Hawzah News Agency- In remarks delivered to scholars and specialists in Mahdism, the Leader cautioned that one of the most persistent challenges surrounding the discourse of the reappearance is the spread of popularized and non-academic attempts to “match” contemporary events or individuals with the signs described in religious sources. He stressed that this method has historically paved the way for false claimants and has pushed the genuine teachings of Mahdism to the margins.
Applying the Signs of the Reappearance: A Dangerous Deviation
The Leader emphasized that among the gravest dangers in discussions related to Mahdism are approaches rooted in ignorance, conjecture, and imagination rather than sound scholarship and reliable textual evidence. Such practices, he warned, do not merely distort religious understanding but actively mislead society and weaken the true spirit of anticipation and responsibility embedded in Shiite belief.
Throughout history, he noted, individuals have attempted to apply certain signs of the reappearance to themselves or to specific figures and events of their time. Without exception, these efforts have proven to be erroneous and misleading. A significant portion of narrations concerning the signs of the reappearance, he explained, are either weak in authenticity or lack sufficient reliability. Even those narrations considered credible cannot be easily or definitively applied to real-world circumstances.
The Leader underscored that reckless attempts at interpretation often result in confusion, disillusionment, and exploitation of public sentiment, providing fertile ground for impostors who falsely claim divine authority or special connection to the awaited Imam.
Preserving the Authentic Meaning of Expectation
Such distorted interpretations, the Leader warned, obscure the core message of Mahdism and reduce a profound theological doctrine to sensational predictions and political or personal projections. This, he said, diverts believers from the true meaning of expectation—one rooted in moral vigilance, social responsibility, resistance to injustice, and spiritual preparedness.
He called for serious restraint and scholarly discipline in discussing the signs of the reappearance, urging religious institutions, media outlets, and preachers to avoid promoting rumors and popular myths that lack credible foundations. Protecting the integrity of Mahdist belief, he stressed, requires reliance on sound sources, careful analysis, and a clear distinction between authentic teachings and speculative narratives.
The remarks, delivered on July 9, 2011, remain particularly relevant today amid the rapid spread of unverified claims through social media and informal religious platforms. The Leader’s warning serves as a reminder that safeguarding religious doctrine from distortion is essential to preventing deviation and preserving the true path of faith and expectation.
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