The Globe Before and After the Advent of Imam Mahdi (as)
Imam Sadiq (as) said: Imam Mahdi (as) will bring a sound and fresh presentation of Islam again. However, this does not mean that pure Islam did not exist before that. There will be true Muslims, although the majority will have deviated from true Islam.
[by Hujjat al-Islam, Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali]
Granting Freedom to People
Imam Mahdi (aj) will remove the metaphorical chains that have been fastened onto human beings.
The Qur’an mentions this as a task of the Holy Prophet:
ویضع عنْهمْ إصْرهمْ والْأغْلال الّتی کانتْ علیْهمْ
…and relieves them of their burdens and the shackles that were upon them (7:157)
The people in the time of jahiliyyah were chained and did not have the chance to live freely and honorably. Their lives were burdened under the heavy weight of ignorance, incorrect customs, and superstitions. One of the tasks of the Prophet was to relieve them of these unnecessary burdens, as all prophets were tasked with liberating the people.
Freedom in its negative sense is that one can do whatever one likes. In this sense, religion is deemed a burden on people, something that restricts freedom, and therefore it is disliked. Hence, the trend that we see today is that people desire spirituality, but not religion. They will fill their hearts with spiritual things but will avoid the restrictions of religion. The Qur’an says:
یرید الْإنسان لیفْجر أمامه
Man desires to go on living viciously. (75:5)
This verse of the Qur’an suggests that man wishes to lead his life without any barriers and restrictions, and that he should be free to do whatever he wishes, without committing himself to following anything. Islam says that this is a very short-sighted view of freedom, that such people are not free, but are restricted within themselves; in other words, they cannot be rid of the prison they have created for themselves. If the smallest of changes occurs to their lifestyle, they will not like it and are unable to tolerate this disruption.
Such people are weak as they become easily disturbed or disappointed and may even commit suicide easily because they feel that there is nothing worth living for.
Freedom in its truest form is the freedom that starts within a person, the freedom to resist one’s temptations and desires. It gives the person the strength to do what is right. Therefore, freedom is not for one to do whatever he wishes, but it is to do what one should. If this freedom is taken away by internal or external forces, then that person is not free. A person who knows what he should do and yet cannot do it, is not truly free. And a person who does what he wants and yet cannot do what he should, is also not free. Imam Ali instructed Imam Hasan:
ولا تکن عبد غیرک وقد جعلک الله حرّاً
Do not be a servant of anyone; God has created you free.1
This means neither any external force nor any internal force should restrict a person’s true freedom.
After the advent of Imam Mahdi (aj), he will give us back this freedom and release us from the chains that have kept us unable to move and behave as we should. For example, in a beautiful hadith, of which the end of it will be shared, Abu Basir – a famous companion of Imam Baqir (as) and Imam Sadiq (as) – says:
لو لم تسمع فی دهرک إلّا هذا الحدیث لکفاک فصنه إلّا عن أهله
If in your whole life you do not hear anything other than this hadith then it is sufficient. Do not disclose it to people other than whom you can trust.
In the report, Imam Sadiq (as) says:
قال أبی لجابر بْن عبْد الله الْأنْصاریّ – إنّ لى إلیْک حاجهً فمتى یخفّ علیْک أنْ أخْلو بک فأسْألک عنْها فقال له جابرٌ أىّ الْأوْقات أحْببْته فخلا به فى بعْض الْأیّام فقال له یا جابر أخْبرْنى عن اللّوْح الّذى رأیْته فی ید أمّى فاطمه علیها السلام بنْت رسول الله صلی الله علیه وآله وسلّم وما أخْبرتْک به أمّی أنّه فی ذلک اللّوْح مکْتوبٌ ققال جابرٌ أشْهد بالله أنّى دخلْت على امّک فاطمه علیها السلام فى حیاه رسول الله ص فهنّیْتها بولاده الْحسیْن ورأیْت فى یدیْها لوْحاً أخْضرظننْت أنّه منْ زمرّدٍ ورأیْت فیه کتاباً أبْیض شبْه لوْن الشّمْس فقلْت لها بأبى وأمّى یا بنْت رسول الله صلی الله علیه وآله ما هذا اللّوْح فقالتْ هذا لوْحٌ أهْداه الله إلی رسوله صلی الله علیه وآله فیه اسْم أبى واسْم بعْلى واسْم ابْنىّ واسْم الْأوْصیاء منْ ولْدى وأعطانیه أبى لیبشّرنى بذلک قال جابرٌ فأعْطتْنیه أمّک فاطمه علیها السلام فقرأْته واسْتنْسخْته فقال له أبى فهلْ لک یا جابر أنْ تعْرضه علىّ قال نعمْ فمشى معه أبى إلى منْزل جابرٍ فأخْرج صحیفهً منْ رقٍّ ققال یا جابر انْظرْ فى کتابک لأقْرأ أنا علیْک فنظر جابرٌ فى نسْخهٍ فقرأه أبى فما خالف حرْفٌ حرْفاً فقال جابرٌ فأشْهد بالله أنى هکذا رأیْته فى اللّوْح مکْتوباً:
بسْم الله الرّحْمن الرّحیم هذا کتابٌ من الله الْعزیز الْحکیم لمحمّدٍ نبیّه ونوره وسفیره وحجابه ودلیله نزل به الرّوح الْأمین
‘My father told Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari: “I have a favor to ask. Whenever it is convenient for you, I wish to have a private conversation.”
‘Jabir replied: “Any time you wish, I am at your service!” ‘So one day Imam Baqir and Jabir met, and Imam Baqir (as) said, “O Jabir, tell me about the tablet you saw in the hands of my mother Fatima, and what my mother told you is written on that plate.”
‘Jabir replied: “I bear witness by God, when the Prophet was alive I went to visit Lady Fatima to congratulate her on the birth of Husayn, and I saw a green plate in her hands. I saw that it was emerald, and there was something like a white paper on it. I said to her: ‘May my mother and father be your ransom, O daughter of the Prophet of God! What is this plate?’ She said: ‘This is a tablet that God has gifted to the Prophet. In this plate is the name of my father, my husband, my sons, and the successors of the prophets from my progeny, and my father gave me this plate to be a glad tiding.’ Your mother Fatima passed the plate to me, so I read and made a note of it.”’
Imam Sadiq (as) then says: ‘My father told Jabir: “Could you, O Jabir, show me what you noted down?” Jabir said: “Yes.” Then Imam Baqir and Jabir walked to the house of Jabir and Jabir showed him the note he had made. Imam Baqir (as) then told Jabir: “You look at your notes and I, without looking, will read it for you.” And everything the Imam said – letter by letter – was in the notes that Jabir had. Jabir said: “I bear witness by God, I saw this exactly written on the plate: In the name of God, Most Kind, Most Merciful. This is a message from God to Muhammad His Prophet and light and envoy, brought down by Jibrail …”’
God then mentions Himself, monotheism (tawhid), and that people should only hope and trust in Him; He also mentions the prophets and that each prophet had a successor. Then it continues:
إنّى فضّلْتک على الْانْبیاء وفضّلْت وصیّک على الْأوْصیاء وأکْرمْتک بشبْلیْک وسبْطیْک حسنٍ وحسیْنٍ فجعلْت حسناً معْدن علْمى -بعْد انْقضاء مدّه أبیه وجعلْت حسیْناً خازن وحْی وأکْرمْته بالشّهاده وختمْت له بالسّعاده فهو أفْضل من إسْتشْهد وأرْفع الشّهداء درجهً
‘I have made you [i.e. Prophet Muhammad] superior to other prophets and I have made your successor superior to other successors of other prophets. I have honored you with your grandchildren Hasan (as) and Husayn (as). I made Hasan the source of my knowledge after his father and made Husayn (as) the treasure of my revelation and honored him with martyrdom, and I have ended his life with felicity. He is the greatest person to be martyred and has the highest status amongst all martyrs.’
The tablet then mentions Imam Zayn al-Abidin (as) and Imam Baqir (as), and all the Imams, each with some of their characteristics, until it reaches Imam Hasan al-Askari (as), about whom it says:
أخْرج منْه الدّاعى إلى سبیلی والْخازن لعلْمى الْحسن وأکْمل ذلک بابْنه م ح م د رحْمهً للْعالمین علیْه کمال موسى وبهاء عیسى وصبْر أیّوب فیذلّ أوْلیائى فى زمانه...فیقْتلون ویحْرقون ویکونون خائفین مرْعوبین وجلین...تصْبغ الْأرْض بدمائهمْ ویفْشو الْویْل...أولئک أوْلیائى حقّاً بهمْ أدْفع کلّ فتْنهٍ عمْیاء حنْدسٍ وبهمْ أکْشف الزّلازل وأدْفع الْآصار والْأغْلال أولئک علیْهمْ صلواتٌ منْ ربّهمْ ورحْمهٌ و أولئک هم الْمهْتدون
‘I appoint the one who invites people towards my path, and he has knowledge from me and that is Hasan (as), and I complete after him this chain of successors with his son M H M D, a mercy to all the worlds. He has the perfection of Moses (as) and the awe of Isa (as) and patience of Ayyub (as), and in his time [of imamah] my special friends will be made humble, will be killed, burned, fearful, their blood will paint the earth, and they will suffer a great deal. They are truly my true friends. With them I will remove all calamities and fitnah … with them I will remove earthquakes, and with them I will remove all the chains and burdens and locks that have locked up the people [i.e. people will be liberated]. Upon them shall be salutations and mercy of God, and they are the ones who have been able to find the right path.’2
In this short message, God mentions:
1. People will finally be released and liberated. In our thoughts and speech with others regarding Imam Mahdi (aj), we must stress the aspect that he will be a liberator and will set humanity free.
2. Similar to the title given to the Holy Prophet, Imam Mahdi (aj) will be a mercy for all the worlds. Regarding the word alamin, this word is normally translated as ‘worlds’, but it does not mean just this, otherwise the Arabic word for worlds is awalim. Alamin is a plural and refers to the inhabitants of the worlds that can think and have knowledge i.e. jinns, humans, angels, and other creatures of which we do not have knowledge. However, the term does not include non-thinking beings.
Unfortunately, some people try to frighten non-Muslims about Imam Mahdi (aj) and make a frightening picture of him to such an extent that people become psychologically prepared to oppose and resist him. What we should do is convey the message that he is a liberator and a mercy, and this is for all people and all thinking beings. Imam Mahdi (aj) is something that all people should be keenly awaiting, including non-Muslims. In fact, many Muslims will oppose him. During the Holy Prophet’s time, the assumption may have been that Jews and Christians will join him, but in fact pagans like Ammar and Abu Dharr benefitted the most and were the best followers. In short, Imam Mahdi (aj) will be welcomed by anyone who is truly seeking the truth.
Meeting the psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs of people
Hadiths also mention that Imam Mahdi will not only establish justice in that there would be no financial and economic problems, but that his justice will be so far-reaching that it will meet the psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs, even of animals and birds. We infer this from the hadith that mentioned ‘the inhabitants of the earth and sky will be pleased with him’3, which we take to mean all inhabitants, human and non-human. This could be because there is no pollution, and that resources are in abundance. The Prophet has said:
یرضی بخلافته أهل الأرض وأهل السماء، والطیر والجو
The inhabitants of the earth, the sky and the birds in the air will be pleased with his leadership.4
In another hadith we see the following:
یاوى إلى المهدی امته کما تاوى النحل الى یعسوبها
People will be so willing and eager to be with their Imam in that time, it can be likened to a bee that wants to meet its queen.5
People will try to do their best for Imam Mahdi (aj) and will try to be with him.
Progress for the religion of Islam
After the advent of Imam Mahdi (aj), Islam will be expanded as the true religion of God. The Qur’an predicts this:
هو الّذی أرْسل رسوله بالْهدىٰ ودین الْحقّ لیظْهره على الدّین کلّه ولوْ کره الْمشْرکون
It is He who has sent His Apostle with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may make it prevail over all religions, though the polytheists should be averse. (9:33)
This raises many questions, such as:
• Will all the people become Muslims at that time?
• Will Islam be the major and superior religion whilst other religions also exist?
• Does this mean Islam in general, i.e. the religion of submission that was taught by other prophets such as Ibrahim (as) and Ya’qub (as) who both according to the Qur'an said were Muslim (submissive to God)?
In a hadith from Prophet Muhammad, we read:
لیدْخلنّ هذا الّدین على ما دخل علیه اللّیل
‘Surely this religion will penetrate everything that the night can penetrate.’6
During the night, everywhere is dark. Even if one closes the curtains and the door, the darkness is there. It cannot be shut out. At the end of time, the religion of God will penetrate all aspects and corners of life. This means that everything will be regulated according to the true religion of God.
This phenomenon has never happened. During the time of the Prophet, such a wide-ranging penetration of Islamic way of life was not achieved, as the world was not ready for it. But during the time of Imam Mahdi (aj), Islam will prevail. And by Islam, we mean the true religion of God, which is the true essence of all the other religions, in that God is one, and there will be a commitment to this belief. Imam Sadiq (as) says:
إذا قام الْقائم دعا النّاس إلى الْإسْلام جدیداً وهداهمْ إلى أمْرٍ قدْ دثر فضلّ عنْه الْجمْهور
‘When our Qa’im will appear, he will invite people to Islam anew. And he will guide them to a matter that has not been maintained, something that the majority of the people would have lost.’7
Imam Mahdi (aj) will bring a sound and fresh presentation of Islam again. However, this does not mean that pure Islam did not exist before that. There will be true Muslims, although the majority would have deviated from true Islam.
Regarding the condition of religion in the end of time, the Qur’an says:
هو الّذی أرْسل رسوله بالْهدىٰ ودین الْحقّ لیظْهره على الدّین کلّه ولوْ کره الْمشْرکون
It is He who has sent His Apostle with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may make it prevail over all religions, though the polytheists should be averse. (9:33)
This verse shows that religion of the truth will overcome all other religions (or philosophies or ways of life) that have not been sent by God or are so much distorted that cannot guide people properly, because they have become religion of falsehood. And this will happen even if the pagans and polytheists dislike it and are not happy.
When referring to the Qur’anic commentaries such as Tafsir Nemuneh, there is a discussion between scholars about this verse, and whether it means Islam has power in itself such as the power of reasoning and rationality, and because this complies with the innate nature of human beings this power makes Islam stronger than any other religion or could it be something more? Could it be that Islam has a power in its essence?
We accept the first opinion, as it is a great religion with great teachings. But the verse does indeed seem to suggest more, i.e. that the true religion and the doctrine of tawhid and devotion to God will prevail over any other kind of religion or atheism that people may adhere to. Ayatullah Makarim in his work Tafsir Nemuneh prefers the second interpretation, and says the verse refers to the time of Imam Mahdi (aj). He quotes some very clear hadiths to support this argument:
1. From Imam Sadiq (as):
والله ما نزل تاویلها بعد ولا ینزل تاویلها حتى یخرج القائم فاذا خرج القائم لم یبق کافر بالله
‘By God this [Islam prevailing over other religions] will not be actualized before Mahdi comes. So when the Qa’im will make his stand, there will be no person who disbelieves in God.’8
2. From Imam Baqir (as), narrated by Tabarsi in Majma al-Bayan:
إن ذلک یکون عند خروج المهدی من ال محمد فلا یبقى أحد إلا أقر بمحمد
‘This will be at the time of Mahdi and there will be no one [on earth] but that he will declare the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (saw)’
From the first hadith we can understand that there will remain no hostility towards God. The second hadith indicates that all people will declare the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad. Some hadiths suggest that people will be Muslim in the general sense, such as the followers of Prophet Musa and Prophet Jesus, who would remain in their own religions and would not necessarily follow Islam in its narrower sense.
3. From Imam al-Sadiq (as):
لم یبق أهل دین حتى یظهر الإسلام ویعترفو بالإیمان
‘There will not remain any follower of religion except that they declare Islam, and admit their faith in God.’9
Then the Imam referred to this verse:
Do they, then, seek a religion other than God’s, while to Him submits whoever there is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him they will be brought back? (3:83)
Imam al-Sadiq (as) further explained that Imam al-Mahdi (aj) will judge according to the judgement of Dawood (as) and Prophet Muhammad (saw). Then the earth will reveal its treasures and all the blessings will appear; there will remain no place where one can spend their charity, and there will be no school of thought except that it has a chance to reign so that when our time comes they will not be able to say: “Had we had the chance to rule we also would have done that”. Then the Imam referred to the verse:
والْعاقبة للْمتّقین
And the outcome will be in favour of the God wary. (7:128)
4. Several hadiths say that when Imam Mahdi (aj) will come, he will remove all the heresies. To stop heresies is very difficult; even Imam Ali (as) could not stop them completely.10
In another place, Imam Ali (as) again narrates that he left a matter by which he felt his army may become divided. These two incidents show that a person as principled as Imam Ali (as), who would never compromise values, is willing to leave matters be when he sees something that may fracture the Ummah.
Regarding a similar matter, when Prophet Musa (as) returned to his people after his conversation with God, and after he was revealed the tablets, he saw that people were worshipping the cow of Samiri. When he questioned his brother Harun (as) as to why this was happening and why he did not stop them from worshipping the cow, Harun (as) replied that he was worried that his intervention might cause division in the community. Therefore, he decided to wait for Musa (as) to return and make the decision by himself. Hence, even in the face of a massive crime such as idol worship, he had to wait due to the fear of division and disunity.
Islamic unity is therefore very important and needs to be considered as one of the top priorities and above many other values. And we are very much in need of this in this age.
Imam Mahdi (aj) will not need to compromise on any values, because in that time people will be prepared, as they will possess understanding and knowledge. Rather, he will be able to stop all the heresies. Imam Baqir (as) says:
لا یترک بدعة ألا أزالها ولا سنه إلاّ أحیاها
[Mahdi (aj)] will stop all the heresies and will revive all the Sunnah that has been forgotten.’12
God says in a hadith to Prophet Muhammad:
به أطهّرالْأرْض منْ أعْدائی وأورثها أوْلیائى وبه أجْعل کلمة الّذین کفروا بی السّفْلى وکلمتی الْعلْیا
‘[With Mahdi (aj)], I will clean My earth from My enemies, and I will make the position of the people who disbelieve in Me the lowest, and those who believe in Me the highest.’13
Establishment of a culture based on the Qur’an
After his reappearance, Imam Mahdi (aj) will establish a Qur’anic culture. A hadith states:
إذا قام القائم ضرب فساطیط لمن یعلم الناس القرآن على ما أنزل الله
‘When Mahdi will rise, he will set up tents for the people who teach Qur’an. But the way they will teach the Qur’an is the way God revealed it [i.e. with an accurate interpretation in the way that Prophet Muhammad taught it].’14
The mention of tents in this hadith seems to suggest that the Imam will not wait for any buildings to be set up, but will commence with the teaching and interpretation of the Qur’an immediately, even from tents.
We mentioned previously the hadith from Imam Ali (as) in which he says:
ویرمی بالتفسیرفی مسامعهم
‘In the end of time, the interpretation of the Qur’an will be projected into the ears of the people.’
This hadith could suggest that wherever they are and wherever they live, the Qur’an will come to the people. Perhaps we see this today with the numerous television channels that teach and recite the Qur’an. In another hadith from Imam Sadiq (as) we learn:
‘It is as if I see the Shi‘a, they have the Qur’an in their hands and they teach it to other people.’
From this we can infer that the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as) should be the first to be equipped with Qur’anic knowledge. For a long time, the Shi‘as have been criticized for not paying enough attention to some aspects of the Qur’an, and did not have many who had memorized the Qur’an (huffadh), but this is very much changing. Today we have many memorizers of the Qur’an, and generally in the top three of the international competitions of Qur’anic recitation, we have followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as).
A clear sign of a Muslim is to be committed and to be a companion of the Qur’an. At times, we take it for granted. If a day should arrive in which, God forbid, we do not have the Qur’an or anything that we can say is from God, then we may appreciate how valuable the Qur’an is. Indeed, it is the only thing about which we can say with certainty that from beginning to end is entirely from God.
In history, people have spent much time and money in search for the true revelation; for example, some have done so in attempting to prove the authenticity of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which can still not be proven to be definite revelation. However, Muslims have the Qur’an in every house but we fail to realize how important it is. I sometimes feel that if someone were told to do a lengthy worship for a year, after which they would receive one page of the original Qur’an that was first written, then I think he would do it. It seems that it is human nature to acquire things while not using them. At times we strive for things, say a book, and we place it on the shelf only to never actually read it. People will ensure they record lectures, but then they do not listen to them. This can be compared to the verses of Surat al- Jumu‘ah, which describe the people of the Torah who had the book but were not practicing it:
The example of those who were charged with the Torah, then failed to carry it, is that of an ass carrying books. Evil is the example of the people who deny God’s signs, and God does not guide the wrongdoing lot. (62:5)
Imam Mahdi (aj) will strive for the teachings of the Qur’an to become available everywhere.
Conclusion
Whilst there are different interpretations, it might be possible to suggest this: When Imam Mahdi (aj) reappears, there will be a gradual process. He will start to defend and protect Islam from the attacks of enemies that do not allow Islam to be practiced. He will enable the true followers to
practice Islam without any fear, as the Qur’an says:
God has promised those of you who have faith and do righteous deeds that He will surely make them successors in the earth, just as He made those who were before them successors, and He will surely establish for them their religion which He has approved for them, and that He will surely change their state to security after their fear, while they worship Me, not ascribing any partners to Me. (24:55)
The first thing, therefore, that will happen is that believers will be able to talk and express themselves freely, and practice Islam properly, and true Islam will be shown to other people. As people are shown true Islam, and they also see this in Imam Mahdi (aj), they will gradually become interested in submitting themselves to God, the One. This is expected to happen first among monotheistic communities, especially when Imam Mahdi (aj) discusses with them from their own teachings and books.
Furthermore, the Jews and Christians will see Jesus with him, which will further bring unity and cohesion. And those with no faith will also see the benefit of it, in that it is not making people backward and not stunting development, and nor is it causing any suffering or deprivation, and thereafter they too will be interested in embracing faith and submitting themselves to God.
Reference(s)
1.Nahj ul-Balaghah, Letter 31
2.Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Page 527-8
3.Bihar ul-Anwar, Vol. 51, Page 74 یرضی عنه ساکن السماء وساکن الأرض
4.Bihar ul-Anwar, Vol. 51, Page 91
5.Muntakhab ul-Athar, Page 478
6.Muntakhab ul-Athar, Page 212
7.Al-Irshad, Shaykh Mufid, Vol. 2, Page 383
8.Al-Mahajjat ul-Bayda, Fayd Kashani, Page 86
9.Bihar ul-Anwar, Vol. 52, Page 338
10.When Imam Ali became the ruler, he sent Imam al-Hasan (as) to Kufa – an important strategic location both as the capital and where the army was situated, and was the city most loyal to him
– to announce some important messages. And once Imam Hasan (as) made the announcements, lots of noise was created. The message was that in the month of Ramadan there will be no tarawih prayers, and anyone who wishes to perform this recommended prayer must do so individually and not in congregation. Imam Hasan (as) went back and was asked by Imam Ali (as) about the noise. Imam Hasan (as) replied that the people were shouting ‘Wa sunnata Umara!’ (‘Lamentations upon losing the sunnah of Umar!’). Imam Ali (as) advised that the situation should be left as it is.
11.The Qur'an, 20:94
12.Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 339
13.Ibid., vol. 18, p. 342
14.Kashf ul-Ghummah, Vol. 2, Page 466
