YaImameAsrAlAjal

THE LAST INFALLIBLE

IMAME ZAMANA(A.S)

NAME:Muhammed bin Hasan

TITLES:Al-Mahdi(the guided one),Al-Hujjat(proof of Allah),Al-Muntadhir(one who is awaited),Saaheb-uz-Zamaan(master of the age),Al Qaa'im(the present one)

KUNIYYA:Abul Qaasim

FATHER:Imam Hasan Al Askery(A.S)

MOTHER:Bibi Nargis Khaatun

BIRTH:Friday,15th Sha'baan 255 A.H in Samarra

Imam Muhammed Al Mahdi(A.S)is the 12th and the last successor of our Holy Prophet.When he was born,his father,the 11th Imam only told a handful of his most trusted believers of the birth of his son.This was because the Abbasid King at that time was Mu'tamad,who was awaiting the birth of the 12th Imam so that he could kill him.

When the 11th Imam died,and Mu'tamad was informed that the funeral prayers were led by Imam's four year old son, Mu'tamad's perplexity knew no bounds.He realized that this boy must be the Imam , but he managed to hide his inner concern at the news. In order to get confirmation that the young Imam existed, he ordered the arrest of Bibi Nargis Khatun.She did not give him any information, so he put her under the strict surveillance of a Qaazi who was entrusted with the task of killing any child born to her.She was released after six months and was not disturbed further.

The Imam later went into ghaibat.His ghaibat was divided in two parts namely ghaibat-e-sughra(260-329A.H) and ghaibat-e-kubra(329A.H onwards).He had appointed four people as representatives of himself while he was in ghaibat which was for about 70years.They were:Uthman bin Saeed(A.R),Muhammed bin Uthman(A.R),Hussain bin Rawh(A.R) and Ali bin Muhammed Samry(A.R).

WHY DID IMAM GO IN GHAIBAT?:

The main reason behind Imam going to ghaibat was to make the shi'as used to approaching scholars instead of Imam himself.Another reason was prevention against being killed.It is also said that the 12th Imam is in ghaibat because Allah is testing us to see our steadfastness of belief in Imam.

OUR RESPOSIBILITIES DURING

GHAIBAT-E-KUBRA:

Pray for Imam's safety at all times.
Be waiting for the Imam at all times.
Give Sadaqa for Imam.
Pray for his reappearance.
Whenever faced with diifiiculty(whether small or big)ask for assistance from Imam.
Whenever his name is heard or recited, one should stand if possible, send salaams on him, put hand on head and bow.
If possible perform Hajj/Umra for Imam(Hajj-after one's own Waajibaat).

Imam's ghaibat is described by the Aimma like that of Prophet Yusuf(A.S) who was amongst his brothers yet they did not recognize him.Imam is known to meet a beleiver on 3 occasions:

At the time of trouble.
He is present at every Hajj.
He attends the funeral of every believer who has no burden of Khums on him.

The actual time of reapearance of our Imam is only known by Allah However ,various indications have been given by our Aimma,a few of which are listed below.

It will be the day of Friday.
It will be the 10th of Muharram.
The century will be an odd number.
There will be both a solar and lunar eclipse in the month of Ramadhan.
A voice will be heard announcing the appearance of Imam which will be heard by all in their own language.

Imam Ali (a.s) has said that nine definite signs will precede the emergence of Hazrat Mahdi (a.s). These nine signs are:

Dajaal will emerge.
A loud voice will be heard from the sky.
Sufiani will appear and wage a fierce war.
The army of Sufiani will be swallowed by a sudden opening of the land between
Makka and Medina in the desert of Baida.
A revered wise saint will be murdered in Makka. (This saint is to be a Hashimite descent.)
A Seyyid descendant of Imam Hassan (a.s) will emerge with his army.
The army of Seyyid-e-Hassan and an image of a man will appear in the sky opposite the sun.
There will be two eclipses in the holy month of Ramadhan contrary to the normal order and calculation and the eclipse of the moon.
On three occasions a loud voice from the sky will be heard in the holy month of Ramadhan.

The Imam will appear in Makkah and will spread justice and destroy tyranny.Those who answer the first call will be 313 in Number