فصلنامه انتظار موعود
سال بیست و چهارم شماره 84 (بهار 1403)

“Revelation” is one of the most fundamental concepts of religion and is among the emanative principles in the fields of exegetic interpretation (Tafsir) and Islamic theology (Kalam). Meanwhile, individuals and deviant movements, such as the Ahmed Al-Hassan movement, seek to adjust the nature of revelation to approve their claim of prophethood. This research works towards the evaluation of the Yamani claimant’s perspective on revelation and the verse “Seal of the Prophets.” Using critical-analytical method, it addresses the robustness of definite religious foundations and enlightenment of various classes of society. The Yamani claimant believes that the "prophet” is connected to the angelic world and is aware of the Invisible. While being aware of the Invisible is crucial for any prophet, yet it is not sufficient on its own. Prominent figures such as Fatimah al-Zahra and the Imams (peace be upon them) acknowledged their knowledge of hidden matters, and yet they were not prophets. Furthermore, He has adjusted the groundwork to support his claim to prophecy by redefining the concept of "Seal of the Prophets" and considering the status of prophecy as something achievable.

The advertising model of deviant Mahdism movements is a well-organized and geometric system that can be recognized as a "multifaceted process of thought conversion." Perceiving the advertising patterns of such movements provides the opportunities to have a better understanding of the relationships and interactions of their promoters with the contexts and backgrounds of their audience, and reveal the underlying causes that may be difficult for non-specialists to grasp. The results of this research can assist the institutions confronting such movements to benefit from this understanding in their strategic orientations and interactions, gaining a picture of both the apparent and the hidden aspects of these movements. This study employs Lewis Rambo’s seven-faceted method from his book "Understanding Religious Conversion" to investigate the advertising strategies of such deviant Messianic movements, which include: 1. Context, 2. Crisis, 3. Search, 4. Encounter, 5. Interaction, 6. Commitment, 7. Results. This paper, using a descriptive-analytical method, aims to answer how thought conversion occurs through these seven promotional stages, and the key outcome of this research is the comparison of the thought conversion methods in deviant Mahdism movements with the methods of conversion of religion in religions.

This research aims to investigate the reasons for the instrumental approach to the concept of Mahdism in some Shia movements during the era of presence. Some Shia movements and uprisings have attempted to abuse this concept, and while they acknowledge its significance in Shia thought, they have attempted to misuse its potential to its greatest to attract more mobilizing support. The researcher has employed an "explanatory-analytical" method for content processing, and based on the outcomes or results of the research, it is of a "developmental-applied" type, while in terms of the type of data used, it is qualitative research. The question of this research is why, in some Shia uprisings during the contemporary era, the concept of Mahdism has had an instrumental function. According to the findings of this study, the teaching of Mahdism has a social "mobilization power," and historically, some uprisings have benefited from this capacity. Benefitting from “Mahdism's "capacity for persuasion," "identity formation," and its "proactive" nature are other reasons for the functional application of this doctrine in these uprisings. The results of analyzing and synthesizing the collected data indicate that the doctrine of Mahdism increases the motivational power of Muslims towards their tendency and willingness to support the leaders of the uprisings.

The necessity for thorough, comprehensive, and coherent research on earlier Shia sources is of great importance, and has precedence over merely a descriptive presentment of earlier Hadith writings. The book "Qurb al-Asnad," authored by Abdullah ibn Jafar al- Homayrie is one of the oldest surviving sources from the time of the Minor Occultation which can be investigated with a focus on the concept of Mahdism. The following writing using a "descriptive-analytical" method aims to analyze the personality and attribution of this work to Abdullah ibn Jafar al- Homayrie, as well as to assess the status of Mahdism teachings in "Qurb al-Asnad." From the remaining narrations in the book of "Qurb al-Asnad," there are thirteen narrations related to Mahdism. Homayrie usually transmitted these narrations from trustworthy figures in Kufa, Qom, and Baghdad, which itself indicates his contact and relations with various hadith communities. Although the content of his narrations is less reported in his contemporary and later sources until the 5th century of the Hijra, most of them align with the core principles of Mahdism teachings and Shia thought. The diversity of his narrations, particularly regarding the signs of the reappearance (of Imam) and the Waqifite movement, is a notable aspect of this work.

The ideological nature of Iran's social system has created a context for committing crimes by manipulating religious and spiritual concepts. False claims in this context are not merely lies; therefore, addressing the guarantee of criminal execution related to them does not violate freedom of expression but rather concretizes it. One of the most significant subjects in the realm of false claims with religious contents is the claim of Mahdism, which, due to its roots in the concept of Imamate, can lead to delinquency by abusing others. Thus, this research focuses on the potential criminal characterization of the claim of Mahdism within the context of Imami penal jurisprudence and Iranian criminal law. The outcome of this writing indicates that the criminal description of the claim of Mahdism faces skepticism in Imamate penal jurisprudence. Nevertheless, under Iranian penal regulations, it can be considered a discretionary penalty and offence as an advertising or educational activity contrary to Islam or as pretense of committing a forbidden act.

The concept of "Raj’a" (return) is one of the significant beliefs of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) school that Sunni scholars consistently disapproved throughout history. This confrontation has often stemmed from a misunderstanding and misapplication of the concept, which has been unjustly labeled as an un-Islamic belief derived from Jews, Christians, and the pre-Islamic Arabs, among others. It is essential to conduct an objective study, free from any biases, to accurately represent and critique this incomplete and erroneous understanding. This will provide an explanation for the Sunni opposition to the belief in the return in the end times from the perspective of the Imamiyeh Shiites. The findings of the present research indicate that the Sunni misinterpretation of the issue of return, and its attribution to Imamiyeh Shiism, is unscientific and incorrect. In this regard, the author clarifies the conceptual misunderstanding surrounding this incorrect and unjust mindset, urging the Ahl al-Sunnah to adopt this belief based on credible hadiths and the analyses of prominent Shia scholars.