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In the
Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
In Celebration
of the birthday of our
Holy Al-Imam Muhammad
Al-Hujja Al-Mehdi (AS)
On
15th
of Sha'ban 1435 Hijra [Friday, June 13, 2014].
[Al-Imam Al-Mehdi
(AS) was born on Friday, 15th of Sha'ban, 255 AH (1179 years ago)
(He was born in
Samarra' - Iraq, on July
29, 869 AD). This is a great day in the Islamic History]
Al-Imam Al-Mehdi (peace be upon him), whom is
the 12th Infallible Imam of the Shi'a and the 14th Infallible of Ahlul
Bait (peace be upon them), is still
alive, but in occultation. Al-Mehdi
(AS) has gone in occultation in the basement of his house in Samarra'
- Iraq in the year 329 AH (939 AD) and has not been seen since by
strangers while practicing daily duties of imamat from behind the
scene.
Innumerable traditions (Ahadith) in this context
, quoted right from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), from the
glowing contents of many books of Shi`ite scholars ( `ulama' ) existed
. Many Sunni scholars have accumulated these traditions in complete
volumes also, such as : Al-Bayan fi Akhbar Sahibi'z-Zaman
by Al-Hafiz Muhammad ibn Yusuf Ash-Shafi`i and as well as As-Sahih of
Abu Dawud and As-Sunan of Ibn Majah.
All of the above books record the traditions (Ahadith) bearing evidence
of the coming of this Holy Imam. The promised Al-Mehdi , who is
usually mentioned by his title of Imamu 'l-`Asr ( the Imam of the Period
) and Sahibu 'z-Zaman ( the Lord of the Age ), is the son of the
Eleventh Infallible Imam . His name is the same as that of the Holy
Prophet . He was born in Samarra', Iraq in 255 AH (869 AD) and until
260 AH (874 AD) when his father was martyred, lived under his father's
care and tutelage. He was hidden from public view and only a few
of the elite among the Shi`a were able to meet him . After the
martyrdom of his father he became Imam and by Divine Command went into
occultation ( Al-Ghaybah ) , Thereafter, he appeared only to his four
(4) deputies ( Nuwwabs ) and even then only in exceptional circumstances
.
The Imam chose as a special deputy for a time `Uthman ibn Sa'id Al-`Amri (Abu Amru) , one of
the companions of his father and grandfather who was his confident and
trusted friend . Through his deputy the Imam would answer the demands
and questions of the Shi`a . After `Uthman ibn Sa`id , his son Muhammad ibn `Uthman Al-`Amri (Abu Ja'far) was
appointed as the 2nd deputy of the Imam. After the death
of the 2nd deputy, Al-Husain ibn Ruh ibn
abi Bahr An-Nawbakhti (Abu 'l-Qasim) was chosen by
Al-Imam Al-Mehdi as his 3rd deputy. Al-Husain bin Ruh served about
22 years as deputy. After his death 'Ali
ibn Muhammad As-Samari (Abu 'l-Hasan) was appointed for this
important task . He was the 4th and last deputy of the Imam (AS).
A few days before the death of this last deputy, As-Samari, in
329 AH (939 AD) an order was issued by the Imam stating that in six
days `Ali ibn Muhammad As-Samari would die . Henceforth the special
deputation of the Imam would come to an end and the major occultation
( Al-Ghaybatu 'l-kubra ) would begin and would continue until the day
Allah (God) grants permission to the Imam to manifest himself .
The occultation of the Twelfth Imam Al-Mehdi (AS) is , therefore divided
into two parts :
1) the first , the minor occultation ( Al-Ghaybatu
's-sughra ) which began in
260 AH (874 AD) and ended in 329 AH (939 AD) , lasting about seventy
(70) years ;
2) the second , the major occultation ( Al-Ghaybatu
'l-kubra ) which commenced in 329 AH (939 AD) and will continue
as long as Allah (God) wills it . In a hadith (tradition) upon
whose authenticity everyone agrees , the Holy Prophet has said , "If
there were to remain in the life of the world but one day , Allah (God)
would prolong that day , until He sends in it a man from my community
and my household . His name will be the same as my name . He will fill
the earth
with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression
and tyranny .''
Name : Muhammad . Title : Al-Mehdi, Al-Qa'im, Al-Muntadhar, Al-Hujjah
, Al-Gha'ib , Sahibu'z-Zaman,
Sahibu'l-Amr
Agnomen : Abu'l-Qasim . Father's name : Al-Hasan Al-`Askari
(AS), the 11th Infallible Imam Mother's name : Nargis , Birth : In Samarra , Iraq, on Friday , 15th Sha`ban
255 AH .
He is still living and will appear
before the end of the world .
Minor Occultation : 8th Rabi`u 'l-Awwal
260 AH . Major Occultation : 10th Shawwal 329
AH .
