An Examination and Critique of Faāaz b. Aḥmad b. ʿAlī al-Riḍwān’s View of Conflicts within Shiite Hadiths regarding Mahdism

The hadiths from the Prophet’s Household concerning the occultation (ghayba) of Imam al-Mahdi, the twelfth Shiite Imam, present various aspects that, given the circumstances of their transmission, may appear contradictory, especially to non-Shias. However, within the tenets of hadith sciences lies holism, where each hadith derives its meaning alongside similar ones. Fawāz ibn Aḥmad, a Sunni author, penned an article titled “Contradictory Significances of Hadiths Transmitted by Rāfiḍa, Imamate as an Example,” wherein the third section, titled “Contradictions in the Significance of Hadiths Regarding the Time of the Imam’s Uprising,” scrutinizes these hadiths. He claims that Shiite hadiths concerning the Imam's uprising are contradictory, using this assertion to cast doubt not only on the principle of Mahdism but also on the entire Shiite denomination. This article aims to address his concerns. It begins by challenging his foundational premises and then, supported by similar hadiths, historical evidence, and rational analysis, concludes that there is no inherent conflict within these hadiths.