Hawzah News Agency- the Shia source of emulation Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi has addressed the topic of "How Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will interact with the People of the Book.”

Question:

How will Imam Mahdi (PBUH) behave with the "People of the Book" after his reappearance?

Brief answer:

According to the narrations, Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will rule among the "People of the Book" based on their Holy Book; now it is possible that the intention is to implement the rulings of these books on those who believe in them who have not converted to Islam and are under the protection of Islam. Or the intention is to implement these books in the part where it commands to enter Islam and believe in the Holy Prophet (PBUH); Those cases are present in the copies of the Bible that are in the hands of Hazrat Mahdi (PBUH) or Prophet Jesus (PBUH), and they show the same cases to the People of the Book to complete the argument.

Detailed answer:

According to some narrations, after Imam al-Zaman’s reappearance, he will rule among the "People of the Torah" by their Torah, among the "People of the Gospel" by their book, and among the "People of the Psalms" by their holy book. Here, two questions arise: The first question is whether any of the People of the Book will remain after the reappearance of the Imam al-Zaman (PBUH). And the second question is what is the purpose of ruling among the People of the Book by their holy book?

In response to the first question:

Not all people will become Muslims during the reign of Imam Mahdi, and there are those among the People of the Book who are not hostile and do not seek to fight, or confront the Imam and his government. This group can be placed under the protection of Islam and Muslims and continue their lives by paying the jizya.

But regarding the second question, there are two possibilities:

1. The purpose is to apply these books in the part where it commands to convert to Islam and believe in the Holy Prophet; Those cases that are present in the copies of the Bible in the hands of Hazrat Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) or Prophet Jesus, and they will show the same cases to the People of the Book to complete the argument.

2. The intention is that Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will implement the rulings of these books on those who believe in them who have not converted to Islam, but are under the protection of Islam.