Here's the first of more to come: me in front of the Jamkaran Mosque!

I spent all last week in Iran for the "Fourth Annual [Ahmadinejad-sponsored] International Conference on Mahdism Doctrine."  This was mostly in Tehran, but I did make it to Qom and even to Jamkaran Mosque, alleged site of the 12th Imam's dematerialization over a millennium ago. I will have pics, and reports, up soon.  Stay tuned.

     Last month (June 2008) the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) published an analytical piece entitled "The Emergence of the 'Infallible Jihad Fighter'--The Salafi Jihadists' Quest for Religious Legitimacy" by Dr. E. Alshech (http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA44608).  The point of the article is that Sunni jihadists, being unable to compete with the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in terms of scholarly training, theoretical knowledge related to the Qur'an and Hadiths as well as esteem, began claiming that their practical, on-the-ground experience in jihad made them more authoritative.  Ultimately at least some of the jihadists--most notably Shaykh Husayn b. Mahmud, an Islamist scholar--have reached the point of asserting that their leaders are  not just an alternative pole of authority (over against the establishment ulama) but actually ma`sum, or "infallible."  Other jihadist thinkers don't go quite as far, maintaining rather that their own leadership "possess[es] divinely inspired insight" (citing the Qur'an, Surah al-`Ankabut [29]:69: "As for those who strive in our cause, we will surely guide them in our paths").  Alshech argues--correctly, I would submit--that a close reading of Usamah bin Ladin's October 2007 statement supports his view of a growing belief in infallibility among the jihadists: "in practice they [some of UBL's jihadist supporters] regard [these orders] as infallible, even though...infallibility is a virtue that only Allah's Messenger possesses."  
     Alshech mentions thrice in this piece that infallibility is "a trait generally reserved for the prophets."  Actually, that is not entirely accurate.  Infallibility is also a trait of Mahdist claimants throughout history (and the Mahdi is NOT a prophet--for he comes not to bring new revelation but to restore the true worship and practice of Islam).  Ibn Tumart, founder of the Muwahhids who ruled the Maghrib and al-Andalus for over a century, claimed it; Muhammad Ahmad, who took over Sudan in 1885, claimed it.  Other, less successful Mahdis have claimed it.  This charisma-based authority is likened by Alshech to that of the Shi`ite imams and Sufi shaykhs, and he is correct to do so. But charismatic power par excellence has been much more the province of Sunni Mahdis througout history, and in fact I pointed this out--as well as predicted the future evolution of jihadist  thought into Mahdism--in my book Holiest Wars (2005), pp. 154 ff, in the section "Potential Mahdis on the Couch."  My hat is off to Dr. Alshech for a probing analysis, but I was examining such a trend three years ago. 
     Alshech sees two possible outcomes of this trend: 1) "complete anarchy in within this [Sunni jihadist] camp, with each faction blindly following the orders of its 'infallible' leaders; 2) creation of "an unmanageable, and thus more dangerous, breed of jihad fighter who is totally insusceptible to criticism by devout Muslims, and who refuses to heed the calls of the scholars...."
I would submit that there is a third outcome possible, similar to #2 but even more chilling: 3) a supremely charismatic (and successfully jihadist) individual, exploiting this trend, makes a claim to be the Mahdi.  The road to the Mahdiyah has been paved before, in Islamic history, with the solid bricks of ilham (divine inspiration) and ma`sum (infallibility).  And as I have written previously concerning this possiblility:
     "[W]hen Mahdism reoccurs, and it will, almost certainly it will greatly outstrip today's  merely Islamic fundamentalist-based terror on several levels: revolutionary power, mass appeal, Islamic legitimacy, and political, as well as military, threat to Middle Eastern and Muslim governments as well as to the United States and the West. For Mahdists...are not bound even by the loose fetters of tradition and rules of engagement that might constrain a mere fundamentalist Islamic leader. All the rules are off when a Mahdi is on the stage" [from Holiest Wars, pp. 162-63).
     The pieces are all in place for an open Mahdist claim: perception of an existential and thus eschatological threat to Islam; active fronts of jihad; Mahdist expectations; willingness among at least some (Sunni) Muslims to follow an infallible, charmismatic leader.  Shi`i Mahdism has erupted openly in southern Iraq, with the likes of Muqtada al-Sadr's Jaysh al-Mahdi and splinter groups like Ansar al-Mahdi.  But since 1979's Mahdist uprising in Saudi Arabia led by Juhayman al-`Utaybi, no one has openly claimed to be an infallible Mahdi and gathered a substantial following.  Look for that to change in the near future. 

According to a recent story in UPI, many Dutchmen and Dutchwomen expect the end of the world in 2012 (http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2008/06/23/Many_Dutch_prepare_for_2012_apocalypse/UPI-40461214263554/), presumably from having seen "Apocalypto" too many times.  But the most interesting part of this story is this quote:
"You know, maybe it's really not that bad that the Netherlands will be destroyed," Petra Faile said. "I don't like it here anymore. Take immigration, for example. They keep letting people in. And then we have to build more houses, which makes the Netherlands even heavier. The country will sink even lower, which will make the flooding worse."
I wonder what type of "people" Ms. Faile might be referring to? Anyone want to speculate? I'd bet  a guilder that she meant "Muslims."  So there are some Dutch who believe Islamic immigration has become so deleterious that it will spark the apocalypse (at least in Holland)?! 

That top-notch investigative journalism organization Reuters just discovered Adnan Oktar, a.k.a. "Harun Yahya" ("Muslim creationist preaches Islam and awaits Christ," http://wwrn.org/article.php?idd=28871), who heads up a Turkish Islamic group dedicated to 1) dissing Darwin, and 2) preparing the way for the coming of the Mahdi. Not to tell Reuters I told you so, but I blogged on Oktar six months ago (check this site entry for January 3, 2008).  And I mention him in my book. Here's a link to an interview with Oktar by al-Jazeera from 2007 (http://www.hyahya.org/new_releases/news/070806_interview_aljazeera.php), from which the most salient part regarding the Mahdi is this:
"Al Jazeera: Sir, from your books and speeches it appears that you believe in the Mahdi. Do you really believe in the Mahdi? And is it certain when he will appear? Around what time will he appear on Earth?

Adnan Oktar: The Mahdi should already have appeared according to the writings of Said Nursi, and according to the accounts in reliable hadith and signs have already taken place. For example, we are told that Afghanistan will be occupied at the time of the appearance of the Mahdi. That has happened. There is also the fact that Iraq will be occupied, which has also taken place. An attack on the Kaaba was predicted, and that has happened as well. The waters of the Euphrates would be cut off. And the dam has done so.  We are told that during the month of Ramadhan in the year of his appearance both the Sun and Moon will be eclipsed in a space of 15 days, and that has happened as well. Approximately a hundred portents like this have already taken place. For that reason, I am convinced that the Mahdi has appeared.

Al Jazeera: Could you be the Mahdi?

Adnan Oktar: There is a rumor that has been going round for a long while that I have claimed to be the Mahdi. The reason for that is that I have written a book on that subject. I have cited all the relevant hadith in that book. They said that I had described myself, that the information about the Mahdi in the hadith was the same. As a result, [they said] you are claiming to be the Mahdi. They say that his forehead is broad, and your forehead is broad, too. That his brow is curved, and your brow is also curved. They say that the Mahdi has a small nose, and a big body. He is a Sayyid of medium height, they say. He has a mole on his cheek, and one on his back. Because you have all these characteristics, you are probably claiming to be the Mahdi. But if everyone who writes a book [on the End Times] were to claim to be the Mahdi, and as there have been at least fifty to sixty books on the Mahdi published in Turkey and as they have all written about him in the same terms, those authors must also have been making such a claim. In fact, they do maintain that those people have been making such a claim.  Therefore, they say, you must be the Mahdi. There is a writer called Mustafa Kaplan. They also say that he claims to be the Mahdi, as he has also written a book on this subject. You are probably the Mahdi, they say to him. That is inaccurate.  No claims can be made regarding the Mahdi. Nobody can claim to be the Mahdi. Nobody can say I am the Mahdi.  Identification with the Mahdi can only be measured in terms of success. In other words, a figure will emerge and will be successful. From his success the conclusion may be drawn that he is the Mahdi. Even if the Mahdi were to appear, we could never say for certain that he was the Mahdi. We can only have a good perception of him. We can only say that he is probably the Mahdi. The Mahdi himself will never claim to be the Mahdi. He cannot say that. He will not say that. That is haram [not permissible]. He would be apostatized if he were to say such a thing.

Al Jazeera: Is celibacy also one of the preconditions for being the Mahdi?

Adnan Oktar: I do not remember such a tradition."