Ahmadinejad’s beliefs on the Hidden Mahdi: of Twelver Shi’ism

Ahmadinejad’s beliefs on the Hidden Mahdi: of Twelver Shi’ism
Recently Ahmadinejad the President of Iran has made statements referring to the 12th Imam, this person is to be the savior of the Shia. The history of this Imam goes back to 847 CE when he went into hiding to avoid capture. This figure plays a vital role in the beliefs and actions of the current President of Iran. By understanding what he believes his actions become much more predictable and it is easier to establish diplomatic relations with the country. President Ahmadinejad believes the 12th Imam will return soon, therefore he is to prepare the Nation of Iran for his return.
In order to establish the importance of the 12th Imam it is necessary to understand who he is believed to be. “The Shia community believes that this 12th Imam, called the Mahdi, remains in hiding today and will at some point return as a messianic figure to usher in legitimate Islamic (Shia) Government.” This figure went into hiding in 847 CE, in order to escape the Caliph. He was then in contact with his followers until 941 CE, when he ceased contact with the believers. The Shia has had a governance issue ever since the Imam has ceased contact.
The rulers have governed according to the teachings of Mohammad listed in the Koran. The Imams are much more important to the Shia over the Sunni. “Sunni Islam uses only these references to govern, issue legal rulings and enforce the holy law (for Muslims, the only legitimate law), or Sharia.” Where as “the Shia reference the conduct and the rulings of the infallible Imams.” The belief in the 12th Imam is specifically referred to as Madhism. “Paying lip service to the Hidden Imam has been, since the time of Khomeini, a standard practice for Iranian officials.” There have been many people in power who take on the rhetoric of Madhism, but none match the passion of President Ahmadinejad.
President Ahmadinejad does much more paying lip service when it comes to the belief of Madhism. “Contrary to what some of his critics may think, he is neither delusional nor deceptive. He is ascetic, absolutist, opinionated, intolerant and something of a religious zealot.” Although many of his statements are religious in nature President Ahmadinejad’s background is in the military. “Following the 2005 election, Ahmadinejad filled most of the executive branch with veterans of the state security services. Moreover, even other conservative steams have increasingly been shut out of decision-making.” By the decision-making being done by people whom Ahmadinejad selected there is little that can be done in order to stop The President.
President Ahmadinejad believed “that his two predecessors… had failed to establish a “true Islamic state” in Iran. And it was his primary duty to achieve that goal in preparation for the Imam’s return.” For Ahmadinejad “becoming equipped with power is a lesson derived from belief in Mahdi. The expected justice, justice of Mahdi for the whole world, is not attained through admonition and preaching… achieving justice requires that just and righteous people have the power to confront the bullies… messengers of God preach to the people, but they are also equipped with weapons.” The literal interruption that Ahmadinejad uses, has determined the direction for the nation of Iran as that of direct confrontation. Directly in the path of Iran are both Israel and the United States. Both the U.S. and Israel do not like the fact that Iran is attempting to acquire is Nuclear weapons and long range ballistic missiles. While the President is focusing on the religious direction of the country the religious leaders are point the finger at what the President has neglected to accomplish within the country, specifically the economy.
While the nation attempts to grow in hard military power for when the 12th Imam arrives Iran is also attempting to grow in its soft economic power as well. The current rate of oil production within the nation of Iran is about four million barrels per day (bpd). “The government aims to raise this to 5.6 million bpd by 2010 and to 7 million bpd by 2020.” Due to the attempt at acquiring more military power, the “confrontation with the United States continues to cost Iran, by at least one estimate, about 1.1 percent of GDP annually in U.S. sanctions.”
Ahmadinejad’s ultimate goal is to establish a true Islamic state. This can be done by having a nation “devoid of modern concepts of human rights and equality of the sexes.” He also requires “the acquisition of nuclear weapons, the elimination of Israel, the destruction of liberal democratic states and Western capitalism, and an end to the United States as a super power.” According to Ahmadinejad these are “perceived as the greatest threat to the Islamic Republic’s survival and the main obstacle to the accomplishment of its objectives.”
So when looking at what Ahmadinejad believes it is very simply put in his address while at the United Nations when he “called on Allah to send sown the Hidden Imam or the Mahdi, who Shiites believe will come at the end of time.” While he is waiting for this to happen he is actively attempting to prepare Iran to become a true Islamic nation capable of the power Mahdi will require when he returns. Ahmadinejad is achieving this goal by increasing Iran’s military and economic power. The military is attempting to acquire nuclear weapons and long range ballistic missiles. Iran is making efforts to increase its oil production over the next eleven years. Ahmadinejad frantically believes in the Hidden Imam and is preparing his nation for the Imam’s return.

Strategic culture of the Islamic republic of Iran, 8.
Ibid, 9.
Ibid, 9.
Ahdiyyih, Mohebat. "Ahmadinejad and the Mahdi." Middle East Quarterly 15, no. 4 (Fall2008 2008): 27-36. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed March 15, 2009).
Amuzegar, Jahangir. 2007. "THE AHMADINEJAD ERA: PREPARING FOR THE APOCALYPSE." Journal of International Affairs 60, no. 2: 37.
Hen-Tov, Elliot. 2007. "Understanding Iran's New Authoritarianism." Washington Quarterly 30, no. 1: 166.
Amuzegar, Jahangir. 2007. "THE AHMADINEJAD ERA: PREPARING FOR THE APOCALYPSE." Journal of International Affairs 60, no. 2: 38.
Ahdiyyih, Mohebat. "Ahmadinejad and the Mahdi." Middle East Quarterly 15, no. 4 (Fall2008 2008): 27-36. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed March 15, 2009).
Hen-Tov, Elliot. 2007. "Understanding Iran's New Authoritarianism." Washington Quarterly 30, no. 1: 170.
Akbar Tobat, “Impacts of the U.S. Trade and Financial Sanctions on Iran,” World Economy 28, no. 3 (March 2005): 432.
Ahdiyyih, Mohebat. "Ahmadinejad and the Mahdi." Middle East Quarterly 15, no. 4 (Fall2008 2008): 27-36. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed March 15, 2009).
Ibid, Paragraph 13.
Ibid, Paragraph 13.
2006. "Brief of the Week." Human Events 62, no. 32: 4-4.