Hawzah News Agency- One of the major challenges facing Mahdism is the emergence of false claimants within this sacred belief. Throughout the long period of the occultation of Imam Mahdi (pbuh), there have been individuals who falsely claimed to have a special communication with him, or asserted that they had been appointed by him as his exclusive representatives.
In his last letter to the fourth deputy, Ali ibn Muhammad Samuri, Imam Mahdi (pbuh) stated:
«یَا عَلِیَّ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ اَلسَّمُرِیَّ أَعْظَمَ اَللَّهُ أَجْرَ إِخْوَانِکَ فِیکَ فَإِنَّکَ مَیِّتٌ مَا بَیْنَکَ وَ بَیْنَ سِتَّةِ أَیَّامٍ فَاجْمَعْ أَمْرَکَ وَ لاَ تُوصِ إِلَی أَحَدٍ یَقُومُ مَقَامَکَ بَعْدَ وَفَاتِکَ فَقَدْ وَقَعَتِ اَلْغَیْبَةُ اَلثَّانِیَةُ فَلاَ ظُهُورَ إِلاَّ بَعْدَ إِذْنِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ ذَلِکَ بَعْدَ طُولِ اَلْأَمَدِ وَ قَسْوَةِ اَلْقُلُوبِ وَ اِمْتِلاَءِ اَلْأَرْضِ جَوْراً وَ سَیَأْتِی شِیعَتِی مَنْ یَدَّعِی اَلْمُشَاهَدَةَ أَلاَ فَمَنِ اِدَّعَی اَلْمُشَاهَدَةَ قَبْلَ خُرُوجِ اَلسُّفْیَانِیِّ وَ اَلصَّیْحَةِ فَهُوَ کَاذِبٌ مُفْتَرٍ.»
"O ʿAli ibn Muhammad al-Samari, may Allah magnify the reward of your brothers concerning you. Indeed, you shall depart this world within six days. Prepare your affairs, and appoint no one to take your place after your demise. The second occultation has now begun, and there will be no appearance [of me] except by Allah’s permission, which is after a long period of time, when hearts have hardened and the earth is filled with injustice. My followers will come to be tested by those who claim to have seen me. Beware! Whoever claims to see (1) me before the appearance of al-Sufyani and the heavenly call, is a liar and a fabricator." (Kamaluddin, Vol. 2, p. 516)
With this clear statement, every conscious Muslim has to disclaim those who claim special delegation and communication, and should close the way for the influence and profiteering of these worldly-minded people.
Some of these liars have gone further and, after claiming deputy, have claimed to be the Mahdi. Following this false claim, they have founded a deviant school and sect and have misguided many. It becomes clear by studying the history of these groups that many of them were created and maintained by the support and sponsorship of colonialism.
It’s clear that the rise of deviant sects and the tendency of some people to follow or trust false claimants to Mahdism or special representation stems from ignorance and a lack of proper understanding.
A deep longing to meet the Imam (pbuh), if not guided by true knowledge and awareness, can easily lead a person into the trap of impostors—especially when one ignores the fact that deceivers often take advantage of such emotions.
That’s why sincere followers of the Imam must protect themselves by gaining a sound understanding of authentic Mahdist teachings and staying connected to the path shown by trustworthy, knowledgeable Shia scholars.
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(1) The meaning of "seeing" is deputy, meaning that he claims to be the deputy of the Imam (peace be upon him), not just visiting and meeting the Imam.
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Adapted from “Negine Afarinesh" [The Jewel of Creation] with slight modifications.
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