The Contradictory Epistemological Challenge and the Origin of ‎the Formation of Mahdavi Beliefs Among Followers of ‎Claimants of Mahdaviat

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Sciences and Knowledge of the Quran Dep Quran and Hadith University; Qom, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy of Religion, University of Quran and Hadith, Qom, Iran.

10.22081/jm.2025.70326.1102

Abstract

The signs and indicators of the reappearance of the Imam of the Future (Imam Mahdi), as well as the characteristics of the promised Imam mentioned in Islamic narrations, are primarily considered a way through which different individuals can assess the claims of the self-proclaimed Mahdi. However, claimants, to varying degrees, have attempted to convince their followers of their claims by relying on these very signs and aligning them with their own identities. Considering the fact that the followers of these claimants face significant and recurrent epistemological contradictions, the credibility of the beliefs of these groups is seriously questioned. On the other hand, the insistence on the beliefs of these followers in such conditions indicates that the origin of these beliefs is not supported by sufficient reasons and evidence, as despite the weakening of the arguments and the loss of the foundational evidence, no change in their epistemological stance occurs. This research, using a descriptive-analytical method and a library-based study, seeks to find the origins of the formation of beliefs among the followers of the claimants of Mahdaviat. The results show that the epistemological vices and the lack of cognitive virtues, such as reasoning, correct argumentation, deep thinking, epistemological humility, and openness to new evidence, have led these believers to accept the claims of the Mahdavi experiencers. Consequently, from an epistemological perspective, followers of the claimants of Mahdaviat, by insisting on their beliefs despite epistemological contradictions, must be confident in possessing adequate epistemological virtues. In the absence of one or more of these epistemological virtues, or in the presence of epistemological vices, their belief becomes unjustifiable and irrational.

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 08 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 11 March 2025

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