Tracing a New Claim of Mahdism: A Comparative Study of the Osman Aydogdu Movement in Turkey

Abstract

Mahdism refers to a religious-political concept that has taken on various meanings across religions and sects throughout history. Over time, it has come to signify a savior who will appear before the apocalypse and make justice prevail on earth. Although there are numerous views both supporting and opposing Mahdism, it is a historical fact that many individuals have appeared throughout history claiming to be the Mahdi and have drawn masses after them. Even within the last few centuries, figures such as Muhammad Ahmed al-Mahd & imacr; (d. 1302/1885), Mirza Gulam Ahmad (d. 1908), Maitatsine (Muhammad Marwa d. 1980), Iskender Evrenesoglu (d. 2019), and Adnan Oktar are known to have similar claims within the Islamic world. Among those who emerged with the same assertion in recent times is Osman Aydogdu, who also claims to be a prophet, the Dabbat al-Arz, and a Dhul-Qarnayn. While his belief system shares certain features with classical Islamic tenets, it was shaped through a personalized process of theological construction that centered his own persona and extended doctrinal boundaries beyond the traditional framework. To justify his claims, Aydogdu interpreted the verses and hadiths according to his understanding, constructing an internally consistent theological logic. He asserted that he was both a prophet and a Mahdi, conforming to Prophet Muhammad and receiving revelation; that he embodied the Dabbat al-Arz and Dhul-Qarnayn mentioned in the scriptures; that he mastered the esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an, and that the Al-Aqsa Mosque was the true qibla. Toward those who denied or rejected him, he employed a provocative and alienating discourse, often declaring them unbelievers. He made extensive use of virtual platforms-particularly social media and websites-to propagate his views. This study offers a comparative analysis of Aydogdu's approximately twenty-one-year Mahdist trajectory and doctrines. It aims to reveal his claims, views, principles of faith, and to compare his movement-both structurally and doctrinally-with Mahdist movements of the past and present, as well as with the esoteric discourses of certain Islamic sects. The research was conducted objectively and in accordance with the methodological principles of the discipline of History of Islamic Sects, without taking any stance for or against the individual or group concerned. Thematic, content, and discourse analysis methods were employed as part of a qualitative research framework. The article is based entirely on primary sources, including texts published on the official websites of Ayogdu and his followers, as well as more than one hundred lecture and sermon recordings shared on their YouTube and Facebook accounts. The study contributes to the academic understanding of contemporary religious movements that identify themselves with Islam and to their inclusion in the scholarly literature. Despite Osman Aydogdu's 21-year Mahdist background and thousands of followers, neither he nor his organization has been the subject of previous academic inquiry. Therefore, this article fills a significant gap in the field and may serve as a reference for future research. Ultimately, it concludes that Osman Aydo & gbreve;du's claims of Mahdism and even prophethood parallel, in structure and discourse, earlier movements that arose during periods of theopolitical crises. Furthermore, the movement's distinctive use of modern communication technologies provides important insights into both the contemporary transformation of classical Mahdist conceptions and the reconstruction of religious authority in Turkey.