The conference of “The
Doctrine of Imam Mahdi Belief” can play a connecting role among all religions.

 

September 2006

 

Emphasizing the
cross-religion role of the idea of Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.) and its significant
rand valuable impressions, Great Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi addressed to the well
done efforts of the personnel involved in the conference of “The Doctrine of
Imam Mahdi Belief”, in a meeting with the staff and members of Bright future
Institute. Great Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi stressed the major and outstanding points
of the matter and appreciated their efforts. “The conference of “The Doctrine
of Imam Mahdi Belief” or better to say, all the programs related to Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.)
can play a connecting role not only among Muslim nation, but also among followers
of all other religions.

“Since we believe the
prediction of Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.)’s Deliverance has been mentioned in all
religions, although in different statements”, he said, “We can say it would go
beyond Islamic beliefs and become a dominant belief among all nations.”

“It goes beyond Islam the
same as Ashoora; the belief which can unite all the oppressed faithful nations
and gather them under this title” he continued, “thus, the considerable
potential of the subject should not be ignored, for it can unite all the mankind
and followers of all religions. I suggest this universal aspect not to be
abandoned.”

“On the other hand,” he
added, “you should not neglect the important topic of confusions being
discussed on the matter of Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.) and they should be one of your
main concerns in this conference, as well as in your future attempts. The
confusing points about Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.) are more important than those
about other branches of Islam, since many of the heretical Sects of Islam, as
we all know, had spread many wrong ideas on the matter.”

“The common points about
Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.), on which all the Sects of Muslims agree, should be the
primary focus when it comes to defend the idea of Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.)
Deliverance. Some of the points are highly accepted by Shiite and most of the confusions
are about them; nevertheless, it is better to cover the common points instead
of the differences.”

“There were always some who
claimed to be promised Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.)” he highlighted, “Some of Sunni
scholars, as Ibn Khaldon, have denied the existence of Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.),
because of such false claims of those claimers; however few of Sunni scholars
do not believe in Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.). To some extent, he justifies his idea
that such claims had caused many misuses of the subject of Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.).
This fear cannot lead to deny the entire subject, just as we cannot deny all
the prophets just because many other liars had claimed to be messengers of
Allah. Can we deny the Divine Oneness, considering the claims about Divinity?
The truth is that every significant and great Truth is in the risk of being
misused by evil doers and all we should do is to respond them due to their own
justifications. I believe that the misuses of the matter of Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.)
proves its truth and originality, for it shows the public concern and awareness
about him and the evil will of those who misused it. ”

“Introducing Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.)
and the prediction of his Deliverance goes back to the time of the Holy Prophet
(p.b.u.h.)” he finished his speech, “Most of the Hadiths on Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.)
have been narrated from the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and above all, all the
apostles of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) were fully aware of the matter of his Deliverance.”