Imam Mahdi (A.T.F.S.) is Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Askari, the twelfth Imam of the Shia, born in Samarra in 255 AH. Shia Muslims believe he is alive today, hidden by Allah in occultation, and that he will return to fill the earth with justice as it has been filled with oppression. Shias call him Imam-e-Zaman, the Imam of our time, because every age has a living Imam, and in ours it is him.
This guide covers who Imam al-Mahdi is, what the Quran and the Prophet said about him, his birth, the Minor and Major Occultations, how he guides people while hidden, the signs before his return, and what a Shia Muslim is asked to do while waiting. Each point comes from the books of hadith, mostly Kamal al-Din of Shaykh al-Saduq, al-Kafi and al-Ghayba of Shaykh al-Tusi, through al-islam.org and WikiShia, with a few hadiths from Sunni books where they agree.
- Who Is Imam al-Mahdi?
- The Mahdi in the Quran and Hadith
- His Birth in Samarra
- Imam at the Age of Five
- The Minor Occultation and the Four Deputies
- The Major Occultation
- Who Guides Us During the Occultation?
- Signs Before His Reappearance
- When He Returns
- Our Duties While We Wait
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Imam al-Mahdi?
The Imam's name is the same as the Prophet's: Muhammad. His kunya is the same too, Abu al-Qasim. His father is Imam Hasan al-Askari (A.S.), the eleventh Imam, and his line goes back through Imam Husain to Imam Ali and Lady Fatima (S.A.). Many hadiths in Shia books tell believers not to say his personal name aloud in public, which is why Shias usually call him by one of his titles. In some books, such as al-Kafi and Kamal al-Din, his name is even written as separate letters, م ح م د.
| Title | Meaning |
|---|---|
| al-Mahdi | The rightly guided one, whom Allah guides to the truth |
| al-Qa'im | The one who will rise with the truth |
| al-Hujja | The Proof of Allah on earth |
| al-Muntazar | The awaited one |
| Sahib al-Zaman / Imam-e-Zaman | The master and Imam of the age |
| Wali al-'Asr | The guardian of the age |
| Baqiyyat Allah | The one Allah has kept in reserve (from Quran 11:86) |
The honorific written after his name, 'ajjala Allahu ta'ala farajahu al-sharif (A.T.F.S.), is a short prayer: "May Allah hasten his noble reappearance." He is the last of the twelve Imams described in our guide to what Shia Islam is, and his life sits at the end of the story told in our article on the 14 Masomeen.
The Mahdi in the Quran and Hadith
The Quran does not name the Mahdi, but Shia commentators read several verses as promises that will be fulfilled through him. The clearest is in Surah al-Anbiya:
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلذِّكْرِ أَنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّٰلِحُونَ
"Certainly We wrote in the Psalms, after the Torah: 'Indeed My righteous servants shall inherit the earth.'"
Quran 21:105. See also 28:5, 24:55 and 9:33. Translation: Ali Quli Qara'i.Allah also says He desires "to show favour to those who were abased in the land, and to make them imams, and to make them the heirs" (28:5). He promises the believers that He will make them successors in the earth and "change their state to security after their fear" (24:55). And He says He sent His Prophet with the religion of truth "that He may make it prevail over all religions" (9:33). Shia scholars teach that these promises will be fully kept only when Imam al-Mahdi returns.
Belief in the Mahdi is not only Shia. Sunni books of hadith record the Prophet's words about him too. Here are two from Sunan Abi Dawud:
"If there remained but one day of this world, Allah would prolong that day until He sends a man from me, or from my household, whose name matches my name... He will fill the earth with fairness and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny."
"The Mahdi is from my family, from the descendants of Fatima."
Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of the Mahdi, hadiths 4282 and 4284. The same promise is recorded many times in Shia books, among them Kamal al-Din and al-Ghayba of al-Nu'mani.Where Shias and Sunnis differ is on whether he has already been born. Most Sunni scholars believe the Mahdi will be born near the end of time. Shias believe he was born in 255 AH, is the son of the eleventh Imam, and is alive now.
His Birth in Samarra
Shaykh al-Mufid records in al-Irshad that the Imam was born in Samarra on 15 Sha'ban, 255 AH, the night Shia Muslims still celebrate every year. His mother was Lady Narjis (S.A.), who is also known in the reports by other names such as Susan, Sayqal and Rayhana. Several narrations say she was brought up in the house of Lady Hakima, the daughter of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (A.S.) and the aunt of Imam al-Askari. Lady Hakima was present at the birth, and her account is recorded by Shaykh al-Saduq in Kamal al-Din.
The birth was kept secret, and there was good reason for it. The Abbasid rulers knew the hadiths saying the twelfth Imam would bring an end to the rule of tyrants, and they had Imam al-Askari watched closely in the garrison town of Samarra. Like the birth of Prophet Musa (A.S.) under Pharaoh, the birth of the Mahdi was hidden so that he would survive. Only trusted companions saw him. 'Uthman ibn Sa'id al-'Amri, who later became the first deputy, reports that he was with Imam al-Askari when a group of Shias asked who the Imam would be after him. The Imam showed them his son and said:
"He is my son Muhammad. He is the Imam and the Hujja after me. Whoever dies without recognising him has died the death of ignorance."
Shaykh al-Saduq, Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'ma, vol. 2, p. 409; also Kifayat al-Athar, p. 292. Quoted on al-islam.org in "Recognition of the Imam of the Age".Imam at the Age of Five
Imam Hasan al-Askari (A.S.) was martyred in Samarra on 8 Rabi' al-Awwal, 260 AH, and his son became the Imam at the age of five. When the funeral prayer was about to begin, the Imam's brother Ja'far stepped forward to lead it, hoping to claim the Imamate for himself. Shaykh al-Saduq records that a young boy came out of the house, pulled at Ja'far's robe and said, "Step back, uncle, for I have more right to pray over my father than you." Ja'far stepped back, and the boy led the prayer (Kamal al-Din). After that, the Imam was not seen in public again.
Some people find it hard to accept an Imam who is still a child. The Quran answers this itself. Of Prophet Yahya (A.S.), Allah says "We gave him judgement while still a child" (19:12). And Prophet Isa (A.S.) spoke from the cradle to say that Allah had given him the Book and made him a prophet (19:30). Imamate is a gift from Allah, not something earned with age. The ninth Imam, Imam al-Jawad (A.S.), had also become Imam at about eight years old.
The Minor Occultation and the Four Deputies
From 260 AH to 329 AH, nearly seventy years, the Imam was hidden from the public but stayed in contact with his followers through four special deputies (nuwwab). They carried people's questions and religious dues to the Imam and brought back his answers, often as signed letters called tawqi'at. This period is the Minor Occultation (al-Ghayba al-Sughra).
| # | Deputy | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'Uthman ibn Sa'id al-'Amri | Also a trusted agent of Imam al-Hadi and Imam al-Askari |
| 2 | Muhammad ibn 'Uthman al-'Amri | His son; the narrator of Dua Iftitah; died 305 AH |
| 3 | Husayn ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti | Appointed by the Imam's order; died 326 AH |
| 4 | 'Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samuri | Deputy from 326 to 329 AH |
A few days before al-Samuri died in 329 AH, he received a final letter from the Imam. When the Shia leaders gathered at his bedside six days later and asked who would take his place, he answered only, "To Allah belongs the matter which He shall accomplish."
"O 'Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samuri, may Allah give your brothers a great reward for your loss, for you will die within six days. So prepare your affairs, and do not appoint anyone to take your place after your death. The complete occultation has now begun, and there will be no reappearance until Allah gives permission, after a long time... Someone will come to my Shia claiming to have seen me. Beware: whoever claims to have seen me before the rising of al-Sufyani and the cry is a liar and a fabricator."
Shaykh al-Saduq, Kamal al-Din; Shaykh al-Tusi, Kitab al-Ghayba. English as given on al-islam.org.
The Major Occultation
With al-Samuri's death, the Major Occultation (al-Ghayba al-Kubra) began, and it continues today, more than eleven centuries later. The Imam is alive, he lives among people, and he knows their state, but he is not recognised. Narrations say people see him without knowing who he is.
Why is he hidden? The hadiths give several reasons. One is to protect his life, because the rulers of his time were determined to kill him. Another is to test the believers: who will stay firm on their faith when they cannot see their Imam. The narrations also make clear that the full wisdom of the occultation is known to Allah and will be understood when he returns. As for how a hidden Imam can still help people, Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari put this very question to the Prophet:
"By the One who sent me with prophethood, they will benefit from him and be enlightened by the light of his guardianship during his occultation, just as people benefit from the sun even when clouds cover it."
Shaykh al-Saduq, Kamal al-Din (Ikmal al-Din), narrated from Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari. Imam al-Mahdi used the same image in a letter: "Benefiting from me during my occultation is like benefiting from the sun when clouds hide it." See al-Majlisi's commentary, "The Sun Behind the Clouds", on al-islam.org.The sun behind the clouds still lights the day and warms the earth. In the same way, Shias believe the Imam's presence keeps the earth from being without a Hujja, his prayers protect the believers, and he helps those who call on him, even when they do not see him.
People sometimes ask how anyone could live so long. Allah answers in the Quran: Prophet Nuh (A.S.) "remained with them for a thousand-less-fifty years" (29:14), and Prophet Isa (A.S.) is alive in the heavens, as all Muslims agree. For the One who created life, keeping one servant alive for as long as He wills is not hard.
Who Guides Us During the Occultation?
The Imam did not leave his followers without guidance. In a letter sent through the second deputy to Ishaq ibn Ya'qub, he wrote: "As for the events that occur, refer in them to the narrators of our hadith, for they are my proof over you, and I am the proof of Allah over them" (Kamal al-Din; al-Ghayba of al-Tusi).
This is the basis of the Marja' system. During the Major Occultation, believers follow qualified scholars (mujtahids) for practical rulings, and the most senior among them are the Maraji' al-Taqlid. We explain how this works in the section on Fiqh Jaffari and the Marja' in our Shia Islam guide. No scholar, however senior, is the Imam's special deputy. That door closed with al-Samuri, and anyone who claims otherwise is, in the Imam's own words, a liar.
Signs Before His Reappearance
The Imams spoke of many events that will happen before Imam al-Mahdi rises. Scholars divide them into definite signs (mahtum), which will certainly happen, and others that may or may not happen. Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A.S.) named five definite signs:
"Five signs come before the rising of al-Qa'im: the cry from the sky, the rising of al-Sufyani, the sinking in al-Bayda', the rising of al-Yamani, and the killing of al-Nafs al-Zakiyya."
Shaykh al-Saduq, Kamal al-Din; also al-Kafi and al-Ghayba of al-Nu'mani, with small differences in wording. See WikiShia, "Signs of the Reappearance".- The heavenly cry (al-Sayha)A call from the sky, which the narrations say is made by Jibrail and heard by everyone, announcing the Imam's name.
- Al-SufyaniA tyrant from the line of Abu Sufyan who will rise in Syria and fight the Imam's followers.
- The sinking at al-Bayda'The earth will swallow an army of al-Sufyani in the desert of al-Bayda', between Makkah and Madinah.
- Al-YamaniA righteous leader who will rise from Yemen and call people to the Imam.
- Al-Nafs al-Zakiyya"The pure soul", a descendant of Imam Husain who will be killed in Makkah shortly before the Imam appears.
The Imams were just as firm about what not to do. When asked for a date, Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said, "The time-setters have lied" (al-Kafi). Over the centuries, many people have claimed to be the Mahdi, his special deputy or someone who meets him regularly. The Imam's last letter is the measure for all of them: anyone who claims to have seen him in this way before al-Sufyani and the heavenly cry is not to be believed.
When He Returns
The narrations say the Imam will appear in Makkah, between the Rukn and the Maqam, and that his first companions will number 313, the same as the Muslims at Badr. From there he will establish a government of justice in which the religion of Allah is followed openly, oppression ends, the earth brings out its blessings and no one is left hungry. Many narrations, in Shia and Sunni books, say that Prophet Isa (A.S.) will come down at that time and pray behind him.
For Shia Muslims, this is not a story about the distant future. It shapes how we live now. The world will not be left to injustice forever, and every good deed today is part of preparing for that day.
Our Duties While We Wait
Waiting for the Imam is called intizar al-faraj, waiting for the relief. The Prophet called it "the best of the deeds of my Ummah" (Kamal al-Din). Imam Zain al-Abideen (A.S.) said that waiting for the relief is itself among the greatest relief. Waiting in this sense is never passive. It means preparing yourself to be someone the Imam would want beside him. Here is what the Imams and scholars ask of us:
- Know your Imam"Whoever dies without knowing the Imam of his time dies the death of ignorance" (al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 376). Learn his life, titles and rights, and teach them to your children.
- Live as his companion wouldPray on time, stay away from sin, pay your religious dues and treat people fairly. The best preparation for his return is a clean heart.
- Follow a Marja'Take your practical rulings from a qualified scholar, as the Imam himself instructed.
- Pray for his safety and returnRecite the short dua "Allahumma kun li-waliyyik" (below) and ask Allah to hasten his reappearance.
- Renew your pledge each morningRecite Dua Ahad after Fajr. Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said whoever recites it for forty mornings will be among the Imam's helpers.
- Remember him on FridaysMany believers dedicate Friday to him, recite his ziyarah and send salawat on him.
اللّٰهُمَّ كُنْ لِوَلِيِّكَ الْحُجَّةِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ، صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَىٰ آبَائِهِ، فِي هٰذِهِ السَّاعَةِ وَفِي كُلِّ سَاعَةٍ، وَلِيًّا وَحَافِظًا، وَقَائِدًا وَنَاصِرًا، وَدَلِيلًا وَعَيْنًا، حَتّٰى تُسْكِنَهُ أَرْضَكَ طَوْعًا، وَتُمَتِّعَهُ فِيهَا طَوِيلًا
"O Allah, be, for Your representative al-Hujja ibn al-Hasan, Your blessings be upon him and upon his forefathers, in this hour and in every hour, a guardian and a protector, a leader and a helper, a guide and a watchful eye, until You settle him on Your earth willingly and let him enjoy it for a long time."
Al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, vol. 4, among the duas of the twenty-third night of Ramadan; it is recited at any time.The full text of the morning covenant, with transliteration, English and Urdu, is on our page for Dua Ahad, the pledge to Imam al-Mahdi. In Ramadan, the long closing section of Dua Iftitah is a prayer for his just government. Notably, Dua Iftitah was narrated by Muhammad ibn 'Uthman al-'Amri, his second deputy.
In Dua Tawassul, the last of the fourteen calls is to him: "O successor of al-Hasan, the rightful heir and the Proof, O al-Qa'im, the awaited one, al-Mahdi." Many families recite it together on Tuesday nights. All of these, and more, are in our collection of Shia duas and ziyarat.
The night of 15 Sha'ban, his birthday, is one of the most blessed nights of the year, spent in prayer and celebration. You can find it with the other holy days in our book Islamic Months and Holy Days.
If you want your children to grow up knowing their Imam, our Shia Aqaid course teaches the Imamate and the occultation with their proofs, one to one, with a Shia tutor. Quran and Islamic classes at ShiaEdu start at $30 a month, and the first trial class is free.
- The Holy Quran 9:33, 11:86, 19:12, 19:30, 21:105, 24:55, 28:5, 29:14 (translation: Ali Quli Qara'i).
- Shaykh al-Saduq, Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'ma (birth, Hakima's account, Imam al-Askari's statement vol. 2 p. 409, the funeral prayer, the sun behind the clouds, the five signs, the letters to al-Samuri and Ishaq ibn Ya'qub).
- Al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, vol. 1 p. 376 (knowing the Imam of one's time) and vol. 4 (dua for the Imam); "the time-setters have lied".
- Shaykh al-Tusi, Kitab al-Ghayba; al-Nu'mani, al-Ghayba; Shaykh al-Mufid, al-Irshad.
- Al-islam.org: "Recognition of the Imam of the Age"; "The Fourth Saf'ir and the Complete Occultation of the Twelfth Imam"; al-Majlisi, "The Sun Behind the Clouds"; "Narrations about the Reward for Waiting for Reappearance".
- WikiShia: "Imam al-Mahdi (a)", "Signs of the Reappearance", "Hadith Man Mat", "Major Occultation".
- Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of the Mahdi, hadiths 4282 and 4284.
- Ibn al-Mashhadi, al-Mazar; Sayyid Ibn Tawus, Misbah al-Za'ir (Dua Ahad); Shaykh al-Tusi, Misbah al-Mutahajjid (Dua Iftitah).
This article was prepared for review by Maulana Muntaziri.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Imam Mahdi?
Imam Mahdi is Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, the twelfth Imam of the Shia, son of Imam Hasan al-Askari. He was born in Samarra in 255 AH, is alive in occultation, and will return to fill the earth with justice.
When was Imam Mahdi born?
He was born on 15 Sha'ban 255 AH in Samarra, Iraq, according to Shaykh al-Mufid's al-Irshad. Shia Muslims celebrate his birthday every year on 15 Sha'ban.
Who was Imam Mahdi's mother?
His mother was Lady Narjis, also called Susan, Sayqal and Rayhana in different reports. Narrations say she was brought up in the house of Lady Hakima, the daughter of Imam al-Jawad.
What is the occultation of Imam Mahdi?
The occultation (ghayba) is the period in which Allah keeps the Imam hidden from view. The Minor Occultation lasted from 260 to 329 AH, when he was in contact with people through four deputies. The Major Occultation began in 329 AH and continues today.
What are the signs of Imam Mahdi's return?
Imam al-Sadiq named five definite signs: the heavenly cry, the rising of al-Sufyani, the sinking of an army at al-Bayda', the rising of al-Yamani, and the killing of al-Nafs al-Zakiyya. No one knows the date, and the Imams said those who set a time have lied.
Do Sunni Muslims believe in Imam Mahdi?
Yes. Sunni books such as Sunan Abi Dawud record that the Mahdi is from the Prophet's family, from the descendants of Fatima. Most Sunni scholars, however, believe he has not been born yet, while Shia Muslims believe he was born in 255 AH and is alive.
What should a Shia do while waiting for Imam Mahdi?
Know him, live a righteous life, follow a Marja' in practical rulings, pray for his safety and reappearance, and recite duas such as Dua Ahad every morning. The Prophet called waiting for the relief the best deed of his Ummah.
Related reading