Vocabularies and Idioms used in the paper:

Shi'ite: Followers of the twelve Imams who were appointed by the prophet of Islam.
Sunnite: Muslims who followed the rulers they themselves appointed.
Narration (Hadith): Saying of the prophet or his progeny that has been quoted by famous narrators.
Armageddon: A location in the plain of Megiddo, Israel, where Jesus and Satan, and their armies, will fight a final battle.
Anthropology: (Theology) study of human being, in particular the study of his  spiritual dimension and his connection with God.
Eschatology: (Theology) study of doctrines and beliefs pertaining to the end of the world.
Imam: The religious and political leader of society.
Al-Qa'em: Title for Imam Mahdi, the 12th. Imam of Shi'ite.
(s.a.): abbreviation for "May the blessing of God be upon him".
(a.s): abbreviation for "Peace be upon him".

In the Name of the Merciful Allah

Saviourism in Shi'ite's Perspective ©

By: Mohammad Bagher Ansari *

Preface:

From the early days of the living of the human beings on this terrestrial globe, there have been always tyranny, injustices and corruptions. Thousands pious and devote people sent on missions as prophets by God, the all-Creator, to save human beings from this overwhelming distress, but they failed to do so. They could only guide few numbers of their people.

Some are of the opinion that the human being in his nature is mischievous and therefore the society will never face with good luck and salvation. They believe that when the human being was going to be created by God, the Almighty, the angle surprisingly asked Him, 'Will you set on the earth someone who will cause corruption on it, and shed blood, while we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your sanctity?' (Holy Qur'an, 2: 30).

May be the same is the foundation of the Huntington's idea of 'Clashes of the Civilisations' and 'the End of the History' of Fukuyama. In addition, the Christian idea of 'Armageddon' according, which a great world war will occur at the end of time, may be derived from the same opinion. It seems, however, that the simple glance at the human being, the world and the history will lead to such ideas, while analysing these subjects in depth, will lead to another point of view.

In this paper, I will try to find out this issue to give proper answers to the following questions:

         a. Is the human being mischievous in his nature?
         b. Is the society improvable by morality?
         c. Is the idea of utopia a fanciful theory?
         d. Is the human beings going to a comprehensive war or a universal peace?
         e. What will really happen at the end of time?

Human Being and His Nature

Unlike the Christianity that believes in wickedness of the human being in his nature, Islamic teachings define man as a holy and clean creature of God, the Almighty.

According to the doctrine of the Christianity, man has originally been created sinful and vicious. God, 'the Merciful Father' created his 'son' to be suffered and murdered in order to save the human beings. In accord with this idea human being, in his individual personality and in his society as a whole, is sinful and corrupted. Based on this idea, one should go to a priest to forgive his/her sins and for redemption of the society should expect the end of time, when the Jesus Christ reappears and establishes his comprehensive kingdom under which there is not any tyranny and corruption.         

The doctrine of Islam rejects this concept and presents a reverse case. According to the holy Qura'n, when God, the Almighty, decided to create the first man on the earth, He announced to the angels, ''Indeed I am going to set a successor on the earth''. As the angels knew that he would cause corruption on the earth, they asked God why He is going to create such a creature, God, the Almighty, said, ''Indeed I know what you do not know''. (Holy Qur'an, 2: 30).

This fact shows that the human being in his nature is like a mirror, which manifests the holy Names and Attributes of God. From the earliest days of his birth, the human being carries a divine nature by which he knows his creator, God, the Almighty, and gradually he grow up by the same nature. There are many Islamic narrations (Hadith), which demonstrate this doctrine. The prophet Mohammad (s.a.) said, '' Every newborn baby is born along with his/her nature i.e. nature of knowing that God, All-Mighty and All-Majestic is his/her Creator''. Then he continued, '' The same is His saying: '' If you ask them, 'Who created the heaven and the earth?' they will surely say, 'Allah'.'' (Holy Qur'an, 31: 25), (Al-Kolaini, Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p.13). In some of the narrations, the phrase has been continued as the following: '' Unless his/her father or mother causes him/her to be a Jew, Christian or Magian. (Al-Ameli, Wasa'el al-Shia'ah, vol., 11, p. 95).

As a matter of fact, though man is clean by his nature, because of his internal instincts and desires, and his external enemy that has been called in revelation tongue Satan,  he involves with sins and corruptions. His wisdom, however, as internal watch and divine prophets as external guide lead him to the truth and righteousness. In case of doing any fault or sin, he is guided to repent i.e. requests God, the Merciful, to forgive him.

Based on this method of anthropology, the society is improvable morally and virtuously, if the rulers or leaders of the societies are pious and righteous.

Societies Problems

Because of the two mentioned obstacles on the way of evolution of the human beings, the human societies have always been involved with injustice, tyranny and corruptions. Normally, teachings of the divine prophets and guidance of the pious and righteous people have not been successful, hundred percent to save the societies from their problems.

Is this situation going to be continued until the end of the living of the human being on this earth? This is a question, which has been answered to by religious traditionalists and sociologists from the early past periods. Referring to the religious eschatology we will find that the most famous opinion in this connection is that, human societies is going to a world comprehensive war in which two third of the human beings will be massacred.

The earliest source for this idea is a Christian perspective, which has been derived from 16th. Chapter of the last book of the Christian New Testament, named Revelation to John. Christian Zionists call it Armageddon (or Har-Mageddon = Mountain of Megiddo). They believe that it is the final battle or Campaign between God and the forces of righteousness, and Satan and his forces. After defeat of Satan and his forces, the promise of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the his promised kingdom and the saints will be fulfilled.

May be the Huntington's idea of 'Clashes of the Civilisations' and 'the End of the History' of Fukuyama have such a background in their mind, though they did not include the idea of saviour's coming.

However, as far as the Islamic sources in this regard concern, few narrations predict such a great battle before the end of time. Imam Ja'far al-Sadeq (a.s.) said in a narration, ''This matter (i.e. reappearance of Imam Mahdi) will not happen unless when two-third (66.66%) of the people will be destroyed''. (Al-Majlesi, Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 52, pp. 113 also 207). In another narration quoted from him, the number is five-seventh (71.42%). (Ibid., vol. 52, p. 207). In a third one the number is nine-tenth (90%). (Ibid., vol. 52, p.244).

In other narrations, there are some other expressions such as 'severity of massacre' (Ibid., vol.52, p. 297). There are also some expressions like 'red death and white death', which have been explained respectively in the same narrations as the death by sword and epidemic death by pestilence. (Ibid., vol. 52, pp. 207 and 211).

Despite all these, we cannot be sure whether such a great campaign would happen because the contents of the mentioned narrations are different, although people in the chain of their narrators are principally reliable. The quotations of the Bible, however, are not reliable for us.

Therefore, a comprehensive war at the end of time, cannot be proved, though some restricted or limited wars may occur as always have been occurred.
 
We should say that the human being society as a whole has three stages. The first stage was the age of the prophets during which the society's wisdom was uncompleted. For the very reason the divine prophets were challenged and even killed.

The second stage is the age of cessation of the prophethood and divine revelation. In this age, in which we are living as well, the humankind has reached to a high position of reason and understanding. Nowadays humankind all over the globe has come to know many things about religion, culture, politics, democracy, human rights, colonialism, imperialism etc. No doubt, his information is growing every day and this age will prepare humankind for the third age in which his wisdom is completed and is ready to accept a just comprehensive rulership.

Therefore, the humankind society is like a man who passes three stages respectively: Childhood and adolescence, middle age that goes to 40th. and the age of perfection.

Completion of the wisdom of the humankind at the end of time is in accord with some Shi'ite's narrations. Abu-J'afar al-Baqer (a.s.) the 5th. Shi'ite Imam says, ''When our Qa'em (title for Imam Mahdi the 12th. Imam of the Shi'ite) rises, Allah will expand his hand on the heads of people, by which their 'wisdom' will be gathered (or completed) and their hopes and desires will be fulfilled''. (Al-Kulaini, al-Kafi, vol. 1, p.25 and Al-Saduq, Ikamal al-Din, p.674).

Therefore, when the wisdom of the human being is completed, they will not bear tyranny, injustice and corruption. Islamic Revolution of Iran is a good example for a comprehensive spiritual change in the society. Although there was some resistance against that, the whole society was ready to accept the change. According to a narration from Prophet Mohammad (s.a.) Allah will grant Imam Mahdi power of the land and give him the means to all things, as He did the same for Dhul Qarnayn (whose story is mentioned in the holy Qur'an, 18: 83). (Al-Ameli, Ethbat-ul-Hudat, vol. 3, p.480).

A Cordial Welcome
 
Moreover, there are reasons for paying a comprehensive and cordial welcome to the reappearance and rulership of Saviour Imam Mahdi (a.s). Spreading of tyranny, injustice and corruptions in a manner that is out of the patience of the whole humankind's society will be a reason to accept and welcome him.

No doubt, main part of the population of the world is follower of the Ibrahimian religions i.e. Jews, Christianity and Islam. They all believe in reappearance of their saviour. Jews believe that he is Messiah (Christ) and Christians believe that he is Jesus Christ, while Muslims believe that Jesus Christ will reappear and help Imam Mahdi. Besides the holy Qur'an in which has been insisted on the second coming of the Jesus Christ, there are many narrations in both Shi'ite and Sunnite sources according which Jesus Christ will come again and pray with Imam Mahdi.

The Holy Qur'an, denying Jesus Christ's killing, says, "Rather Allah raised him up toward Himself, and Allah is all-Mighty, all-Wise. There is none among the People of the Book but will surely believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them". (4: 158-159).

In another verse, we read the following: "Indeed he (i.e. Jesus Christ) is a sign of the Hour (resurrection), so do not doubt it and follow Me". (43: 61).

As regard to the narrations, al-Shiakh al al-Saduq quoted in his book Amaali that the prophet Mohammad (s.a.) said, "Among my progeny is al-Mahdi, when he rises, Jesus bin Maryam will come down to help him, then he (Jesus) promote him and pray behind him. (Al-Ameli, Ethbat-ul-Hudat, vol. 3, p. 495). 
 
This may be also interesting for Christendom welcome, that Imam al-Mahdi's mother named Narjes, was a Christian before she was captured in a war between Caesar of Rome and Abbasid's caliph. There is an attractive long story in Islamic sources  about that war and this lady who met Imam Mahdi's father, Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), in a dream and was attracted by his characters. It was wonderful indeed that, after few years when she was captured as a prisoner of war in Baghdad, one day she faced with Imam al-Askari and remembered that he was the same person met him in her dream. After converting to Islam, the Imam proposed to marry her. She welcomed the suggestion and they started living together.

It is narrated that Mohammad bin Abd al-Jabbar asked Imam Hasan al-Askari that he would like to know the next Imam after him. He said that he would be his son, whose name would be the same as the prophet's (s.a.) and he would be born by a daughter of the Caesar's son. (Al-Ameli, Ethbat-ul-Hudat, vol. 3, p. 569).

Al-Shaikh al-Tusi says that Malika (Narjes) was daughter of Yshu'a or Yushe'a who was son of Caesar, the king of Rome, and her mother was one of the disciples connected to Sham'un, the Christ's successor. (Al-Tusi, al-Ghaibah, p. 210).

According to valid narrations, Imam Mahdi (a.s.) was born secretly because the agents of the ruling government were planning to kill him as soon as he would born. His father, Imam al-Askari informed in a narration that Imam Mahdi who possesses the authority from Allah, is Allah's proof for His servants and my successor after me, has born in the middle of Sha'ban month of the year 255 A.H. (Al-Ameli, Ethbat-ul-Hudat, vol. 3, p. 570). His father tried his best to keep him away from enemies' observation. He showed him only to some of his specific companions.

According to some narrations,  Imam Mahdi (a.s.) resembled the very specialties of some prophets e.g. like Moses who was expected to be killed as soon as he was born,
 
Like Jesus Christ who spoke when he was yet a baby in the cradle. When Imam Mahdi was born, he recited the following verse of the holy Qur'an, "And We desired to show favour to those who were abased in the land, and to make them Imams, and to make them the heirs". (28: 5), (Al-Ameli, Ethbat-ul-Hudat, vol. 3, p. 682). He is also like Jesus Christ who was thought to be killed, but he indeed was not, and is still alive. He was also like John who was granted the position of prophethood when he was only a child. (Holy Quran, 19: 12),

Like Josef who was absent for many years,

And like Prophet Mohammad who had sword against his enemies. (Al-Ameli, Ethbat-ul-Hudat, vol. 3, pp. 499, 501 and 513)

Anyhow, there are many narrations according which, Imam Mahdi (a.s.) despite all conspiracies is still alive and will reappear one day when the tyranny, injustice and corruptions will cover the whole world and then he will fill it with justice and righteousness.

I would like to end this paper with an interesting narration from Imam al-Baqer (a.s.), the 5th. Shi'ite Imam. According to al-Sheikh al-Saduq, 'Abdullah bin al-Husein bin S'ad al-Katib quoted Imam al-Baqer saying, "Umayyad and Abbasids raised their swords against us (Ahl-ul-Bait) for two reasons: Firstly, they did know that they had not any right in Caliphate (rulership), so they were afraid that we might claim that and then it placed in its right position". He continued:

"Secondly, they came to know from successive narrations that our Qa'em (title for Imam Mahdi) would overturn the kingdom of all tyrants and oppressors. They have no doubt that they are amongst tyrants and oppressors; therefore, they are trying their best to kill the progeny of God's Prophet (s.a.) and destroy his offspring. Their motive is to prevent the birth of al-Qa'em or to kill him, but God shall restrain to detect His matter to no one of them, unless He shall perfect His Light, though the faithless should be averse". (28: 5), (Al-Ameli, Ethbat-ul-Hudat, vol. 3, p. 570).

May God, the Almighty, hasten his reappearance.

The End

References:

1. The Holy Qur'an.
2. The Holy Bible……………. 
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5. Almajlesi, Mohammad Bagher, d. 1110 A. H., Behar-ul-Anwar.
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8. Ayatullah Seyed Reza Sadr, d. 1373 A. H. (solar), Rah-e Mahdi.
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10. Al-Fadhl bin Shazan (coeval with Imam al-Askari) Ethbat al-Raj'ah.
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12. Al-Tabari, Mohammad bin Jarir, (4th. Century), Dala'el al-Imamah.
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