According to al-Mufid...

According to al-Mufid, Lady Narjis was a slave girl born and raised in the house of Hakima Khatun; daughter of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (the ninth Imam) and paternal aunt of al-Askari [5] . Lady Narjis is a woman of extraordinary virtue and faith, chosen for the sacred role of being the mother of the awaited savior. According to historical sources, she was brought to Samarra through divine planning and was spiritually prepared for this mission.

His Birth There are differences on the birthdate of Imam Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Mahdi (a.s) but a popular opinion is that he was born on the 15th of Sha’ban, 255 AH (869 CE) [6] , in Samarra, Iraq. Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention that due to the Abbasid caliphs’ relentless pursuit of the awaited Imam, his birth was kept hidden from the general public. His father introduced him only to a few of his most devoted followers [7] .

His Teknonyms and Titles Imam Muhammad ibn Hasan (a.s) has different teknonyms and titles, the best-known of which are: al-Mahdi (The Rightly guided), Qā’im (The One who rises up), Ṣāḥib al-Zamān ( The Master of the time), al-Hujjah/Hujjat Allah (The Proof [of God]), al-Muntaẓar (The Awaited), Baqīyyat Allāh (The Remnant of God), al-Muntaqim (The Avenger), al-Maw’ūd (The Promised), Khātam al-Awṣīyā’ (The Last Successor), al-Ghā’ib (The Hidden), al-Ma’mūl (The Hoped), and al-Muḍṭarr (The Distressed) [8] .

Theological Significance of His Birth The birth of Imam Muhammad ibn Hasan (a.s) is not just a historical event but a moment of profound theological significance in Islamic belief, particularly within the Shi’a tradition. His birth is seen as the fulfillment of divine promises regarding the continuation of divine guidance through the Imams and the eventual establishment of justice on earth.

Quranic References and Prophetic Predictions: Although the Qur’an does not mention Imam Mahdi (a.s) explicitly by name, many verses are interpreted by Islamic scholars as references to his mission. Some of the most cited verses include: “And We desired to bestow a favor upon those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them leaders and to make them the inheritors.” (Qur’an 28:5) – Interpreted as a prophecy of the ultimate triumph of divine leadership through Imam Mahdi (a.s).