فصلنامه مشرق موعود
پیاپی 13 (بهار 1389)

The monotheistic and spiritual aspect of culture is the dominant aspect of it. That's why divine religions can be considered as the most important origin of creative and productive cultures. Culture and cultural reform process has a strategic role in the preparation for Appearance and the Iranian Islamic and cultural Revolution would be successful when cultural reform moves in the direction of achieving these goals.This article demonstrates the claim that vulnerability and decline in current societies is mostly from the cultural components rather than from civilization or technique. That is the reason why reviving and promoting the cultural and spiritual aspects of culture has a strategic and unprecedented role in preparation for the appearance and even forming the 'Mahdavi' government. The achievement of monotheism and justice in reforming deviations in belief and behaviour is one of the strategies and main cultural components of the 'Mahdavi' government. Moreover, other components also detailed in this paper have been described.

Most interpreters of Faryqeyn relate the fulfilment of the will of the God All-mighty in dominance of religion to the age of Imam Mahdi and the Jesus coming back (Quran: Toubah [Repentance]: verses 32 and 33; Saff: verses 8 and 9). They consider this quote as a reasonable possibility, and without denying it or even having any doubt in the way of determination they have specified the dominance of the right religion only to the age of Appearance.Faryqeyn narratives in the form of revelation (ie, the interpretive concept of verse) or realisation (achieving the meaning of the provisions objectively at the time after revelations) are in line with meaning provisions of the revelations and in the Faryqeyn view implies the fulfilment of this will in the age of Appearance. Faeryqyn have not denied or cast no doubt on the content of verses when evaluating the provisions in the narratives.This article is a review and critique of the evaluation of Quran scholars in both sects. The conclusion is content of these verses can only be [clearly] specified to Imam Mahdi’s appearance and other interpretations are in various conflicts.

Utopianism is rooted in human’s perfectionist nature. Many thinkers throughout the history viewed their community from different angles and have developed utopias. Meanwhile, "utopia" of Thomas More is very well known because of its comprehensiveness and is considered the most important utopia after Renaissance.Since the beliefs and knowledge are the main essence of original culture, knowledge structure of More's Utopia is based on humanism, pluralism, rationalism, as well as justice and education. This terrestrial paradise permeated from the human mind will be reviewed in the light of knowledge structure of the utopia attributed to Mahdi.

What will Imam Mahdi do with the products and symbols of modern civilization? This question is one of the most important issues is the cultural doctrine of Mahdism. This question is discussed, especially when the current cultural changes is compared with what was on and what was ruling the world at the moment [beginning] of his disappearance. Speed of scientific, social and cultural developments world has changed the world so dramatically from the Age of Revelation and the Hadith and the early centuries of the absence of the blessed Imam confirms that the very existence of such developments is a point of contention. In a sense, the most prominent indicator of each cultural strategy for the community today is setting limits for these products and the method of facing with them. Thus, any response to this question has an important effect on drawing and implementing cultural strategies in the Islamic society, including Iran. How would Mahdi treat these products of modern culture? Encounter, interaction, or is enhancement? Will he remove, play along or reinforce them? The brief answer is that all three will work, but how, where and why are the questions this article is trying to throw some light on.

On some historical writings in the second century after Islam and then, there is a Hadith narrated by Nafe’ who was a narrator and servant of Abdullah bin Omar. In it, there is a quote from Omar bin Khattab, the second Caliph of Moslems which seems surprising: In addition to his two other features, the promised Mahdi is considered a descendent from that caliph. This Hadith has caused a lot of misunderstandings and unsuccessful attempts to find the true Mahdi in these first two centuries of Muslim history.In this article, in addition to the textual and documented survey of the Hadith, it will be demonstrated that although this is truly quoted by Omar Ibn Khattab, but he has not directly quoted news about the future of his children or saying something in this regard, rather this Hadith is suspended not resolved, and is in fact a report about the promised Mahdi from a discussion with the great prophet of Islam about some of Mahdi’s characteristics.

Islamic narratives emphasize on the necessity of preparation for Appearance and being in good terms with Imam Mahdi. Thus we should see what are the most important theoretical and practical assumptions in this regard and what is the most influent elixir in speeding the process of his appearance rise and how can we remove the obstacles.This article is pursuing the hypothesis that the role and functioning of the society of government which are compliant are of utmost significance. But the function of society is in great distance from the government. Even though individual citizens in the Islamic community have taken a necessary step in preparation for Appearance by accepting the religious authority, the challenges such as the rule of the ungodly and people’s interpretation detracts from the growth rate of preparation. The situation is different with a compliant government (government that meets the criteria [for serving the religious society]). As the government with the characteristics and inner mechanism as well as its hardware and software strength, can thereby help increase the rate of growth for the preparation for Appearance.In other words, the doctrine of government can help the growth and expansion of knowledge, spirituality, and awakening at the regional level and beyond region and bringing the challenge to the global arrogance which confronts the promised saviour, prepare the world to accept the promised Mahdi. Indeed, the growing of such government can be a beginning for decline of the arrogant front that disrupts preparation and the end of oppression of the expecting people which can eventually lead to the appearance of saviour of spirituality and justice.

Reflecting in the traditions, this article, draws on the world’s cultural situation in the era of Appearance. From this perspective, Imam Mahdi’s reform measures in the cultural sphere and the method of Imam facing cultural anomalies and creating a Cultural Revolution has been discussed. Next, the cultural situation in the world today and the phenomenon of ‘soft war’ is reviewed. From putting together and comparing these two situations and inspired by the performance and methods of Imam, two basic strategies of awareness-raising and enlightening are suggested to deal with the cultural clash of the enemies and their operational solutions have been proposed. Surely, the government setting the scene for Appearance should assume this responsibility.