Biography:Ahmad al-Hassan

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Short description: 21st century messianic Shia figure in Iraq
Ahmed Alhasan
احمد الحسن
Born
Ahmed bin Ismail
احمد إسماعيل

1968 (age 55–56)
Basra, Iraq
NationalityIraqi
OccupationCivil Engineer
Known forClaiming to be the Mahdi
MovementAnsar of Imam al-Mahdi
Websitealmahdyoon.com

Ahmed Al-Hasan (Arabic: أحمد الحسن) has been called the most prominent of figures claiming to be the messianic al-Yamani, in the chaos following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. In Twelver Shi'ism Islam, the majority religion of Iraq, al-Yamani is "the deputy of the Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam, and a precursor to his Reappearance" and to End Times.[1]

Ahmed Alhasan, who was born in Iraq, publicly began his "religious call" in 2002. He has an official office in Najaf.

Life

Ahmad al-Hassan was born in Basra, Iraq. He is Ahmed, son of Ismael, son of Saleh, son of Hussain, son of Salman, who Ahmad claims to be son of Muhammad al-Mahdi. His uncle, Muhsin ibn Saleh, claims that the family tree traces back to Muhammad al-Mahdi.[2] This was claimed too by Sayyed Hasan bin Muhammad Ali al-Hamami (son of the late Marja' Sayed Muhammad Ali Musawi al-Hamami, a tribal leader from Bani Abas) and two other regional clerics.[3][better source needed]

In an interview given in 2007, Ahmed Al-Hasan reported that he had received a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering while living in Basra, Iraq.[4][5] He also reportedly received seminary education in Najaf in the school of Sayyed Mohammad al-Sadr.[1]

Religious call

I want freedom and salvation for you, so, for the sake of yourself assist me. I am calling you on behalf of Imam Mahdi. I do not want anything for myself but for him. I do not want my glory but his glory. Whoever does not answer my call, he has not accepted my father's call who has sent me to you. Let me tell you the truth: whoever does not respect the child, he has not respected the father.

Ahmad al-Hassan[1]

According to one of his sermons, in 1999, Ahmed Alhasan had been commanded by Muhammad al-Mahdi, the twelfth Imam of Shiites, to enter the Hawza Najaf and make some reformation in it. He criticized the available financial corruption, which caused some minor changes in their financial policies.[6] As for scientific activities, in that interval, he published two books, Wilderness or the Path to Allah and The Calf, which were admired by some of the scholars of Hawza at that time.[7][8]

He publicly started his call in 2002. In the sermon of Hajj and the sermon of Meeting Story, he states that a group of students in Hawza Najaf, decided to give allegiance to him as the messenger of Muhammad al-Mahdi, after seeing visions, revelations, and miracles.[9][10] Middle East Research and Information Project has reported that "the majority of his public affrays—they often take the form of theological duels known as munazarat—have been with Sadrist followers."[11]

Al-Hasan is referred to as the savior of mankind on his official website.[12]

Current status

Ahmed Alhasan's call is an ideological, scientific call that has been confronted with objections from scholars, the government, and the military.[13][14] [15] Even some of the scholars, like Sayed Kazem al-Haeri, released the fatwa that Ahmed Alhasan is a liar and his killing is permissible. Haeri's office denied this fatwa after a year.[16][17] Due to these harsh objections and repeated attacks on Ahmed Alhasan's home in Najaf and his office, during the time of Nouri al-Maliki's rule, he is forced to live in hiding.[18]

Ahmed Alhasan had some live voice meetings in the Arabic official Telegram group, on the occasions of Eid al-Fitr (2022), Eid al-Ghadir (2021), and the passing away of Sayed Hassan al-Hammami, the head of the Najaf office in 2021.[19] Meanwhile, some sources state as of April 2019, Al-Hassan's whereabouts was unknown.[1]

Claims

"And I will not complain about you to Allah, rather my grandfather the Messenger of Allah pbuhap will do so, because he mentioned me in his will and mentioned my name, lineage, and attributes, and my fathers the Imams pbut will do so because they mentioned me by my name, lineage, attributes and residence. And the blood of al-Hussain which was shed in Karbala for Allah, for my father pbuh and for me will complain about you. And Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Jesus and John the Barbarian will complain about you because they clarified my matter to the people of the earth many years ago. And the Torah, the Gospel and the Quran in which I was mentioned will complain about you. All this, yet you fail me. I want you to live and I want you to survive, so support me against yourselves."

Ahmed Alhasan [20]

Ahmed Alhasan, in his books like The Ideology of Islam, after discussing the meaning of the religion, elaborates on the method by which the previous prophets and representatives of God introduced themselves and proved their righteousness.[21] [22] He states that the most important element of their method is an identifying text or statement from their previous prophets, and anyone who claims that he is a representative of God, including himself, should come up with an identifying text in which he is mentioned.[21][23] Ahmed Alhasan claims there are many texts and prophecies, in the scriptures of different religions, mentioning him and his matter. [24] He has brought up texts, narrations, and prophecies from different resources like the Quran, the Gospel, and the Torah, and has addressed why they are referring to him. [25] [26]

Purpose

Regarding the purposes of his movement, he claimed: "The goal of my message is the goal of the Prophets: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, which is to spread the true monotheism with which God is satisfied, and for the earth to be filled with peace and justice after it had been filled with oppression and injustice."[27][28]

Muslims

" O Ali, there will be twelve Imams after me, and after them there will be twelve Mahdis. You, O Ali, are the first of the twelve Imams... Then if death approaches him, let him hand it over to his son, Muhammad, the Preserver of the Holy family of Muhammad. These are the twelve Imams. After him there will be twelve Mahdis. So if death approaches him, let him hand it over to his son, the first of the close ones. He has three names, one like mine and my father’s: Abdullah and Ahmed, and the third name is al-Mahdi. He is the first of the believers."

Prophet Muhammad's Will [29]

The most important text that Ahmed Alhasan refers to is the will of the prophet Muhammad, in which he states after him there will be twenty-four successors, twelve Imams, and twelve Mahdis. [29] Prophet Muhammad names the first thirteen of his successors, from the first Imam, Ali in Abi Talib, to the first Mahdi, Ahmed, and Ahmed Alhasan claims he is the Ahmed mentioned in the will of prophet Muhammad. In other words, Ahmed Alhasan introduced himself as the thirteenth successor of the prophet Muhammad and the direct successor of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi. He has claimed, "I am the Messenger of Imam Mahdi, and I am his vicegerent, and I am the first of the twelve Mahdis from the sons of Imam Mahdi".[30] [31]

Ahmed Alhasan claims he is the Yamani, who paves the way for the appearance of Imam Mahdi, after his major occultation. [32] The appearance of Al-Yamani is one of the major signs of the appearance of the Mahdi, the 12th Imam of Shi'a Muslims. [33]

Prophet Muhammad's will is narrated in one of the oldest and most reliable narration books for Shiites, The Occultation (Arabic: کتاب الغیبه) by Shaykh Tusi.[29] There are many studies about the will of prophet Muhammad and its authenticity, such as The Divine Will by Ahmed Alhasan and Frequency of Narrating the Will by Nadhem Aloqaili. [34] [35] [36]

Also concerning the Sunni muslims, as it is narrated in their narration books, prophet Muhammad named the Mahdi "The Vicegerent of God Al-Mahdi", and has urged people to pledge allegiance to him. [37] [38] [39] [40]

Supporters and Opponents

Supporters

The adherents of Ahmad al-Hassan collectively identify themselves as Ansar al-Mahdi (lit. supporters of the Mahdi, Arabic: أنصار المهدي),[41] (also Ansar al-Imam al-Mahdī), and are sometimes called Ansars. His followers have described his call as being universal,[42][11] because his preaching addresses Muslims, Christians, Jews, and all of mankind.[43]

Many of his supporters are in his native land, Iraq. While his prominence has wained since his first burst of publicity,[1] there are reportedly "more than 15 official public offices and representatives in major cities" there.[1] He is believed to have followers in many other countries as well, including Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the United States and Australia. And his websites provide teachings in several languages.[1] In Iran, the Yamani movement is said to have "more than 6,000" converts and to be more popular among clerics than lay people, especially due to clerics being more knowledgeable eschatological hadiths and because of the similarities between al-Hassan's characteristics and the descriptions given of the promised al-Yamani in the Shīʿa scriptures. This support has begun to cause friction with the Iranian government, whose supreme leader also claims to be the deputy of the Mahdi.[1]

Soldiers of Heaven, who were defeated in the late January 2007 "Battle of Najaf" by Iraqi and American forces, have been called "the most radical" members of his group Ansar,[44] though al-Hassan has explicitly disavowed the group[45] (see below). Jean-Pierre Filiu, describes Ansar's rhetoric as becoming more radical since its founding—with attacks on America for being "at war with Allah", Wahhabis for being "Satanic", and Ayatollahs for allegedly being guilty of "aberration and treason, of occupation and tyranny". In clashes between "millenarian rebels" and police during the 2008 Ashura, a reported 18 officers and 53 militia members were killed.[46]

Al-Hassan has an official website and Telegram channels. There are many books devoted to supporting or debunking him.[47][1]

Opponents

The Shia clerics that are informed about Ahmad al-Hassan's call have largely condemned him, and issued corresponding fatwas classifying Ahmad al-Hassan as an impostor, a fabricator, a deceiver, an innovator, and a liar.[48][49] According to Iraqi Basra police, investigations conducted revealed that his ancestry does not go back to the prophet.[50] Shi'a Muslim scholars such as Sheikh Ali al-Korani and Jalal al-Din Ali al-Saghir have expressed their negative views of al-Hassan's claims in numerous TV broadcasts.[51] He has been accused by his opponents of plotting to assassinate Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.[1]

An example of his opposition is a question and answer in the pro-Islamic Republic of Iran, Shi'i website "Al-Islam":
Question: What do scholars say about Ahmad al-Hassan, who "makes a various claims, including being the son, messenger, vicegerent, and executor of the affairs of Imam Mahdi, al-Yamani, an infallible Imam, the first of 12 Mahdis."
Reply: "he is a liar. He has been appointed and financially supported by our enemies to create dispute and cause trouble among the followers of Ahlul Bayt" (i.e. Shia Muslims).[52]

Al-Hassan claims that Shia Muslims are being "deceived" by the Marja'.[1] He claims that imitating (following and obeying) a scholar is not obligatory for Muslims, and it is considered Shirk (polytheism) to blindly follow a scholar.

Battle of Najaf

Shortly after the January 2007 Battle of Najaf, conflicting reports and news coverage emerged as to who exactly was involved in the clashes. The Los Angeles Times and RFERL identified the leader of the Soldiers of Heaven group as Dia Abdul Zahra Kadim, who was killed in the clashes.[53][54] However, The New York Times reported that Iraqi officials at a press conference had named the group that was involved in the clashes as Soldiers of Heaven (Jund al-Samaa’), but offered several names for the group's leader, including Ahmad Ismail and Diyah Abdul Zahraa Khadom. The Times article also reported that Diyah Abdul Zahraa Khadom was the same person as Ahmad Hassan al-Yamani, and whose alleged role was deputy of the group, not the leader.[55]

Timothy Furnish of mahdiwatch.org wrote, "Security officials say that Ansar Ahmad [al-Hassan] al-Yamani and the Jund al-Samaa [Soldiers of Heaven] are one and the same, while National Security Minister Shirwan al-Waili denies any relation between the two [groups]."[56][unreliable fringe source?]

Sheikh Saadiq al-Hasnawi, who is a teacher in the Scientific Hawza of Honorable Najaf says, "This movement (Soldiers of Heaven), we have never heard about it before, and we used to guess that the leader of it is Sayed Ahmad al-Yamani, and they told me about the book Qathi al-Sama which was spread around in multitudes and by anonymous people, and when I read the content of the book I was shocked in its strange ideas completely, over the method of Ahmad son of al-Hassan al-Yamani."[57]

Sayyed Hasan bin Muhammad Ali al-Hamami (son of the late Marja Sayed Muhammad Ali Musawi al-Hamami) states that Soldiers of Heaven was led by Dhiyaa' [Abdul-Zahra] Al-Qara'wi, who had rejected the 12 Imams of Shia Islam, had claimed to be the 12th Imam Mahdi himself, and had later died in the battle.[58]

Ahmad al-Hassan himself and representatives of his group Ansar of Imam al-Mahdi have denied any involvement in these clashes, and claim they have no links to the group Soldiers of Heaven.[59]

Books

Ahmad al-Hassan's books which are translated into English:[60]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Pargoo, Mahmoud (1 April 2019). "Who is Ahmad al-Hassan al-Yamani". https://www.abc.net.au/religion/meet-shia-islams-latest-claimant-of-messiah/10959614. 
  2. ↑ The family tree including approving testimonies
  3. ↑ "ABOUT - Savior of Mankind" (in en-US). Savior of Mankind. http://www.saviorofmankind.com/about/. 
  4. ↑ An Interview with Mr. Ahmed Al-Hasan regarding the American newspapers (Arabic Original)
  5. ↑ An Interview with Mr. Ahmed Al-Hasan regarding the American newspapers (English Translation)
  6. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (2003). "The Sermon of Meeting Story". pp. 6. https://almahdyoon.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88-%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1.pdf. 
  7. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (2001). "The Calf, Vol 1 (English Translation)". https://www.saviorofmankind.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Calf-Volume-1-Part-1-3.pdf. 
  8. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (1999). "The Wilderness or the Path to Allah (English Translation)". https://www.saviorofmankind.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/wilderness.pdf. 
  9. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (2003). "The Sermon of Meeting Story". pp. 7. https://almahdyoon.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88-%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1.pdf. 
  10. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (2006). "The Sermon of Hajj (English Version)". pp. 6. https://www.saviorofmankind.com/wp-content/uploads/Sermon-of-Hajj.pdf. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "MERIP Basra analysis". Dr. Reidar Visser. 13 March 2008. http://www.merip.org/mer/mer242/basra-reluctant-seat-shiastan. 
  12. ↑ "Glad Tidings". saviorofmankind.com. http://saviorofmankind.com/homepage/86-english-uk/slideshow/97-glad-tidings. 
  13. ↑ Attack on the Hussainiyah of Ahmed Alhasan's followers (2023)
  14. ↑ Invasion to the parade of Ahmed Alhasan’s followers in Iraq (2023)
  15. ↑ Invasion to the official Ahmed Alhasan’s office in Najaf, Iraq (2023)
  16. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (2010). "Enlightening Answers across the Ether, Vol 2 (Original Arabic)". pp. 85. https://almahdyoon.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Al-Jawab-AlMonir-2.pdf. 
  17. ↑ Regarding the fatwa of Sayed Kazem al-Haeri, including a picture of it.
  18. ↑ In reply to the question "how can I meet Ahmed Alhasan?"
  19. ↑ Transcript of Ahmed Alhasan’s live talk in Eid al-Ghadir (2021)
  20. ↑ A Sermon To The Students Of the Hawza, Ahmed Alhasan, 2005 May 16
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Alhasan, Ahmed (2016). "Ideology of Islam". https://almahdyoon.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/204-3aqaed-islam.pdf. 
  22. ↑ Hashem al-Dirawi, AbdulRazaaq (2012). "Law of Identifying the Vicegerent". https://almahdyoon.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/9anon-ma3rifat-Al7oja.pdf. 
  23. ↑ Hashem al-Dirawi, AbdulRazaaq (2014). "Comprehensive Evidence". https://almahdyoon.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/198-Jami3-al-2adilla-2.pdf. 
  24. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (2010). "The Successor and Messenger of Imam Al-Mahdi pbuh in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran (Original Arabic)". https://almahdyoon.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Wassiy-fi-9oran-tawrat-injil.pdf. 
  25. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (2010). "The Successor and Messenger of Imam Al-Mahdi pbuh in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran (English Translation)". https://www.saviorofmankind.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/successorandmessenger.pdf. 
  26. ↑ Alsalem, Alaa (2012). "Ahmed the Promised One (English Translation)". https://www.saviorofmankind.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/The-Promised-One-Ahmed.pdf. 
  27. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (2010). "The Successor and Messenger of Imam Al-Mahdi (pbuh) in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran". pp. 3. https://www.saviorofmankind.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/successorandmessenger.pdf. 
  28. ↑ "Interview with Ahmad al-Hassan by independent journalist Zyad Qasim Al-Zubaidi". the-savior.com. http://the-savior.com/home/index.php/79-slideshow/108-interview.html. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 (Shaykh Tusi), Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Tusi. "Ghaybat Al Tousi (Occultation by Al Tousi)". pp. 96 & 150. https://thaqalayn.net/chapter/27/1/26. 
  30. ↑ الحسن, احمد (2006). بيان الحق والسداد. pp. 16. http://www.almahdyoon.org/arabic/documents/books-saed/Bayan-l7a9-al2a3dad-2.pdf. 
  31. ↑ Aloqaili, Nadhem (2011). "Forty Narrations about Mahdis and Offspring of Riser". https://almahdyoon.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/40-feMahdyin.pdf. 
  32. ↑ Alhasan, Ahmed (2010). “Enlightening Answers across the Ether, Vol 1 (Original Arabic)". https://almahdyoon.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Al-Jawab-AlMonir-1.pdf. 
  33. ↑ Narration from Muhammad al-Baqir about al-Yamani (The Book of Occultation by al-Nu'mani)
  34. ↑ Divine Will: The Text Preventing from Misguaidance
  35. ↑ Frequency of Narrating the Will (Arabic Version)
  36. ↑ The Will and The Successor, Ahmed Alhasan (Persian Version)
  37. ↑ السلسلة الصحيحة للألباني: برقم 1529
  38. ↑ Narration from prophet Muhammad (the vicegerent of God, al-Mahdi)
  39. ↑ “Welcome to The Vicegerent of God, The Mahdi”. 2013. https://almahdyoon.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/koras-sunna.pdf. 
  40. ↑ Aloqaili, Nadhem (2014). A Letter about the narration of "The Vicegerent of God, al-Mahdi". https://almahdyoon.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Resaleh-Khalife-Khoda-Mahdi.pdf. 
  41. ↑ Rafid Fadhil Ali (22 February 2008). "The Ansar al-Mahdi and the Continuing Threat of the Doomsday Cults in Iraq" (in en-US). https://jamestown.org/program/the-ansar-al-mahdi-and-the-continuing-threat-of-the-doomsday-cults-in-iraq/. 
  42. ↑ "Questions sent to Ahmad al-Hassan followers (Ansars)". Dr. Timothy Furnish. 13 March 2008. http://www.mahdiwatch.org/2008.03.01_arch.html#1205465357892. 
  43. ↑ Skelly, Joseph (25 November 2009) (in en). Political Islam from Muhammad to Ahmadinejad: Defenders, Detractors, and Definitions. Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa. pp. 187. ISBN 978-0-313-37224-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=FPceAsg_bpwC&q=%22ahmad+al-hassan%22+jews+christians&pg=PA187. 
  44. ↑ Filiu, Apocalypse in Islam , 2011: p.160
  45. ↑ Filiu, Apocalypse in Islam , 2011: p.161
  46. ↑ Filiu, Apocalypse in Islam , 2011: p.162
  47. ↑ Online Arabic library on official Ahmed Alhasan's website
  48. ↑ "»الإجابة على الأسئلة العقائدية »مركز الأبحاث العقائدية". http://www.aqaed.com/faq/6586/. 
  49. ↑ "سماحة الشيخ جلال الدين الصغير - الموقع الرسمي". http://sh-alsagheer.com/index.php?show=news&action=article&id=677. 
  50. ↑ "Iraqi police expose doomsday cult chief". Al Arabiya. 4 February 2008. http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/02/04/45160.html. 
  51. ↑ "جديد مكتبة الوسائط". alameli.net. http://www.alameli.net/. 
  52. ↑ "What is the opinion of the Maraji on Ahmad al-Hassan who makes various claims including being the son, messenger, vicegerent, and executor of the affairs of Imam Mahdi, al-Yamani, an infallible Imam, and the first of 12 Mahdis?". 2022. https://www.al-islam.org/person/ahmad-al-hassan. 
  53. ↑ Fakhrildeen, Saad; Daragahi, Borzou (31 January 2007). "Cult had dug in for huge battle". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/31/world/fg-village31. 
  54. ↑ "Iraq: Al-Najaf Mystery Reflects Iraqi Divisions". RFERL free press. 2 February 2007. http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1074465.html. 
  55. ↑ Cave, Damien (1 February 2007). "Mystery Arises Over Identity of Militia Chief in Najaf Fight". https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html?_r=3. 
  56. ↑ "Dr. Timothy Furnish reporting on Battle of Najaf". mahdiwatch.org. 2 February 2008. http://www.mahdiwatch.org/2008.02.01_arch.html#1201988991880. 
  57. ↑ "Sheikh al-Hasnawi on Soldiers of Heaven". akhbaar.org. 1 February 2007. http://www.akhbaar.org/home/2007/02/24518.html. 
  58. ↑ "Interview with the son of the late Marja Sayed Muhammad Ali Musawi Alhammamy". Ansar Imam Mahdi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfePFfJ0POA. 
  59. ↑ "Analysis of what happened in the Battle of Najaf". Dr. Reidar Visser. 13 March 2008. http://www.historiae.org/mahdism.asp. 
  60. ↑ "Ahmed al-Hasan's books in English". Ahmad al-Hassan. 10 January 2018. http://www.saviorofmankind.com/books/. 

Bibliography



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