<p/> <p/> <h1>MOHAMMAD AL-MAHDI (A.S.)</H1> <p/> BIOGRAPHY<p/> <TABLE WIDTH="98%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 NOF=TE> <TR> <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> <TABLE ID="Table1" BORDER=1 CELLSPACING=3 CELLPADDING=1 WIDTH="100%"> <TR> <TD WIDTH="23%"> <p/> Name<p/> </TD> <TD WIDTH="76%"> <p/> Muhammad<p/> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH="23%"> <p/> Title<p/> </TD> <TD WIDTH="76%"> <p/> Al-Mahdi, Al-Qaim, Al-Hujjah, Al-Ghalib, Sahib-uz-Zaman, Sahibu’l-Amr.<p/> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH="23%"> <p/> Agnomen<p/> </TD> <TD WIDTH="76%"> <p/> Abu’l Qasim<p/> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH="23%"> <p/> Father’s name<p/> </TD> <TD WIDTH="76%"> <p/> Al-Hassan al-Askari.<p/> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH="23%"> <p/> Mother’s name<p/> </TD> <TD WIDTH="76%"> <p/> Nargis<p/> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH="23%"> <p/> Birth<p/> </TD> <TD WIDTH="76%"> <p/> In Sammara, on Friday, 15th Sha’ban 255 A.H. (869 A.D). He is still alive and will appear before the end of the world <p/> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH="23%"> <p/> Minor Occultation<p/> </TD> <TD WIDTH="76%"> <p/> 8th Rabi-ul-Awwal 260 A.H.<p/> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH="23%"> <p/> Major Occultation<p/> </TD> <TD WIDTH="76%"> <p/> 10th Shawwal 329 A.H.<p/> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> <p/> <h2>CONCEALMET OF BIRTH :<p/> </h2><p />Imam al-Hasan Askari (A.S.) concealed the birth and hided his affairs because of the authorities of the time. He (the Holy Imam) did not make his son publicly known during his lifetime and the ordinary people were not able to recognize him after his death.<p/> Ja’far bin Ali,the brother of Abu Muhammad (al-Hasan al-Askari) took upon him to seize what was left by the Holy Imam. He took public possession of the Imam’s (property) and strove to take his place in the eyes of the Shia. <p/> After Abu Muhammad (al-Hassan al-Askari), peace be on him, Mohammad al-Mahdi, who is named after the name of the Holy Prophet of God, God bless him and his family, became the Imam of the Shia’s. At the time of death of his father he was only five years old. God endowed him with wisdom and the distinction of speech. He made him a sign to the worlds. He endowed him with wisdom as He had endowed John the Baptist while still boy. He made him an Imam while still in the state of apparent childhood just as he made Jesus, son of Mar, a prophet in the cradle. The nomination of him had been given earlier to the community of Islam by the Prophet of guidance, peace be on him, then by the commander of the faithful, Ali b. Abi’ Talib, peace be on him, and the Imams, consecutively one after another, down to his own father. Al-Hassan al-Askari, peace be on him. His father nominated him in front of the trusted members of his Shia. Kitab al- Irshad p. 524. <p/> There existed a good deal of harmony and uniformity between the aspects pertaining to the birth of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.S ), the last Apostle of Allah and Imam al-Mahdi, the last Apostlic Imam.. Just as the coming of the Holy Prophet was prophesized well in advance by the preceding prophets, similarly the impending news of the gracious birth of Imam al- Mahdi was foretold by the Holy Prophet.<p/> Innumerable traditions in this context, quoted right from the Holy Prophet, from the glowing contents of many books of Masanid, Sihah and Akhbar, and of Shi’ite scholars (کUlemaک) existed. Many Sunni scholars have accumulated these traditions in complete volumes also e.g. al-Bayan fi Akhbar Sa’hibi-z-Zaman by al-Hafiz Muhammad bin Yusuf ash-Shaaf’ii and Dhikriyyatu’l-Mahdi by Al-Hafiz Abu Nu’yam al- Asfhani as well as-Sahih of Abu Dawud and as-Sunan if Ibn Maja. All the above books record the traditions bearing evidence of the coming of this Holy Imam. A brief history of 14 infallibles. Pp. 159-60<p/> LOGIC OF IMAM AL GHAYAB :<p/> Among the evidence for that is what is required by reason through sound logical (Istidlal) with regards to the existence in every age of an Imam, who is infallible, perfect and one who has no need of his subjects with regard to the laws and knowledge, because of the impossibility of those given responsibility (to act) being without an authority by whose existence they may come closer to righteousness and farther from corruption. Every one who is deficient has need of one who will punish criminals, who will correct the disobedient, who will quieten the seducers, who will teach the ignorant, who will remind the careless, who will remind the careless, who will warn those who have gone astray, who will administer the revealed penal lay (hudud), who will carry out the laws, who will separate people id dispute, who will appoint (military commanders, who will hold frontiers, who will safeguard property, who will defend the land of Islam, who will join with the people in societies and festivals. Ibid. p. 526.<p/> REPORT ABOUT NOMINATION FOR IMAMAT :<p/> With a long chain of authorities it is attributed that “the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, said to his companions: “Believe in the Night of Decision (Laylatul-Qadr). On it the command of the religious practice (sunna) was revealed and because of that order there exists friends of God (Wula’t) after me"Ali b. Abi Talib and eleven of his descendents”. <p/> With the same chain of authorities it is reported that: That Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, told Ibn. Abbas, may God have mercy of him, : “The Night of Decision is (concerned) with every religious practice (sunna). On that night, the command for the religious practice (sunna) was revealed and because of that order there are friends of God (Wulat) after the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family”<p/> “Who are they?” Asked Ibn’ Abbas.<p/> “Myself and eleven (descended) from my lions, Imams who are addressed (by the angels),” he answered. Irshad. P. 527<p/> [Abu al-Qasim Ja’far b Muhammad informed me on the authority of Muhammad b. Yaqub on the authority of Ali b. Muhammad, on the authority of Muhammad b. Ali b. Bilal, who said : ]<p/> “there came to me (i.e. Muhammad b. Ali Bilal) Information from Abu Muhammad al- Hassan b. Ali al- Askari, peace be on him, informing me of his successor after him two years before the death. Then (again) three days before his death there came to information ( from him ) informing me of his successor” Irshad p. 528<p/> [Abu al-Qasim (Ja’far bin Muhammad) informed me on the authority of Muhammad b. Yaqub, on the authority of ک Ali b. Muhammad, on the authority of Ja’far b. Muhammad al- Ku’fi, on the authority of Amr al-Ahwazi who said : ]<p/> “Abu Muhammad (Al-Hassan al-Askari, peace be on him, showed me his son and said: “This is your leader after me.” Irshad. P. 529.<p/> REPORT OF SOME OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN HIM :<p/> [Abu al-Qasim Ja’far b. Muhammad informed me on the authority of Muhammad b. Yaqub, on the authority of Ali b. Muhammad, on the authority of Muhammad b. Ismail b. Musa b. Ja’far- he was the oldest leader (shaykh) of the family of Muhammad in Iraq- who said : ]<p/> “I (Muhammad b. Isma’il b. Musa) saw the son of al-Hassan b. Ali b. Muhammad (al- Askari), peace be on them, between the two mosques (i.e. between Mecca and Medina) He was a youth”. Irshad p. 530.<p/> [Abu al-Qasim Ja’far b. Muhammad informed me on the authority of Muhammad b. Yaqub, on the authority of Muhammad b. Yahya, on the authority of al-Hassan b. Rizq Allah, who said : Musa. B. Muhammad b. al-Qasim b. Hamza b. Musa b. Ja’far told me : Hakima, daughter of Muhammad b. Ali (Al-Jawad), peace be on them, and aunt of al-Hassan (al-Askari), peace be on him, told me : <p/> “She (Hakima) saw the one who will undertake the office of the Imammat for the rest of the time (al-qaim) on the night of his birth and later.” Irshad. P. 531<p/> The same Abu’ al-Qasim (Ja’far b. Muhammad) on the authority of a different chain of narrators attributed to Ibrahim b. Idris who said :<p/> “I (i.e. Abraham b. Idris) saw him, peace be on him, after the death of Abu Muhammad (al-Hassan al-Askari, peace be on him, when he had grown up. I kissed his hand and his head .” Irshad pp. 531-32<p/> OCCULTATION :<p/> After the martyrdom of his father he became Imam and by Divine Command went into occultation (ghaybah). Thereafter, he appeared only to his deputies (naib) and even then only in exceptional circumstances.<p/> The Occultation of the Twelth Imam is therefore, divided into two parts: the first, the minor occultation ( ghaybatu’s- sughra ) which began in 260 A.H./ 872 A.D. and ended in 329 A.H. / 939 A.D., lasting about 70 years; the second, the major occultation which commenced in 329 A.H. / 939 A.D. and will continue as long as the God wills it. <p/> - IMAM OF ATHN ASHARI SECT [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

MOHAMMAD AL-MAHDI (A.S.)

BIOGRAPHY

CONCEALMET OF BIRTH :

Imam al-Hasan Askari (A.S.) concealed the birth and hided his affairs because of the authorities of the time. He (the Holy Imam) did not make his son publicly known
during his lifetime and the ordinary people were not able to recognize him after his death.

Ja’far bin Ali,the brother of Abu Muhammad (al-Hasan al-Askari) took upon him to seize what was left by the Holy Imam. He took public possession of the Imam’s
(property) and strove to take his place in the eyes of the Shia.

After Abu Muhammad (al-Hassan al-Askari), peace be on him, Mohammad al-Mahdi, who is named after the name of the Holy Prophet of God, God bless him
and his family, became the Imam of the Shia’s. At the time of death of his father he was only five years old. God endowed him with wisdom and the distinction of
speech. He made him a sign to the worlds. He endowed him with wisdom as He had endowed John the Baptist while still boy. He made him an Imam while still in the
state of apparent childhood just as he made Jesus, son of Mar, a prophet in the cradle. The nomination of him had been given earlier to the community of Islam by
the Prophet of guidance, peace be on him, then by the commander of the faithful, Ali b. Abi’ Talib, peace be on him, and the Imams, consecutively one after another,
down to his own father. Al-Hassan al-Askari, peace be on him. His father nominated him in front of the trusted members of his Shia. Kitab al- Irshad p. 524.

There existed a good deal of harmony and uniformity between the aspects pertaining to the birth of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.S ), the last Apostle of Allah and Imam
al-Mahdi, the last Apostlic Imam.. Just as the coming of the Holy Prophet was prophesized well in advance by the preceding prophets, similarly the impending news
of the gracious birth of Imam al- Mahdi 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, Sihah and Akhbar, and of Shi’ite
scholars (کUlemaک) existed. Many Sunni scholars have accumulated these traditions in complete volumes also e.g. al-Bayan fi Akhbar Sa’hibi-z-Zaman by al-Hafiz
Muhammad bin Yusuf ash-Shaaf’ii and Dhikriyyatu’l-Mahdi by Al-Hafiz Abu Nu’yam al- Asfhani as well as-Sahih of Abu Dawud and as-Sunan if Ibn Maja. All
the above books record the traditions bearing evidence of the coming of this Holy Imam. A brief history of 14 infallibles. Pp. 159-60

LOGIC OF IMAM AL GHAYAB :

Among the evidence for that is what is required by reason through sound logical (Istidlal) with regards to the existence in every age of an Imam, who is infallible,
perfect and one who has no need of his subjects with regard to the laws and knowledge, because of the impossibility of those given responsibility (to act) being
without an authority by whose existence they may come closer to righteousness and farther from corruption. Every one who is deficient has need of one who will punish
criminals, who will correct the disobedient, who will quieten the seducers, who will teach the ignorant, who will remind the careless, who will remind the careless, who
will warn those who have gone astray, who will administer the revealed penal lay (hudud), who will carry out the laws, who will separate people id dispute, who will
appoint (military commanders, who will hold frontiers, who will safeguard property, who will defend the land of Islam, who will join with the people in societies and festivals. Ibid. p. 526.

REPORT ABOUT NOMINATION FOR IMAMAT :

With a long chain of authorities it is attributed that “the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, said to his companions: “Believe in the Night of Decision
(Laylatul-Qadr). On it the command of the religious practice (sunna) was revealed and because of that order there exists friends of God (Wula’t) after me"Ali b. Abi Talib and eleven of his descendents”.

With the same chain of authorities it is reported that: That Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, told Ibn. Abbas, may God have mercy of him, : “The Night of
Decision is (concerned) with every religious practice (sunna). On that night, the command for the religious practice (sunna) was revealed and because of that order
there are friends of God (Wulat) after the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family”

“Who are they?” Asked Ibn’ Abbas.

“Myself and eleven (descended) from my lions, Imams who are addressed (by the angels),” he answered. Irshad. P. 527

[Abu al-Qasim Ja’far b Muhammad informed me on the authority of Muhammad b. Yaqub on the authority of Ali b. Muhammad, on the authority of Muhammad b. Ali b. Bilal, who said : ]

“there came to me (i.e. Muhammad b. Ali Bilal) Information from Abu Muhammad al- Hassan b. Ali al- Askari, peace be on him, informing me of his successor after
him two years before the death. Then (again) three days before his death there came to information ( from him ) informing me of his successor” Irshad p. 528

[Abu al-Qasim (Ja’far bin Muhammad) informed me on the authority of Muhammad b. Yaqub, on the authority of ک Ali b. Muhammad, on the authority of Ja’far b.
Muhammad al- Ku’fi, on the authority of Amr al-Ahwazi who said : ]

“Abu Muhammad (Al-Hassan al-Askari, peace be on him, showed me his son and said: “This is your leader after me.” Irshad. P. 529.

REPORT OF SOME OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN HIM :

[Abu al-Qasim Ja’far b. Muhammad informed me on the authority of Muhammad b. Yaqub, on the authority of Ali b. Muhammad, on the authority of Muhammad b.
Ismail b. Musa b. Ja’far- he was the oldest leader (shaykh) of the family of Muhammad in Iraq- who said : ]

“I (Muhammad b. Isma’il b. Musa) saw the son of al-Hassan b. Ali b. Muhammad (al- Askari), peace be on them, between the two mosques (i.e. between Mecca and
Medina) He was a youth”. Irshad p. 530.

[Abu al-Qasim Ja’far b. Muhammad informed me on the authority of Muhammad b. Yaqub, on the authority of Muhammad b. Yahya, on the authority of al-Hassan b.
Rizq Allah, who said : Musa. B. Muhammad b. al-Qasim b. Hamza b. Musa b. Ja’far told me : Hakima, daughter of Muhammad b. Ali (Al-Jawad), peace be on them, and aunt of al-Hassan (al-Askari), peace be on him, told me :

“She (Hakima) saw the one who will undertake the office of the Imammat for the rest of the time (al-qaim) on the night of his birth and later.” Irshad. P. 531

The same Abu’ al-Qasim (Ja’far b. Muhammad) on the authority of a different chain of narrators attributed to Ibrahim b. Idris who said :

“I (i.e. Abraham b. Idris) saw him, peace be on him, after the death of Abu Muhammad (al-Hassan al-Askari, peace be on him, when he had grown up. I
kissed his hand and his head .” Irshad pp. 531-32

OCCULTATION :

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

The Occultation of the Twelth Imam is therefore, divided into two parts: the first, the minor occultation ( ghaybatu’s- sughra ) which began in 260 A.H./ 872 A.D. and
ended in 329 A.H. / 939 A.D., lasting about 70 years; the second, the major occultation which commenced in 329 A.H. / 939 A.D. and will continue as long as the God wills it.