National media should present genuine and profound image of ‘Mahdawi’ concepts
Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani, faculty member of Hajj Mission of the Supreme Leader, said that the national media should portray a real and profound image of Mahdawi (messianic) concepts to facilitate development and spread of spiritual concepts and Islamic values in society and to eventually pave the way for the reappearance of the last divine authority, Imam Mahdi – may Allah hasten his reappearance.
Speaking to Ayeen wa Andishe Fars reporter concerning the role of Mahdawiyah doctrine in the process of globalization, he said, “Mahdawiyah (Mahdi-hood) is a belief shared by different faiths and religions in one form or the other. There is common ground between Islam and other religions in this regard in the sense that all religions believe that, close to the apocalyptic period or the end of the history of mankind, a wise and sagacious personality will establish a global government, one that represents the aspirations and hope cherished by those who have endeavored towards establishing and realizing justice, freedom and spiritual values.”
Lecturer of advanced jurisprudence and legal theories said that Mahdawiyah is a divine concept presented in Islam in the form of Mahdawiyah thinking. He narrated a hadith from a Sunni source according to which “whoever denies or falsifies Mahdi has in fact gone out of the pale of Islam”[1]. This hadith makes perfect reference to Mahdawiyah doctrine in the school of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) in which awaiting the reappearance of a living Imam has its special purport and meaning. The idea of Mahdawiyah was raised at a time when the hardware necessary for globalization did not exist. That is to say, the means with which to establish a global communication was not physically available but the idea of Mahdawiyah was put forth to raise hope for man that he will attain and realize this situation at the end of history.
The West is always trying to portray the government of Imam Mahdi (atf) as based on war and bloodshed
Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani said, “Today, the hardware necessary for globalization is available. That is to say, the gears available today enable communication among the people of the world in just a short time. In reality, this has paved the ground for globalization of Mahdawiyah (messianism). What does globalization mean in this context? Globalization means a situation whereby the entire people of the world live under the rule and protection of a just government enjoying spiritual values based on justice and freedom. According to the traditions concerning Imam Mahdi (atf), the dormant potentialities of mankind are awakened in this time, the bounties and blessings of the earth are unveiled to people more than ever before and that a meritocratic system will dominate the earth.”
He termed the concept of Mahdawiyah as profound and complex which can be understood only by people who have special knowledge. “The concepts about Mahdawiyah are concepts that have normally been passed on to us by narrators who did not live in the company of the Infallibles in general and Imam Mahdi (atf) in particular. There had been a time gap between issuance of the report and the time in which the narrator lived. Hence, these narrations which look to be vague and difficult to understand have given rise to superstitions which, unfortunately, have spread among people and given an excuse to the media to promote their cause. We do witness a blend of truth and superstition about apocalypse being propagated by the media, irrespective of whether they consider the positive aspect of the apocalyptic idea and the global government of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) or seek presenting a negative image of the Imam,” he added.
Ayatollah Hadavi Tehrani further said, “Those who seek to present a negative concept or image of Mahdawiyah are, in fact, following the general path of the Western media propagations. Not only are they creating fear or phobia against Islam and Shia in the world but they are also incessantly trying to portray Imam Mahdi’s government as a government based on war, violence and bloodshed whereas in fact, everything presented by them, is inconsistent with genuine Islamic concepts and standards. That is because Imam Mahdi’s government, as per the Islamic concepts, is based on justice, and expansion of spiritual and human values and concepts. Therefore, what we sometimes see in the narrations are materials to which our narrators did not have access when they were first issued. That was why those narrations have not been passed on to us accurately and precisely. Should we be willing to understand them correctly, we must study them in the context of Islamic culture, civilization and concepts so that we may be able to separate the concepts that are consistent with Islamic values from the ones that are inconsistent.”
“Our media which seek to present a positive image of Mahdawiyah give a very unrealistic and unachievable illustration which looks more like a fantasy or superstition rather than a reality that may take place in the government of the Imam of Time, peace be upon him. Since some of the audience members are interested in illusionary and imaginary concepts, such materials do attract their attention,” he stated.
The government of the last divine authority will be achievable and based on realistic criteria and standards
Member of the faculty of Hajj Mission of the Supreme Leader stressed that the government of Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his reappearance, is a real government based on divine standards. He further noted, “There are indictors of human government in the government of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) and it is definitely not true to say that his government lacks any kind of human indicators or features. His government, like the government of the past prophets and divine leaders, will be based on what has been and is common and prevalent in the world. The affairs of society will also be run in accordance with the rules and standards which God, the Exalted, has set for this world.”
Referring to the means and equipments available in the time of reappearance, lecturer of advanced jurisprudence and legal theories in the Islamic Seminary of Qom said, “Since the technical means for global communication is available in the time of reappearance and there are people who can spread divine values across the world, therefore the Imam is provided with an exceptional opportunity to a global just government based on divine values, an opportunity which none of the prophets has been provided with throughout history.”
“The government of the last divine authority will be achievable and based on realistic criteria and standards but unfortunately, sometimes we see a fantasized and imaginary presentation of Mahdawi concepts. Although these concepts may create an outward beauty for some superficial audience, they cannot help pave the way for the reappearance of the Imam (atf) due to them being out of reach and unrealistic. The believers should therefore note that the society must, for the materialization of the government of Imam Mahdi (atf), have attained a pretty good level of spiritual growth and there must be people who adhere to divine values and are well-acquainted with them,” he stressed.
Ayatollah Hadavi Tehrani further added, “One of the conditions which the awaiting people (those who expect the coming of the divine authority) should have is that they should have the power to apply and implement the spiritual concepts and values globally keeping different cultural, social and political conditions into consideration because they, alongside Imam Mahdi (atf), can establish a global government. Insofar as these forces are not trained and such a culture does not come into being, there will be no possibility for the reappearance of the Imam of Time (atf). Hence, this forms a barrier to the reappearance of the Imam as stated by Shaykh Tusi in his ‘Al-Ghaibah’. Had we had the capacity necessary for the formation of a global government, the reappearance of the Imam of Time, peace be upon him, would never be delayed even for a single moment; he would reappear as soon as possible.”
The Infallibles’ tradition and seerah [conduct] is based on reduction of corruption and expansion of guidance in society
Speaking about the duty of the media in regards to paving the way for the reappearance of the Imam (atf), Ayatollah Hadavi Tehrani said, “The national media should work together to pave the way for the expansion of spiritual concepts and Islamic values by presenting a genuine, scientific and profound image of Mahdawiyah concepts to the society so that the reappearance of the Imam (atf) may be made possible. In fact, it must be noted that one of the great demerits of Mahdawiyah thinking is fixing time for the reappearance of the Imam of Time, may Allah hasten his reappearance. This demerit has taken place time and again in history. Hence, the pseudo claimants of the rank of Mahdi have, by fixing the time for reappearance, caused people’s faith to be weakened and to face ideological crisis.
Ayatollah Hadavi Tehrani further added, “There are false and baseless interpretations about the reappearance of the Imam of Time (atf) among other religions and lately among the followers of the school of Ahlul-Bayt, peace be upon them, that spreading corruption helps in the reappearance of the Imam. This wrong interpretation has made them think that Shiites, despite the spreading corruption as an external reality, have the right to spread corruption and evil whereas, in fact, such a right has not been given to us. That is because the Sunnah (tradition) and Seerah (conduct) of the Infallibles were always based on eradicating corruption and spreading guidance in society. They were seeking spiritual development and we, as their followers, should also walk in their footsteps by fighting corruption in whatever manner possible. I am certain that there are people among us who are well-worthy of accompanying the Imam of Time (atf) in handling the affairs of the global just government which he is going to establish.”
He further added that some concepts existing in the narrated traditions need to be studied carefully and pondered upon. “If our media want to discuss Mahdawiyah-related concepts, they should make sure to take such actions under the supervision of competent experts who have complete information about Islamic concepts and values. This should be done in order to prevent superstitious and unrealistic beliefs from entering the society; or else this illusionary atmosphere would deter the efforts that are intended to prepare the society for the reappearance of the Imam (atf). Let’s hope that our media are able to present a rational, acceptable and achievable image of Mahdawiyah based on Islamic values and concepts and consistent with authentic messianic traditions.[2]
Office of Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani
[1] «مَن كذّب المهدي فقد كفر»
[2] - Related link: Fars News Agency