All of the Islamic traditionists from various Islamic branches have a unanimous agreement that this narration is healthy and is narrated from the Prophet and no Islamic figure doubts the authenticity of it. It is enough for the validity of this narration to be mentioned by some great Sunni figures like Moslem in his Sahīh, al-Tirmezī and Ahmad bin Hanbal in their Mosnads, al-Nasāee in his Khasāes, Hākim al-Naysābūrī in …

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Who is Imam Mahdi’s father? Shi'as along with some Sunni scholars believe that his father was Imam Hasan al-Askari (d. 260/874). Below I have included the name of 31 Sunni scholars who confirm this fact. The overwhelming majority of prophetic traditions about Imam Mahdi (some of which I mentioned in the previous part) state that the name of Imam Mahdi is the same as the name of Prophet (i.e., Muhammad). …

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Could you please describe the details of the conditions of the birth of Imam al-Mahdi? Reply: Hakimah Khatoon, the daughter of Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Javaad (a.s.), and the aunt of Imam Hasan al- Askari (a.s.) narrates the conditions of the birth of Hazrat Mahdi (a.s.) as follows: Abu Muhammad Imam Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (al-Askari) (a.s.) sent for me and said: “O Aunt! Break your fast with us tonight. This is …

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We have given sufficient explanation about the tradition or traditions that indicate that the number of Imams (peace be upon them) is thirteen in the treatise “Clarity of Vision for One Who Follows the Twelve Imams.” There, we have clarified that the a tradition with this meaning does not exist; moreover, even if such a tradition were to exist, it is a tradition with a single narrator and with regard …

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Supposing that the hypothesis of the Expected Leader and all that it comprehends of prolonged life, early leadership and a silent absence, is possible, that would not be enough proof for his existence, thus, how can we indeed believe in the existence of al-Mahdi? Would some narratives related in books on the Great Messenger (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his progeny) be enough for perfect conviction …

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Why should we pray for Imam al-Mahdi’s health? Based on Islamic narrations, it is a fact that Allah has promised to protect Imam al-Mahdi from everything that would jeopardize his mission. Therefore, he has to remain alive and healthy till he fulfills his mission. Here a question is raised that why we are recommended to pray for his wellness while he will remain safe by the will of Allah and …

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The other intellectual proof of the necessity of Imamate is called the Argument of instinct. People with different religions have an instinctive tendency towards a Perfect Man as the Savior who knows everything, can solve every problem, and is able to bring about peace, security, and unity in the world. When all people in the world without a single example are like this, it means that Allah has created this …

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Putting aside the authentic narrations written in the books of traditions, there are some intellectual arguments that prove the necessity of Imamate one of which is called the Argument of Purpose. We know that there is a purpose behind whatever Allah does; and Allah Who is All-Wise never creates something that is useless in which there is no clear purpose or reason behind it. Some Sunni theologians who are called …

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Shia believes that Imam al-Mahdi was born in the year 869 A.D (255 A.H) in Samara and went into the hiding soon after. Since then, the Imam is still alive and will appear, when Allah decides, to save the world from oppression and injustice. Our Sunni brothers mostly believe that the Imam’s father Imam al-Hassan al-‘Askarī (the Shia’s eleventh Imam) did not have a son and that Imam has not …

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At the time of Imam al-Sādiq some of the Imam’s close companions like, Muhammad bin No‘mān, Hishām bin Sālim, and Tayyār were in the presence of the Imam.  Among them was also a young and a very clever man who was named Hishām bin al-Hakam. The Imam, addressed Hishām bin al-Hakam and said to him,  “O Hishām! Don’t you inform us about what you did with ‘Amr bin ‘Ubaid and …

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