Intellectual, Political and Social Status of the Shiites on the Verge of Occultation by: Mas'ud Pur Sayyid Aqaei In the period prior to the beginning of occultation (260 A.H), Shi'ites were fortunate to have outstanding intellectual scholars who were trained by Imams (A.S) and to whom the principles were taught. Those principles were known as the “Four Hundred Principles” (Usu-l 'Arbi'a Mi'ah). Principles of Shi'ite jurisprudence and beliefs were …