Guest guest Posted March 17, 2004 Report Share Posted March 17, 2004 Mahdi The Arabic term " mahdi " is best translated with " divinely guided one " . Saviour figure in Islam, for which there are several different interpretations in Sunni Islam, and one dominant interpretation in Shi'i Islam, the " mahdi " of Sunni Islam is just one of several important figures, while the " mahdi " of Shi'i Islam has a real eschatological importance, and is in the future the most important figure for Islam as well as the world. The main principle of the mahdi is that he is a figure that is absolutely guided by God. This guidance is stronger form of guidance than normal guidance, which usually involves than a human being willfully acts according to the guidance of God. The mahdi on the other hand, has nothing of this human element, and acts the will of God directly. The figure of mahdi, nor his mission, is not mentioned in the Koran, and there are practically nothing to be found among the reliable hadiths on him either. The idea of the mahdi appears to be a development in the first 2-3 centuries of Islam. In the case of the Shi'i mahdi many scholars have suggested that there is a clear inspiration coming from Christianity and its ideas of a Judgement Day in the hands of a religious Renewer. Mahdi Encyclopaedia of the Orient, (lexicorient.com) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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