Posted by
Gray Ghost on Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:51:11 PM
Who is the "Mahdi" and why is he important? The Mahdi is an Islamic figure prophesied to appear on the Day of Judgment and to bring redemption to the world. There are numerous traditions in Islam regarding his identity, time of appearance, and activities, which fall into two categories - Shi'ite and Sunni. According to Shi'ite tradition the Mahdi (i.e. the Twelfth Imam) was born but disappeared, and has not yet come back, though his return is expected. According to Sunni tradition, the Mahdi has not yet been born. In all Islamic traditions, the Mahdi's advent is accompanied by the arrival of dajjal, the anti-Christ – a false messiah who will lead people astray.
In an interview by Muslim Gaza cleric 'Issa Badwan with the Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV on February 6, 2008, Badwan announced to the Palestinian people (and to the entire Muslim and Arab world) that the Mahdi had been born in Gaza in 2004, and that in the near future the Arab nation can expect great victories. To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit:
http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1708.htm
This is most interesting. I assume Hamas will try to use all of this to unite the entire Islamic World. If you want more information, I suggest you read the following article at the Middle East Media Research Institute: