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Two Messiahs - Part IV


Let us explore another interesting aspect of the issue of 'Two Messiahs'.




According to David Brown of AMF International:

"… however, that prophecies about Messiah are of two seemingly mutually-exclusive types, as though they were talking about two different Messiahs. Jewish scholarship refers to Messiah ben-David and Messiah ben-Yosef. One is the positive, victorious Messiah who ushers in a kingdom of peace, the other is a suffering servant. The popular tendency is to think only of ben-David and ignore ben-Yosef … . … Joseph (Yosef) is introduced to us with dreams of grandeur, but he was lost to Israel – actually considered dead – before his dreams came true. Eventually however, he had a “second coming” when he came back into the lives of his brothers who once rejected him. Then they bowed down to him and he became the savior of his people by providing for them in a time of famine. … Both of these historic figures (David and Joseph), Jewish tradition has recognized as being prototypes of Messiahs …"


Also, Mr. Dunteman writes:

" … After a bitter life of slavery and jail, Joseph at last reigned in Egypt and his brothers had to come and bow down to him. He ruled over his brothers. ..."


(The story of Hazrat Yosef (PBUH) is narrated in Bible, the Old Testament, the book of genesis; and in Qur'an, the story is mentioned in Surah Yosef (PBUH), Surah No. 12)


In addition, as stated in the 'Talmud' (the collection of Jewish law and tradition), another rabbinic tradition states the roles of the two Messiahs, exactly the opposite of what Jews and Christians have usually insisted, i.e. they have always emphasized Messiah ben David (Jesus, in case of Christians) to be the ruler of the Last Days, and as confessed by David Brown (mentioned above) , have ignored the Savior of the Last Days whose prototype is Hazrat Yosef (PBUH): "The popular tendency is to think only of ben-David and ignore ben-Yosef". According to this 'Talmudic' tradition, "the Messiah ben David is spoken of as being cut off. The ben Joseph (Yosef) is depicted as the reigning monarch".


Let us examine the aforementioned statements carefully; many adherents to biblical scriptures claim that David and Joseph are the prototypes of the two Anticipated Ones; and according to some 'Talmudic' traditions, the Final Anticipated One who shall be the reigning monarch of the Last Days, will have similarities to Hazrat Yosef (PBUH).


In 'Behaar-Ol-Anwaar' of Allaamah Majlesi, and 'Kamaal-O-Ddeen' of Sheikh Sadooq, and …, many Ahaadith have been narrated in which similarities of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) with Had(z)rat Yusof -Yosef, Joseph- (PBUH) have been indicated; we are going to, Allah-Willing, review a few of those Hadithes as narrated by Imam Baaqer and Imam Saadeq (PBUT). Based on these Ahaadith, some of the special characteristics which are shared by Hadrat Yusof and Imam Mahdi (PBUT) are as follows:


1- The fact that Hadrat Yusof (PBUH) while being the Chosen Proof of Allah, was away and hidden from his people, friends and brothers, compared to the Disappearance of Imam Mahdi(PBUH) as the Chosen Proof of Allah;

2- Hadrat Yusof's (PBUH) imprisonment, compared to Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) confinement and limitations during Occultation;

3- Hadrat Yusof (PBUH) was seen by his brothers and people traveling with them, but was not recognized, while Yusof recognized them, Imam Mahdi (PBUH) is also seen by people but is not recognized, while the Imam (PBUH) knows and recognizes people;

4- Hadrat Yusof's (PBUH) brothers traded with him without recognizing him, Imam Mahdi (PBUH) walks among people, goes to their markets, steps on their carpets, …;

5- Hadrat Yusof's (PBUH) mother was a slave lady, Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) mother was a Roman Princess captured in war as a slave; (for her delightful story, please refer to: "Melica's heart story" in this site, kindfather.com)

6- Hadrat Yusof's (PBUH) matter was set right in one night, so will, Allah-Willing, be Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) matter of Appearance;

7- Hadrat Yusof's (PBUH) brothers (although not from the same mother) were the sons of the Prophet of Allah (Prophet Ya'qoob [Jacob] -PBUH-), Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) brothers (even the Bani-Israel who are the sons of the Prophet Ibrahim through Prophet Is_haaq (PBUT) who was from a different mother, and not from the mother of the Prophet Ismael (PBUH) whom Imam Mahdi is a descendant of) are the sons of the Prophet of Allah;

8- Hadrat Yusof (PBUH) was only a short distance away from his father and brothers, and if Allah had Willed, He certainly could have made his location known, Imam Mahdi (PBUH) is not far, and if Allah Wills to make his location known, He certainly can;

9- Hadrat Yusof (PBUH) made himself known after Allah permitted him to do so, and He let his brothers know how ignorant they had been:

Qur'an 12:89 He said: Do you know how you treated Yusuf and his brother* when you were ignorant?

* Yusuf and his brother Benyaamin, were from the same mother, but the other brothers were from a different mother.

Qur'an 12:90 They said: Are you indeed Yusuf? He said: I am Yusuf and this is my brother; Allah has indeed been gracious to us; surely he who guards (against evil) and is patient (is rewarded) for surely Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good.

Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will also make himself known to others after Allah will grant him Permission to do so;

10- After Hadrat Yusof's (PBUH) whereabouts became known, his father and brothers traveled the distance very quickly, faster than normal, to reach Yusof (PBUH), when Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will Emerge, the distance will be traveled very quickly by Anticipators;

11- Hadrat Yusof (PBUH) achieved ruling position at the end, Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will become the Ruler after his Emergence;

12- All through Hadrat Yusof's disappearance, Hadrat Ya'qoob -Jacob- (PBUT) was anticipating Hadrat Yusof's (PBUH) return based on the knowledge which was given to him, and all along he was being considered a dotard, while he was only being patiently steadfast and hopeful based upon the Promise for Yusof's return, but at the end they who called him a dotard, found out:

Qur'an 12:96… He said: Did I not say to you that I know from Allah what you do not know?!

In the same manner, Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) anticipators -who are directed by the Prophet Muhammad and his Ahl-Ol-Bait (PBUT) to anticipate- may be taunted by some ignorant people for their Anticipation, but at the end they will find out too … .


Let us have another careful look at the story of Hadrat Yusof (PBUH) as recorded in Qur'an and similarly in Bible, when the brothers realized the greatness of Yusof (PBUH), they confessed:

Qur'an 12:91 They said: "By Allah! indeed has Allah preferred you above us, and we certainly have been guilty of sin!"

And when the brothers admitted their mistakes, Yusof (PBUH) generously forgave them:

Qur'an 12:92 He said: (There shall be) no reproof against you this day; Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful.

The brothers who were very ashamed, also confessed their sins and mistakes to their father, the Prophet of Allah, and asked him to implore Allah in their behalf to forgive their sins:

Qur'an 12:97 They said: O our father! ask forgiveness of our faults for us, surely we were sinners.

Qur'an 12:98 He said: I will soon ask for you, forgiveness from my Lord; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

And then the brothers submitted to the Will of Allah, i.e. to the Chosen One of Allah:

Qur'an 12:100 And he (Yusuf) raised his parents upon the throne, and they (the brothers) fell down in prostration before him, and he (Yusuf) said: O my father! this is the fulfillment of my vision of old; my Lord has indeed made it to be true; and He was indeed kind to me when He brought me forth from the prison and brought you from the desert after the Shaitaan had sown dissensions between me and my brothers, surely my Lord is benignant to whom He pleases; surely He is the Knowing, the Wise.

Then, Hadrat Yusof (PBUH), being one of Allah's Chosen Ones, humbly declared his ultimate Tawheed (Monotheism) and submission to Islam, as the Ever-Propagated Religion of Allah by all Prophets before being distorted by malevolent followers, (Qur'an 3:19 Surely the Religion with Allah is Islam, and those to whom the Book had been given (such as Jews and Christians) did not show opposition but after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves; and whoever disbelieves in the communications of Allah then surely Allah is quick in reckoning. Qur'an 3:85 And whoever seeks and desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he shall be one of the losers.):


Qur'an 12:101 (Yusof said) My Lord! Thou hast given me of the kingdom and taught me of the interpretation of sayings: (O') Originator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my Wali in this world and the hereafter; make me die a Muslim and join me with the righteous.


Yes, when Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will be given Permission to Emerge and make himself known, his brothers, the Bani-Israel and all adherents to Moses and Jesus (PBUT), along with Muslims, and humankind in general, will realize and accept the truth and confess , and they will submit to Allah's Will; and surely Imam Mahdi (PBUH) as the most humble servant of Allah on earth, will be most grateful to Lord Allah that the Shaitaan-Guided dissensions among humankind will be eliminated.


Qur'an 12:7 Certainly in Yusuf and his brothers there are signs for the inquirers.


O' Allah! In the name of Muhammad and his Ahl-Ol-Bait (PBUT), Your most obedient and humblest servants, we implore You to hasten the Glorious Appearance of the Yusof of Zahra (PBUT).


Hadrat Ya'qoob's eyes turned white from sorrow in Anticipation of the beloved Yusof (PBUT):


Qur'an 12:84 And he (Ya'qoob) turned away from them and said: Alas, my grief for Yusof! And his eyes were whitened with the sorrow that he was suppressing.


In your way, worried, I wait, with longing eyes;

every moment, have the desire of seeing you, my eyes.


O' Yusof of Zahra! White are, like Ya'qoob's eyes;

from the longing for your heart-warming visit, my eyes.


To be continued …