The advent of IMAM AL-MAHDI (a-s), the natural course for humanity
HIS LIFE AND HIS LINEAGE.
INTRODUCTION:
As in all of the Divine knowledge which is constantly overflowing from the Holy Qur’an, the call of solace that will be brought to man by the Command of ALLAH (swt) through Al-Mahdi (a-s) is a true indisputable Qur’anic principle. And if anyone one studies the natural course of humanity, they will find that the evolution of the human race cannot turn away from this promised phenomenon. And those evil oppressors, who are doing everything in their power to stop this knowledge from spreading, in fear of loosing their so-called iron fist over the general populace, will fail in every way possible. ALLAH (swt) says in the Holy Qur’an: “It is HE who has sent HIS Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that HE may uplift it above every religion, though the unbelievers be averse”. (The Holy Qur’an 9 At-Tawabah-33). And “It is HE who has sent HIS Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that HE may uplift it above every religion, though the unbelievers be averse”. (The Holy Qur’an 61 As-Staff-9). Surely no believing Muslim can ignore a command statement such as this one, which is repeated in 2 different Surahs of the Holy Qur’an.
In this particular article we will explore the characterization of the natural course of humanity and its collective destination. Also we will look at who will lead the human race (with the Divine: Grace, Mercy and Guidance of ALLAH Azz wa Jall) to overcome the ruling despot tyrannies that will have filled the earth with corruption and desolation at the time of the advent of Al-Mahdi (a-s). We will discover and understand the great importance of the course of this Mission and of the man who will lead it. I have as I often do, divided this study in 2 separate parts (based on the title’s topic), the first part will be about the advent of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s) being the natural course of humanity called: A theory about the advent of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s) based on Islamic teachings and beliefs. In the second part we will study who this Holy Imam (a-s) is, his life and lineage the sub title of the second part will be: The veracious leader of the true Islam. And each part will contain several divisions. As always I thank my readers and ask that they may forgive me of any errors in subject matter or grammatical. In the hope that ALLAH (swt) will be satisfied with the small effort of this study and project.
A theory about the advent of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s) based on Islamic teachings and beliefs:
Even though the never ending efforts of the current world dialectical materialist rulers, trying to drown the masses of the populace, in the ocean of ignorance and profane beliefs, despite all of this, the standard of truth and factual reality has not yet been defeated. Even with the great effort of the secular champions, the one they call the capitalist democratic system, with their empty promises of artificial freedom, whose great exploits until now are: injustices in the economic life, dictatorships on the political sphere, stagnation of all intellectual life in religious movements, hostile and armed occupations of foreign lands, ignorance of basic moral conduct, etc… And all of this is for their primary belief of limitless individual and personal interest, pushing themselves and their ignorant followers ever further from the factual reality of mankind’s true needs and goals in this transient life. Their slogan being: “The ends justify the means!” which opens them to use unlimited corruption and devious schemes in order to obtain their daily fill of material perversion.
If we examine the enormous social problems now appearing all over the globe, we can surely conceive the erroneousness of their system. In fact in the Occident, crime rates are increasing at an alarming pace, poverty is growing at never seen before proportions, sexual crimes and assaults are escalating at an horrible rate, violent crimes are no longer a daily phenomenon but an hourly one, robbery and theft are so wide spread that security systems sales have climbed to extreme heights and so have the sale of fire arms. Uneducated men are pushed into organized crime and woman into prostitution. In the Occident the largest sections in the phone books are escort services (legal prostitution) and bars (drinking clubs, discos, and pubs). Alcoholism which is now an overwhelming dilemma, it is also a big business for the heartless multinationals producing alcohol beverages of all sorts and the massive media campaigns to sell it are found absolutely everywhere (television, daily newspapers, magazines, radio, billboards on road sides and in public transit vehicles, etc…) With all of this, one may wonder why this system hasn’t killed itself and all that is found in it and around it. So what is keeping the world a float, so to speak? The answer to this question is found in ALLAH Azz wa Jall’s promise to all mankind of support and solace:
“ALLAH has promised the righteously striving believers to appoint them as HIS deputies on earth, as HE had appointed those who lived before. HE will make the religion that HE has chosen for them to stand supreme. HE will replace their fear with peace and security. They will worship their LORD without fear and will not submit to anyone other than HIM and will associate nothing with HIS worship and obedience”. (The Holy Qur’an Surah al-Qasas, 28-5)
Now if we look at mankind and take the path that leads to the One and Only Creator of all existence ALLAH (swt), we will undoubtedly understand that the key of future salvation and the current survival of the human species is only because of: ALLAH (swt)’s Divine Justice which include HIS command and promise to the current day Imam (a-s) who is alive and on earth at this very moment and ALLAH’s (swt) never ending MERCY and GENEROSITY to these believers themselves. In order to truly understand this theory, we must break it into 3- separate divisions and before we do let us look at these divisions one by one, and they will be as follows:
A- ALLAH (swt) and HIS Divine Promise the fuel for hope.
B- Imam Al-Mahdi the deliverer of solace for all mankind.
C- The true believers who help keep hope alive for mankind.
Now let us begin with the source of all creation and existence, ALLAH (swt) and investigate exactly what is the advent we are promised, then we will explore why a living Imam must be alive and on earth at all times and how it effects life itself and finally we will see how the believers play a positive role during these hard and struggling years
A- ALLAH (swt) and HIS Divine Promise the fuel for hope.
What is the promised advent that we are promised and what exactly does it mean? Actually when one studies the meaning of what life will become at the re-appearance of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s), he understands that in actuality it is the advent of Islam that will re-appear. Allah (swt) has given a precise and accurate development to Islam; it has a pre-birth era, birth era, a childhood, adolescence, adulthood and will leave this transient life to its true destination the Hereafter on the day of Resurrection. In other words Islam by its wonderful creation, perfectly created by ALLAH (swt) for all mankind in order to prepare, train and teach man his conduct in order to live in Paradise forever. Yes, the birth of Islam is a complete celestial programme, perfectly created for mankind. Let’s investigate each of these eras of Islam, in order to understand its concept. And by understanding its concept we will then understand why the advent of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s) is in fact the advent of the re-emergence of the original and true Islam.
The pre-birth of Islam: From Prophet Adam (a-s) to Prophet Muhammad (saww):
From the creation of Adam (a-s) and his descent on earth, until the start of the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (saww) all of the prophets (a-s) preached the belief of Monotheism (Tawheed: Belief of the One God; ALLAH Azz wa Jall) and pushed people towards good deeds, good actions, good behaviour, good conduct, and to avoid all evil and to forbid evil of all sorts, to fight against it and to be steadfast and patient in the belief of ALLAH (swt). The Prophets (a-s) prepared mankind in different nations and different times for the birth of the greatest evolutionary and revolutionary movements in the history of humankind; the birth of Islam and the Prophethood of the seal and last of the Prophets (a-s) Prophet Muhammad (saww). In other words, these Pious and Infallible Prophets (a-s) were to mankind a preparatory for what would be the greatest event in all history of humankind. We can call this time the pre-birth or foetus stage, like the inner organs of the womb feed the foetus in order to developed it for its birth, the Prophets (a-s) did the same for nations of human beings in order to prepare them for the last Prophet (saww) and the religion of ALLAH (swt); Islam.
“Indeed, We ordained among every nation a messenger, saying: ‘Worship ALLAH, and shun Shaïton’. Then some of them were guided by ALLAH and there were some against whom the error was due. So journey in the land, and behold how was the end of the deniers!” (The Holy Qur’an 16 AN-Nahl-36)
“Indeed, We sent Our messengers with clear signs, and We sent down with them the Book and the Balance so that men might uphold justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great might, and many uses for men, and so ALLAH might know who helps HIM, and HIS messengers, in the unseen. Surely ALLAH is All Powerful, All-Mighty”. (The Holy Qur’an 57 Al-Hadid-25)
The birth Of Islam: The Prophet Muhammad (saww) and the Miracle of the Holy Qur’an:
In the history of mankind there have been many events and evolutions that changed man’s visions, man’s knowledge and even man’s existence. However, no event has changed man’s vision, knowledge and existence as much as the Miracle of the Holy Qur’an and the Message of Islam. The birth of Islam was the single most influential and significant event of the history of humankind. Much like a new born changes the life of a man and woman, Islam changed all humankind. Indeed we are talking in fundamental beliefs in the One God (Tawheed), sciences, theology, jurisprudence, justice, education, morality, ethics, love of parents and kinfolk, economy, philosophy, psychology, medicine, technology, language, communications, politics, transportation, human rights, women’s rights, creation of brotherhood and sisterhood, earthly rights, etc… In fact we can say that Islam touches every possible part of existence. When the Prophethood of Muhammad (saww) with the revelation of the Holy Qur’an began, we can say that all life from that point on changed; the whole concept of the human being developed more in that period than any other before and since. All of today’s developments towards the perfection of the humankind were fuelled by Islam, the religion of ALLAH (swt) for all mankind. Even today, new and miraculous discoveries are found from the Holy Qur’an. Therefore we can say that the holy Qur’an and the Prophethood of Muhammad (saww) are celestial gifts of guidance for all mankind. The Holy Qur’an says about the confirmation of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww):
“These are the communications of ALLAH: We recite them to you with truth; and most surely you are one of the apostles”. (The Holy Qur’an 2 Al-Baqarah-252)
The Childhood of Islam: The Infallible Imams the enter connectors of the Holy Qur’an:
This is the period that starts at the departure of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) from this transient life and his announcement, from the command of ALLAH (swt), to appoint Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) as his successor until the beginning of the long Occultation of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s). Truly this period would prove without doubt the words of the Holy Prophet (saww) about his Ahlul-Bayt (a-s) and their high position:
The holy Prophet (saww) said: “I am leaving for you a thing which if you will keep hold of, you will never go astray after me and those two things which are greater and higher than one another. One of them is the Book of ALLAH which is a rope drawn from earth up to the sky and another one is my progeny who are my Ahlul Bayt (a-s). These two will never separate from one another until they arrive to me on the Hauz of Kauthar. So just think how you will act for me on their matter. Do not go ahead of them, for you will be ruined. Do not fall behind them for you will also be ruined”. (Zaid bin Arqam – Sahih Tirmidhi).
The holy Prophet (saww) said: “The likeness of my Ahlul-Bayt amongst my Ummah (followers) is similar to Noah’s Ark. Those who embarked on it were rescued and those who rejected it perished….” (Bihar-Ul-Anwar, vol. 27 p.)
The holy Prophet (saww) said: “Train your children in three things: the love of your prophet, the love of his Ahlul-Bayt and the recitation of the Qur’an”. (Al-Jami’ul-Saghir, vol. 1, p. 14).
This would be a period to expand the believers’ knowledge, understanding, and patience. Despite a huge attempt by the evil forces who stole away the rule and Khalifa from the Imams (a-s), they could not silence the truth and the advancement of the true Islam. After the Farewell Hajj of Prophet Muhammad (saww) and his announcement of Imam Ali (a-s) as his successor as per the Command from ALLAH (swt): “Oh Messenger! Deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered his message and ALLAH will protect you from the people; surely ALLAH will not guide the unbelieving people”. (The Holy Qur’an Sūrah 5-Al-Maidah- 67). A small, but influential group was secretly formed with the intention of taking the Islamic leadership away from its rightful delegate Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s). We must understand that with the growth of followers coming from all directions of the planet, the hypocrites and power hungry profiteers saw the great growing opportunities within the growth of Islam. Of course, as we have already explained; Islam being the chosen religion of ALLAH (swt) for all mankind, after the death of the Holy Prophet (saww) it absolutely needed an Infallible Imam as successor to Prophet Muhammad (saww). These men who would cheat, embezzle, threaten, bribe and force their way to the seat of Khilafah would forever open the door to corruption and would stain Islam forevermore until the appearance of Al-Mahdi (a-s). These new self-appointed Khalifs constantly turned to Imam Ali (a-s) for advice on religious, legal, social and scientific questions, since they did not have enough knowledge themselves and after all they knew that Imam Ali (a-s) was truly the true and infallible leader in all the possible ways. In the treachery and deceit of these men a Tyrannical Empire came into birth, with such evil despot dynasties as the Umayyads and the Abbasids using Islam as their banner.
From that point on, the Holy Imams (a-s) did not only teach and preach to the true believers, they also prepared them for the Occultation of the 12th and final Imam; Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s), which was announced by the Prophet Muhammad (saww) himself in his lifetime:
The Holy Prophet and Messenger of ALLAH, Muhammad (saww) said: “Bliss be for the person who will be in the time of the Qā’im of my Ahlul-Bayt (a-s), who follows the Qā’im during his occultation before his rise and loves his lovers and despises his enemies. Such a person is of my friends and lovers and he is the most honourable of my Ummah to me on the Day of Judgement”. (Bihar Al-Anwar (Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51, p.126 with English translation. Allama al-Majlisi (r-a). / Ikmāl al-Din.)
The Adolescence of Islam: The test: the filling of corruption on earth and the turning away of the weak hearted:
This period began when Imam Al-Qa’im Al-Mahdi (a-s) went into the long Occultation and will not end until the re-appearance of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s). This will prove to be a most crucial and painful period for the true believers of Islam and is a time that many responsibilities and duties have been commanded unto the believers (for more information please read: Imam AL-MAHDI (a-s) OCCULTATION AND OUR DUTIES. Part two. Coming soon). During this period, corruption and despotism will slowly cover the planet and will rule over all. Only a very small percentage will hold steadfast and will not let go of Islam and the promise of solace. Islam itself during this period as it did in the period of its childhood, will be changed and heresies will be added to it to confuse and haul away the believers from its true essence. Only a small minority will still practice the true Islam, the celestial and divine religion of ALLAH (swt), this will be done in secret for fear of total elimination of Islam and in the underground away from the eyes of the tyrants until Islam’s advent and the re-appearance of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s).
