Foundations and Purposes of Imam Mahdi’s (a) Global Governmen

The Holy Prophet (saw) said: ‘The Qaim among my children will have my name, possess my features, follow my conduct and command people to my obedience and to my law and will call them to the book of the my Lord’ (Amini I, 2003). Consequently it is fair to imagine that the Imam will govern under a similar charter as the Holy Prophet (saw) did with the citizens of Yathrib. Among the clauses of the Yathrib Charter were:

All practising Jews will enjoy the same rights as Muslims; however they will not meddle in the affairs of each other.

In the event of an attack, all will rise to defend the central government

(Bodley R., 1946).

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.).