Hedyehaye Asemani (Divine Gifts) and Litrature Textbooks of Primary School and Their Approach to Mahdiism: A Content Analysis

The present research study aims at analyzing contents of Hedyehaye Asemani (Divine Gifts) and literature textbooks in primary school in regard to Mahdism and its components from two perspectives: lessons and pictures. The components of Mahdism including the knowledge of philosophy of appearance, knowledge of philosophy of absence, knowledge of Imam Mahdi, awaiting for reappearance of Imam Mahdi, and heart belief re verified using a content analysis method. The findings showed that components of Mahdism in above textbooks were superficial and incomplete. In particular, Hedyehaye Asemani (Divine Gifts) and literature textbooks of primary level have basic and serious limitations and problems. Thus, it is necessary to pay more attention to the components of Mahdism in these textbooks to gradually develop the student's religious identity.