Imam Mahdi: A Beacon of Hope and Faith
Imam Mahdi (ajtfs) is the twelfth Imam for Shia Muslims, in occultation since the early days of his life. He is the promised savior whom Muslims await for his return – restoring justice and peace to the world.
Birth and Hope
The birth of Imam Mahdi (ajtfs) is remembered in both holy reverence and hopeful faith. It is reported that he was born in secrecy in the year 869 AD, or 255 AH in the city of Samarra.
His father, Imam Hasan Al-Askari (as), is reported to have known that the Abbasid caliphs at the time were on guard about the birth of Imam Mahdi – they knew from hadith that the Twelfth Imam was Al-Mahdi and had confined Imam Askari (as) to Samarra as part of their plan to be aware of when his child might be born.
The birth of Imam Mahdi was reported by Hakima, the aunt of Imam Askari (as). Part of her account is as follows:
“As I was reciting the Quran, Narjis [the mother of Imam Mahdi] woke up, so I hastened unto her and told her, ‘Do you feel anything?’ She responded, ‘Yes, auntie!’ I told her, ‘Be calm and let your heart be strong. This is what I told you about.’ Afterwards, a kind of weakness got me and Narjis. Then, I woke up by the voice of my master [i.e., Imam al-Mahdi] … I saw him prostrating himself … I held him in my arms and found him clean and pure. Abu Muhammad told me, ‘O auntie! Bring me my child.’ I did so … [He held him,] and said, ‘O my son! Speak!’ He said, ‘I testify that there is no God but Allah alone; He has no partners. And I testify that Muhammad is His apostle.’ Then he sent salutations upon Amir al-Mu’minin and the rest of the Imams until his father.”
The Awaited Saviour
Imam Mahdi (ajtfs) has been in occultation starting from a young age – and most scholars agree that his occultation can be divided into both a Minor Occultation and Major Occultation. We are currently in the Major Occultation, where Imam Mahdi continues to serve as the Imam of our time.
Many scholars agree that the Quran provides reassurance and hope that Al-Mahdi serves as the Imam of our time, who will return out of occultation to bring justice and peace to our world.
In verse 13:17 of the Quran, Allah states: “…and there is a guide for every people.” Imam Baqir also stated in relation to this promise that “In every generation, there is a guide from us who guides them to what the Prophet of God has brought”.
Verse 28:5 of the Quran also states: “We desired to show favor to those who were abased in the land, and to make them imams, and to make them the heirs”.
Finally, in verse 24:55 Allah states: “Allah has promised those of you who have faith and do righteous deeds that He will surely make them successors in the earth, just as He made those who were before them successors, and He will surely establish for them their religion which He has approved for them, and that He will surely change their state to security after their fear, while they worship Me, not ascribing any partners to Me. And whoever is ungrateful after that it is they who are the transgressors.”
Numerous hadith also give promises of the awaited Mahdi, including when the Prophet is reported to have stated to Imam Hussain (as): “You are the master, the son of the master; you are the Imam son of the Imam; you are the Proof son of a Proof; you are the father of nine Proofs from your progeny, the ninth of whom is the Riser (al-Qa’im).”
Another hadith, reported by Bihar Al-Anwar, is when the Prophet stated: “Al-Mahdi will be among my progeny, among the children of Fatima”.
Imam Mahdi continues to serve not only as the Imam of our time but as a lasting emblem of faith and hope – promising those who believe in Allah, the Prophet, and the holy Ahlulbayt that the day will come when justice and peace will prevail over everything else.
Here at The Zahra Trust USA, we continue to strive in the legacy of Imam Mahdi through charitable acts of support, empowerment, and hope – to learn more about what we do and how you can personally contribute, click here.
