Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at a scholarly conference marking the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), Hojatoleslam Mirhossein Ziaei, head of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT) Seminary in Sheberghan, northern Afghanistan, said Iran’s stance against oppression is rooted in a deeply held Islamic worldview that envisions the ultimate triumph of justice over tyranny.
The conference, titled “Mahdism and the Era of Expectation,” was held in Sheberghan, the capital of Jowzjan Province, and drew a large gathering of Shiite and Sunni scholars, seminary students, and members of the public on the occasion of mid-Sha‘ban.
Addressing the gathering, Ziaei outlined the theological, social, and civilizational dimensions of belief in the Promised Savior, describing Mahdism as a strategic response to the profound moral, political, and humanitarian crises facing the contemporary world.
Mahdism beyond sectarian boundaries
Ziaei stressed that belief in the appearance of a savior at the end of time is not confined to a single sect or ethnicity. “The belief in the Promised Mahdi is a shared conviction among followers of divine religions, and particularly within the Islamic ummah,” he said, adding that differences on this issue are limited and non-essential.
He noted that Islamic teachings present a clear vision of humanity’s future—one in which justice ultimately prevails and oppression is eradicated. “Muslims believe that a divinely guided figure will emerge to fill the world with justice, security, and peace after it has been overwhelmed by injustice and corruption,” he said.
Citing authoritative Shiite and Sunni sources, Ziaei emphasized that waiting for relief (intizar al-faraj) has been described in prophetic traditions as one of the greatest forms of worship. He recalled that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) introduced Imam Mahdi as being from his progeny and from the lineage of Lady Fatima (peace be upon her), underscoring the deep-rooted and widely accepted nature of this belief in the Muslim world.
He rejected interpretations of expectation as passive or escapist, saying that, in Islamic thought, expectation is an active, conscious, and responsibility-generating stance that calls for personal reform and social engagement.
Social impact and resistance to despair
According to Ziaei, societies shaped by the culture of expectation are resilient and future-oriented. “Those who believe in Mahdism are hopeful, dynamic, and committed individuals who do not allow their societies to fall into despair, moral decay, injustice, or intellectual deviation,” he said, noting that faith in God’s promise of the eventual rule of the righteous sustains social vitality.
He added that a society in which the culture of expectation is institutionalized will not succumb to frustration or paralysis in the face of modern ethical, cultural, and political crises, as it always envisions a clear and just horizon ahead.
Confronting global oppression
Turning to current developments in the Muslim world, Ziaei pointed to the Israeli regime’s ongoing crimes in Gaza as a stark example of structural injustice embedded in the global system of domination. He said the scale of atrocities committed against civilians, including women, children, the sick, and the hungry, has shocked the conscience of humanity.
“These crimes are among the most extreme forms of brutality, even by the standards of historical tyrannies,” he said, condemning the destruction of lives, infrastructure, and the natural environment in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Praising Iran’s stance
Ziaei criticized the silence of some Islamic governments in the face of these atrocities, contrasting it with Iran’s position. “At a time when many leaders in the Islamic world have remained silent, the Islamic Republic of Iran, under the leadership of Imam Khamenei, has courageously stood alongside the oppressed, inspired by the school of Fatima and Husayn,” he said.
He described Iran as a standard-bearer of justice and support for the oppressed, saying the country enjoys divine support and the solidarity of freedom-seekers worldwide. “This path is fully aligned with the discourse of Mahdism and active expectation,” he added.
Mahdism as the future horizon of the ummah
In his concluding remarks, Ziaei said belief in Imam Mahdi is not merely a personal or devotional matter, but a comprehensive roadmap for the future of the Islamic ummah. He described it as a clear answer to the intellectual, moral, and political crises of the modern era, arguing that strengthening this culture among Muslims would pave the way for the realization of global justice.
Other speakers at the conference echoed these views. Mawlavi Shah Mohammad, a scholar from Jowzjan Province, said numerous prophetic traditions affirm the inevitable appearance of Imam Mahdi, who will fill the earth with justice and uproot corruption and oppression. He added that with the rise of the divinely guided leader, enemies of Islam would be humiliated and truth would prevail over falsehood.
Meanwhile, Mawlana Seyyed Hassan Kohestani, affiliated with Afghanistan’s national forces in Jowzjan, described the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi as a blessed occasion for all Muslims. He said the current crimes against Muslims in Gaza and elsewhere would come to an end with the appearance of the Promised Savior, leading to the establishment of global security.
Kouhestani called for unity and Islamic awakening, warning that enemies of Islam are making concerted efforts to weaken Muslim countries. He stressed that vigilance, unity, and the strengthening of the culture of expectation are essential steps toward preparing the ground for justice and peace.
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