Short Q&A 1

1. Do only Muslims believe in the coming of a savior?

Messianism, which is to believe that a great divine savior will come, is a fixed and a prevalent belief that has been always with all nations throughout the world. It means to believe in a bright future that will put an end to distress and worries and to believe that due to emergence of a distinct and divine person, all sort of darkness will be erased from the face of the world and the base of oppression, negligence and degradation will be uprooted.

In religious texts, there are some names and titles given to such a savior. Some of them are as follows:

In Judaism he is called “Messiah”.

In Christianity he is called “Jesus Christ”

In Zoroastrianism he is called “Saoshyant”

In Hinduism he is called “Vishnu”, or “Kalki”

In Buddhism he is called “Maitreya, the fifth Buddha”

And, in Islam he is called “Mahdi” and “Qãim”.

2. What is the principal feature of the last Savior in all religions?

What is understood from referring to this Savior in various religions is that each of them believe in a single savior that will take the control of the world and will bring it into justice and tranquility. They do not believe in many different saviors and do not say that there is a savior among the Jews, one among the Christians, one in Islam, and so on and so forth.

As a result, there is two facts:

Firstly, to believe in a savior should be a true belief since we see that all of the religions talk about it and it is impossible to say all of them are mistaken and say something wrong.

Secondly, when again we see that all of them talk about a single savior there should be just a single one not many saviors.

3. Who is the real Savior?

All Muslims believe that there is just one Savior, but every religion talks about him with a special name and traits and all point to a same man. The savior in Islam is the exact one that is the savior in Judaism and Christianity. But some of these religions mistakenly matched it with another man that is not in reality the Promised Savior.

He is not the Lord and is not Jesus. He is Mahdi that is descendent from the final prophet of the world as this claim will gradually be proven in this magazine through many convincing proofs.

4. Do the Jews believe in a savior who will emerge at the end of time?

In the Torah and the Gospel, there are some glad tidings about the emergence of a promised universal reformer who will appear at the End of Time. In following we refer just to one example of them:

Psalms, 37:9, “For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.”

Isaiah, 56:1, “Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.”

Zechariah, 14: 9, “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”

Daniel, 12: 1, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

Habakkuk, 2: 2, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

5. What do the Christians believe in regard with the last Savior?

The Gospel that is the name of the Christians divine book, refers to one of the four books in the Bible. It has been collected and written separately by four individuals and is famous by the names of them who are Luke, John, Matthew, and Mark. Now we mark just one example of the parts of it that is pertinent to the Promised Savior:

Matthew, 24:29, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.”

Mark, 13:5, “And Jesus answering them began to say, take heed lest any man deceive you.”

Luke, 12:35, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.”

John, 5:27, “And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”

It is worthy of noting that the word “son” is used around eighty times in the Gospel in which just thirty of them refer to Jesus Christ. But for the remained fifty of them there is a talk about a savior that will appear at the End of Time who will save the world.

6. Why did Abbasid rulers bring Imam Hassan al-ˈAskarī (the eleventh Imam of Shia) with his father, Imam Hādī to Samarra to live within a military zone to be under a strict control?

Abbasid rulers heard through some authentic narrators from the Prophet to have said something about the birth of a boy that was contrary to what Abbasid wished to do in their government. They heard that the Prophet said several times:

1. I will have twelve successors;
2. They are all my descendants and are from the Quraysh tribe;
3. My first successor is Ali bin Abī Ṭālib and the last one of them is al-Mahdi;
4. The twelfth successor of mine is the son of Imam Hassan al-ˈAskarī whose name is the same as mine. (The real name of Imam al-Mahdi is Muhammad and al-Mahdi is his cognomen.);
5. My twelfth successor is the ninth generation of Imam Hussain whose another name (or cognomen) is al-Mahdi;
6. When al-Mahdi will be born, he will, later on, put an end to the oppressive rulers and to their governments, will establish a global government, will implement justice and monotheism in the world, and will uproot the base of tyranny and unfairness.

They were sure that Imam Mahdi was not yet born so, in the year of 232 A. H., al-Mutawakkil (Abbasid caliph) who was fully aware of what was supposed to take place, brought the tenth Imam and his son to Samarra with the intention to kill the eleventh Imam who was fully young and was about to get married, to block the passage of the birth of the twelfth Imam.

7. When and where was Imam Mahdi born?

The last Imam of Shias and the 12^th successor of the Messenger of God was born on Friday daybreak, on the 15^th of Shaˈbān in 255 A.H. (868 A.D.) in Samarra (a town in Iraq). However, there is a disagreement about the exact year of his birthday. Some believe it was in 254 or, 256 A.H. It is also said that this difference could be due to the Imam’s birth taking place in secret.

All of Shias and some Sunnis believe that the Imam was born years ago and they regard it as a historical fact. Some of the scholars have referred to the words of some of these Sunni religious experts in their books.^[1]

8. What is Imam Mahdi’s name and cognomen?

Imam Mahdi's name and cognomen are the same as those of the Prophet of Islam. Imam al-Ṣādiq quotes from his grate ancestors who narrate from the Prophet who have said, “Al-Mahdi is from my progeny, his name and his cognomen is like my name and my cognomen, and he is the most similar man to me in regard with his character and behavior.”^[2]

9.  What are the titles of Imam Mahdi?

Some of the Imam’s most famous titles are said to be al-Mahdi, al-Qāim, al-Muntaẓar, Baqiyyat Allah, Ṣāḥib al-Zmān, and Ṣāḥib al-Amr. However, “al-Mahdi” is the most well-known title of him. All of the given titles stand for a specific trait of the Imam.

He is called al-Mahdi (the guided one) since he is a guided man who will lead people towards all hidden points of Islam;

He is called al-Qāim, (the Upriser) since he will rise to implement the truth and justice;

He is called, al-Muntaẓar, (the Awaited one,) because the believers wait for his appearance;

He is Baqiyyat Allah since he is the last repository and remained proofs of Allah on earth;

He is called al-Ḥujjah (a proof) since he is a proof from God and a witness from Him over people.

He is called, Ṣāḥib al-Zaman, (the master of this time) since he is the cause of attracting God’s blessing and he is the one who can link people to God.

And, he is called Ṣāḥib al-Amr (the master of the thing) since he is the one who owns divine leadership and sovereignty over everything by the permission of God.

10.  Based on Islamic Hadiths, what are the physical and spiritual traits of Imam Mahdi?

One of the most distinct feature of Imam Mahdi is laid in his high resemblance with the Prophet of Islam. It is quoted from the Prophet who have said, “He is the most similar man to me in appearance, speech, and actions.”^[3]

He looks like to be young, tawny in color, a man with a high forehead, long and curved eyebrow. His eyes are black and large, his nose is long narrow and attractive, his teeth are shiny and not condensed. There is a black mole on his right cheek. Between his shoulders there is a sign like those of the prophets’ and has an average body. His face is luminous as we read in a tradition, “His face is luminous like a full moon.”^[4]

Imam Mahdi also has a fragrant body and people are in awe of his majesty, nonetheless he is close and friendly to people. There is a narration saying, “He is a handsome young man, fragrant and respected and close to people.”^[5]

He is the man of worshipping God, keeps a vigil at nights, enjoys a simple life, is tolerant, patient, just, and benevolent.

11. Can you tell me about Imam Mahdi's life periods?
    
    The life of Imam Mahdi is comprised of three periods: The hiding period, the period of Occultation, and the period of Appearance.

The Hiding Period: This period that lasted for five years and the Imam was still a child commenced from his birth until his father was martyred.

The Period of Occultation: This period began when the eleventh Imam was martyred and it will last until Imam Mahdi appears. However, some people believe that this period initiated since the Imam was born. His occultation is divided into the Minor and the Major ones.

The period of Appearance: This time will commence when the Major Occultation is over. In this time, the Imam will rise and will implement the divine sovereignty throughout the world and make the universe full of justice and equity.

12. How is the division of Imam Mahdi's occultation?

This period began when the eleventh Imam was martyred and it will last until Imam al-Mahdi appears. However, some people believe that this period initiated since the Imam was born. His occultation is divided into the Minor and the Major ones.

The Minor Occultation: This period of time that lasted for about 70 years began in 260 A.H. and lasted till 329 A.H. This period played a determined role in making the Shia prepared for the Major Occultation. The most important characteristic of this period is that people were able to communicate with the Imām through his special deputies namely ‘Uthman bin sa’īd al-‘Aamrī, Muhammad bin ‘Uuthman bin sa’īd al-‘Aamrī, Hussein bin rūh al-Nawbakhtī, and Alī ibn Muhammad al-Samorī.

The Major Occultation: This period began when Alī bin Muhammad al-Samorī passed away and as the Imam announced there was no longer a special deputy to connect people to him. The Imam in his last letter to his fourth special deputy wrote, “In the name of God the most Compassionate and the most Merciful. O Ali bin Mohammad al-Samorī. God may make the rewards of your (religious) brothers great in regard with you. You will pass away within six days, then be prepared and do not appoint anyone as a special deputy after yourself since the second occultation is to take place.”^[6]

13. How is the division of Imam Mahdi’s deputies?

Just as the occultation was comprised of two phases, the Imam’s deputies are also divided into two groups: The specific deputies during the Imam’s Minor Occultation and the general deputies for his Major Occultation.

In regard with special deputyship, the Imam appointed four specific people specifically and directly pointed to their names. Each one of those special deputies also announced the name of the next one to people. The first special deputy had been chosen by Imam Hassan al-‘Askari.

In regard with general deputyship, there are a set of principles offered by the Imam for a man to be rendered as his deputy and people has to refer to these people. It should be noted that this position is for those who meet those principles and people cannot choose someone and ask him to carry on the job as the deputy of the Imam.

Sheikh al-Ṣadūq^[7], al-Ṭūsī^[8] and al-Ṭabarsī^[9] narrate that the Imam says in a letter, “In the events which occur (in your life), refer to the narrators of our traditions, for they are my proof upon you and I am God’s proof over them.”

14. What is the real and correct meaning of the Occultation of Imam Mahdi?

The Mahdi’s occultation just means that he is cannot be seen not that he is not present. Consequently, When the Imam comes, he just can be seen not that he will become present. The fact is that the Imam is amongst people, witness what people do, supervise their affair and assist them when required.

The Imam says in a letter to Sheikh Mufīd, “We fully have knowledge about your situation and nothing of your affairs is kept secret from us.”

In another part of the mentioned letter the Imam says, “Surely, we do not neglect your condition nor are we forgetful of your remembrance. Had it not been so, then, terrible calamities would have struck you and your enemies would have destroyed you.”

It is narrated for Imam Ṣādiq to have said, “The owner of this matter (Imam Mahdi who owns the divine leadership) is amongst people, walks through their market places and step on their carpets. Nonetheless, people do not recognize him.”^[10]

The period of Occultation is one of the greatest field of divine trial in which those who are firm will be remain safe. People are testes with their faith and actions till it be found out who would survive.

15. Are there any glad tidings about Imam Mahdi’s advent?

In all of the divine religions and even in non-religious school of thoughts, there are Glad tiding about the arrival of a promised savior who will establish justice and create of a human society that is based on monotheism and full of peace and tranquility.

One of the exclusive traits of Imam Mahdi is the numerous of glad tidings given in regard to his advent through narrations from the Prophet and Infallible Imams. These narrations are mentioned both in Shia and Sunni sources^[11] and we suffice ourselves with one of them,

It is narrated from the Prophet to have said, “I give you glad tidings about al-Mahdi. He will rise when people are afflicted with disagreement and disunity. He will fill the world with justice just as it has become full of oppression and injustice.”^[12]

16. What is the paternal linage of Imam Mahdi?

Imam Mahdi’s lineage, traced back to the prophet Muhammad (through lady Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet) and Imam Ali, the first Imam of Shia, (through this linage: Muhammad b. al-Hassan b. Ali b. Muhammad b. Ali b. Musa b. Ja'far b. Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husain b. Ali b. Abī Tālib (PBU THEM). Shia believe that Imam Mahdi is the only son of Imam Hasan al-Askari (the 11th Imam) who was born on 15th of Sha'ban 255 A.H/869A.D in Samarra, Iraq. He became the God-appointed Imam when his father was martyred in 260A.H/874A.D.

17. Who is the mother of Imam Mahdi?

The Imam’s honorable father was Imām Hasan al-Askari, the 11^th Imam, and his honorable mother was a respected and pious salve-gird called Narjis who lived in the house of Lady Hakīmah the daughter of Imam Jawād and the aunt of Imam Hasan al-Askari. Lady Hakīmah used to train her and teach her about Islamic conducts. She was called by the Prophet, Imam Ali, Imam Bāqir (the fifth Imam of Shia), and Imam Sādiq as a best of the slave-girls. It is narrated from Imam Ali who have said, “May my father b at ransom for a man who is the son of the best of slave-girls”. Lady Narji is said to have some other names like: Raihānah, Sūsan, and Sayqal. Some also believe that her name is Malīkah who was the grandson of Roman Kaiser and that she, through her mother, was a descendent from Simon (one of the disciples of Jesus) and was captured by Muslims.^[13]

18.  What is the parentage of lady Narjis (the mother of Imam Mahdi)?

The mother of Imam Mahdi, as the one giving birth to the last divine savior, must have a highly exalted status of spiritual perfection. Unfortunately, for some reason, especially her being in a suffocating and unbearable climate, our understanding of that noble lady is very limited. Following some Islamic narrations and historical reports, there are some general possibilities of her identity:

1. She was a Roman princess captured in a battle by Muslims;

2. She was a slave girl trained in the house of lady Hakīmah (the aunt of Imam ʿAskarī).

However, according to a well-known saying that is derived from some narrations, she was a slave captured subsequently joined the family of Imam Hassan ʿAskarī. As will be mentioned in the following story, there is no contradiction between these two narrations.

19.  What do you know about the demise of lady Narjis (the mother of Imam Mahdi)?

There are two narrations regard­ing the demise of lady Narjis:

1- She requested Imam ʿAskarī to beseech Allah for her early demise during his lifetime. Consequently, she died during the life of Imam Hassan ʿAskarī and it is engraved on her grave, "This grave is of the mother of Muhammad (the real name of Imam Mahdi)."^[14]

2- According to another narration, she was alive after the martyrdom of Imam ʿAskarī. When the Imam murdered, the agent of Abbasids rushed to the house of Imam ʿAskarī and after inspecting the house found nothing but arrested Narjis and took her to Muʿtamid (the Abbasid Caliph) and asked her to unveil where her newborn son was. Narjis pretended to be pregnant. Muʿtamid gave her to Ibn Abi Shawārib al-Qāzī. After a while Abbasids involved in various forms of inner turmoil and neglected to keep her. Narjis took this opportunity and escaped. She lived a while after that and passed away in a normal way.^[15]

20. Are there any documentary Hadith-sources about the birth of Imam Mahdi from the Viewpoint of Sunni Scholars or not? 

Due to the widely related and authentic traditions narrated from the Prophet, all Islamic scholars, whether Shiite or Sunni, are unanimous in believing that Imam Mahdi will indeed appear, reform the world and destroy all forms of oppression. Hence, all Muslims have faith in it and consider it to be an inseparable part of their religion.

Yet, All Shiite scholars, without any exception, believe that Imam Mahdi has already been born and is living in the present time. But, many Sunni scholars say that he shall be born in the future. However, some of them have related the event of the birth of Imam Mahdi in their books.

21.  What are the Rites of the Eve of 15^th of Sha’ban?

The eve of Mid-Shaʿbān is extraordinarily honorable. Imam Sādiq (the Sixth Imam) narrated from his father when Imam Bāqir was asked about the merits of the night before the fifteenth day of Shaʿbān as saying,

“It is the most favorable night after the Qadr Night. At this night, Almighty Allah bestows upon His servants with His favors and grants them His pardon out of His conferral of benefits to them. Therefore, you should exert all efforts to seek nearness to Him at this night, because He has decided not to reject any asker as long as he does not ask for an act of disobedience to Him. Almighty Allah has chosen this night for us (the Ahl al-Bayt) just as He has chosen the Qadr Night for our Prophet. You should thus pray and praise Him the Exalted, the Glorified diligently...” ^[16]

However, some of the recommended rites to be carried out at this night are as follows:

1. To make a major ablution (Ghusl) at the time of sunset;
2. To stay awake at night to pray;
3. To visit the tomb of Imam Hussain or recite his Ziyārah from distance;
4. To recite Kumayl supplication;
5. To recite: a) سبحان الله)) Subhānallāh 100 times; b) الحمد لله)) Alhamdulillāh 100 times; c) الله اکبر)) Allāhu Akbar 100 times, and d) لا اله الّا الله)) Lā Ilāha illallah 100 times.
6. To offer some supplications and prayers written in Mafātīh al-Jinān.

Compiled by: Ḥamid Saˈādat

http://Mahdism.net