Government broadcasts series on imminent
appearance of apocalyptic Islamic 'Mahdi'
27th January 2007
Official
Iranian radio has completed broadcasting a lengthy
series on the imminent appearance of a messianic figure
who will defeat Islam's enemies and impose Islamic
Shiite rule over the entire world – even speculating on
specific dates the so-called "Mahdi" will be revealed.
"Be joyous my heart, miracles of the
Messiah will soon be here," reads a poem used to
conclude the first broadcast. "The scent of breaths of
the One we know comes from near. Grieve not of sorrow
and melancholy, as assured I was … last night that a
Savior will come, it's clear."
After the coming of the 12th imam, or
Mahdi, "liberal democratic civilization" will be found
only in "history museums," explained the program.
Contrary to the views of western
theoreticians, who usually depict an ambiguous and dark
future for mankind, Muslim experts believe human
history, despite its many ups and downs, has a very
auspicious fate," explained the program. "Muslims
believe hopes for the realization of such a happy ending
for the world are called 'Awaiting Redemption,' and
means waiting for man's problems to be solved by the
Savior at the end of time. This awaiting influences
many, and inspired them with activity and enthusiasm in
confronting darkness and oppression for changing the
existing situation. …"
This messianic figure will be a direct
descendant of Muhammad, according to the broadcasts.
"In short, when he reappears, peace,
justice and security will overcome oppression and deceit
and one global government, the most perfect ever, will
be established," it said.
The Mahdi will appear suddenly, according
to the report, in Mecca. Though no one can know the day,
Shiites believe, the report actually suggests
possibilities in the Muslim calendar.
The Mahdi will lead a cataclysmic battle
against a descendant of Muhammad's archenemy, Abu Sofyan,
culminating in the cities of Kufa and Najaf. His enemy,
though, is destroyed later in Jerusalem.
"Another beautiful moment of the Savior's
appearance is the coming down of Prophet Jesus (PBUH)
from heaven," says the report. "Hazrat Mahdi receives
him courteously and asks him to lead the prayers. But
Jesus says you are more qualified for this than me. We
read in the book Tazkarat ol-Olia, 'the Mahdi will come
with Jesus son of Mary accompanying him.' This indicates
that these two great men are (sic) complement each
other. Imam Mahdi will be the leader while Prophet Jesus
will act as his lieutenant in the struggle against
oppression and establishment of justice in the world.
Jesus had himself given the tidings of the coming of
God's last messenger and will see Mohammad's ideals
materialize in the time of the Mahdi."
As reported last month, in a greeting to
the world's Christians for the coming new year, Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he expects both Jesus
and the Mahdi, to return and "wipe away oppression."
"I wish all the Christians a very happy
new year and I wish to ask them a question as well,"
said Ahmadinejad, according to an Iranian Student News
Agency report cited by
YnetNews.com
"My one question from the Christians is:
What would Jesus do if he were present in the world
today? What would he do before some of the oppressive
powers of the world who are in fact residing in
Christian countries? Which powers would he revive and
which of them would he destroy?" asked the Iranian
leader.
"If Jesus were present today, who would
be facing him and who would be following him?"
Ahmadinejad's mystical pre-occupation
with the coming of the Mahdi is raising concerns that a
nuclear-armed Islamic Republic could trigger the kind of
global conflagration he envisions will set the stage for
the end of the world.
In a videotaped meeting with Ayatollah
Javadi-Amoli in Tehran, Ahmadinejad discussed candidly a
strange, paranormal experience he had while addressing
the United Nations in New York last September.
He recounts how he found himself bathed
in light throughout the speech. But this wasn't the
light directed at the podium by the U.N. and television
cameras. It was, he said, a light from heaven.
According to a transcript of his comments
as listed on the following link:
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/11/184cb9fb-887c-4696-8f54-0799df747a4a.html
Ahmadinejad wasn't the only one who noticed the
unearthly light. One of his aides brought it to his
attention.
The Iranian president recalled being told
about it by one of his delegation: "When you began with
the words 'in the name of Allah,' I saw a light coming,
surrounding you and protecting you to the end."
Ahmadinejad agreed that he sensed the
same thing.
"On the last day when I was speaking, one
of our group told me that when I started to say 'Bismillah
Muhammad,' he saw a green light come from around me, and
I was placed inside this aura," he says. "I felt it
myself. I felt that the atmosphere suddenly changed, and
for those 27 or 28 minutes, all the leaders of the world
did not blink. When I say they didn't move an eyelid,
I'm not exaggerating. They were looking as if a hand was
holding them there, and had just opened their eyes –
Alhamdulillah!"
Ahmadinejad's "vision" at the U.N. is
strangely reminiscent and alarmingly similar to
statements he has made about his personal role in
ushering in the return of the Shiite Muslim messiah.
He sees his main mission, as he recounted
in a Nov. 16 speech in Tehran, as to "pave the path for
the glorious reappearance of Imam Mahdi, may Allah
hasten his reappearance."
According to Shiites, the 12th imam
disappeared as a child in the year 941. When he returns,
they believe, he will reign on earth for seven years,
before bringing about a final judgment and the end of
the world.
Ahmadinejad is urging Iranians to prepare
for the coming of the Mahdi by turning the country into
a mighty and advanced Islamic society and by avoiding
the corruption and excesses of the West.
All Iran is buzzing about the Mahdi, the
12th imam and the role Iran and Ahmadinejad are playing
in his anticipated return. There's a new messiah
hotline. There are news agencies especially devoted to
the latest developments.
"People are anxious to know when and how
will He rise; what they must do to receive this
worldwide salvation," says Ali Lari, a cleric at the
Bright Future Institute in Iran's religious center of
Qom. "The timing is not clear, but the conditions are
more specific," he adds. "There is a saying: 'When the
students are ready, the teacher will come.'"
Further Reading:
http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/12th-imam.htm
http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_10945.shtml
