The discussion about the Mahdi has been taken up extensively in traditions – both from sources of the Shiah and the Ahle Sunnah. Several books on the subject have been written over the years on the topic. What is interesting to note is that there were books written on the topic of the Mahdi, or chapters written on the subject even before the birth of Imam Mahdi (as) in 255 AH. (more…)
Scholars of ethics and morals inform us that Allah likes that He should be called by His different names. The duas of Jawshan Kabeer and even Dua Mashlool are testimony to this fact. It is also the sunnah of Allah (swt) that He calls His loved ones by different titles. See how lovingly he refers to the Holy Prophet (sawa) in Quran – sometimes as Yaseen, or at time he refers to him as Ta-Ha. Some of the other titles by which the Holy Prophet (sawa) has been referred to in the Quran are Mudassir, Muzammil and sometimes he is called by his designation – Ya Ayyohal Rasool. (more…)
It is a well-established fact that the burial rituals and the funeral prayers for an Imam (as) can only be conducted by another Imam (as). The circumstances at the martyrdom of Imam Hasan Askari (as), therefore, become important to establish the birth and continued existence of Imam Mahdi (as).
The search to find and kill Imam Mahdi (as) was intensified when Imam Hasan Askari (as) was martyred. This is because everyone knew that on that day the command of Imamate would pass on to Imam Mahdi (as).
In the book of Najmus Saqib (volume 1, page 541, English) under the chapter of miracles of Imam Mahdi (as), we find the following incident, which highlights that Imam Hasan Askari (as) not only foretold his own martyrdom, but also gave his followers sufficient information about the signs of Imam Mahdi (as) to enable him to recognise the Imam of the Time. (more…)
The following narrations are taken from the book Najmus Saqib. On page 83 of volume 1 of this book (English edition) we find that according to the report of Mas’oodi (Isbaatul Wasiyyah al-Imam Ali Ibne Abi Talib (as), page 259) and Hazini, (Hidayatul Kubra, page 356)
Janabe Hakima Khatoon said: “I came to Imam Hasan Askari (as) after forty days and saw my master walking in the house. I have not seen anyone more elegant than him and have not heard anyone speaking in a more eloquent tongue than him. Thus, Imam Hasan Askari (as) said to me: He is the chosen one by Allah. I said: My chief, he is only forty days old, but I see that he has grown very fast.”
He said: “O aunt, do you not know that we divine successors grow in a day as much as others grow in a week and grow in a week as much as others grow in a year.” (more…)
The discussion about Imam Mahdi (as) is one of the most comprehensive discussions in Islam along with discussions on Tawheed, Imamate and Qiyamat. We find books upon books which have been written about every aspect of Imam Mahdi (as) – right from his lineage, events related to his birth, his long life, his occultation and also his re-appearance. Traditions outline clearly what are the characteristics of his companions, circumstances before and after his re-appearance and enumerate duties of people awaiting his re-appearance. (more…)