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Some of the objections raised by them are
mentioned below: (a) Longevity They object to the Mahdi being a contemporary
of so many successive generations during the past ten centuries and continuing
to live until he reappears on the scene. How is it possible for him, they ask,
to live such a long life without being affected by the natural laws, according
to which everyone has to pass through the stages of old age and senility and
eventually has to die at a time far earlier than the supposed present age of
the Mahdi. Such a long life is impossible from a factual point of view. (b) Suspension of laws They also inquire as to why Allah is so keen to
suspend natural laws for the sake of this particular person and to prolong his
life so extraordinarily. Is humanity unable to produce any other competent
leader? Why is it not possible that the role of filling the world with justice
and equity be left to a leader who may be born on the eve of the appointed day
and grow like other people? (c) Lack of training They also say that if it is true that the Mahdi
is the name of a particular person who is the son of the eleventh Imam of the
Prophet's House, who was born in (d) His continued existence They also say that even if it is presumed that
the existence of the Mahdi is theoretically possible, how can they believe in
his actual existence in the absence of any scientific or religious proof?
According to them, a few traditions of unknown authenticity attributed to the
holy Prophet cannot be considered to be enough for such a belief. (e) Delay in appearance They also say that, if the leader is already
prepared for the performance of his great role, then what is the necessity of
waiting for hundreds of years. Could not the upheavals and the tragedies so far
witnessed by the world justify his appearance on the scene? (f) His superhuman role With reference to the Mahdi's role they ask as
to how it is possible for an individual, howsoever great he may be, to play
such a decisive role in the world, when it is known that no individual by
himself can make history nor can he give it an entirely new turn. It is the
prevailing circumstances which produce and direct historical changes. The
greatness of an individual lies only in his coming to the fore-front, in the
given circumstances, and in effecting a practical change by selecting one of
the multiple solutions. (g) His modus operandi They also ask what practical methods will be
employed by that individual to bring about the colossal change and to ensure
the final victory of the forces of justice over the mighty and dominating
forces of oppression and injustice, which now have the most destructive weapons,
scientific potentialities and political, social and military power at their
disposal. These are the questions which are frequently
asked in this connection and repeated in one form or another. They are not
always motivated merely by intellectual curiosity. There are psychological
reasons also which stimulate them. There is a strong general feeling that there
is little chance of overthrowing the present world system, which is too
powerful and invincible. This feeling produces scepticism and gives rise
to queries. It leads to defeatism and an inferiority complex. One begins to
shudder at the very idea of a world-wide change which may eliminate injustice
and historical contradictions and usher in a new system based on justice and
equity. This mental frustration impels one to doubt and reject every
possibility of such a change by giving one reason or another. We now propose to take up the above-mentioned
queries, one by one, and deal with them briefly. |
