Speaking to Hawzah News Agency, Seyyed Reza Tabatabaei Qomi, president of the National Mahdism Festival, said ACECR Qom has for years pursued the organization of consecutive Mahdism festivals based on a firm belief in active engagement in Mahdist cultural discourse, now extending its scope to the international arena.
Referring to a well-known prophetic narration transmitted in both Shia and Sunni sources — “Whoever dies without recognizing the Imam of his time has died the death of ignorance” — Tabatabaei emphasized that Mahdism is not merely a theological belief but a thought system with profound social implications, foremost among them the eradication of despair and hopelessness in society.
He noted that Mahdism encompasses political, historical, and cultural dimensions, warning that hostile forces seek to curb or distort Mahdist thought within the Muslim world. “It is our collective responsibility to deepen correct understanding of Mahdism and prevent any form of distortion or misrepresentation,” he said.
Objectives and Thematic Axes
Tabatabaei explained that the festival seeks to generate a new, structured cultural wave under the guidance of academic, seminary, and specialized institutions active in Mahdist studies. Alongside cultural, artistic, literary, and media programs, the event aims to bring together thinkers, writers, and artists to create fresh momentum for promoting Mahdist culture in universities and the public sphere.
Key thematic axes of the festival include intergenerational engagement through Mahdist teachings, the role of Mahdist ethics in contemporary challenges, global convergence in the light of Mahdism, and eschatological developments.
Festival Sections and Submissions
The deadline for submissions is set for March 1.
- Doctrinal Section:
Includes Quranic verses related to Mahdism and hadiths from the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). Resources will be announced on the festival’s website, with examinations held online. - Literary Section:
Features poetry and prose on themes such as preparation for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), the unseen yet present Imam in daily life, the world before and after the reappearance, the concept of waiting (intizar), and imagined dialogues with the Imam. Each participant may submit up to five typed works. - Artistic Section:
Covers photography (mobile and camera), photo-texts, poster design, and podcasts on themes including Mahdist gatherings, hope in difficult times, justice-seeking, family and Mahdist culture, and Mahdism beyond race and ethnicity. - Media and Cyberspace Section:
Accepts news headlines, reports, interviews, and social media activism focused on spirituality, youth engagement with Mahdism, and intellectual challenges facing younger generations. Submissions must have been published in licensed media outlets or their affiliated social platforms during 2024–2025. - International Section:
Dedicated to photography, poster design, and international social media activism, aligned with the festival’s main themes. - Artificial Intelligence Section:
Introduced for the first time, allowing up to five submissions per participant in illustration and video formats on themes such as “The Zero Hour of Reappearance,” “The Uprising of the Qa’im,” global narrative-building, and future studies through the lens of Mahdism. - Special Sections:
Include programs for ACECR staff families, focusing on doctrinal studies and Mahdist lifestyle, as well as children and adolescents through drawings and short texts centered on love, prayer, longing, and the world after the reappearance. - Innovation and Ideation:
Focuses on creative narratives, youth-oriented promotion of Mahdism, Mahdist lifestyle in student life, and innovative products for disseminating Mahdist culture. - Book Reading Section:
Aims to encourage deeper engagement with Mahdist literature.
Side Programs
The festival will also feature specialized workshops, poetry gatherings, film and game critiques, doctrinal seminars addressing doubts and distortions, Mahdist exhibitions, and the production of digital content as official outputs of the event.
Tabatabaei invited interested participants to register and obtain further information through the festival’s official website: www.Mahdaviatfest.ir.
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