Millions of Shia Muslims celebrate Imam Mahdi's birth anniversary worldwide, holding festivities and praying for his return so that oppression and tyranny will come to an end.
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Muhammad al-Mahdi (PBUH) was born on 15th of Shaban 255 AH in the city of Samarra in today's Iraq.
His father, Imam Hassan al-Askari (PBUH), the 11th Shia Imam lived almost all his life under house arrest and close watch of Abbasid Caliphs in Samarra.
Being aware of the prophecies concerning the birth of the twelfth Imam, the Abbasid Caliph of the time, Al-Mu'tamid, started searching for a new-born baby who was said would bring an end to their tyranny.
All efforts, however, proved futile when Imam Mahdi was born in full secrecy and with divine protection. God protected the Imam as he had protected his other messengers on Earth such as Abraham and Moses.
Mahdi, or the Guided One, was raised in special protection and support of a few devotees of Imam Hassan Askari, who were also the only people to be aware of the 12th Imam's existence.
The 12th Imam lived the first five years of his life in secrecy until his father's death in 260 AH, when he decided to conduct his father's funeral prayer and show the tyrant rulers of the time that the followers of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and Imam Hassan Askari (PBUH) were not alone.
Upon hearing the news, the Abbasid caliph ordered the young Imam to be found and brought to him.
This marked the beginning of Imam Mahdi's first occultation, which was to protect him from his Abbasid enemies.
The first or the Minor Occultation (Ghaybat al-Sughra) of the Imam lasted about seventy years starting in 259 AH and ending in 329 AH.
During this time, his whereabouts were disclosed only to a select few including four of his father's close associates, who became the mediators between the young Imam and his followers.
Whenever the believers faced a problem, they would write down their questions and hand them to the intermediaries, who would ascertain his verdict, endorse it with his seal and signature and return it to relevant parties.
Shia sources hold that the four intermediaries succeeded one another in the following order:
1. Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Asadi
2. Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Uthman
3. Abul Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti
4. Abul Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri
In 329 AH, the fourth intermediary announced an order by the Imam that the deputy would soon die and that the Major Occultation would begin.
The second or the Major Occultation (Ghaybat al-Kubra) began in 329 and is believed to continue for as long as God wills it.
During the second occultation, there is no direct contact with the Imam and believers have to consult with the Ulama, Muslim scholars, who are considered the Imam's deputies among people.
Shias believe that Imam Mahdi is living among men and will return in a company of his chosen ones to bring full justice and rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice, and tyranny.
In a Hadith, widely accepted by Muslims as authentic, Prophet Mohammad says:
"Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Judgment Day Allah will expand that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my Ahlul-Bayt (infallible progeny), who will be called by my name. He will then fill the earth with peace and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny before then."
The 12th Imam is known by many titles in Shia Islam, including, Al-Mahdi (the Guided one), Al-Muntathar (the Awaited one), Al-Qa'im (the Rising one), Sahab az-Zaman (the Master of the Age), Imam az-Zaman (the Leader of the Age), Wali al-'Asr (the Guardian of the Era) and Al-Hujjah (the Proof [of Allah's justice]).
.Muhammad al-Mahdi (PBUH) was born on 15th of Shaban 255 AH in the city of Samarra in today's Iraq.
His father, Imam Hassan al-Askari (PBUH), the 11th Shia Imam lived almost all his life under house arrest and close watch of Abbasid Caliphs in Samarra.
Being aware of the prophecies concerning the birth of the twelfth Imam, the Abbasid Caliph of the time, Al-Mu'tamid, started searching for a new-born baby who was said would bring an end to their tyranny.
All efforts, however, proved futile when Imam Mahdi was born in full secrecy and with divine protection. God protected the Imam as he had protected his other messengers on Earth such as Abraham and Moses.
Mahdi, or the Guided One, was raised in special protection and support of a few devotees of Imam Hassan Askari, who were also the only people to be aware of the 12th Imam's existence.
The 12th Imam lived the first five years of his life in secrecy until his father's death in 260 AH, when he decided to conduct his father's funeral prayer and show the tyrant rulers of the time that the followers of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and Imam Hassan Askari (PBUH) were not alone.
Upon hearing the news, the Abbasid caliph ordered the young Imam to be found and brought to him.
This marked the beginning of Imam Mahdi's first occultation, which was to protect him from his Abbasid enemies.
The first or the Minor Occultation (Ghaybat al-Sughra) of the Imam lasted about seventy years starting in 259 AH and ending in 329 AH.
During this time, his whereabouts were disclosed only to a select few including four of his father's close associates, who became the mediators between the young Imam and his followers.
Whenever the believers faced a problem, they would write down their questions and hand them to the intermediaries, who would ascertain his verdict, endorse it with his seal and signature and return it to relevant parties.
Shia sources hold that the four intermediaries succeeded one another in the following order:
1. Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Asadi
2. Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Uthman
3. Abul Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti
4. Abul Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri
In 329 AH, the fourth intermediary announced an order by the Imam that the deputy would soon die and that the Major Occultation would begin.
The second or the Major Occultation (Ghaybat al-Kubra) began in 329 and is believed to continue for as long as God wills it.
During the second occultation, there is no direct contact with the Imam and believers have to consult with the Ulama, Muslim scholars, who are considered the Imam's deputies among people.
Shias believe that Imam Mahdi is living among men and will return in a company of his chosen ones to bring full justice and rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice, and tyranny.
In a Hadith, widely accepted by Muslims as authentic, Prophet Mohammad says:
"Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Judgment Day Allah will expand that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my Ahlul-Bayt (infallible progeny), who will be called by my name. He will then fill the earth with peace and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny before then."
The 12th Imam is known by many titles in Shia Islam, including, Al-Mahdi (the Guided one), Al-Muntathar (the Awaited one), Al-Qa'im (the Rising one), Sahab az-Zaman (the Master of the Age), Imam az-Zaman (the Leader of the Age), Wali al-'Asr (the Guardian of the Era) and Al-Hujjah (the Proof [of Allah's justice]).
Written by Admin
We are group of Shia students whose aim is to make reach the fact about real islam and answer the doubts raised against shiaism in mondern days.
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