Analyzing the Thoughts of Awaiting and the Actions of Mahdi as an example in the Social Cohesion of Shia Sects until the End of the Lesser Occultation

The belief in the Mahdism and in the Mahdi's occultation, which is one of the common beliefs among some Shia sects, has led their followers to face challenges in social cohesion. The question of this research is how the concept of awaiting and the actions depicting the Mahdi in Shia sects have influenced the social cohesion of their followers? In response, by referring to sect studies, historical sources, Hadith books, initial information regarding the Mahdi's actions and teachings of awaiting in believers in the context of Mahdi among Shia were collected, and then the impact of these actions and teachings on the social cohesion of their followers was examined. The findings indicate that beliefs related to the thought of awaiting in the non-Imamates, have primarily been associated with claims after the death of the so-called Mahdi, and secondly, that the actions of the Mahdis in practice have not been in the realm of awaiting and coherence of their followers. Among these, only the followers of the Twelver Shia have been able to maintain their social coherence based on the belief in the occultation of Imam Mahdi, given the numerous narrations of previous Imams regarding the issue of occultation.