Who Are the Mahdiyyīn? A Critical Examination of the Claim

Dar al-Hedayah | The issue of “Mahdiyeen” (guided ones) after the Twelfth Imam (as) has never been a tenet of Shi’a belief. Firstly, the narrations in question are not sufficient to confidently accept their content. Secondly, these narrations do not contradict the narrations that confine the number of Imams to twelve. Thirdly, the Mahdis—without enjoying the status of Imamate, trusteeship (wasiyah), or succession to the Imams—are merely prominent Shi’a who call people to the Ahl al-Bayt. The term and meaning of “Mahdiyeen” only corresponds with five other narrations, which are examined in this article.

 The First Narration on the Mahdiyeen

In Mukhtasar al-Basa’ir, quoted from the author of Muntakhab al-Anwar al-Mudia’ah fi Dhikr al-Qa’im al-Hujjah, it is stated:

“From Abu Abdullah (as): ‘Indeed, from among us, after the Qa’im (as), there will be twelve Mahdis from the children of al-Husain (as).'”

Mukhtasar al-Basa’ir, P. 165

This narration introduces the Mahdiyeen as from the children of Imam al-Husain (as). If the mentioned Mahdiyeen were from the progeny of the Twelfth Imam (as), there would be no reason for him to introduce them as from the children of Imam al-Husain (as); the narration should have been recorded with the phrase “from his children” (min waladihi). Therefore, it is possible these Mahdiyeen are Husaini Sayyids (descendants of Imam al-Husain).

 The Second Narration on the Mahdiyeen

In Sharh al-Akhbar, it is stated:

“And from Ali bin al-Husain (as) that he said: ‘The Qa’im from among us will rise, then after him there will be twelve Mahdis.'”

Sharh al-Akhbar fi Fada’il al-A’immah al-Athar, Vol. 3, P. 400

This narration, without a chain of transmission, is found in the book of Qadi Nu’man al-Maghribi (a prominent early Ismaili scholar). It speaks of twelve Mahdis after the Qa’im (as), but nothing is mentioned regarding their lineage.

 The Third Narration on the Mahdiyeen

In Al-Ghaybah by Shaykh al-Tusi (ra) it is stated:

“From Abu Abdullah (as), he said: ‘O Abu Hamzah, indeed from among us, after the Qa’im, there will be eleven Mahdis from the children of al-Husain (as).'”

Al-Ghaybah (by al-Tusi), P. 478

This narration speaks of eleven Mahdis after the Qa’im (as), all from the progeny of Imam al-Husain (as). As we explained, this does not indicate they are from the progeny of Imam al-Mahdi (as).

 The Fourth Narration

In Al-Usul al-Sittat ‘Ashar, it is stated:

“Ja’far from Dharīh, who said: I asked him about the Imams after the Prophet (pbuh)… He said: ‘Indeed, from among us, after the Messenger, there are seven trustees (awsiya’) who are Imams whose obedience is obligatory. Their seventh is the Qa’im… Then after the Qa’im there will be eleven Mahdis from the children of al-Husain.'”

Al-Usul al-Sittat ‘Ashar, P. 268

This narration is recorded in the mentioned book without a chain. The main problem is that, according to this narration’s explicit statement, the intended “Qa’im” is Imam al-Kazim (as), and after him, it introduces eleven Mahdis from the children of Imam al-Kazim (as). Therefore, based on our certain belief, this narration is fundamentally contrary to Shi’a beliefs. Hence, Ahmad al-Basri cannot rely on this narration and claim to be the first Mahdi, because in that case he would have had to come during the time of Imam al-Rida (as), not now!

 The Fifth Narration (The Key Clarification)

“From Abu Basir, who said: I said to al-Sadiq Ja’far bin Muhammad (as): ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah, I heard from your father (as) that he said: “There will be twelve Mahdis after the Qa’im.”‘ So he (as) said: ‘He only said twelve Mahdis, and he did not say twelve Imams. But they are a group from our Shi’a who call people to our guardianship (wilayah) and the recognition of our right.'”

Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah, Vol. 2, P. 358

In this narration:

• It speaks of twelve Mahdis after the Twelve Imams (as).

• It explicitly states the Mahdiyeen are not Imams.

• Nothing is mentioned regarding their lineage.

• The Mahdiyeen are from the Shi’a of the Imams (as).

 Important Note

Ahmad al-Hasan al-Basri claims that the narrations about the Mahdiyeen are mutawatir (mass-transmitted/recurrent) and that he is the first Mahdi after the Qa’im. However, we only have five narrations concerning the Mahdiyeen, which even differ among themselves regarding the number, lineage, and status of the Mahdiyeen. How can one claim tawatur ma’nawi (recurrent meaning) for this concept? For tawatur ma’nawi, a single subject must be narrated with various wordings to such an extent that it creates certainty and leaves no room for the possibility of falsehood—like the bravery of Ali (as), which all narrators have reported with different words and phrases.

Of course, Nazem al-Oqaili, in his book “Al-Arba’un Hadithan fi al-Mahdiyeen wa Dhurriyyat al-Qa’im,” tries to prove the tawatur of narrations about Mahdiyeen after the Qa’im (as) by gathering narrations and supplications related to the progeny of the Twelfth Imam (as) alongside these four Mahdi narrations.

He is oblivious that:

1. With none of the four Mahdi narrations is their being children of the Twelfth Imam (as) proven.

2. The narrations related to the progeny of His Eminence have no connection to the Mahdiyeen, and in no narration are the Imam’s progeny introduced as Mahdiyeen.

3. The supplications and narrations related to the Imam’s progeny, whether by negation or affirmation, prove nothing regarding the Imam having children at present. Based on those supplications, no ruling is made about him having children now or not having children.

Therefore, Ahmad al-Basri must be able to cite narrations that prove the tawatur (in meaning) of Mahdiyeen after the Qa’im (as), and such a narration does not exist.