فصلنامه انتظار موعود
سال بیست و سوم شماره 80 (بهار 1402)

"The concept of Mahdism” is a subject of consensus among the Islamic community, especially among Shiite scholars. However, there are noticeable differences in the perspectives on this issue among scholars, such that Islamic scholars can be categorized and classified from this perspective throughout different eras. In recent century, thinkers and scholars in the Islamic world, including those in the seminaries of Qom, despite the consensus on the principal belief in Mahdism, have different views and perspectives on the subject. These different perspectives can be categorized into several general approaches: traditional, rational, mystical, historical, social-political, and so on. This article aims to delve into the various approaches to the topic of Mahdism, as well as to introduce prominent figures within each approach, tracing these lines in the fourteenth century AH within the Seminay of Qom. The method employed in this research is analytical-descriptive, conducted through examining the written works on Mahdism of the recent century within the seminaries of Qom.

In recent century, Qom seminary has had the most prominent approach during its lifetime. Attention to the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt, relying on reason and revelation, has provided a valuable heritage for religious teachings. The concept of Mahdism is one of these teachings, which despite the ups and downs it has experienced in this century, has been accompanied by numerous developments and changes compared to the previous century. In this essay, five developments in the concept of Mahdism in recent century have been outlined: 1. Methodological development, 2. Scope development, 3. Explanatory development, which here focuses only on the two principles of waiting and deputyship for the general public, 4. Ultimate development, 5. Presentational development. The link among these five developments is the "ultimate evolution". Evidence and indications suggest that in recent decades, in the seminary of Qom, the ideology of Mahdism has been transformed from a purely doctrinal belief into a strategic ideology whose aim is not only to defend a certain belief, but also to manifest itself in all aspects of individual and social life, and to impact society in all its affairs. This essay aims to elucidate the path taken in these developments, relying on the written works of this era.

The concepts of "vilayat" and "imamate" encompass the teachings of Shiism. The doctrine of the Mahdism, due to its association with the living and present Imam, has always been a focal point of the scholarly and practical efforts within the academic institutions of the Shi'a world and its esteemed figures throughout history. Scholars of the fourteenth century AH, who themselves were at the center of theoretical and practical transformations, have endeavored to not only address doubts and fulfill scholarly needs, but also provide leadership and guide the Shi'a community by theorizing about this lofty teaching. This research endeavors to examine the Mahdism thoughts of the scholars of the Qom seminary, while analyzing their most important theories and initiatives, investigating the process of their evolution, and elucidating their crucial points. In this regard, the most prominent views of the theologians and philosophers of the seminary on the subject of Mahdism are analyzed, and subsequently, the evolution of these views, especially in the three areas that have been the focus of their attention and contemplation, namely "Proof of the existence of Imam Mahdi (AJ)", "Awaiting", and "Ideal City of Mahdism", have been examined.

The evolution of one hundred years of studies on Mahdism in the Qom seminary is the subject that the present research has addressed. The research method in this article is both field and library based. The aim of the research is to present the evolution trend of selected quantitative and qualitative studies on Mahdism in the Qom seminary. The focus of the article is on the study of Mahdism in the Qom seminary during the recent century and comparing the approach to it before and after the Islamic Revolution. The analysis of Mahdism traditions, the elucidation of Mahdism, the recognition of Mahdism literature, and scientific research are among the most important stages of the evolution of the study of Mahdism in the Qom seminary. This approach has led to the publication of over two thousand scientific articles, three hundred and fifty theses, and more than six thousand descriptive and analytical works in various fields. Research findings indicate that significant scholarly advancements have occurred in the field of Mahdism research and literature dissemination, leading to important developments in the study of Mahdism. These developments have expanded the study of Mahdism in the Qom seminary from a purely theological and traditional issue to the realms of educational, political, and social sciences.

In the Abrahamic religions - particularly Islam and Shiism- we encounter two general approaches and attitudes towards religious texts: "textualism" and "rationalism." The textualist approach gives centrality and authenticity to the text in understanding religion, emphasizing the subordinate nature of reason, while the rationalist (moderate) approach, while adhering to the text, also recognizes the importance of reason in discovering religious knowledge. In recent century, the Qom seminary has witnessed the presence of these two currents in the arena of Mahdism studies. The rationalist moderate movement has established reconciliation through criticism of the monolithic approach of extremist text-oriented thinkers, linking the beliefs of Mahdism to the balance between reason and scripture, and stability and dynamism. Scientific struggles have dominated the extremist traditionalist movement. This progressive research aims to discover the prevalence of the moderate rationalist movement over the extremist textualism orientation in the scientific domain of Qom Seminary in relation to Mahdism. It delves into describing and analyzing the implications of the prevalence of rationalistic thinking over textualism in this doctrine and is based on library and documentary studies; it will be descriptive-explanatory in terms of research methodology.

The Bahá'í Faith is one of the contemporary deviant sects, against which the scholars of Qom seminary have played a central role in fighting against it in the past century, largely preventing its spread and dissemination within the Muslim community by providing a correct interpretation of religious teachings. This study examines the role of Qom scholars in combating the deviant Bahá'í sect in the contemporary period, using a descriptive-analytical approach and collecting materials in a library-based manner. Based on the findings of the research, the struggle of the scholars of Qom against Baha'ism in various dimensions has been able to endanger the positions of the Baha'is and prevent the misleading advancements of this sect in society through indirect or direct methods. The examination of the process of the evolutions indicates that the scholars' confrontation in the struggle has not been uniform and has been accompanied by development in the three periods of "revival," "consolidation," and "growth." The struggle in the revival stage relied on the use of jurisprudential tools and theological discussions, while in the consolidation period, it changed to direct confrontation and emerged as a cultural, economic, and social struggle. In the stage of growth and development, relying on the concepts of Shia political religious beliefs, the struggle against Baha'ism was drawn into deeper layers and changed quantitatively and qualitatively, leading to the specialization of the opposing method.

The century-old history testifies to the fact that the seminary of Qom, under the leadership of eminent clerics such as Ayatollah Sheikh Abdul Karim Haeri Yazdi and Ayatollah Seyed Hossein Borujerdi, and consequently, during the Islamic Revolution of Iran under the leadership of Imam Khomeini, played a fundamental role in the dissemination of the Mahdavi culture and the eradication of misconceptions from this authentic doctrine. This effort has been presented in the form of debates, speeches, statements, writings, and visual media. This essay aims to present and analyze the written works of Mahdavi scholars in the scientific domain of Qom seminary, as well as to limit deviant movememtts, using a descriptive-analytical approach and drawing from library sources and oral history. It will focus on the period from the arrival of Ayatollah Sheikh Abdul Karim Haeri Yazdi (1921 CE) to the end of the century (2021 CE), and analyze them. Following the analysis of written sources, it has delved into the gaps and shortcomings of certain periods and sources in order to make meaningful strides towards the dissemination of Mahdism and related written works in the contemporary era.