The Twelfth Imam

Imam Mehdi (AS)

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• Introduction
• Birth
• Miscellaneous Information on Imam Mehdi (AS)
• Sunni Documentation on Imam Mehdi (AS)
• Special Specifications of Imam Mehdi (AS)

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Introduction

First Heavenly concealment: 8th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, 260 A.H.

Final Heavenly concealment: 10th of Shawwal, 328 A.H.

There existed a good deal of harmony and uniformity between the aspects pertaining to the births of Prophet Muhammad, the last Apostle of Allah and Imam Mehdi, the last Apostolical Imam. Just as the coming of the Holy Prophet was prophesised well in advance by the preceeding Prophets similarly the impending news of the gracious birth of Imam al-Mehdi was foretold by the Holy Prophet.

Innumerable traditions in this context, quoted right from The Holy Prophet from the glowing contents of many books of Masanid, Sehan, and Akhbar and of Shia Scholars existed. Many Sunni scholars have accumulated these traditions in complete volumes also.

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BIRTH

He was born on the 15th Shaban 255 A.H. in the city of Samarra. The momenton us and singluar aspects of his birth greatly resembled those under which the Prophet Musa was born. The birth of Hazart Musa had signalled the downfall and extinction of the empire of Pharoah, who had ordered the slaying of all the newly born children of Bani-Israel. The Abbaside kings were similarly apprehnesive of the continuous traditions of the Holy Prophet about the birth of Imam Mehdi, who was to bring about a curse to their (Abbaside) very empire. They were, therfore, laying in ambush to discover the birth of the Imam and to put an end to his life. But the event of the Imam’s birth was enveloped and shielded by the same Divine protection and miraculous phenomena which had makred the historical birth of Prophet Musa. His birth remained strictly confidential and his nursery shrouded in secrecy except to a few devotees.

The Imam’s birth had coincided with the reign of al-Mutamad, the well-known Abbaside king. He, being aware of the prophecy of the twelfth Imam’s birth occuring in his reign, was extremely worried and anxious to trace him out.

But on the death of Imam Hasan Askari, when he was informed about the Imam’s funeral prayer having been conducted by his four year old son, his perplexity knew no bounds.

It struck his mind that this very boy must be the Imam, but he managed to hide his inner concern at the news of the existence of the young Imam. In order to get confirmation that the young Imam did in fact exist, he ordered the arrest of the Imam’s mother, Janab-e-Nargis Khatoon.

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MISC. Information on Imam Mehdi (AS)

In a tradition upon whose authenticity all Muslims agree, the Holy Prophet has said:

     "Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been
     exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday (Day of judgment),
     Allah will expand that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate
     the kingdom of a person out of my Ahlul-Bayt who will be called by my
     name. He will then fill out the earth with peace and justice as it
     will have been full of injustice and tyranny before then."

Sunni Reference: Sahih Tirmidhi, V2, P86, V9, P74-75 (There are many more.)

The context of the above precious tradition informs the golden divine promises will take place, sooner or later, one way or another, as mentioned in most of the Shi’ite and Sunnit sources.

In a tradition the Holy Prophet said to the Commander of believers, Ali, that:

     "There will be twelve Guides (Imams) after me, the first of whom is
     you, O' Ali, and the last one will be the 'Support' (al-Qa'im), who
     with the grace of Allah, will gain victory over the whole east and
     west of the world."

The occultation of the twelfth Imam is divided into two parts: the first, the minor occultation (ghaybat al-Sughra) which began in 259/873 and ended in 329/939, lasting about seventy year. On that period, people were in contact with him through four special deputies. That period served as preparing people for the absence of Imam. The second, the major occultation which commenced in 329/939 and will continue as long as God wills it. There is no special deputy in direct contact with him in this period, and Muslim scholars are regular deputies of him at this time without having ability to see him.

Imam Mahdi (AS) said:

     "Rest assured that no one has a special relationship with Allah.
     Whoever denies me is not from my (community). The appearance of the
     Relief (al- Faraj) depends solely upon Allah. Therefore those who
     propose a certain time for it are liars. As to the benefit of my
     existence in occultation, it is like the benefit of the sun behind the
     clouds where the eyes do not see it. Indeed, my existence is an
     amnesty for inhabitants of the earth. Pray much to Allah to hasten the
     Relief, for therein also lies the release from your sufferings."

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