ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imam Al-mehdi (may Allah Hasten His Return) Chapter 1 - Introduction Not only is al-Mehdi (the Guided One) a materialisation of an Islamic belief of a spiritual nature, but a model to a particular goal which humanity has been striving to achieve, as well as a form to a natural inspiration, through which people came to realise in spite of their different faith and means of access to the unseen that there is an appointed day on earth, when the Divine mess-ages will be fulfilled in all their great significance and final aim, when the exhausting march which humanity took in the course of history will lead to stability and security, after a long struggle.

Ultimate defeat of oppression while on the summit of its glory brings great hope before every persecuted individual and every oppressed nation, in tipping the balance and rebuilding the world.

If the idea of al-Mehdi is older and wider than Islam, the detailed outlines, which the latter has fixed for it, have proved more satisfactory to all those ambitions that have been seeking its realisation since the dawn of history as well as a more generous gift and a stronger prediction for the feel-ings of those who have been persecuted and op-pressed in the course of history.

This is because Islam has turned the idea from the unseen into reality, and from an aspiration for a saviour the world would produce in the distant and unknown future into the conviction that he actually exists looking forward with other people to that day and the right circumstances that would make it possible for him to assume his great role.

Thus, al-Mehdi (peace be upon him) is no longer an idea waiting to be materialised nor a prophecy that needs to be substantiated, but a living reality and a particular person, living among us in flesh and blood, who is sharing our hopes, suffering, sorrows and joys, actually witnessing all the sufferings, sadness and transgression that exist on the surface of the earth, who is affected with all this from near or far, who is waiting for the appropriate moment when he can stretch his hands to every oppressed and needy person and eradicate the tyrants.

However, it has been decreed that this expected leader is not to reveal anything concerning his life or person to other people, although he is living amongst them, waiting for the appointed moment.