Foundations and Purposes of Imam Mahdi's (a) Global Government

Supplement 2

Therefore just as the Jews enjoyed security and freedom, all other religions will be offered the same treatment. Freedom in practising religion will be upheld and through this act of equality and justice, people will be drawn towards the true Islam.

His appearance will spring forth from the House of Allah and will spread towards Kufa and beyond. The city of Qum has been indicated to be the centre of piety and the teachings of Islam will be proclaimed from it. Upon his establishment he will first address the believers and bring to task those who have shunned their responsibility.

He will question why people have abandoned the essence of religion to fit their preferred meanings. They will be given an opportunity to re-learn Islamic social and moral teachings and apply it to their lives. The whole approach towards real Islam will surface and eliminate practices of sinful behaviour. Paying lip service to the sacrifice of Imam Hussein (as) will be seen as destroying the goals of Kerbala. Piety will not be limited to the mosques but will require participation of everyone in society by exercising the duty of commanding good and forbidding evil and fighting off innovations that have invaded Islam.

The foundation of governance will surpass any current governing system. The transition from injustice and turmoil to tranquility and peace will not be a smooth one. His first and foremost directive will be maintaining a powerful army in order to gain control of territories. With the support of his 313 close helpers, the Imam (a) will establish a Central Bureau of governance. He will appoint governors among these 313 to represent the approximately 200 countries of the world. The Imam will lead the hub of this governance.

In forming the foundation of his global government, Imam Mahdi (a) shall realize the principles of all Prophets in the path of truth. His coming will materialise the failing and collapse of the current governances.

With the coming of the Imam the oppressing powers ruling the earth will be defeated as promised… "every nation can only live for an appointed time. When its term ends, it will not remain alive for a single hour nor will they die before the appointed hour' (Surah al A\'raf 7:34 and Surah al-Nahl 16:61). His mandate in establishing a world government will focus on reclamation and rehabilitation of the whole earth so that no area remains wasted. It will involve the maximum utilization of the gifts of the earth and will strive for equal distribution of wealth and property among all human beings. He will open the scope of opportunities for everyone and all the lands will derive benefit from their own natural resources.

The syndicate of the multinationals to loot any country's oil or gas reserves will be sanctioned and natural resources will benefit the people of their own land. The Imam's government will ensure that there is no monopoly or restrictions in military power or technology. The prospect of eradicating weapons of mass destruction will be witnessed and the will to abide by nuclear non-proliferation treaty will be controlled by the Imam. The finances used to acquire weapons will be diverted to alleviate poverty.

It is only then that the millennium development goals will be fully realised, as the means to serve humanity will be led by one whose aim will not be in promoting himself but in developing human kind.

The government will endeavour to eradicate all vices that have engulfed mankind such as adultery, fornication, usury, intoxication, treachery, theft and homicide. The mission will also focus on eradication of war and restoration of peace, friendship and co-operation with coherence between man and nature (Al-Sadr, B.; Muttahari, M.).

It will be a government based on righteousness, virtue, justice and will lead people to freedom from forces of egoism, tyranny, deceit and fraud. He will bestow recognition to every human being, irrespective of his religious background with peace and equality. His foundation will be to 'restore man to follow the true path of religion of their own free will and develop the habit of simple living and high thinking and give up the desire of seeking undue favours and unjustifiable pleasures'.

This is the kind of men God and the Prophet wanted people to be. He will attach more importance to general welfare than to personal good. He will introduce equality and equity and make people accept the principles of brotherhood of man and general amity towards human beings. He will make people model subjects of the kingdom of God, to be adopted by those who desire peace and prosperity under a benign rule (Reza A., 2000).

Reference of the fall of oppressors taking place is cited in many supplications of the Ahl ul Bait, but most beautifully in the supplication of Nudba (Almanac) where the news of the demolisher of polytheist and hypocrisy will spread the flag of victory and annihilate the oppressors. The supplication of Iftitah also describes how his coming will put 'order into our affairs and gather and unite the flocks of believers and increase the numbers from being minority and easing of difficulties (Kassamali, H.; T.). These citations offer proof to the kind of rule that we look forward to.

It is through supplications that we realize the importance of the belief in the Mahdi (a) as a form of salvation from hopelessness. Persistence in this belief brings about certitude in waiting for his appearance. It is this hope that gives reason to perseverance in today's struggles.

To bring about such an unparalleled revolution, the Imam will need a legion of companions who are determined and can endure all sorts of untold calamities in their way. The men who will form the Imam's government and become his army generals will need to have strong commitment in serving God. These qualities will be found in the 313 who will come immediately to help Imam (a) after his appearance.

It is not possible to determine which country or nation will lead in backing the Imam's revolution. It is likely that Muslims will rise in unison to defeat the big powers. On the other hand it could also be isolated states joining hands and coming to heed the call of Tawhid to take up the challenge of becoming leaders of human civilization. It is the response to his call that will decide who takes precedence in offering support to the Imam's revolution.

Will the people accept him as a true leader? This may not be very difficult, as human beings are becoming more aware that their traditions and religions do not have the ability to satisfy their conscience. The natural thirst in moving towards God and the search for attaining peace has not been quenched.

Thus this drive in search of truth will lead people to be open and approachable for the right guidance and when Imam Mahdi (a) will present the true Islam, it will appeal to their hearts and they will come towards the truth. It will be a time when human beings will have attained the level of perfection that is necessary to accept the government of truth (Amini A., 2003). The time will then be right for the world stage to relive the scene of the Prophet's (saw) victory at the time of Fath Makka in 8 A.H (Razwy A.,1997) with the banner of 'truth has come and falsehood has vanished` (Isra 17:81).

This final rule on earth will be the result of the toil of 124,000 Prophets and the 11 guided Imams and this governance will prevail to show the manifestation of the Almighty. The essence of the whole creation of mankind will come to life on this stage. It will be a time when man will witness the rule of justice and peace functioning on a global scale. When the final victory will prevail over all evils, the Imam will govern the world under one Islamic government. His appointed governors will rule under his guidance and the rulings will reflect the most equitable for the right and be the most universal way of justice. The fundamental constitution will reflect the rights of the ummah.

The ummah of Islam will comprise members living anywhere on earth and also include non Muslims living in the Muslim lands who are at peace with Islam. The ummah will also comprise members who will perform collective responsibilities and attain collective well being and will be bound by moral outlook with a commitment to do what is right and shun what is wrong. The significance of this ummah will be the absence of any racial, political, territorial or any other discrimination. A similar rule of this notion of the ummah was started by Ameerul Momineen Ali ibne Abi Taleb (as) during the period of his Khilafat.

In conclusion the foundation of the governing rule will uphold the famous creed of Ali ibne Abi Taleb to his governor whereby he declared: "Control your passions and check your hearts from doing what is not lawful for you. Train your heart to feel compassion for the people, to love them and be kind to them. Do not stand over them like a ferocious beast.

For the people are of two categories: If he is not a brother to you in religion, he is a fellow like you in humanity'. (Extract from the document of the letter of Ameerul Momineen sent to Malik e Ashtar, Nahjol Balagha). The supremacy of God in His might to manifest Himself as the Most Kind and Merciful Lord through His last guide, the Mahdi (a) will then become apparent. The Imam (a) will triumph and the people will finally realise the essence of real living within the spectrum of brotherhood. Islam will conquer the hearts of man and become the rule of the globe.