The evolution of messianism in early Shia with emphasis on the idea of “Mahdi”

In Islam, messianism and saviorhood are defined primarily by the idea of the “Mahdi”; especially among Shiite believers. The idea of “Mahdi” is used along with other terms such as “Hādi, Qā’im, Ghayba, Intezār, etc” in the Islamic context which has gradually changed over time and is considered the intellectual framework of the Islamic community.In this study, we will examine the development and changes of the idea of “Mahdi” and its relevance to other ideas in order to answer the question of what changes the idea of Mahdi underwent in the early Islamic periods. In this research, we will find that the idea of “Mahdi” was first used as a general and descriptive nickname, but gradually evolved from a messianic tradition emphasizing the order of this world to an apocalyptic tradition; in this way, the idea of “Mahdi” is linked to apocalyptic traditions.