Dr. Jalali: I have heard that the twelfth Imam (peace be upon him) will bring a new religion, constitution, and laws for the people. The present laws of Islam will be abrogated by him. How reliable is this account?
Mr. Hoshyar: The source of this information are the traditions on this subject. Thus, to clarify the issue we must cite some of these hadith.
'Abd Allah b. 'Ata' asked Imam Sadiq about the character and conduct of the Mahdi. The Imam said:
He will carry out the same mission that the Prophet did. He will eradicate prevailing innovations, just as the Prophet destroyed the foundation of the jahiliyya (pre-Islamic Arab morals), and then rebuild Islam afresh.1
In another hadith Abu Khadija relates from Imam Sadiq, who said:
When the Qa'im rises he will come with a new commission, just as the Prophet in the beginning of Islam called the people to a new commission.2
In still another hadith Imam Sadiq says:
When the Qa'im emerges he will come with a new commission, a new book, a new conduct and a new judgement, which will be strenuous for the Arabs. His work is nothing but to fight, and no one [among the disbelievers] will be spared. He will not be afraid of any blame in the execution of his duty.3
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1 Ibid., p. 352.
2 Ithbat al-hudat, Vol. 7, p. 110.
3 Ibid., p. 83.
