Name. Muhammad

Title: al- Madhi, al-Qaim, al-Hujjah, al-Ghaib,Shibuz-Zaman, Sahibu’l-Amir.

Agrnomen: Abu’l-Qasim.

Father’s name: al- Hasan al-Askri.

Mother’s name: Narjis

Birth: In Samara, on Friday, 15^th Shaban 255 AH.

Note: He is still living and will appear before the end of the world.

Minor Occultation( Ghabat-e- Sughra): 8^th Rabi’u’l-awwal 260 AH.

Major Occultation ( Ghabat-e-Kubra): 10^th Shawwal 329 AH.

he Holy Prophet foretold the impending news of the gracious birth o Imam al-Mahdi(a.s). Innumerable traditions in this context, quoted right from the Holy Prophet, from the glowing contents of many book of Mastanid,Sihah and Akhbar of Shiite scholars( ulema)existed. Many Sunni scholars have accumulated these traditions in complete volumes also:

1. al-Bayan fi akhbar Sahibu’z-Zaman by al- Hafiz Muhammad bin Yusuf ash-Shafii .Dhikriyyatu’l-Mahdi by al-Hafiz Abu Nuaym al-Isfahani.
2. Sahih of Abu Dawud.
3. Sunan of bin Majah

The promised Mahdi who is usually mentioned by his title of Imamu’l-Asr( the imam of the period) and Sahibu’z-Zaman( the Lord of the age) .His name is same as that of Holy Prophet. In 260AH/874AD,he was hidden from public view and only a few of the elite among the Shia were able to meet him.

After the martyrdom of hid father he become Imam and Divine Command went into occultation (ghaybah). Thereafter, he appeared only to his deputies(naib)and even then only in exceptional circumstances.

The occultation of Twelfth Imam is therefore divided into two parts: the first minor occultation(ghaybatu’l-sughra)which begins in 260/872 and ended in 329/939, lasting about seventy years; the second, the major occultation which commenced in 329/939 and will continue as long as God wills it. the Imam chose as a special deputy for a time “ Uthman bin Saeed al- Amri”, one of the companions of his father and grandfather who was his confident and trusted friend. Through his deputy the Imam would answer the demands and questions of the Shia. After the death of Uthman his son “Muhammad bin Utman al-Amri” was appointed the deputy of the Imam. After the death of bin Uthman “Abu’l- Qasim al- Husyan bin Ruh” was the special deputy and after his death “ Ali bin Muhammad as- Samuri” was chosen for his task.. After the death of last deputy Major occultation(ghaybatu’l-kubra)would begin and would continue until the God grants permission t o the Imam to manifest himself. The Holy Prophet said that if there were to remain in the life of the world but one day, God would prolong that day until He sends in it will be the same as my name. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny.

There are numerous hadiths ,cited in Sunni and Shiite sources from the Holy Prophet and the Imams concerning the appearance of the Mahdi, such as that he is of the progeny of the Prophet and his appearance will enable human society to reach true perfection and the full realization of spiritual life.

Musa bin Jaffar Baghadadi said: I heard from Imam Abu Muhammad al- Hasan bin Ali ( 11^th Imam) who said “ I see that after me differences will appear among you concerning the Imam after me. Whose accepts the Imams after the Prophet of God but my son is like a person who accepts all the prophets but denies the Prophethood of the Muhammad, the Prophet of God. And whose denies ( Muhammad) the Prophet of the God is like one who has denied all the prophets of God. To the last of us is like obeying the first and to deny the last of us is like denying the first. But beware! Verily, for my sin there is an occultation during which all people will fall into doubt except those whom Allah protects.’’

As to the benefit of my existence in Occultation, it is like the benefit of the sun behind clouds where the eyes do not see. Indeed, my existence is an amnesty for the people of the earth. Pray much to Allah to hasten the Relief, for therein also lies the release from your sufferings.