Necessity of Divine Guide In Every Era -1

Nowadays it has become a fad to question the need of a Divine Guide on the earth. People feel they are capable enough to understand the intricacies of the world and can tackle whatever problem they face.


We will in Insha-Allah in this series of Articles see from traditions the need of Divine Guide in every era and hence prove that in current times Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s) - The Promised One of Allah is the Divine Guide.

People who Claimed to be Imam Mahdi a.k.a Pseudo Mahdi/ False Claimants

In our previous article we saw that the current world scenario is filled with fear, sadness, anger, oppression, greed, war, terror, poverty and injustice; The world requires a redeemer who will fill the world with justice and equality. Everyone is waiting for that redeemer and for muslims this redeemer is the Promised One mentioned in Quran, namely, Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.). Taking advantage of this many people have risen in the past to claim the position of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s). 

In our earlier articles we have seen the history of few of those false claimants. In this article we will look at the consolidated the list of Pseudo Mahdi in the scrolls of history giving a brief account of each.

Pseudo Mahdi

The belief of a redeemer (A person who will come and fill the world with justice and equality) is such an entrenched belief in the hearts of the people that many people have used this belief throughout history to beguile gullible people to create a fan-following for them and thus leading to creation of cult like sects.

False Claimant of Representatives of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s) - Abu Tahir Muhammad Ibne Ali Ibne Bilal (l.a.).

(Reference :  Behaarul Anwaar : Vol. 51, Ch :22)

One of them is Abu Tahir Muhammad Ibne Ali Ibne Bilal. His story and what happened between him and Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibne Uthman Amari,may Allah lighten his visage, is well-known. He seized the assets of the Imam, which were in his hands and refused to deliver them, and claimed that he is the representative. the congregation turned away from him and beseeched damnation for him and the famous letter came from the Master of the Age (a.s.).

False Claimant of Representatives of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s) - Muhammad bin Nasir Numairi (l.a.)

(Reference : Behaarul Anwaar : Vol. 51, Ch: 22)

Says Ibne Nuh, Abu Nasr Hibatullah Ibne Muhammad said: Muhammad Ibne Nasir Numairi was from the companions of Abu Muhammad Hasan Ibne Ali (a.s.). And when Abu Muhammad was transferred to his eternal abode, Muhammad claimed the position of Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibne Uthman, that is, he claimed that he was the deputy of the Imam of the Age. He claimed “Babiyya,” that is, to be a gateway to the Imam. Allah disgraced and humiliated him through the blasphemy and ignorance, which he manifested, and through the curse of Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibne Uthman and his dislike and denunciation of him. He claimed this position after Shari.

False Claimant of Representatives of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s) - Abu Muhammad Hasan Shari (l.a.)

(Reference : Behaarul Anwaar : Vol. 51)
Shaykhut Taifa says in Kitab Ghaibat :

The first one of them is the one known as Shari. A group of scholars narrated to us from Abu Muhammad Talakbari on the authority of Abu Ali Muhammad Ibne Himam, saying, Shari’s patronymic was Abu Muhammad. Harun said: I think his name was Hasan and he was from the companions of Abul Hasan Ali Ibne Muhammad and then after him from the companions of Hasan Ibne Ali.He is the first one who claimed a position that Allah did not assign to him and he was not qualified for it.

Appointed Representative / Emissary : Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibne Uthman (a.r.)

(Reference : Behaarul Anwaar Vol. 51)

When Abu Amr Uthman Ibne Saeed died, his son Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibne Uthman stood in his place, on the virtue of the clear instructions of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) and the instructions of his father about the time of the Qaim (a.s.).A group of scholars narrated to me on the authority of Abul Hasan Muhammad Ibne Ahmad Ibne Dawood Qummi and Ibne Qulawayh from Saad Ibne Abdullah, saying, the Veracious Shaykh Ahmad Ibne Ishaq Ibne Saad Ashari narrated to us, and then he mentions the account which we brought earlier.

A group of our scholars narrated to me from all of the eminent personages of Abul Qasim Ja’far Ibne Muhammad Ibne Qulawayh and Abu Ghalib Razi and Abu Muhammad Talakbari, who all narrate from Muhammad Ibne Yaqub Kulaini, who narrates from Muhammad Ibne Abdullah and Muhammad Ibne Yahya, who narrate from Abdullah Ibne Ja’far Himyari, saying, I and Shaykh Abu Amr were with Ahmad Ibne Ishaq Ashari Qummi. Ahmad Ibne Ishaq made a gesture to me to ask him about the successor. So, I asked him, “O Abu Amr, I want to ask you a question;however, I am not unsure about what I want to ask you, for my faith and my belief is that the earth does not remain without a Hujjah, unless it is forty days prior to Judgement day.