The article is a work of Ayatollah Amini on the Subject of Imam Mahdi and the issues regarding his life and arrival. The below article is a part of his book: “Al-Imam al-Mahdi, The Just Leader of Humanity” which was in fact a discussion between two friends on the subject of false claimers of Mahdiism called “The Pseudo-Mahdis”.
On the appointed evening, the friends came together at Dr. Fahimi’s house. After the usual formalities and enquiries, the session began. Mr. Hoshyar began to speak.
Mr. Hoshyar: There is another matter worth considering as further evidence and related to the topic of the origins of Mahdiism. These are the accounts of individuals claiming to be the Mahdi in the past, whose names have been preserved in historical sources. These reports suggest that the subject was not only widespread but also well-authenticated in the early days of Islam. To clarify my point for all those who are gathered here I will mention some of these pseudo-Mahdis.
Muhammad b. Hanafiyya was regarded as the Mahdi by some Muslims. He was believed to be alive and living an invisible existence on Mount Radwa. He would appear in the future and would fill the earth with justice and equity. (1) A group called Jarudis among the Zaydis believed that Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah b. Hasan was the Mahdi, and he was in concealment. They awaited his return. (2) The Nawusi believed that Imam Ja’far Sadiq was the Mahdi and that he was alive and in occultation. The Waqifis believed that Imam Musa b. Ja’far had not died and was in occultation. He would appear in the future and would fill the earth with justice and equity. (3)
A group among the Isma’ilis believed that Isma’il had not died. Rather, he had been declared dead out of fear (taqiyya) of persecution. The Baqiris regarded Imam Muhammad Baqir to be alive and believed that he was the promised Mahdi. The Muhammadis believed that following the death of Imam ‘Ali Naqi, the Imam was his son Muhammad. This they believed in spite of the fact that he died during his father’s lifetime. They, furthermore, believed that he was alive and that he was the promised Mahdi. (4) The Jawaziyya believed that the twelfth Imam Hujjat b. al-Hasan had a son and he was the promised Mahdi. The Hashimis maintained that ‘Abd Allah b. Harb Kindi was the Imam. Alive but in occultation, they expected that he would appear in the future. The Mubarakis, among the Isma’ilis, regarded Muhammad b. Isma’il is a living Imam in occultation. (5)
The Yazidi faction maintained that Yazid has ascended to heaven, and will return in the future to fill the earth with justice and equity. The Isma’ilis say that the Mahdi mentioned in the traditions is the same as Muhammad b. ‘Abd Allah, known as Mahdi, who became the ruler in Egypt and North Africa. To support their belief they cite the tradition of the Prophet in which he said that in the year 300 the sun would rise from the west. (6)
A group of the Imamis believed that Imam Hasan ‘Askari was alive and that he was the Qa’im. He was living an invisible existence and would appear in the future and would fill the earth with justice and equity. Another group among them held that Imam Hasan ‘Askari has died but would come back to life later on and would rise because the meaning of Qaim is ‘to rise after death. (7)’
The Qarmatis regarded Muhammad b. Isma’il to be the promised Mahdi. They believed that he was alive and lived in Anatolia. The followers of Abu Muslim believed that Abu Muslim was the living Imam who was in concealment. A group believed that Imam Hasan ‘Askari was the Mahdi and that he became alive after death. He continues to live in this state until the time comes when he will fill the earth with justice and equity. (8)
Manipulation of the Beliefs of the People
These are the names of the people who claimed to be the Mahdi in the early history of Islam. A number of ignorant people accepted their claim and regarded them to be the promised Mahdi. However, the majority of these groups have perished and there remains nothing more than their mention in the books on history. Since that time a number of individuals belonging to Hashimite or non-Hashimite clans from different regions and countries of the world have emerged claiming to be the promised Mahdi. Historically, such claims have led to insurrections and revolutions, with much bloodshed and destruction of human life.
It is possible to surmise from events related to the appearances of the false messiahs that the subject of Mahdiism and the emergence of the divine saviour were among the well-established religious truths among Muslims, who anxiously awaited the appearance of the Mahdi. They also regarded his victory and the defeat of his enemy as imminent. Such expectations of the people became the major source for some ambitious and crafty individuals to manipulate their simple and pure faith — a faith which stemmed from the teachings of the Islamic revelation — and lay claim to the title of the Mahdi.
It is likely that some of these individuals had no evil design and merely wanted to redress the wrongs committed against the people. Indeed, some of them did not even claim to be the promised deliverer. Rather, it was the common people who, due to ignorance, intolerable living conditions, and impatience regarding their expectations about the appearance of the Mahdi, took these false messiahs to be the awaited Mahdi.
Continued in the next article: ( The Pseudo-Mahdis 2 )
NOTES:
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1. Shahrastani, Milal wa nihal, Vol. 1, p. 232; Nawbakhti, Firaq al-shi’a, Najaf edition, p. 27
2. Milal, Vol. 1, p. 256; Firaq, p. 62
3. Milal, Vol. 1, pp. 273, 278; Firaq, pp. 67, 80, 83
4. Muhammad Karim Khurasani, Tanbihat al-jaliyya fi kashf al-asrar al-batiniyya (Najaf, 1351), pp. 40-42
5. Milal, Vol. 1, pp. 245, 279
6. Mir Khwand, Tarikh-i Rawdat al-safa, Tehran edition, Vol. 4, p. 181
7. Milal, Vol. 1, p. 284; Firaq, pp. 96, 97
8. Firaq., pp. 47, 97
