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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imamate and The Imams The Twelfth Imam: Al-Mahdi Birth and Martyrdom Hujjat Ibn Al-Hasan (a.j.) was born on the night of fifteenth of Sha’ban in the year 255 A.H. in Samira’. His name is the name of the Prophet of Islam (S), Muhammad, and his nickname is the Prophet (S)’s nickname, Abul Qasim. His father was Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) and his mother was Narjis. When his father was martyred, Imam Mahdi (a.j.) was only five.

Being only five, he possessed knowledge and wisdom and he reached the Imamate position, just as Prophet Yahya (a.s.) reached prophet hood at childhood and Prophet Jesus (a.s.) became prophet in cradle.[^1] The titles of Imam Mahdi (a.j.) are Hujjat, Qa’im, Mahdi, Khalaf Salih, Sahib Al-Zaman, and Sahib.[^2] People Who Saw Imam Mahdi (a.j.) in his early days Some close companions of Imam Askari (a.s.) had seen his son or heard the news about him.

Hakimah Khatun, the paternal aunt of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.), has said, “On the birth night of Imam Qa’im (a.j.), I was in the house of Imam Hasan (a.s.) and present at the birth time.

I saw the newborn son then and several times after that night.”[^3] Fat’h –Mulla Zarari– has said, “I heard from Abu Ali Ibn Mutahhar, ‘I saw the son of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.).’ He also described the height of Imam’s (a.s.) son.”[^4] ‘Amr Ahwazi has said, “Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) showed his son to me and told me, ‘He is your guardian.’”[^5] ‘Ibrahim Ibn Muhamamd has narrated from Abu Nasr Tarif, the servant, “I saw the son of Imam Hasan (a.s.).”[^6] Nasim, the servant of Imam Hasan (a.s.), has said, “Two nights after the birth of Sahib Al-Zaman (a.j.), I saw him.

I sneezed, so he told me, ‘Allah bless you!’ And I became happy.”[^7] Abu Ja’far ‘Amri has said, “When our master was borne, Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) called Abu ‘Umar. When he came, Imam (a.s.) told him, ‘Buy ten thousand trays of dates and ten thousand trays of meat and divide them among Bani Hashim. Buy a certain number of sheep and give away as ‘aqiqah for my son.’”[^8] Abu Ghanim, the servant, has said, “The child of Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was borne. Abu Muhammad named him Muhammad.

On the third day after the birth, Abu Muhammad (a.s.) showed his son to his companions and told them, ‘He is your guardian after me and the caliph after me.