In   the   name   of   Allah,   the   beneficent,   the merciful

Narrator: 

Human beings have instinctually the desire to be the best in all avenues   of their life;   in science,   art, technology, health and wealth.

Asa   result of that and   as   a   way toreach   success they try to be with or   on the   side of powerful,   successful,   peaceful and moral people.

However, the Quran teaches us that in order to be   successful   and to rise to   peak of power and dignity in this world, one has to follow the right patterns and the righteous path.

These   days most   of those who represent success and have become role-models for many in the world   are not on the path that   is   outlinedfor the God-conscious people.

We may have advanced in science and technology, in art and literature, in power and politics, but we have not advanced in becoming balanced human beings. We have not succeeded to bring justice to ourselves, to our communities and to the world. Justice and equity are left to be fulfilled by a man from the tree of the Prophets.

When his era comes, all   people of character, from all   different cultures, faiths and backgrounds   will   love him and follow him.   He   is the last   savior of   mankind.

He   is   The   Mahdi.

Title   appearson   screen: 

Mahdi;   The   last   savior 

Throughout   human   history, whenever life   became tight and stressed,   people   started to think of a savior. The savior in their minds may have been someone with supernatural powers who could put an end to all their miseries   in the blink of an eye, and the   unjustworld would suddenly   change to   ajust and   peaceful place.

In our era, followers of most faiths are awaiting a savior to arrive and solve the most vexed problems of our   modern   but   imbalanced world. Even   those   who do not follow   a   divinereligion understand that many   things around us are wrong, and that the world   needs to be fixed.

However, the advent of intermediate saviors in the past has shown that the arrival of the savior is accompanied by turmoil   and tribulation and only after people have submitted to a   set of   defined values, peace   and justice would shine   on   human life.

The most eminent example of an intermediate savior in human history was the rise of Prophet Moses (PBUH).

Before reporting to   us   the story of Nabi Musa,   the Quran,   talks   about a universal pattern in history. In Sura al-Qasas we read:

“And We desire to show favor to those who are abased in the land, and to make them imams, and to make them the heirs,” (28: 5)

The verse shows that no matter how hard the oppressors press on the weak, at the end of the day, those who are oppressed will inherit the land and will lead the world.

Presenter: 

During the time leading to the advent of Nabi Musa, life conditions under the oppression of Pharaoh had become so hard on Bani-Israel that they had lost all hopes to change theircircumstances.

The   only thing they   did was to   pray   to their Lord   to   send   them a   deliverer;   a   savior. But the rescue by the savior did not happen in the blink of an eye.   It took about forty years before   Moses could give   Bani-Israel   a safe conduct   out   of Egypt.

Presenter: 

This period was a crucial time for the oppressed Jews. They had to endure even harder pressures than before. As the Quran quotes, they said to Moses “ We were tormented before you came to us and [also] after you have come to us ” (7: 129) showing that after a   while   they   lost   their faith in their savior.

Moses replied: “ Maybe your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you successors   in theland,   and   then   He will   see how you act. ” (7: 129)

However,   after   becoming   successors   in   the   land,   they   forgot   the   blessingsof   God

and despite observing many miracles from Nabi   Musa they turned away from   their prophet   and   started to   follow their   deviated   lifestyle.

Narrator: 

The story of Nabi Musa and his people teaches us great lessons. It helps us learn how   to behave   to become   a   follower of   the last   savior, as well   as to remain faithful to   him in hard turmoil and   difficult   conditions.

Typing   on screen:

The   long   wait   in the   hardest   times

Pharaohs, the ancient kings of Egypt, are known as the worst and the most tyrant rulers of all   times. But to what extent is that true? How many pharaohs have been ruling   our societies during that past   decades and centuries?

Presenter: 

The circumstances of the world in our era, is not much different with the adversities   that   Bani-Israel   went through before   the   rise oftheir   savior.

Capitalism and materialism have   enslaved people in far more complicated ways. As the Quran says: “ Corruption has appeared in land and sea because of the doings   of   the people’s hands  …” (30:41)

Morality and ethics are   defined in a manner that allows more corruption than ever. Injustice has usurped the name of   justice and   indulgence in its most naked form has been given the name of rights. It is in such a   situation that the call   for a savior becomes more serious day by day, and who knows? Maybe their savior is   preparing in   some   far place, like   the   time Moses (pbuh) was being   prepared for his move against   Pharaoh in Median.

The prayers of   people, beside their change of attitude towards the unjust system of the world, will lead to their concerted understanding that they no more want this system of injustice, corruption and deceit and they will join the movement of   Mahdi incrowds,   as   described   in   Surah Nasr:

“ When Allah’s   help comes   with victory, and you see   the   peopleentering Allah’s religion in throngs.. .” (110: 1-3)

Typing   on screen:

The   characteristics   of   Mahdi

Narrator: 

The   characteristics of   the   awaited Mahdi and his spiritualpower and authority, and his popularity among all   nations has wrongly motivated some people to introduce themselves as Mahdi from more   than   10   centuries ago. So, how   can   we   distinguish the real Mahdi from false claimants?

Presenter: 

The characteristics of Mahdi has been narrated in different traditions from the Prophet and hisprogeny (peace be upon them).

Mahdi   has   all   the   characteristics   of   a   perfect   human.   It   may   be   hard   to   relate   to   a

perfect man for us as ordinary people. But reading descriptions that the Quran provides in   portraying   characteristics of   a   perfect   man   can   help us understand   some aspects of his blessed personality.

Expert: 

All   descriptions that the Quran provides for true believers apply to the last savior. For   examplethe beginning   verses of   Surah Al-Muminoun   describe   Mahdi as:

• Humble   in   his   prayers
• Avoiding   vain   talk   and   action.
• Paying   Zakat   and   charity
• Keeping his   trusts   and   covenants.

Or   as   addressed   in   the   verses   of   Surah   Al- Furqan:

• He walks humbly on the earth and talks peacefully to all, even to those who may wrong him.
• Spends   his   night   prostrating   and   worshipping   his   lord.
• He   has   a   balanced   mannerin   spending

However despite all these characteristics, there are a few more things that make him a real savior. And   those characteristics   are the ones   that are described   about the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Like   the   Prophet,Mahdi   is   also   a   blessingfor   all   mankind.

Grievous to him is human distress; he has deep concern for people, and   is most kind and merciful to the   faithful   (9: 128).

Typing on screen: What is   the aimof Mahdi?

Many people may be worried about the reappearance of Mahdi, as there are many traditions that indicate his reappearance and ruling the world will   start with lots of fights   and   killings.   But let’s   go through the main goal of reappearance of the savior.

As his title   shows, he   comes to   save   people, not   to killor   waste   them. His goals are like the goals of all other prophets and spiritual leaders throughout history. Watching the life of people in darkness and deviancy is very hard for him. He   cares about   all   the children and youth. He loves all   the people all   around the world so   dearly that he cannot   sit and   watch them drown in misery.   He   is coming to   give a   new lifeto   people;   a   real prosperous   life. Just   as Allahmention in the   Quran:

“ O you who have faith! Answer Allah and the Apostle when he summons you to that which will give you life .” (8: 24)

The fact that there will be wars is not deniable, since Mahdi’s revolution like any other movement is not going to be pleasant to all and will be faced with fierce resistance. Very few powerful   and faithful leaders in different countries will   stand on his   side, andthere are many who   will   not accept his   words   and will   attackhim to kill him. But he has to fulfill his mission and to overcome all   hurdles. Like the Prophet (PBUH) and as mentioned in the Quran in Surah Al-A’raaf , Mahdi   has the same mission to ‘bid people to do what is right and forbid them from what is wrong, make lawful to them all the good things and forbid them from all vicious things, and relieve them of their burdens and the shackles that were upon them’. The verse of the Quran continues with explaining the reaction of “   those who believe in him ”. They will “ honor him, and help him and follow the light that has been sent down with him ...”   (7: 157)

Of course, the advent of Mahdi is the best thing that can happen to truthful and faithful   people. However, since his mission endangers the illegal and the immoral interests of the unjust powers, the illicit profits of corporations and centers of corruption, they will start to put up a fight against him. Their description in the Quran is those who “ desire to put out the light of God with their mouths, but God will perfect His light though   the   faithless should   be   averse .” (61: 8)

And Mahdi   and his faithful   followers from   all   around the world have   no choice   but to stand against   the   enemies of God and people, as the   will   of Allah is to make His religion   “ prevail   over   all   religions   though the   polytheists should   be   averse .”   (61:   9)

Typing on screen:   The   companions   of Mahdi

Hearing about Mahdi as a great spiritual and lovable character, we all wish to be among his close companions; to sit by him and listen to his teachings; to   experience and breathe the air of an era in which there is no oppression, injustice, and deviancy; and to be proud of being among the real successful and felicitous people.

Knowing the characteristics of the companions of the last savior will help us practice and train ourselves in a way to be among his friends at the time of his arrival.   But   wherecan   we   find   the   hints   about   the   features   of   Mahdi’s   companions?

Expert: 

To be a   companion of Mahdi, one has to observe all   the obligations that a faithful and conscientious person should observe. A small, yet very necessary part of it is about the rituals; praying, fasting, paying charity and all that a Muslim knows about. But another important aspect is to observe ethics and morality; in relationships that we have with our lord, with other people, other creatures, with our environment. In fact, ethics is the core   of improving one’s spiritual level. And reaching the highest levels of ethics and morality is only achievable when one can appreciate that all blessings is from the Lord.

Narration: 

The description of   the true followers   of   the Prophet (PBUH)   is   mentionedin the Quran in Surah Ma’idah :

“… Allah   will soon   bringa   people whom He loves and   who love Him, [who will be] humble   towardsthe faithful, severe towards the faithless, they strive in the way of Allah, not fearing the blame of any blamer. That is Allah’s grace, which He grants to whomever He wishes …” (5: 54)

Expert: 

Apart from the high caliber spiritual individuals who will   be the close   companions of Mahdi, and apart from tens of thousands of faithful and conscientious people who will   supporthim, Allah will   also aid him   with   his army   of   angels, just   the way the aid of Allah helped Prophet Noah build an arch, and helped Prophet Solomon build a kingdom, and helped Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions in the battlefield.

Allah gives the good tidings of unearthly support that will come to the real believers   in the Quran in Surah Aal-e Imraan :

“ Yes, if you are steadfast and Godwary, and should they come at you suddenly, your Lord will aid you with five thousand angels sent in [to the scene of battle] .” (3:125)

Typing   on screen:

Signs   of   his   coming

In narrations that we have received from the Prophet and his infallible progeny, there are a few signs and events that occur   beforethe reappearance of   the Mahdi.

One of the signs is that a man from the progeny of the enemies of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), noun as Al-Sufyani, will gather a huge number of Muslims around him under the name of Islam and will gain dominance over a vast part of Islamic   lands.

He would commit massacres in the cities of Najaf and Kufah and moves towards Makkah   to kill   the   Imam   and his followers but   will   be swallowed by   an   earthquake in a place called Bada’.

On the   other hand, there are two other figures mentioned in narrations as righteous people   who willrise against corruption; al-Yamaani   and   al-Khorasaani.

It   is   also   narrated   that   a   miraculous   sign   of   the   rise   of   the   Mahdi   is   a   loud   call ( sayhah )   heard from the heavens inviting   people to support   the Mahdi.

All   these   signsmay   truly   happen   or   they   may   have   some   symbolicmeanings   to

make   it   more   understandable   for   the   people   of   differenttimes   and   only   Allah knows their true meanings.

However, what is more important than the signs and portents is the ways of preparing oneself to be able to distinguish right from wrong in perplexing situations.

As   mentioned   in   the   words   of   Imam   Ali   (AS)   the   companions   of   The   Mahdi prepare   themselves   by   purifyingtheir   souls   and   deep   awareness   of   the   Quran.

In   Sermon150   of   Nahj   al-Balaghah   they   are   describedas   follows:

“ Then a group of people will be sharpened like the sharpening of swords by the blacksmith. Their sight will be brightened by revelation, the (delicacies of)   the interpretation (of word of God) will be put in their ears and they will be given drinks of wisdom, morning and evening .”

Therefore,   only pure souls can recognize the   right from wrong at all times   and   at the   time   of   Mahdi’s   reappearance   by   the   light   they are given   by   Allah   (SWT). “ The   day you   will see the faithful,   men   and   women,with   their light moving   swiftly

in   front of them   and   on   their   right   …” (57:12)

Typing   on screen:

The   first   gatheringwith   the   commanders   of   his   armies

The   re-appearance   of   Imam   as cited in   narrations will be   in Makkah, in Masjid- al- haram. On the day of his re-appearance, which is quoted to be the 9^th day of Muharram, the 313 close companions of   the Mahdi   will   be gathered in Masjid- al- haram by the will of Allah.   The Mahdi will deliver a universal manifesto   while he is   surrounded by his   313 companions, inviting all the people   of the world   to join his movement for   establishing   justice.

At this time, an army will   be sent toward Makkah by Al-Sufyani to Stand against the Imam. When the army reaches a location called Bayda, between Makkah and Madinah,   the   earth swallows the whole army and they completely disappear.

After that the Imam moves towards Iraq. He first visits the holy shrine of his grandfather, Hussain son of Ali in Karbala. Then he moves to Kufah and establishes his government there in the Sahla mosque.

Al-Sufyani   sends   anotherarmy   to   defeat   the   Mahdi.

Now, apart from those 313 close companion. About ten thousand people from   other countries have joined his army. They defeat the army of Al-Sufyani for a second   time.

The news about Mahdi’s success will spread all over the world. Although people from distant countries are not yet involved in his movement, they follow the news on and off.

When the army of Mahdi defeats Al-Sufyani and liberates Palestine, the Western powers become concerned and gather huge armies and send them to Palestine to confront Mahdi’s army. When the two armies are about to start the battle, another miracle happens. Jesus descends from the sky at the time of Prayer. He joins the prayer   by   Mahdi’s leadership and there, many   Christians join   Jesus and Mahdi   and the flames   of   battle turn off.

Gradually, all the people in the world who are seeking truth and justice, kindness and humanity, by listening to his words will find him the most logical, devoted, knowledgeable and righteous person, and would love to join him and have him as their leader.

Typing   on screen:

The   noble   government(al-Dawlat   al- karimah)

The conditions for governing the world becomes better and better for Mahdi. He sends his governors and emissaries to different regions from Far East to Far West. Some   of those governors are from those far lands and yet they are the companions of   Mahdi.

The movement becomes universal. People around the world start to embrace the new system of justice, although some of   them may still keep their religion and not embrace   Islam. They will   be giventhe   freedom   and time to come   to the   realization of the truth for as long as they need. They only have to observe the laws and legislations   of   Mahdi’s government.

There is plenty   of   changes that   Mahdi   has to make   to bringabout justice. He   needs both cultural   and economic revamps.

As mentioned in the words of Imam Ali   (AS) “He will   direct desires towards (the path of) guidance while people will have turned guidance towards desires, and he will turn their views   to the direction of the Qur'an while the people will have turned the Qur'an   to   their views.” (Nahj Al-Balagha,   Sermon   138)

Typing   on screen:

Life   under   the   government   of   Mahdi

It has been promised that Mahdi will wipe away poverty and everyone under his government is promised to live in affluence and comfort. That will   not be   possible by printing banknotes. He needs resources that he will be provided by perfecting the intelligence of people, and   he needs a wholly different perspective regarding the   distribution of   wealth   which he will afford to   bring about.

Again, as narrated from Imam Ali (AS) at the time of Mahdi “The earth will pour forth its   eternal treasures   and   fling before him easily her keys. He will show you the just way of behavior and revive the Qur'an and sunnah which have become lifeless   (among   people).” (Nahj Al-Balagha,   Sermon138)

He will realize the contents of the verse: “ If the people of the towns had been faithful and Godwary, We would have opened to them blessings from the heaven and the earth. ” (7:   96)

Putting the verse of the   Quran and the narration from Imam Ali   (AS) together, one can conclude that at the time of Mahdi’s government the faith and piety of the people will reach its   highest levels, and   as a result of that   the blessings   from the sky and earth will   pour   upon   them.

Also as a result of their faithfulness, people will experience no stress, nor any anxiety, exactly as God mentioned to Prophet   Adam   and Eve   at their   descent   to the earth, “ Should any   guidance come to you from Me, those who follow My   guidance shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve .” (2:   38)