ADNAN OKTAR: "It is claimed that you have declared yourself Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). Would you care to explain?" says Cuneyt Arint. If one declares himself Mahdi (pbuh), this means that they stray from religion, Islam. It is blasphemy. What does God say according to Quran? "Have hope and fear." What does it mean when one declares being Mahdi (pbuh)? It means that this person considers himself to be sinless, deserving Heaven and requiring no trial. Thus it becomes blasphemy. No one can declare himself Mahdi (pbuh). But of course, people always give the ones they love the benefit of doubt regarding their being Mahdi (pbuh).

Bediuzzaman, for example, was regarded as Mahdi (pbuh) by his disciples. "There is always the benefit of doubt but you cannot interfere with it. You can hold this good intentions for a person, but you can never assert," says Bediuzzaman. Imam Rabbani was regarded as Mahdi (pbuh). Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi and Abdul-Qadir Gilani were also regarded