Translated by Dr. Sachedina. Includes topics on the belief in the Mahdi, pseduo Mahdis, leadership of Imam Mahdi (a), occultation, his long life, and the reappearance of the Imam.
- Al-Imam al-Mahdi, The Just Leader of Humanity
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Belief in the Mahdi
- The Mahdi from among the Descendants of the Prophet
- The Sunni Traditions on the Subject of the Mahdi
- The Objection Raised by One of the Authors
- Ibn Khaldun and the Traditions about the Mahdi
- 1: Uninterrupted Transmission (tawatur) of the Traditions
- 2: Weak Transmission is Not an Issue in All Places
- 3: Unreliable Simply Because of Being Shi'i
- 4: Difference of Creed
- 5: Unfounded Prejudice
- 6: Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari and Traditions about the Mahdi
- Other Opinions from Ibn Khaldun:
- The Existence of the Mahdi is Certain
- The Discussion among the Companions and the Subsequent Generations
- People Awaited the Appearance of the Mahdi
- The Jurists of Medina and the Mahdi Traditions
- The Poetry of Di'bil and the Mahdi
- Chapter 2: The Pseudo-Mahdis
- Manipulation of the Beliefs of the People
- Fabrication of the Traditions
- The Family of the Prophet and the Eleven Imams' Predictions about the Mahdi
- (1) Tradition Narrated by Imam 'Ali about the Future Coming of the Mahdi
- The following tradition is related by al-Asbagh who heard 'Ali b. Abi Talib say:
- The promised Mahdi will emerge at the End of Time from among us. There is no Mahdi in any nation other than him being awaited79.
- There are more than fifty traditions narrated from 'Ali b. Abi Talib in connection with the future appearance of the Mahdi and his being from among the Family of the Prophet80.
- (2) Tradition Narrated by Fatima Zahra (peace be upon her)
- (3) Tradition Narrated by Imam Hasan b. 'Ali
- (4) Tradition Narrated by Imam Husayn b. 'Ali
- (5) Tradition Narrated by Imam 'Ali b. Husayn:
- (6) Tradition Narrated by Imam Muhammad Baqir
- (7) Tradition Narrated by Imam Ja'far Sadiq
- (8)Tradition Narrated by Imam Musa Kazim:
- (9) Tradition Reported by Imam 'Ali b. Musa Rida
- (10) Tradition Reported by Imam Muhammad b. 'Ali Jawad
- (11) Tradition Narrated by Imam 'Ali Naqi
- (12) Tradition Narrated by Imam Hasan 'Askari
- Are these Traditions about the Mahdi Authentic?
- Chapter 3: Mahdiism, the Jews, and the Iranians
- The Reasons for the Emergence of Belief in the Mahdiism
- Does it Really Need Explication?
- The Legend of 'Abd Allah b. Saba
- The Messianic Leader, Mahdi in Other Religions
- The Qur'an and Mahdiism
- The General Prophethood and the Imamate
- What System Can Make Human Beings Prosperous?
- The Other-worldly Prosperity
- The Path of Perfection
- The Infallibility of the Prophets
- Rational Proof in Support of the Imamate
- Textual Proof for the Necessity of the Imamate
- Chapter 4: The Unseen World and the Imam of the Age
- Will the Imam Be Born at the End of the Time?
- Descriptions Identifying the Mahdi
- Mahdi Is Among the Descendants of Husayn b. 'Ali
- What If the Mahdi WasWell-known?
- The Traditions from the Ahlul Bayt Are Proofs for All Muslims
- `Ali b. Abi Talib, the Paragon of the Prophetic Knowledge
- The Book of 'Ali b. Abi Talib
- The Heirs to the Prophet's Knowledge:
- Chapter 5: Who Was the Imam after Hasan Al-'Askari?
- Chapter 6: Can a Five Year Old Boy Become an Imam?
- The Gifted Children
- Rising of the People when Naming the Qa'im
- When Did the Story about the Occultation Begin?
- The Books on the Subject of the Occultation before the Birth of the Twelfth Imam
- The Short and Complete Occultation203
- The Short Occultation and the Contacts with the Shi'a
- Were these Letters from the Imam in His Own Handwriting?
- The Number of Deputies
- 'Uthman b. Sa'id, the First Deputy
- His Miraculous Acts
- Muhammad b. 'Uthman, the Second Deputy
- Husayn b. Ruh, the Third Deputy
- 'Ali b. Muhammad Samarri, the Fourth Deputy
- Chapter 7: Why Did Not the Occultation Become Complete from the Beginning?
- Is There Any Time Limit to the Complete Occultation?
- The Philosophy of Occultation
- What Danger Faced the Imam If He Were Visibly Present?
- Why Is the Mahdi Afraid of Being Killed?
- Does Not God Have the Power to Protect the Imam?
- Is It Not Likely That the Unjust Rulers Would Have Submitted to Him?
- He Should Remain Silent So That He Would Be Safe
- He Could Have Negotiated a Treaty of Non-interference with the Rulers
- Why Did He Not Appoint Special Deputies During the Complete Occultation?
- Mr. Hoshyar: Your supposition can be refuted on several grounds:
- What Is the Benefit of Having the Imam in Occultation?
- The Twelfth Imam Endeavors to Defend Islam during the Occultation
- Chapter 8: The Sunni Books on the Characteristics of the Mahdi
- Chapter 9: The Research about Longevity
- The Reasons for Longevity
- Senility and Its Causes
- The Long Life of the Twelfth Imam
- The Article by Justin Glace
- Research into the Matter of Longevity
- Further Research on Longevity
- New Research on Longevity
- Longevity
- A Summary of a Russian Study on the Subject of Old Age
- A Little Known Theory about the Cause of Death
- Conclusion
- Those Who Lived a Long Life in History
- Chapter 10: The Residence of the Twelfth Imam
- Chapter 11: The Minds of the People Prepare for the Advent of the Mahdi
- Chapter 12: How Will the Imam Know That the Time for the Appearance (Zuhur) Has Come?
- The Preparation for the Emergence Will Take Place Overnight
- Awaiting Deliverance through the Appearance of the Imam
- A companion of Imam Baqir by the name of Bashir told the Imam:
- Investigation into the Traditions against the Rise (qiyam)
- Governance within Religion
- The Obligation to Command the Good and Forbid the Evil
- Concluding Remarks
- The Prophet as the Leader of the Muslims
- Islamic Governance after the Prophet
- 'Ali b. Abi Talib, the Designated Caliph of the Prophet of God
- Islamic Governance during the Period of Occultation
- The Obligations of Muslims during the Occultation
- Two Evidences
- Chapter 13: Further Investigation in the Hadith-Reports
- First Group of Traditions
- Meaning and Implications of the hadith
- Second Group of Traditions
- Investigation into the Meanings and Implications of these hadith-Reports
- Third Group of Traditions
- Investigation into the Meanings and Implications of these hadith-Reports
- Fourth Group of Traditions
- Investigation into the Meanings and Implications of these hadith-Reports
- Fifth Group of Traditions
- Investigation into the Meanings and Implications of these hadith-Reports
- Conclusions of the Discussion
- Chapter 14: The Signs of the Appearance (Zuhur) of the Mahdi
- The Destiny of the Unbelievers
- The Destiny of Jews and Christians
- Will the Majority of the Peoples on the Earth Be Killed?
- War Is Inevitable
- The Mahdi's Defense
- The World under the Mahdi
- The Victory of the Prophets
- The Mahdi and the New Constitution
- The Conduct of the Mahdi
- The Freshness of the Explanations Offered by the Mahdi
- The Mahdi and Abrogation of the Ordinances
- Is It Not Possible that the Mahdi Has Already Appeared?
- Sayyid 'Ali Muhammad's Acknowledgement of the Hidden Imam's Existence
- What Do the Sayyid's Followers Say?
- The Sayyid Repudiated Any Attribution of Prophethood and Babism
- The Bayan and Messianic Claim
- False Claims and the Existence of a Followership
