Mouood Mouood English Edition
Meaning of Sword
Only, this question remains that what is the meaning of these many expressions about the “rise by sword” about Mahdi (as)? Even we wait for the day in which we stand in the rows of these Mujahids with bare sword “شاهراً سیفه” in invocations, which teach the preparedness for participating in this great freedom-giving jihad.
But, the truth is that the “sword” has always been a metaphor referring to power and military force and it is still the same as “pen” refers to science and culture.
There is no doubt that even in traditional battlefields in the past, there were other weapons except the sword, like arrow, harpoon and dagger, but it is always said if you don’t obey the matter then “sword will force you” or it is said that “I will take my right by the power of the sword”.
Or it is famous from the past that “the country is rules by two things, pen and sword” and all of these are symbolic and its meaning is relying on force and military power.
There are many proverbs available today which talk about this issue:
“That person has hanged the sword in front!” which means, he is showing his power explicitly.
“The sword will judge between us!” in refers that the problem won’t be solved except by fighting.
“We won’t put the swords in sheaths until we reach our goal!” refers that we continue the fight until the end.
“That person has put his sword in the sheath!” it means that he has quit fighting.
“He is two-bladed sword!” it means that he fight in two directions.
In all of these expressions the sword is a metaphor about power and fighting; we also read in Islamic narratives:
(Paradise is under the shadow of swords).
(Swords are the keys to paradise!)
All of these point to jihad and devotion and using the power; and there are many of these symbolic expressions about “sword” and “pen” in different languages.
It is cleared here that the purpose of the rise of Mahdi(as) with sword is relying of power, in order not to be assumed that this great divine peacemaker appears in the form of a teacher, preacher or a consultant of social issues and his prophecy is not only advising the people.
But, he is a forethoughtful leader who firstly uses logic, and when the expression of truth has no benefit, as it is the same about many of the oppressors and tyrants, he will use his sword; it means that he will use force and defeat the oppressors, or in case of necessity, removes their polluted existence from the way, and undoubtedly, there is no way other than this for correcting a group of people, because it has been said that:
(People won’t be corrected except by sword!)
And in other words, his duty is not only enlightenment and showing the way but his more important duty – adding to them – is execution of divine laws and establishment of evolutional revolution of Islam and taking to the destination and achieving the goal.
Although this matter has been cleared from above discussion, but it is necessary to affirm that against the thoughts of some narrow-minded ones who assume that when he rises, he will use force and weapons suddenly and based on that false legend “He bloodsheds continuously until blood reaches his stirrup!”, at first he starts intellectual leadership and enlightenment in all aspects.
According to clear religious expression he gives “ultimatum” in the way that anyone, who has even a small preparedness for logically accepting the religion of truth, becomes enlightened and only those remains that are not correctible except by force.
From clear evidence about this issue – regardless of the fact that its reason is inside itself – is that we know his method is the method of Prophet (S); Prophet (S) was inviting people hidden and apparent in Mecca for thirteen years and those who were ready for truth gathered around him; but powerful oppressors who were mostly the leaders of ignorant people rose against him and inevitably he went to Medina and stood against them by establishing the Islamic government and providing power, and opened his way toward a public invitation.
Although, many poisonings have been performed about the invitation of Islam that it is the religion of sword but the best evidence which is in hand today against them and fortunately, they couldn’t hide or destroy that is Qur’an.
If the feature of Islam was a feature relying on force and violence then this much reasoning and arguments were not available in Qur’an for proving the truths; this much of different reasoning were not introduced about the issue of monotheism and resurrection, two essential principles of Islam; it wouldn’t invite this much of thinkers and wise persons for judgment; wouldn’t talk this much about science and knowledge; a violent military system doesn’t understand reasoning.
And even clears its position with logical reasons as an inevitable necessity when using force.
Anyway, he will act like Prophet (S) in this method; moreover, the level of public thoughts is higher in his age and using logic is more necessary as it is necessary to use force and violence against the expanding violence of turbulent oppressors.
Certainly, his revolution will be a bloody revolution in some parts, and dirty bloods of the body of human society will be shed by his blade and there is no way other than this for making fundamental corrections in any corrupted society; but the meaning of this expression is not that he will bloodshed uncounted and kills with no reason; he is exactly like a physician who takes blood from the patient very carefully!
Notes:
1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 13, old printing, page 176.
2. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, page 328.
3. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 12, page 182.
4. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 13.
