The Role of Mahdism (Mahdawiyyah) in Strengthening the Social order (system) at the time of Occultation

The question whether the government and social system are efficient and powerful is one of the major concerns of the political and governmental systems. Various factors can play a role in making a government and a social system continue its life, be active and powerful. Internal integrity, order and security are taken to be the most important factors contributing to the capability and strength of a government and a social system. The idea of Mahdism (Mahdawiyyat) can have a significant role in making a government be active and powerful, especially in the field of creating unity, integrity, order and security. Functions in each field are important as much. For instance, belief in the idea of Mahdism can have the function of bringing people together around itself, of making them a single whole in attaining a definite goal, of giving them a single identity followed by strengthening social power and authority and establishing and fostering social relations thereby paving the ground for social order and security. This research aims at discussing and showing the function(s) of the idea of Mahdism in the realm of government and social order at the time of Occultation as well as the strategies worked out to foster unity and establish social order and security and to strengthen social relations. Most important of the strategies of the idea of Mahdism in the abovementioned areas are as follows: creating and reviving common individual and moral values, strengthening religious beliefs, especially the doctrine of Imamate, creating emotional ties and relationship between people, promoting unity among people and giving them a single identity shared by all sects and denominations, microcultures and build up public trust which can be obtained from boosting values and following moral rules.