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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books 14 Questions about Imam az-Zaman Volume 1 Question 4 Have the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and the Infallible Imams (a.s.) informed us about the “Promised Mahdi”? Reply: Many reliably narrated traditions emanate from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and the infallible Imams (a.s.) about the existence and reappearance of Hazrat Mahdi (a.s.). These leave no room for any doubt whatsoever for the seekers of truth.

Following are some examples of the sayings of these Holy Personalities (a.s.): The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) informed, “Mahdi is from my progeny. His name is my name (Muhammad) and his agnomen is my agnomen (Abul Qasim). He resembles me most in the creation and in the manners. He will be associated with occultation and confusion, till most people deviate from religion.

He will appear as a bright shining star, will fill the earth with truth and justice just as it was filled with oppression and injustice.”[^1] Amir ul-Mu’minin ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (a.s.) said: “My Qa’im will have a long occultation. I can foresee that our Shi’as in spite of their lifelong efforts to find him will not be able to do so.

Know you all that the one who in his occultation is steadfast on his religion and does not deny him in his long absence will be with us on the Day of Judgment.” He (a.s.) then continued: “When my Qa’im reappears he will not have the allegiance of any one on his neck as his birth was hidden and his personality was in Occultation.”[^2] Once, Jaabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari was present in the service of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.).

Before her was a tablet in which the names of the successors (a.s.) were written. Jaabir says that he counted them and found 12 names, the last of which was “Qa’im”. Three names were “Muhammad” and four “‘Ali”.[^3] Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (a.s.) said: “People are not exempted from the obedience of any of us Imams. Yet, our rights have been trampled upon by oppressive rulers and their followers.

This will go on until the time of Qa’im (a.s.), behind whom Prophet Isa Ibn Maryam (a.s.) will pray and whose birth will be kept a secret by Allah. He will be kept in occultation. When he reappears, paying allegiance to him will be compulsory on everyone. He will be a great descendant from the progeny of my brother Husain (a.s.). Allah will lengthen the age of his occultation.

By His power, He will make him reappear and when he reappears, his age will seem to be like a man of 40 years or even lesser.