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A figure more legendary than that of
Imam al-Mahdi, The Awaited Saviour, has not been seen in the
history of mankind. The threads of the world events have woven
many a fine design in human life, but the pattern of The Mahdi
[The Guided One] stands high above every other pattern. He has
been the vision of the visionaries in history; he has been the
dream of all dreamers of the world, and for the ultimate
salvation of mankind, he is the Pole Star of hope on which the
gaze of humanity is firmly fixed.
Indeed, it is only Islam that has given the abstract idea of an
“Awaited Saviour” a concrete shape. The Mahdi is not to be born
in the distant future. He is already living amongst us and
shares our joys and sorrows. His appearance will not only mean
the materialization of an Islamic aspiration, but will also be
the realization of a hope cherished by the entire humanity -
regardless of race, nationality or religion.
As the late Henry Corbin so eloquently stated: “In the
meantime, it is the duty of all Muslims, especially the Shi’a,
to strive steadfastly for the creation of the proper atmosphere
and the right climate for the establishment of a world order
based on justice, virtue and piety. They should not only mould
their individual lives according to the teachings and high
ideals of Islam, but they should also bend their efforts to set
up the Islamic order on the collective and communal level. They
should devote themselves to the service of the faith and be
prepared to receive the Awaited Saviour. That is what was meant
by the Imams when they exhorted the Muslims to keep on waiting
for the Mahdi.”
The realization of the final victory of the forces of
righteousness, peace and justice over those of evil, oppression
and tyranny, of the world-wide spread of the Islamic faith, the
complete and all-around establishment of high human values, the
formation of the utopian society and lastly the accomplishment
of this ideal at the hands of a noble and eminent personality
called, according to the Islamic traditions, al-Mahdi, is a goal
which we must all work for in every step of our lives… |
