Typology of the Origins of the Emergence of Approach of Denying Mahdism in Sunnis

"Mahdism" as one of the important Islamic teachings has always been accepted by Islamic scholars; But in recent centuries, some Sunnis have denied Mahdism. Numerous contexts have led to the emergence and spread of this approach among Sunnis. This article tries to collect the necessary data from Sunni sources and the writings of the deniers of Mahdism by descriptive-analytical method. The results of data analysis show that the "typology" of these contexts is carried out with a verbal-narrative approach in three categories of: "theological basis", "narrative" and "social" contexts. Lack of theological position of Imamate and Caliphate in Sunni theology, lack of processing of rational-theological argument on the proof of Mahdism in Sunnis and lack of position of authority of the savior are among the most important theological-based contexts. The typology and analysis of these contexts in addition to providing a comprehensive picture of the process of formation of the approach of denying Mahdism in Sunnis can provide a good ground for its comprehensive critique.