The Significance of Certainty in Mahdist Anticipatory Discourse A Linguistic-Pragmatic Approach to Texts from Nahj al-Balagha

Abstract

    The Mahdist foresight discourse in Nahj al-Balaghah represents a unique model that combines futuristic vision with doctrinal and social analysis of the Islamic community.

The study of manifestations of certainty in this discourse relies on a profound understanding of the linguistic tools and syntactic and semantic structures employed by Imam ʿAlī (A.S.) to convey a specific message for the future. Mahdist texts in Nahj al-Balaghah are not limited to transmitting future events; rather, they create collective awareness and establish a community that is morally and doctrinally prepared for the major transformations that will accompany the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (A.J.).

Examining foresight-based certainty in Nahj al-Balaghah reveals a precise rhetorical mechanism that links knowledge with emotion and social action, confirming that Mahdist discourse is not merely a futuristic expectation but an educational and political instrument for reinforcing a divine future project. Accordingly, this research provides a practical model for analyzing religious texts from a ( linguistic-pragmatic perspective) , capable of uncovering the strategic depth of Mahdist discourse and its impact on shaping doctrinal, social, and political futures. This is achieved through rigorous linguistic analysis of the texts, while taking into account the pragmatic dimensions of each speech act, and comparing styles across different texts to identify recurring patterns in producing Mahdist certainty. Moreover, the study offers a linguistic-pragmatic approach to defining the relationship between language and its informative, performative, and directive functions—reflecting the profound rhetorical experience of Imam ʿAlī (A.S.) in formulating Mahdist texts.