Hawzah News Agency - Consequences of Deviant Currents in the Discussion of Mahdism
Even with all the hate and pushback against religious teachings lately, belief in Mahdism is actually growing every single day. People are feeling a massive intellectual and emotional need for it, which is a really positive thing. But because of all this growing interest some off-track movements have started popping up right next to the deep, authentic teachings. Unfortunately, these fake groups end up pulling in people who are either a bit naive or just have bad intentions, at least for a short while.
Unfortunately these deviant movements will come with unpleasant consequences. Here is a breakdown of two instances of the possible consequences:
1. Instability in Religious Beliefs
It seems that the most significant consequence of these deviations is creating hesitation in the religious beliefs of individuals, which solely itself is a great and unforgivable sin and an obvious instance of یَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِیلِ اللَّه [1].
2. Destroying Intellectual Forces
Undoubtedly, today the school of the Ahlul-Bayt (pbut) needs to benefit from intellectual forces in various fields more than ever. The loss of these forces in deviant movements and the waste of their intellectual capacity is a great loss.
What should be done to confront deviant currents?
1. Scientific Behavior
Utilizing Authentic Knowledge
Knowledge is the beginning of any behavior. Ignorance of the true beliefs of Mahdism is a fundamental cause for the formation of deviant movements; therefore, the first step to break out from these movements is to increase authentic knowledge.
The most important arena for this learning is referring to the verses of the Quran and the authentic hadiths of the Infallibles (pbut). Hence, in the scientific and cognitive dimension, those who care about this field must step-in in a calculated, wise, and expert manner, and perform their duties well.
Imparting this knowledge is conceivable in two basic dimensions: first in “authentic Mahdism teachings,” and then in “recognizing deviations, their characteristics, and their consequences.”
Building a Comprehensive Engineering System for Mahdism
There is no doubt that when different parts of our religious culture are out of sync or clashing, it creates the perfect breeding ground for sketchy, deviant movements to spread. Looking at topics related to Mahdism in a superficial, isolated, or piecemeal way is actually a major reason why these off-track groups form in the first place.
To fix this, we need a comprehensive, big-picture view of Mahdism teachings. If cultural authorities—including clerics and educators—team up to design a coordinated “macro engineering system” for how these teachings are understood and shared, it would act as an impenetrable shield. This united front is exactly what we need to block these fake movements from ever forming or surviving.
2. Practical Ways
Creating Sensitivity
Undoubtedly, the magnitude of the unfortunate consequences of these deviant movements closes the path to any negligence and tolerance; because these deviations are worse than narcotics; for the latter destroys the human body, while the former destroys the souls of human beings, and no one would ever be pleased with tolerating those who cause the youth to be contaminated with narcotics. Therefore, it is necessary for everyone, especially the scholars of the society, to use possible opportunities to confront these movements and keep the youth away from the trap of these deviations.
Eradicating Deviation
When kindness and goodwill just don’t get through to them, your best move is to face those off-track, deviant movements head-on and completely dismantle the very foundation of their twisted ideas.
This discussion continues…
Adapted from “Mahdism Textbook” by Khodamorad Salimian with slight modifications.
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1. الَّذِینَ یَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِیلِ اللَّهِ وَیَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَهُمْ بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ کَافِرُونَ ; Who averted [people] from the way of Allah and sought to make it [seem] deviant while they, concerning the Hereafter, were disbelievers. (Surah Hud : 19)
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