Anybody who desires to save himself from the perennial...

Anybody who desires to save himself from the perennial chastisement of hell and gain the everlasting bounties of paradise, then it is for him to gain the recognition of the Imam of his time. On the flip side, one who does not recognize the Imam of his time, his religion is not perfect, his bounties are not complete and Allah the Almighty is not satisfied with him. Today, who is our Imam?

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) has already mentioned that the chain of Imamate will continue after him till the Day of Judgement. Therefore, it is necessary that there should be somebody from that series who has been divinely ordained. Who is he? In the light of reliable and authentic traditions (narrated by Shias as well as Sunnis), the Imam of our time, is the son of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), Hazrat Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.).

The Importance in the Belief of Mahdawiyyah If somebody believes and is certain about the Commencement of Prophethood of all the previous Prophets and Messengers (peace be on them) but denies the Messengership of the last Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (S), he is an unbeliever and his salvation, impossible.

Similarly, if someone believes in the Imamate of all the infallible Imams (a.s.) but refuses to accept the Imamate of the last Imam, Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), he is not a believer and his deliverance, unattainable.

Renowned Sunni scholars like Shaykh al-Islam Hamveeni, in his book "Fara aedus Simt ain" and Shaykh Su layman Qundoozi in his famous work "Yanaabee' al-Mawaddah" have recorded that the Holy Prophet (S) said, "من انكر خروج المهدي فقد كفر." "One who denies the reappearance of Mahdi, is an unbeliever". Imam's Life at a Glance Name : M H M D Title : Mahdi, Baqiyyatullah, Imam al-Zaman, Vali al-Asr, Qaem, etc.

Agnomen : Abul Qasim, Aba Saaleh al-Mahdi Father : The Eleventh Imam, Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) Mother : Narjis Khatoon , also called as Sosan. Birthday : 15th Sha'baan, 255 A.H. Birthplace : In the house of Imam Askari (a.s.) in the Iraqi city of Saamarra Commencement : 8th Rabi-al-Awwal, 260 A.H. Age : Still alive.

Shall reappear on the command of Allah the Almighty Occultation (Ghaibat) One can find in reliable traditions narrated on the authority of the Holy Prophet (S) that when Mahdi reappears, oppression and tyranny will be eradicated from the face of earth, and unjust and tyrannical rulers will be uprooted.