What Would Jesus Do? Are you Ready for the Mahdi?

P. 15 of the Dr. Heussane Publication 10 THINGS EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GOD

Deciding on America’s interests should not be at the whim of a gut feeling at a late hour of the night, running on too little sleep and probably an upset stomach (Luckily, it is the month of Ramadan, not only Lent, and fasting has been prescribed for physical health, among many other benefits to wellness). This is not about “terrorism” or “weapons of mass destruction” (headline excuses for the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and then Iraq in 2003; read: “nuclear weapon or ballistic missiles that can reach the U.S.” for the current 2025-2026 Iran *war(s)*). Make no mistake, there can be silver linings even when the worst decisions in history are made, but that should not cause a rational individual to become delusional about how things should have been decided to begin with, let alone going forward. It should not be about allowing a minority voice within Iran, however amplified by the Iranian diaspora, to “take over their government.” For God’s sake, prioritize the issues Americans want prioritized (e.g. affordability, safety, healthcare, education, etc.) and solve world hunger before trying to overthrow foreign governments. By all means, continue waging the war on drugs––for the benefit of humanity at large––but get the authorization of congress after consulting widely.  

I write as a Middle East Studies specialist but also as a concerned citizen of the United States. Mobilizing the U.S. armed forces should be about securing American interests, at the highest level of multidimensional calculus, upholding a respectable standard befitting of the largest military budget in the world, not to mention the reputation of those forces that is supposed to be maintained in the process. It should include assessments of long-term well-being, moral standing, and (not to be cliché but to be clear) “the golden rule.” Is that what is currently taking place? It does not look like it, not even close. If that is not already obvious to you, you are welcome to make an appointment to discuss it with me, but I am sure you will find many qualified specialists making similar assessments online 24/7. If you do not want to hear it, here is a wakeup call ––in a democracy, we can be held accountable by the people here and now, not merely to God Almighty on a Day of Judgment (depending on one’s personal beliefs).  

Over the past few years, the world witnessed how the voice of protest could not even bring a “democratically elected” leadership to stop a genocide or to muster the will to cease enabling one. Then can such a voice of protest possibly stop an unnecessary military “operation” against Iran? To stop an attempt to bully the Islamic Republic of Iran? Yes, but not because of moral clarity alone. Not because there are no competing narratives and interests. Not because there are no accusations of foul play tossed across both/all sides of the aisle. In the end, grey areas can be artificially created even if they would not genuinely exist without twisting the facts. Rather, the voice of the people can be more impactful now because the ramifications are weightier for the “State of the Union,” for the very fabric of our Republic, which is (supposedly) still the rug underneath elected seats of power (Conspiracy theories aside, however tempting in light of recent revelations).

This is not merely about an appeal to awaken our sense of shared humanity with the innocent lives being crushed across the globe (been there, done that; story of our lives at this point). It is not merely a summoning of our innocent childhood sensibilities of having a conscience and not wanting to be on the “naughty” list. It is far more than that. It is about representation in our Union. It is about various segments of the electorate, perhaps seemingly disconnected at this moment, uniting around a call for saving our American “Republic.” When war is, in effect, declared by the President without the authorization of congress, when diplomacy becomes no more than a front for carrying out an agenda of deception (at least twice), so much so that it is no longer even believable, when American lives are being lost for a façade… It is much more than having the decency to value lives overseas as being no less important than the lives of our pets at home. This is about the chance to save our Republic, if it is not already too late.

What will come first? Will the people rise to the occasion? Will “karma” take its toll before we live up to our civic duty? Both? More? Thanks to the unwise decisions of those in power, the ball is in Iran’s court: our current U.S. administration has decided to throw our armed forces under the bus. That is, the Commander-in-Chief has decided to take the fight to Iran’s home turf, presumably giving them any right to self-defense that we would give ourselves in the safety of our own homes (By the way, countless Americans do not have homes of their own but our government still spends billions of dollars on wars of attrition and worse). But it is not up to the same administration to decide when Iran stops retaliating. “Assassinating” (if we can call it that) their spiritual head of state, who happened to be a religious authority for millions worldwide (not merely Iranians), many of whom would be willing to die avenging him, not to mention killing scores of innocent schoolgirls in the initial strikes, did not help represent the best version of our ideals abroad either. Unless, of course, we actually want foreign nations to think of America as being forever defined by and destined to repeat the ugliest evils of its history (the skeletons in the closet that we like to think we grew out of).

Much to say, much to reflect on, drawing on lessons of the past, and even prophesied traditions of pseudo-Armageddon that are embedded in the psyche of people in this region, but I hope this is enough for now. To give a quick taster, if you will, one of the common themes found in Islamic and, particularly Shia, traditions (the vast majority of Iran’s people are Shia Muslims), is the prophecy regarding the advent of the Mahdi (a messianic figure who is to save the world along with Jesus Christ in his second coming). While devout Muslims are not supposed to rush in assuming the sacred traditions apply to current events, they are encouraged to be prepared for the possibility that those “signs” may indeed be verified cumulatively (i.e. if enough prophecies line up over time, minimizing the possibility of mere coincidence or generic similarity). So, while the current U.S. administration is anticipating some form of “surrender” by Iran’s armed forces, many of those forced onto the battlefield in self-defense are probably wondering whether the following reported tradition, for instance, will be fulfilled (or seem close enough) by them in the days/weeks/months/years to come (Hint ––so long as they are fighting in self-defense, they will deem it necessary and fight until the death, out of religious devotion and/or national solidarity, but if the sacrifice is merely honorable without being necessary, then at least some might negotiate in anticipation of surviving to witness the Mahdi’s imminent advent):

It has been reported that Abū Jaʿfar [i.e. Imam Muḥammad al-Bāqir (d. 114/733), the fifth Imam of Twelver Shia Muslims] has said: “It is as if [I can see] a people who have mobilized in the East; they seek what is [their] right but they are not granted it; then, they seek what is [their] right, but they are not granted it. So, once they see that [this is the case], they take up their arms, and are thus given what they asked for, yet they do not accept it [––not] until they rise up. And they will not turn it over [to anyone] except to your Master [i.e. the Mahdi]. Their casualties are martyrs. Indeed, if I were to witness that, then I would attempt to maintain my life [i.e. avoid unnecessarily sacrificing life too soon, in preparation] for the Master of this Affair [i.e. the Mahdi].”   

Reference: Ibn Abī Zaynab al-Nuʿmānī (d. 360/971), al-Ghaybah, 281.

In memoriam: Victims of senseless aggression and unnecessary wars, including, most recently, family friends such as the honorable Shaykh Abdallah Cheaito, his son Mohammed, and his daughter Zahraa. Heartfelt condolences to their families and others pained by their tragic departure. May their memory bring us closer to the long-awaited relief for all of the oppressed.

Intro to this Blog

I have been considering the pros and cons of focusing this blog on a particular theme or intended readership. With all the merits of specialization, I submit that my academic specialization has me niched enough for the rest of my time on Earth, and that I will be looking forward to this blog as a more diversified avenue of expression. It will still be me, just not always the PhD dissertation mode of me. For that, I beg your pardon, you will have to wait for the occasional academic study I announce here, or read parts of my dissertation (hint to fellow academics, in particular). So you can expect this blog to shed light on the more far-reaching implications of my work as an academic, tailored to a diverse and broad readership, weighing in on current events while also contextualizing and drawing lessons from history. Without further ado, welcome to Ali Moughania’s blog!