The Position and Role of Mahdism in the Jenahiyyah Sect

The social, historical and economic contexts of Islam in the Umayyad era (41-132 AH) and the early first Abbasid period (132-232 AH) confronted the Islamic world with movements in which the belief in Mahdism was a common feature. Mahdist movements, based on their religious, political and social status, had different theoretical foundations concerning the savior, such as being the son of the Prophet (S), being a descendant of Fatima (SA), bearing the slogan "Al-Reza men Al Mohammad" (The Chosen from the Family of Mohammad (S)), having the position of representative etc. Jenahiyyah, which was the most important current after the death of Abdollah ibn Moawiyah ibn Abdollah ibn Jafar ibn Abi Talib (130 AH), was influenced by this motive. However, their uprising has been almost forgotten in history, because, firstly, it was overshadowed by the massive Abbasid movement, and secondly, Abdollah ibn Moawiyah is a figure who has not been taken seriously in the sources and has been accused of exaggeration, antinomian and harshness. Taking a descriptive-analytical approach and raising a question about the historical impact of the thought of Mahdism on the Jenahiyyah movement, this article deals with the various dimensions of this movement. The results show that the motive of Mahdism did not have much effect on the first stage of the uprising, but in its second stage and after the death of its leader, Abu Moslem Khorasani, the motive appeared objectively in Herat prison (130 AH) and manifested itself in the three currents of "Abdollah is the same as Mahdi", "Abdollah is the liaison of the savior of the apocalypse" and "Abdollah is the liaison of a Hashemi person".