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Mahdi

In Islamic eschatology the '''Mahdi''' ('''''' , also '''Mehdi'''; "Guided One") is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on earth seven, nine, or nineteen years (depending on the interpretation''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World,'' Thompson Gale, (2004), p.421 ) before the coming of the day, Qiyamah|Yaum al-Qiyamah (literally "Day of the Resurrection" or "Day of the Standing").Glasse, Cyril, ''The New Encyclopedia of Islam,'' Altamira, 2001, p.280 Muslims believe the Mahdi will rid the world of error, injustice and tyranny alongside Islamic views of Jesus|Jesus.Momen, Moojan, ''An Introduction to Shi'i Islam'', Yale University Press, 1985, p.166-8 The concept of Mahdi is not mentioned in the Qu'ran nor in the Sunni hadiths such as Sahih al-Bukhari."mahdī." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 21 Jul. 2008. Accessed 2008-07-21 Doi, A. R. I, ''The Yoruba Mahdī'', Journal of Religion in Africa (Vol. 4, Fasc. 2), BRILL,(1971-1972), pp. 119-136. . Many orthodox Sunnī theologians accordingly question Mahdist beliefs, but such beliefs form a necessary part of Shīʿī doctrine. According to scholar Cyril Glasse, the advent of Mahdi is not a universally accepted concept in IslamGlasse, Cyril, ''The New Encyclopedia of Islam,'' Altamira, 2001, p.280 and among those that accept the Mahdi there are basic differences among different sects of Muslims about the timing and nature of his advent and guidance. The idea of the Mahdi has been described as important to Sufi Muslims, and a "powerful and central religious idea" for Shia Muslims who believe the Mahdi is the Twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi who will return from The Occultation|occultation. However, among Sunni, it "never became a formal doctrine" and is neither endorsed, nor condemned "by the consensus of Sunni Ulama." It has "gained a strong hold on the imagination of many ordinary" self-described orthodox Sunni though, thanks to Sufi preaching.Mortimer, Edward, ''Faith and Power: The Politics of Islam'', Vintage Books, 1982 , p.54 Another source distinguishes between Sunni and Shia beliefs on the Mahdi saying the Sunni believe the Mahdi will be a descendant of the Prophet named Muhammad who will revive the faith, but not necessarily be connected with the end of the world, Jesus or perfection.Nasr, Vali, ''The Shia Revival'', Norton, 2006, p.68 The "hdi" of "Mahdi" refers to the Arabic root "هدی" which means "to guide". "Mahdi" is also an Arabic name.

Common Sunni and Shia beliefs

According to scholar Moojan Momen, signs that Sunni and Shi'a are agreed upon include that

- The Mahdi will be a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad of the line of Fatimah
- He will bear the name Muhammad
- He will rule for either seven, nine or nineteen years
- His coming will be accompanied by the raising of a Black Standard in Greater Khorasan|Khurasan.
- His coming will be accompanied by the appearance of Dajjal (the anti-Christ) in the East.Momen, Moojan, ''An Introduction to Shi'i Islam'', Yale University Press, 1985, p.168

Shia and Mahdi

Among Shi'a Muslims "the Mahdi symbol has developed into a powerful and central religious idea"''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World,'' Thompson Gale, (2004), p.421 Shi'a Muslims believe that the Mahdi is the Muhammad al-Mahdi|Twelfth Shi'a Imam|Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, the Twelfth and last Imam, who was born in 868 AD and was hidden by God at the age of five. He is still alive but has been in The Occultation|occultation "awaiting the time that God has decreed for his return." According to scholar Moojan Momen, traditions report that the Mahdi be "a young man of medium stature with a handsome face" and black hair and beard. "He will not come in an odd year", will announce himself in Mecca between the corner of the Ka'ba and the station of Abraham and will call on the people to pay allegiance to him. He will then go to Kufa.Momen, Moojan, ''An Introduction to Shi'i Islam'', Yale University Press, 1985, p.169 The Hidden Imam will return as the Mahdi with "a company of his chosen ones." Also part of the return (or ''Raj'a'') will be his enemies led by the one-eyed Dajjal and the Sufyani. The two forces will fight "one final apocalyptic battle" where the Mahdi and his forces will prevail over these forces of evil. After ruling the Earth for a number of years, Jesus in Islam#Life##Second coming|Isa Al-Maseeh (Jesus Christ), Husayn ibn Ali|Imam Husayn and other Imamah (Shi'a doctrine)|Imams, Prophets of Islam|prophets and saints will return to earth.Momen, Moojan, ''An Introduction to Shi'i Islam'', Yale University Press, 1985, p.166

Signs of the Mahdi

According to Moojan Momen, among the most commonly reported signs of the that presage the advent of the Mahdi in Shia hadith are

- Before his coming will come the red death and the white death. The red death is the sword and white death is the plague.
- Several figures will appear: the one-eyed Dajjal, the Sufyani and the Yamani. Another figure, the Pure Soul (an-Nafs az-Zakiyya), will be assassinated.
- The sun will rise from the West and a star will appear in the East giving out as much light as the moon.
- The Arabs will throw off the reins and take possession of their land, throwing out the authority of the foreigners.
- A caller will call out from heaven.
- There will be a great conflict in the land of Syria until it is destroyed.
- Death and fear will afflict the people of Baghdad and Iraq. A fire will appear in the sky and a redness will cover them.Momen, Moojan, ''An Introduction to Shi'i Islam'', Yale University Press, 1985, p.168-9

Divergent views among Sunnis

The coming of the Mahdi is a disputed notion within Sunnis. The concept is not mentioned directly in the Quran or Sahih al-Bukhari; however, the Mahdi is mentioned in the Sahih Muslim collection of ahadithTranslation of Sahih Muslim, Book 41:6961 http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/041.smt.html#041.6961. According to scholar Cyril Glasse, "Belief in the Mahdi has been rejected by noted Sunni authorities as being a Messianism … various Hadith about the Mahdi appear to be inventions to support political causes",Glasse, Cyril, ''The New Encyclopedia of Islam,'' Altamira, 2001, p.280 It is also reported to be denied by the Ahle Quran. On the other hand it is found in Sunan Abi Dawud, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi and "some non-Shiite Muslims believe that the Mahdi will come in addition to the Second Coming of Jesus." Al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ja’far al-Katani said: "The conclusion is that the hadiths narrated concerning the Mahdi are ''mutawatir'', as are the hadith concerning the Dajjal and the descent of Jesus the son of Mary, upon whom be peace." Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Hajar al-Haytami in his fatwa titled ''The Brief Discourse on the Portents of the Awaited Mahdi'', said that denial of the Mahdi is disbelief. Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti in his book ''The Rose Fragrance Concerning the Reports on al-Mahdi'', wrote, "This is the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah, this is the belief of the Sufis, this is the belief of our Shaykhs, and this is the belief of the true Shadhili Shaykhs, whose path both al-Suyuti and al-Haytami followed. Whoever differs with them is a liar and an innovator." Of those Sunnis that hold to the existence of the Mahdi, some believe the Mahdi will be an ordinary man, born to an ordinary woman. Umm Salamah said: Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said: The Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order, under the leadership of Shaikh Hisham Kabbani of Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA), is among the Sufis who strongly believe the coming of Imam Mahdi in this 21st Century is imminent. Shaikh Hisham has written a book "The Approach of Armageddon" that touches much on this subject according to Sunni doctrine and beliefs. In the light of traditions and interpretations, the personality of the Promised Mahdi would be as such: It is said "predictions and lore conscerning the Mahdi abound". Among them are that the promised Mahdi would be a Caliph of God and that to make a covenant with him is obligatory. He would belong to the Ahl al-Bayt|House of Muhammad and would be in the line of Imam Hussein. His name would be Muhammad and his family name would be Abul Qasim, his father's name would be ‘Abdu’llah (name)|‘Abdu’llah, and he would appear in Mecca. He would protect the Muslims from destruction and would restore the religion to its original position.

Possible Biblical Interpretations

In their book, ''Al Mahdi and the End of Time'', Muhammad Ibn ‘Izzat and Muhammad ‘Arif, two well-known Egyptian authors, identify the Mahdi from the Book of Revelation, quoting Hadith transmitter Ka'ab al-Ahbar. In one place, they write, ‘Izzat and ‘Arif then go on to say: p. 15,16

Claims of being the Mahdi

Over the years, several individuals have declared themselves to be the Mahdi prophesied in Islam. Similar to the notion of a Messiah in the Judeo-Christian religions, the notion of a Mahdi as a redeemer to establish a society has lent itself to various interpretations leading to different claims within minorities or by individuals within Islam. The first historical reference to a movement using the name of Mahdi is al-Mukhtar's rebellion against the Umayyid Caliphate in 686, almost 50 years after Muhammad's death. Al-Mukhtar claimed that Ibn al-Hanifiya, a son of the fourth Caliph Ali (the first Imam of Shi'ite), was the Mahdi who would save the Muslim people from the unjust rule of the Umayyads. Ibn al-Hanifiya was not actively involved in the rebellion, and when the Umayyads successfully quashed it, they left him undisturbed. Another claim was that of the Báb ( "the Gate") in 1844, founding the religion of Bábism. He was later executed in the town of Tabriz by a firing squad. His remains currently reside in a tomb at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. He is considered to be the forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh. (''ba-haa-ol-laa'' "Glory of God") Both are considered Prophets by Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'is. The late nineteenth century saw another claimant, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who appeared in British India and claimed also to be the Promised Messiah (second coming of Jesus), being the only person in Islamic history to have claimed to be both. He founded the Ahmadiyya religious movement in 1889 which, though claims to be Muslim in every sense of the word is not recognized as such by a majority of mainstream Muslims. Sudanese Sufi Muhammad Ahmad, declared himself Mahdi in 1882 and defeated Ottoman-Egyptian forces to set up his own state and died in 1885 but his Mahdist state lasted until 1899 when a British army destroyed it following the Battle of Omdurman. The most recent notable claim to Mahdiism was by Mohammad Abdullah al Querishi whose brother-in-law, Juhayman ibn-Muhammad ibn-Sayf al-Otaibi, led several hundred men to Grand Mosque Seizure|take over the Grand Mosque in Mecca in November 1979. This uprising was defeated after a two-week siege in which at least 250 rebels, soldiers, and pilgrims were killed.

Bibliography (English)

- Shauhat Ali, ''Millenarian and Messianic Tendencies in Islamic Thought'' (Lahore: Publishers United, 1993)
- Timothy Furnish, ''Holiest Wars: Islamic Mahdis, Jihad and Osama Bin Laden'' (Westport: Praeger, 2005) ISBN 0275983838
- Abdulaziz Abdulhussein Sachedina, ''Islamic Messianism: The Idea of the Mahdi in Twelver Shi'ism'' (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1981) ISBN 0-87395-458-0
- Syaikh Hisyam Kabbani, ''The Approach of Armageddon'' (Islamic Supreme Council of America, 2002) ISBN 1930409206