Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Typology of Sunni Approaches to the Birth and Absence of Imam Mahdi (AS) with Emphasis on Criticizing the Approach of Opponents of the Birth and Occultation

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Graduate from the Seminary and PhD Holder in Shia Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran,
10.22034/jis.2023.319843.1757
Abstract
The application of the narrations of Mahdism to Imam Mahdi (AS), the son of Imam Hasan Askari, which is referred to as personal Mahdism, is one of the controversial beliefs between Islamic denominations, especially Shia and Sunni. Some of the Sunnis, mainly the Wahhabis, by highlighting its sectarian aspect, have made great efforts in denying personal Mahdism historically, attributing this denial to all Sunnis, assigning the belief of personal Mahdism to Shia, and proving superstition in Shiism. This is despite the fact that the Sunnis have different approaches to the historical aspect of personal Mahdism i.e. the birth and occultation of the Imam, which are sometimes close to Imamiyya's approach. Using a descriptive, analytical, and critical method, this article seeks to collect and classify Sunni approaches to the historical aspect of personal Mahdism including the birth and absence of Imam Mahdi (AS). Then, it criticizes the approach of the opponents based on Sunni principles. The findings show that Sunni approaches to the historical issue of birth and occultation fall into four categories: "the approach of minimum supporters", "the approach of maximum trans-sectarian and sectarian supporters", "the approach of minimum opponents" and "the approach of maximum opponents". This typology, in addition to drawing a comprehensive picture of the Sunni intellectual system, can provide a suitable basis for changing personal Mahdism from a sectarian belief to an Islamic belief and criticize the approach of the opponents of the historical aspect of personal Mahdism based on Sunni principles and internal criticism.
Keywords
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