Mahdism and Entezar (expectation) in Ayatollah Motahhari's Thought

The belief in rise of Imam Mahdi and the expec¬tation for a global promised messiah faces a number of theoretical challenges, such as: if a perfect justice is supposed to be realized in afterworld, than, what is the need for the establishment of a just universal reign? Why waiting for faraj (the relief brought about to human kind when Imam appears) is regarded as the best religious acts, given that waiting does not fall in the category of acts, let alone to be the best act? In view of our belief in Imam Mahdi’s universal reign, should we approach to the contemporary question of globalization? Should the pandemonium and injustice fill the world as a precondition for the rise of Imam Mahdi, than our efforts to reform the world would not hamper and postpone his appearance? If our efforts to reform can prepare the ground for the transcendental evolution of human being, than what is the need for Imam Mahdi’s rise? In short, we are asked to wait for the rise of a universal promised messiah. First, Why? Secondly, how? This is up to us. The paper attempts to answer these questions from ayatollah Motahhari’s view.