Investigating the Reasons for the Instrumental Application of Mahdism in Shia Movements and Uprisings in the Era of Presence (of an Imam)

This research aims to investigate the reasons for the instrumental approach to the concept of Mahdism in some Shia movements during the era of presence. Some Shia movements and uprisings have attempted to abuse this concept, and while they acknowledge its significance in Shia thought, they have attempted to misuse its potential to its greatest to attract more mobilizing support. The researcher has employed an "explanatory-analytical" method for content processing, and based on the outcomes or results of the research, it is of a "developmental-applied" type, while in terms of the type of data used, it is qualitative research. The question of this research is why, in some Shia uprisings during the contemporary era, the concept of Mahdism has had an instrumental function. According to the findings of this study, the teaching of Mahdism has a social "mobilization power," and historically, some uprisings have benefited from this capacity. Benefitting from “Mahdism's "capacity for persuasion," "identity formation," and its "proactive" nature are other reasons for the functional application of this doctrine in these uprisings. The results of analyzing and synthesizing the collected data indicate that the doctrine of Mahdism increases the motivational power of Muslims towards their tendency and willingness to support the leaders of the uprisings.