The Rational Arguments for the Existence of the Devine Hojjah and the Issue of Mahdawiyyah

The issue of "the necessity of the existence a divine hojjah (divine authority)" is one of the unique Shii beliefs and, before it had been arisen in philosophy and mysticism, it has been rooted in religious teachings. Adapting the religious teachings, each of the Muslim philosophers, mystics and theologians have explained and established it from a specific perspective. This issue is proved in Islamic philosophy through final cause, the rule of possibility of the most honest (imkan al-ashraf) and the best system (nezam al-ahsan), and in mysticism through the complete manifestation of the divine names and attributes and the grace intermediary, and in Islamic Kalam through the rule of beneficence (Lutf). The philosophical and mystical proofs were proposed with an ontological approach to this issue. These proofs consider the existence of the divine hojjah in the system of creation as necessary regardless of its guiding and leading role, but the Kalmi arguments are based on the religious and guiding role of Imam and the society's need for leadership. In this research, the necessity of the existence of a divine hojjah in all periods is proved by rational reasoning. In addition to forming those arguments, it is brought up reasoning to prove the necessity of a divine hojjah though Fitrah (innate way). And because the Mahdawiyyah is in continuation of the divine hojjahs presence, proving the permanent existence of the divine hojjah prepares the ground for proving the existence of the promised redeemer.