Mahdism Verified by Both Wisdom, Fitrat: Late Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani
In a seminary on Mahdism, Farajollah Mirarab, a faculty member of the Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy, discussed Mahdism in the thoughts of the late Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani (1919-2022). Here is a summary of his remarks:
Ayatollah Safi has written a book named “Origins of Mahdism” explaining his thoughts about the topic.
The cleric’s first reason for accepting Mahdism is because it is compatible with wisdom. He believes one cannot reject this thought.
“Did you think that We had created you for a playful purpose and that you were not to return to Us?” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, verse 115) If we do not accept the futility of the creation, then we should acknowledge that there is a plan and there should be an intermediary between God and His creations. It is rationally possible to prove the existence of such a person.
Mulla Sadra (1572-1641) proved that an entity should exist in the creation system that has the competence for having relations with God and this entity should be superior to all humans and creatures. Accordingly, a living Imam should always be present at all times.
Another reason given by Ayatollah Golpaygani for the originality of Mahdism is that the belief is compatible with Fitrat which notes that the creation is not futile and aimless and that God does not leave humans alone without helping and supporting them.
According to the late scholar, another reason for Mahdism is the existence of numerous hadiths and narrations about the topic. There are prophetic hadiths as well as narrations from Ahl al-Bayt (SA) which point to Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his advent) years before he was born. And these hadiths have been verified by both Shia and Sunni scholars.
When we believe in the Oneness of God, we should also believe that there is a unique plan by Him. God, as the Supervisor, should manage the system of creation and this should be done through one of His creatures. As there is no prophet in our time and prophethood has ended, someone should come by God’s order to rule and judge. Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani believed this person in no one but Imam Mahdi.
