the Story of the Forty Men

Why do some people claim to have witnessed extraordinary events, while being rejected by those they address?

The thirty-seventh Door of The Goal of the Wise examines events associated with the appearance of Imam Mahdi and with the testimonies of believers.

In it, the author connects ancient traditions to contemporary events.

The announced signs

The chapter notably mentions the death of King Abdullah of the Hijaz, presented in certain traditions as an important sign preceding the appearance of the Mahdi.

The author examines the way in which these announcements have been understood by different religious circles.

The rejected witnesses

The Door cites a tradition according to which men would gather to claim they had seen the Qaim, but would be contradicted.

This account highlights a recurring difficulty in religious history.

A testimony can be sincere without being immediately accepted.

But its sincerity is not enough, either, to establish its truthfulness.

The number and recognition

The title of the chapter gives a particular place to a group of forty men.

The book places their story within a reflection on the recognition of the guide and the trials faced by his followers.

The central issue concerns the relationship between testimony, conviction and proof.

Signs do not replace discernment

Prophetic accounts can arouse great expectation.

But their interpretation requires distinguishing between the original words, their transmission and their application to specific events.

This caution is particularly important when it comes to contemporary prophecies.

Conclusion — How should an extraordinary testimony be received?

The thirty-seventh Door presents the difficulties faced by those who claim to have recognized the signs of the Rise.

How can one remain open to a possibility without giving up the rigorous examination of the evidence?