The Mahdi: The History of the Prophesized Figure Muslims Believe Will Redeem Islam and Bring About the End Times

This book provided a brief account of the Twelver Shi’as 12th Imam, the Mahdi. The Mahdi is supposed to be a mortal man who will restore political power and religious purity to the land (I am not sure from the reading whether this purity is for the Muslim world or the entire world). According to the book the belief in the Mahdi is related to the end times and may be similar to the Jewish belief in the Messiah or the Christian belief in Jesus. The belief in the Mahdi is not found in the Koran. The book also related Iranian revolution to the Twelver Shi’as tradition. The book was written for people with little to no knowledge of Muslim traditions; therefore, I’m not sure about the accuracy of the majority of things written in this brief concise book on Moslem beliefs and traditions. Still I found this book to be very interesting and has my knowledge of Muslim beliefs and traditions increases, I probably need to reread the book.

Fine exposition of a figure with a place in Islam something like that of the Messiah in Judaism. Clarifies why, despite what would seem an inextricable connection to Shi'a Islam, the Mahdi has become popular with Sunnis as well (witness the enthusiasm of the Sunni ISIS). Well written presentation of an important doctrine non-Muslims generally don't understand.

It seems that this religion has never moved out of the middle-ages. It is controlled by Imams but no head Imam. At one point comparing it to the College of Cardinals without a Pope. It is a death sentance to claim to be the Mahdi.

Another History of Islam, one of the three large Religions created from the Jewish Bible. Those three religions have and will kill to preserve the illusion of being the only true religion.

helps the reader understand why Islam is so full of hate!

A copy paste of all Wikipedia contents about the topic should have made a better book. The book start with a huge mistake about the meaning of hegire. Even if the author gave an explanation of the difference in the date system between AH and AD, he should have precised this element throughout the book and not letting the reader guess at some points. Then it's difficult to follow the main idea that was claimed in the title of the book giving a boring reading experience. At last the book seems to start at chapter 6 (the last one) but we still don't know why the author put the focus on shi'a belief and not eloborating on the two others: sufi and sunni. Calling the prophecy of Mahdi a "tale" proove enough how hard is it for a western intellectual point of view (as Darmesteter) to seize the implications of such a belief in what we live contemporary.