Mahdism is a religious and political movement that follows the teachings of Muhammad al-Mahdi, and strives to bring about the return of the Mahdi, a messianic figure who will bring about a utopian age of peace and justice Mahdism has had a major influence on Islamic beliefs and organizations, from the Twelver Shi’ite school of thought to the Islamic Revolutionary Republic of Iran.
The term “Mahdi” can refer to any person who is believed to be the person of God, or who is believed to be anointed by God to lead the Islamic people. The Mahdi is expected to bring about a new era of global peace and justice, and restore the Islamic faith to its original state. The Mahdi is also expected to correct any errors that have occurred in the practice of the Islamic faith and restore it to the original state of purity.
The beliefs of Mahdism have been around since the time of the Prophet Muhammad, who is believed to have announced the coming of the Mahdi in the Hadith of Jabal (a collection of sayings attributed to the Prophet). Since then, the beliefs of Mahdism have been adopted by several Islamic schools of thought, including the Twelver Shi’ite, Zaydi, and Ismaili schools of thought.
Examples of Mahdism in modern society are numerous. Here are five of the best examples of Mahdism in modern society:
1. Iran’s Islamic Revolution: The Iranian Revolution of 1979 was a direct result of the religious and political teachings of Mahdism. The Islamic Republic of Iran was established by Ayatollah Khomeini, who was a strong believer in the teachings of the Mahdi.
2. The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan: The Taliban, a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist group, was formed in Afghanistan in the late 1990s. The group emerged as a reaction to the oppressive rule of the Soviet-backed government, and followed a strict interpretation of Mahdism.
3. Hezbollah in Lebanon: Hezbollah is a Lebanese-based Shiite Islamic political party that was formed in the 1980s. The party follows a strict interpretation of Mahdism, and actively works to promote the ideas of the Shiite faith in Lebanon and the region.
4. Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS): Although ISIS is a Salafi-Jihadist organization, the group draws heavily on Mahdist beliefs. ISIS believes that by following a strict interpretation of Mahdism, they can become the vanguard of a new caliphate.
5. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP): AQAP is an offshoot of the international terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, which is based in Yemen. AQAP follows a strict interpretation of Mahdism and seeks to establish a global caliphate based on the teachings of the Mahdi.
These are five of the best examples of Mahdism in modern society. Mahdism has had a major influence on Islamic beliefs and organizations, and its teachings continue to shape the way Muslims practice their faith.