In short...

In short, the observation that humanity is ni a pitiful condition, the assertion of the truth of Islam, and its position as the last religion leads to the expectation of such a great reformer (mahdi) to bring salvation to the world. All Muslims sects and the peoples of other religions believe in this expectation, the difference being that the Imamate sect believes that this reformer is a definite person, that he is the Mahdi, and that he was born in 256 A. H.

(870 A, D), that he is alive now, the son of Imam Hasan al-'Askari, and that his name is Muhammad. Many narrators have passed to us ahadith (pl. of hadith) from the Prophet and his Household concerning his birth and his absence. The Imamate must continue uninterrupted, although the Imam nay live hidden among mankind until Allah wills that he reappear on a certain day, a Divine mystery known only to Him.

The fact that he has lived for such a long time is a miracle granted to him by Allah and it is no more amazing than the miracle of the start of his Imamate for humanity at the age of five, when his father's life was taken away. Nor os it amy more surprising than the miracle whereby 'Isa talked with people from his cradle, and was appointed a prophet when still an infant.

From the physiological point of view, it is quite certain that to live more than the natural span of life, or more than the imagined natural span, is not impossible, even though medical science si not yet able to prolong human life as much as possible. But while medicine is unable to do this, Allah can, for He is All powerful and Omnipotent.

For the Qur'an states that Nuh lived to a very old age, and that 'Isa is alive now, and once one has accepted Islam, there can be no denying what the Qur'an says. It is incomprehensible that a Muslim should dispute the possibility of these things while at the same time calling himself a believer in the Glorious Qur'an.

We should remember at this point that the expectation of this saviour and reformer, the Mahdi, does not mean that Muslims should stand idle in their religion, or abandon their religious duties, but that they should perform all the Divine commandments and make every endeavour to seek out the way of truth, It is an obligation for them to fight for Islam, to put the principles of Islam into practice, to order others to do likewise and to prohibit them as far as possible from doing wrong.

As the Prophet said: Every one of you is a shepherd, and every one is responsible for his flock.