. In addition to the three above-mentioned sources, the traditions of signs are mentioned in some other tradition sources. A reflection in history and the evolution of the narration of traditions of signs in the Shiite narrative sources shows that changes in the traditions and their number have occurred in each period in comparison to its preceding period so as we get away from the time of the Infallibles, it is added to the number of traditions. Although this increase (in the number of traditions) does not necessarily mean the construction of narrations in the subsequent periods; at lease there are doubts about the validity of tradition without background. This research, which was not previously carried out in this matter, with a library-documentary method attempts to re-demonstrate the growing spread of traditions of the signs of appearance and prove the probability of forgery and distortion in the traditions of signs.