فصلنامه انتظار موعود
سال بیست و دوم شماره 77 (تابستان 1401)

The purpose of all heavenly religions is guiding the mankind and the succession of Divine prophets and guardians have all been seeking human prosperity. The process of guidance in the holy religion of Islam has never stopped moving forward and Mahdism is the continuation of the process of prophecy and imamate in the path of guiding human beings. The doctrine of Mahdism is subject to a set of philosophical foundations among which are theological components; that is the teachings which investigate the Divine nature, attributes and actions. Examining the above-mentioned foundations in the field of Mahdism leads to the strengthening of this religious teaching and as the result, to its extra influence on the practical life of human beings. The present paper endeavors to extract and explain the Divine foundations of Mahdism in the view of the contemporary philosopher, Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani, using the library method with a descriptive-analytic approach. The findings of the examinations demonstrate that in the intellectual system of Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani, the most important theological foundations are: levels of monotheism, including unity of Divine Essence, unity of Divine Actions, unity of Divine Attributes (including ownership, power, justice, Divine lordship, will and wisdom) God’s absolute perfection, destiny and providence in the universe, the unity in the system  of the universe, and the perfect human as the destination of Divine creation. It can be said that all the mentioned foundations refer to one thing, i.e., monotheism, which itself can be introduced as the main axis of the thought of Mahdism and awaiting.

The book of "Montakhab al-Athar fi al-Imam al-Thani Ashar(a.s)"3 written by Hazrat Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani, one of the greatest Shia legal authorities, is one of the contemporary narrative books on the subject of hadiths related to Imam Mahdi (a.s), and the honorable author has collected the narrations with arduous investigation in the books of the two parties (Sunni and Shia) and innovatively structured it. In several sections, he has endeavored to explain and clear the doubts and challenges of the hadiths of Mahdism by appendices and numerous scholarly footnotes. The present paper, which is library-based, and in analyzing the data and views and documents, is following the descriptive-analytic-critical method, has been written with the aim of recognizing the structure of the book of "Montakhab al-Athar fi al-Imam al-Thani Ashar(a.s)" on four major axes: 1. Description and mention of features; 2. Virtues and privileges; 3. Shortcomings, criticisms, and evaluations; 4. Suggestions; and has structurally criticized and analyzed each of the ten substructures of the book and has come to this final conclusion that the present book, despite its undeniable structural advantages and innovations has some deficiencies and needs to be revised based on the given suggestions.

Hazrat Ayatollah Sheikh Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani" is one of the first-rate Shia legal authorities of the contemporary era. The book of "Montakhab al-Athar fi al-Imam al-Thani Ashar(a.s)"4 is one of his prominent works in which his hadith opinions are reflected. The present paper seeks to explain his methods of analysis of hadiths in the book of "Montakhab al-Athar fi al-Imam al-Thani Ashar(a.s)". The main goal in the mentioned book is to scientifically prove the frequency of verses and the independence of these hadiths in the view of documents. Investigating his methods in relation to Madavi hadiths can be applicable to other hadiths as well. His most important methods of analysis of hadiths have been explained in three axes: “correction of the copies”, “validation of hadiths in terms of their documentation and content”, and “jurisprudence of hadiths”. The most significant and eye-catching results of this research are the presentation of methods of hadith analysis by Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani which can be applied to the analysis of other narrations as well. These methods include: considering the alternate version in the explanation as well as the criticism of hadiths, which includes the methods of examination of documentation of hadiths and their contents. Another method he would benefit from in the analysis of hadiths in the book of "Montakhab al-Athar" is the methods he would apply in perceiving the main aim of hadiths.

Considering the importance of and the multitude of narrations in relation to the existential dependance of the universe to the presence of a Divine authority, Hazrat Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani has presented innovative analyzes in this regard which it deems necessary to be revised. This paper entitled “investigation of existential dependance of the universe on the authority in the works of Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani” seeks to present his fivefold answers and analysis in this field using descriptive-analytic method. In this research, after examining the narrative terms related to the subject of existential dependance of the universe to the presence of the Divine authority, we prove the origin of this meaning through documentation and reasoning and answer the conflicting traditions and why some of the experts such as Allameh Majlesi and Seyyed Morteza have apparently rejected the traditions on the existential dependance, and finally, a platform is provided for the analysis of such narrations.

Knowledge of phenomena and their recognition is subject to the principles and groundworks which are rooted in the type of human’s attitude towards the universe and human beings. The doctrine of Mahdism as a subject which needs to be recognized, can be determined in different ways. The hypothesis of this research is that in the thought of Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani, Mahdism and awaiting can be recognized through different natural, intellectual and narrative methods and techniques. The present paper has examined the intellectual and narrative method of Mahdism and awaiting with an emphasis on the thought of Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani with a qualitative approach and descriptive-analytical method, and has answered this main question that what the most important intellectual and narrative methods of proving the doctrine of Mahdism in the viewpoint of Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani are. Explaining the howness of recognition of Mahdism with a intellectual and narrative method in the view of Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani, such as the appearance of the promised savior and purposefulness of history, the impossibility of perpetual victory of or being the majority in oppression and atrocity and believing Mahdism as an example of faith in the Unseen is the most important achievement and finding of the present paper.

The doctrine of “Mahdism” is the most widely used teaching among all Mahdism teachings in terms of its efficiency, effect, and application among the Mahdi believers. Throughout the history of Islam, the Islamic thinkers have debated over the teaching of awaiting and have pursued many of their scholarly and cultural activities in the direction of promoting and spreading this teaching. Ayatollah Haj Sheikh Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani, well-known as the Mahdavi legal authority, had significant activities in this regard and left behind valuable and priceless works and researches. The subject of awaiting among all Mahdism teachings is one of the most used and consequential doctrines. According to it, the more it is discussed and investigated scientifically, the more effective and practical it can become amongst the people. This study follows a descriptive-analytic method based on the data derived from Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani’s works and by collecting information based on documentary and library-based method seeks to clarify the serious attention of Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani to Mahdavi thought, especially the teaching of awaiting.