The meaning of Mehdi - an ironic victory for Moqtada al-Sadr

[althecat]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1083483.htm
US vows to 'destroy' Mehdi Army

The US-led coalition has vowed to "destroy" the banned Mehdi Army of radical Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

"We will attack to destroy the Mehdi Army," Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said at a press conference in Baghdad.

"In the central and southern regions of Iraq the coalition and Iraqi security forces are conducting operations to destroy the Mehdi Army," General Kimmitt said.

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The way the media has seized upon the word Mehdi you might think that it means something derisive, as in "those damned Mehdi's" could be compared to "those damned Krauts" in WWII.

According to Islamic theology "Mehdi" means 'the divinely guided one' or 'the directed one'. Prophet Mohammed (S.A.S), the last of the prophets, informed that Allah will send His Caliph in the Ummah of Mohammed (S.A.S), to invite people towards right path. It was prophesied by Mohammed (S.A.S) that; an illustrious son from his progeny would appear after him who would establish the just and true religion as it was in his own time. Prophet Mohammed (S.A.S) foretold about the advent of Mehdi (the promised) through his various traditions. A few traditions (Hadiths) are given below.
http://www.promisedmehdi.com/

So in fact the Mehdi means something similar to "messiah" or "saviour". And broadly speaking ABC's headline means.

US vows to 'destroy' Saviour's Army

Makes you think...

[althecat]

1. Wow.. that one sank like a stone...

And it is my 1000th post too I think.

Bugger..

[kentuck]

2. This was part of the Juan Cole discussion on NPR yesterday...

Very interesting.