فصلنامه انتظار موعود
سال دوازدهم شماره 39 (زمستان 1391)

The reason of Occultation is an important discussion, over Imam Asr’s characteristics, that has occupied the minds of all his lovers. On the other hand, it is an important issue which is neglected and has not exceeded from the surroundings of the learnt explicit wordings.The People of the House have faced the questioning minds of millions of Shi’as in history who have been looking for their lost part using advanced technologies in different times. As the result, it is clear that the honorable Imams answer this question from different aspects and consider the real reason as an unrevealable secret and explain the external and seeming reasons. Thus, it does not seem appropriate to reply hundreds of millions of people with just an answer. Furthermore, as the opening theme of the narratives speaks, some of the traditions have been issued in the concealment atmosphere and all these cases explain the variety of responses in expressing the reason of Occultation. In the present article, this issue is discussed in two aspects: the mysteries of Occultation, and the reasons of Occultation.

Many of first-hand accounts of Shi’a sources, and some of the Sunni traditions have mentioned the apparent of age of Imam Mahdi (A.S) at the time of Appearance and said he would be 30, 32, 40 and less than 40, or about him, different interpretations such as Servant (Child), Shaab (Youth), Shaab Hadith (Youth in his early juvenility), ShaabMovafagh (Successful and Perfect Youth), Fatta (the Perfect Man) have been used. Although apparently, these traditions have different interpretations which have been used as subterfuge by Baha’i, especially byAbolfazlGulpaygani in the book “Faraa’ed”; with a careful attention in the signification of traditions and their analysis and examinations and the interpretation of words and their usage in Arabic, in addition to the traditions about the Imam’s lifetime, the lack of conflict and the unity in all traditions’ theme becomes clear and clarified and all the traditions indicate that Imam’s lifetime has no impact on his appearance and he will appear in his youth.

Since the belief in the promised Mahdi has been Islam’s alter ego and has the most obvious manifestation in the Holy Prophet’s Announcements, all Islamic sects have unanimously accepted it.It is evident that the abuse of this issue by some of the pretenders who have resorted to these religious teachings to seek power and legitimacy should not be regarded as a proof of incompetency of Mahdiship (Messianic, Parousia). Unfortunately, most of orientalists are not able to differentiate between the reality of Mahdiship and its abuse and have mingles these two in their historical researches. Certainly, this issue is normal to some extent; because, there have been some people who have talked about Mahdiship but used it to achieve their own goals; in a way that orientalists have come to this mentality that this discussion is more an intrigue and excuse in the hand of political protesters and opponents than a reality. The present paper has attempted to resolve the ambiguities and correct their attitudes toward Mahdiship by investigating and criticizing the remarks of some of western Islamicists, which have been included in reputable and reliable encyclopedias.

The present research is about whether it is needed to pave the ground for the Appearance of Imam Mahdi (A.S) or not. About whether it is our duty to pave the ground (prepare) or we are just ordered to act upon the religious practices, there are two views. Studying these two views in detail takes an expanded opportunity. Also, preparation can be proved by different evidences and ways. In this article, we prove the need for preparation using verses and narratives and also assistance and help of Imam Mahdi (A.S) and state the characteristics of Divine help. In this paper, after defining the word “victory” and similar terms; and also defining preparation and its different levels, we state the relation between victory and preparation (in three expressions) and the need for preparation. Then, we prove the preparation using triumphal (victory) narratives.

Among the important issues of Mahdiship which are placed in the form of “Messianic principles” is the discussion over “disputes between the truth and falsehood”. The writing ahead entitled “Messianic; the end of disputes between truth and falsehood” is dedicated to this issue and with an introduction explains the struggle between right and wrong and the quality of Messianic interaction. After the introduction, a theory and threefold views in the issue of dispute between truth and falsehood are discussed. Based on the first theory, which is put forward as a “theory of evolutionary history and the truth’s victory”, human’s well ending is discussed and recounted and consolidated with traditional and rational reasons, along with the ideas and views of scientists and philosophers. The second theory, entitled “cyclical theory of history with the leadership of falsehood” mentions the periodic and cyclical nature of history. Based on this theory, history like an alive entity goes through different periods of childhood, youth, oldness and death and the basic and dressing of this theory is the rise and fall civilization which is invoked by the owners of this theory. The third theory entitled “the theory of dissolution of history and the demise of human race” discusses the demise of human race with an extreme attitude and disillusions and frustrates human about their future and the end of history and basically rejects the future and the end of human’s history on the whole. After discussing the threefold views and explaining the reasons and documents, we discuss the authenticity of first view, and the Messianic and Mahdiship are introduced as the destiny for social process of human and as a well-ending symbol of history with a religious approach. At the end, we present the results.

One of the recent pretenders, named “Ahmad Bin Isma’eelBasri”, has claimed to be Yamani and the grandson of Imam Mahdi (A.S), and the Imam after the passing of Imam Mahdi (A.S) and attributed some other issues to himself and his disciples resorting to the miracles attributed to this person have tried to prove his Imamate and legitimacy using divination by Quran, and dreams. Utilizing divination and dream, in order to recognize the Divine authority, has been invalidated unanimously by the religious scholars and there are some reasons against it in addition to the lack of reasons in proof. On the other hand, expressing the burial place of Hazrat Zahra by this person is not only inconsistent with the terminological meaning of the term “miracle”, but also the narratives of the infallible have expressed the opposite. The article’s method is descriptiveanalytical and by no means can anyone prove the person’s Imamate by divination with Quran, or dreams.

The idea of appearance of a Savior has been reflected in the most religious groups and nations in a special way to the extent that delineating human’s future aspects has become one of the constant concerns of today’s mankind. The necessity to express these issues for young people and the responsibilities they have to undertake is considered as the most important task of all tasks. Islam is a religion which has drawn a framework and bright atmosphere for human’s future. The concern of the Islamic society is the ignorance of younger generation – the future leaders of human society- of paving the grounds for the Parousia. In this research, our goal is to measure the awareness of young people of the principles of Mahdiship culture and waiting with a variety of questions. On the other hand, we are set to measure the threats and harms of messianic discussions among young people and also know whether there is a difference in the way boys and girls look at these issues.