THE CONCEPT OF MAHDI IN ISLAMIC THEOLOGY: HISTORICAL AND DOCTRINAL INTERPRETATIONS

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the concept of «Mahdi» within the Islamic belief system, examining its historical development, theological interpretations, and the distinctive explanations in Sunni and Shiite traditions. The aim of the study is to identify the foundations of the Mahdi concept in the Qur’an and Hadith, as well as to trace its evolution within religious, ideological, and political contexts. The research applies the PRISMA systematic review methodology, analyzing publications from Scopus and Google Scholar databases. The paper explores the etymological meaning of the term Mahdi, its earliest historical manifestations, and the interpretative differences between the Sunni and Shiite schools of thought. Although the word Mahdi does not explicitly appear in the Qur’an, its semantic field is closely related to the notions of huda and hadi, which denote “one who guides to the right path.” Numerous Hadiths mention the Mahdi, and through isnad (chain of narration) analysis, both authentic (sahih) and weak (da‘if) reports are identified. The findings indicate that the Shiite Ithna‘ashari (Twelver) school interprets Qur’anic verses using the ta’wil (allegorical interpretation) method, while the Sunni tradition primarily explains the Mahdi concept through Hadiths and historical context. Furthermore, the study differentiates between the concepts of Mahdi and mujaddid: Mahdi is regarded as a divinely guided leader who will establish justice at the end of times, whereas the mujaddid is a reformer who revives religion in each century. The results reveal that the Mahdi concept constitutes a crucial element of Islamic eschatology, closely linked to the categories of religious consciousness, social justice, and historical memory.