MESSIAH, KALKI, MEHDI: Understanding Messianic Concepts Across Religions

 

The concept of a "Messiah" or "savior figure" is a powerful and recurring theme across many of the world's major religions. This belief, known as Messianism, posits that humanity's challenges are so profound that they necessitate divine intervention through a specially chosen individual who will bring about a new era of peace, justice, and spiritual renewal.

The Abrahamic Messiah: From Hebrew "Anointed One" to Islamic "Isa al-Masih"

The term "Messiah" originates from the Hebrew word "Mashiach," meaning "anointed one." In Jewish tradition, the Messiah is a future Jewish king descended from the Davidic line who will usher in a messianic era of global peace and redemption, rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem and gathering all Jews back to the Land of Israel.

In Christianity, Jesus is recognized as the Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. He is believed to have been "anointed" by God for his divine mission.

Islam also embraces the concept of a Messiah, referring to Isa (Jesus) as "Isa al-Masih." Islamic belief holds that Isa was divinely anointed from birth as a prophet and king. He is prophesied to return in the end times to defeat the false messiah (al-Dajjal) and unite the Muslim Ummah (community), bringing an end to injustice and establishing a righteous rule.

Messianic Figures Beyond the Abrahamic Traditions

Messianic beliefs are not exclusive to Abrahamic religions. Other faiths feature similar savior figures:

• Hinduism: The Kalki Avatar is prophesied to be the tenth and final incarnation of Vishnu, who will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga (the current age of darkness and conflict) to destroy unrighteousness and restore dharma (righteousness).

• Buddhism: Maitreya is a future Buddha prophesied to achieve full enlightenment and teach the pure dharma, succeeding Gautama Buddha.

• Zoroastrianism: Saoshyant is a messianic figure who will bring about the final renovation of the world, defeating evil and ushering in a perfect existence.

Diverse Interpretations and Manifestations

The yearning for a savior is a universal human experience, leading to diverse interpretations of messianic figures throughout history and across cultures:

• Rastafarianism: This movement identifies Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia as the Second Coming of Jesus and a divine figure.

• John Frum Cargo Cult: In Vanuatu, followers of this cargo cult await the reappearance of a messianic figure named John Frum, who they believe will bring wealth and prosperity.

• Russian and Slavic Messianism: Historically, this belief held that Slavic peoples had a unique spiritual mission and would suffer for the benefit of other European nations, ultimately leading humanity towards spiritual redemption.

Ahmadiyya

In Ahmadiyya, the terms "Messiah" and "Mahdi" are synonymous terms for one and the same person.^[22] The term "Mahdi" means guided by God, thus implying a direct ordainment by God of a divinely chosen individual.^{[citation needed]} According to Ahmadiyya thought, Messiahship is a phenomenon through which a special emphasis is given on the transformation of a people by way of offering suffering for the sake of God instead of giving suffering (i.e. refraining from revenge).^{[citation needed]} Ahmadis believe that this special emphasis was given through the person of Jesus and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^[23] among others.

Ahmadis hold that the prophesied eschatological figures of Christianity and Islam, the Messiah and Mahdi, were in fact to be fulfilled in one person who was to represent all previous prophets.^[24] The prophecies concerning the Mahdi or the Second Coming of Jesusare seen by Ahmadis as metaphorical and subject to interpretation. It is argued that one was to be born and rise within the dispensation of Muhammad, who by virtue of his similarity and affinity with Jesus, and the similarity in nature, temperament and disposition of the people of Jesus' time and the people of the time of the promised one (the Mahdi) is called by the same name.^{[citation needed]}

Numerous hadith are presented by the Ahmadis in support of their view, such as one from Sunan Ibn Majah which says, There is No Mahdi but Jesus son of Mary.^[25]

Ahmadis believe that the prophecies concerning the Mahdi and the second coming of Jesus have been fulfilled in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(1835–1908), the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement. Contrary to mainstream Islam, the Ahmadis do not believe that Jesus is alive in heaven, but that he survived the crucifixion and migrated towards the east where he died a natural death and that Ghulam Ahmad was only 

In conclusion, the concept of a Messiah or savior, though expressed through various names and narratives, reflects a deeply ingrained human hope for ultimate deliverance from suffering and the establishment of a perfected world.