Birth and Life of Imam Mahdi (a.s.)

Birth and Life of Imam Mahdi (a.s.):

In the early hours of dawn on 15th of Sha’ban in the year 255 A.H (approx. 834 A.D) a son was born to Imam Hassan al.Askari¹. He was named in the name of his grandfather the Prophet and his nickname. He was in his 5th year when his father – Imam Hassan al-Askari – dies.² Although only an infant, the deeds he performed marked him out, revealing his greatness and magnanimity. He proved the world that he was unique and not a common child. As the 12th Imam of the Muslims he appeared before all people gathered at the funeral of his father Imam Hasan al-Askari and stood to conduct the funeral prayers over his father’s body.³

Occultation of Imam Mahdi (a.s)

After the demise of his father Imam Mahdi had to face up two important matters. One was to protect himself from harm coming to him from his enemies who kept dogging him like murky shadows awaiting an opportunity to destroy him totally. Next, he had to identify himself to the world and announce his aim and his program to all people. The caliph of the time was fully aware of the sayings and predictions of the Prophet to the effect that this boy was the repository of a Divine Mission intended to eradicate tyranny from the face of the earth. Hence the existence of this boy was a cause of utter dread to the caliph of the time. Every type of plot and plan was designed to kill him. Nevertheless, the Imam was able to know of the caliph’s intentions and the dangers that hung over him. He was the sole heir in the Prophet’s line and the survival of the Prophet’s household depended on him. He had to be kept safe for that hour when he had to bring to finality the Divine Mission vested in him. So it was that Divine Protection came to cover him and conceal him behind a veil beyond which he disappeared. His absence was only a veil that covered and enfolded him from the vision of mortal sight, so that he may be kept safe for his reappearance at the promised moment. He kept in contact with the world until the year 329 A.H through his four deputies.⁴

Signs and Events Preluding the Appearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s)

There are several signs and events which are known to prelude the appearance of the last Imam of the Muslims and will enable people to recognize him when he appears thus precluding of possibility of fakers claiming fraudulently to the role of deputyship. One such sign of his appearance has been foretold by the Prophet when he said:

Mahdi bin Hasan shall fill the earth with equality and Justice at a time when the world will be covered over by tyranny and injustice.⁵

And again Imam Ali (a.s) says:

My heir will subject himself to two types of occultation, one short and the other long. He whose faith is strong and knowledge right will adhere unflinchingly to the Imamat⁶ (leadership) of my heir.⁷

Imam Sajjad (a.s), the 4th Imam has this to say:

When Mahdi comes into this worldly arena there will be no part of the globe which will not echo with the cry of THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH AND MUHAMMAD IS ALLAH’S MESSENGER.⁸

Still another sign which is related by Imam Sadiq is that God will vest Mahdi with the power to perform all types of miracles whereas his apostles were endowed with power to perform only particular miracles suited to certain occasions only. Mahdi will perform such miracles in order to convince his enemies who can then have no excuse to deny him.⁹ No loophole will remain as to be a cause for deviation and doubt. What the Imam is and the signs and events proclaiming his advent have already been given to the knowledge of Muslims. Hence there can be no room at all for doubts or disputes. In the coming articles we shall see how there appeared in the course of history false claimants to the role of deputyship and how such claims were exposed in the end. Truth prevails above all as the sun which does not remain behind clouds forever but breaks forth in all its splendor. All masks and disguises shall fall away as the light of truth shines on them. Only Truth shall remain.

1. Yanabi al-Mawaddah p.452; Kafi by Shaikh Kulaini vol 2. p.581

2. Yanabi al-Mawaddah p.452; Manaqib ibn Shahr-e-Aashoob vol.4 p.422

3. Montahi-al-Aamaal vol2 p.276

4. Montahi-al-Aamaal vol.2, p.345

5. A’lam al-Wara p.377 and 399

6. إمامة

7. Yanabi al-Mawaddah p.427

8. A’lam al-Wara p.402; Yanabi al-Mawaddah p.421

9. Montakhab al-Athar p.313 narrated from the book Arbaeen known as Kashf ul-Haq

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