On friday, on the fifteenth day of the month of Shaban of the year 255 after Hegira, which coincided with the Christian calendar as 29 July of the year 869, at sunrise, the last promise of God Almighty stepped into this world. Mahdi, The Master of Time spread his holy light to all over the world.

His noble father was Imam Hasan Askari (Peace be upon him), the eleventh Imam of Shia who was born in 232 AH (846 AC) in Medina and martyred in 260 AH (873 AC) in Samerra. Imam Mahdi’s mother was Narjis Khatoon who from father side is Joshua’s daughter, the son of the Cesar, Byzantine Empire and from mother side she reverts to Simon one of the Jesus’ apostles. Narjis khatoon was transferred from Rome to Medina and then in Imam Hadi’s house, she got acquainted with Islamic Rules under the supervision of Lady Hakima, the aunt of Imam Hasan Askari (PBUH). Then Imam Hadi (PBUH) married her off to Imam Askari (PBUH) and accordingly this pious gentlewoman had the honor of being Imam Mahdi’s mother. Right after Imam Mahdi’s birth, lady Hakimah held and showed him to His Father. Then Imam Hasan Askari, pampered the face and head of his son tenderly and told him with a fond smile:

“O you the “Living proof” of God Almighty! O essence of the prophets’ difficulties! O last Imam chosen by God! O possessor of the shining Return! O shining light from the inside of deep oceans! O successor of pious men and women! O sole Light of all the prophets and Imams! Now, by God’s will, speak up. Imam Al Mahdi started speaking just like Jesus christ spoke in the cradle and said, In the name of Allah, the most Merciful and the most compassionate! Greetings of God Almighty, to Muhammad Al Mustafa, the last prophet of God, to Ali the father of all Imams, to Fatima Zahra the mother of all Imams and testified to the names of twelve successors of prophet Muhammad, then stopped talking.

Imam Hasan Askari kissed him tenderly and gazed at him for a moment, he said “My son, I entrust you to God Almighty! Just as Moses’ mother entrusted her son to Him! May God Almighty be your protector! O My aunt! bring back my son to his mother and know that you should hide the news of his birth from everyone”.

Imam Hasan Askari’s Two Important Responsibilities

The first responsibility was protecting his son from the Abbasid Caliphs due to the strict surveillance he was under by them. Because the Abbasid Caliphs were fully aware of the fact that soon in Ahl Al-Bayt, a holy infant would be born and would remove cruelty and corruption from human societies according to quotations from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Impeccable Imams (PBUT). Based on this, the Abbasid had observed all Imams’ activities from the previous Imams (PBUT), even they had transferred Imam Hadi(PBUH) and his son i.e. Imam Askari(PBUH) from Medina to Samerra to control their activities. These pressures got extreme in the era of the eleventh Imam to lower the Imam’s meetings with his Shias. The Abbasid governors again and again would put him away in custody and from time to time they would raid his house probing everywhere to find any trace of that promised infant. The second responsibility was to establish his son’s existence and the signs of the twelfth Imam, Mahdi, the last proof of God on earth. A few followers of Imam Hasan Askari gathered around imam Hasan Askari and he showed them his son, Mahdi.Then said ” This is your Imam after me. He is my successor. Follow him and do not disperse away from him or else you will be destroyed and your faith will be ruined”.

Imam Hasan Askari was martyred in 260, since then till now ,2020, Imam Mahdi has been the only divine leader on earth. Shia muslims believe that he is present everywhere, sees all , hears all , he looks upon all with grace, and prays for all human beings.

The Philosophy of Waiting for the Last Sign of God Almighty

One of the most important “credos” concerning the issue of imamat is the existence of the living proof of God in all times. The venerable prophet and infallible imams have always discussed this issue. Imam Sadiq (a.s) has said “The Archangel Gabriel came down to see the messenger of God and He brought him a messege from God Almighty. God has called on to prophet and announced him: “O Muhammad! I will never leave the earth without the presence of a wise man who knows the way of my obedience and who is conscious of my guidance. The presence of this wise man will save the men on earth”. We have our own important duties for preparing the society for his return according to the verse from Quran:

«إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ یُغَیِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى یُغَیِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ»

“Indeed Allah does not change a people’s lot, unless they change what is in their souls”. (Ar-Ra’d,11)

Sources:

_Sayyid Mohammadi, A.F, (2010), Embraced by the light of Velayat.

_Sayyid Mumini,H.( 2011), The Uprising of the Mahdi awaits us.

Compiler and editor: Moghadasizadeh