Is alMahdi the Moslem Messiah?
Q. I read the article by Jack Kelley, “The Four 4 Horsemen, al Mahdi, and the Magnetic Polar Reversal” Mr. Kelley has a very interesting analysis. According to the article, Mr. Kelley states, “As details of Islamic eschatology become more widely known, prophecy students are discovering a striking similarity between descriptions of al Mahdi, the Moslem Messiah, and a figure Christians call the anti-Christ.”
According to Islamic eschatology, the messiah son of Mary (Mashi Isa bin Maryam = Jesus) defeats the anti-Christ Ad-Daajal. Al-Mahdi is not considered to be the masiah but rather a leader who unites and leads Muslims. Judgment day Qiyahmah comes after the defeat of Ad-Dajaal.
A. There are many sources who call al Mahdi a Messiah. Here’s one.
“All streams of Islam believe in a divine saviour, known as the Mahdi, who will appear at the End of Days. A common rumour – denied by the government but widely believed – is that Mr Ahmadinejad (Pres. of Iran) and his cabinet have signed a “contract” pledging themselves to work for the return of the Mahdi and sent it to Jamkaran.
Iran’s dominant “Twelver” sect believes this will be Mohammed ibn Hasan, regarded as the 12th Imam, or righteous descendant of the Prophet Mohammad.
He is said to have gone into “occlusion” in the ninth century, at the age of five. His return will be preceded by cosmic chaos, war and bloodshed. After a cataclysmic confrontation with evil and darkness, the Mahdi will lead the world to an era of universal peace.
This is similar to the Christian vision of the Apocalypse. Indeed, the Hidden Imam is expected to return in the company of Jesus.”
This quote from the London Telegraph is representative of several articles I’ve collected on al Mahdi. All of them identify him as either savior or messiah. Some mention that Jesus will appear with him, and some liken him to the Christian anti-Christ. Apparently the “Twelvers” believe an oral tradition about him rather than relying on written accounts. I’ve also been told that Sunnis and Shiites have different opinions about this. I would be grateful for any further light you can shed on this matter.
