Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Mahdī also known as the “Imam Mahdi” or the “Imam Zaman,” is a messianic figure in Islamic eschatology (the study of end times or last days). He is expected by many Muslims, particularly within the Twelver Shia branch of Islam, to appear as a spiritual leader who will restore justice and righteousness before the Day of Judgment.
According to Twelver Shia Muslims and some Ahle Sunat Scholars, Imam Mahdi was born in Samarra Iraq in 869 CE and 255 Hijri. Until 260 A.H. he lived with his father Hasan Ibn Ali who is the eleventh Imam of Shia. His father appointed his son Muhammad Al Mahdi as his successor and Imam. Many people have narrated the testimony of seeing them.
On the death of his father in 260 A.H., he led his funeral prayer and then disappeared. The Caliph at the time Motamid Abbasi killed his father with poison and he was also an enemy of Imam Mahdi. Eleven Imams before him were also killed by the rulers of their time. This twelfth imam (Imam Mahdi) disappeared by God’s order and will appear when God wills.
Until 941 CE and 329 Hijri, Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) continued to communicate with the people through Nawab Arba’a . And he told his last deputy through the last letter that now you will die within 6 days and now the time of my long absence has started. When God wills I will appear and fill the world with peace and justice as it would have been filled with cruelty.
“Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Samarri was the fourth deputy of Imam Mahdi after Ibn Rooh in 326 Hijri (937 -941AD). Imam Mahdi (A.S) told him in the last letter: O Ali bin Muhammad listen! May Allah reward your brothers with great patience upon your death, because now your death will happen in six days. So you should finish all your work. Do not appoint someone as your successor after your death because the occultation has occurred. Now there will be no appearance without the command of God. And it will happen after a long time when people’s hearts will harden and the earth will be filled with injustice. In the future, some of my Shias will claim to see me. But whoever claims this before the emergence of Sufyani is a liar and a blasphemer.”[1:Bihar-ul-Anwar, 2:Ahtajaj Tabarsi, 3:Akmaluddin]
“Our hearts are vessels of God’s will, so whenever He wills, we also will.” –Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Mahdī(Imam Mahdi) [Ghaibat E Nomani]
“My disappearance is like the sun when it’s behind the clouds, people still benefit from it. Just as the stars are a source of peace for those living in the sky, I am also a source of peace for the people on earth.” -Imam Mahdi a.s [Ehtejaj-e-Tabrisi Vol 3-2, Pg#323]
“Each one of you should perform actions that bring you closer to Us and cause Our love, and each one of you should avoid any action that causes Our displeasure disgust and anger. ; Therefore, it is not far-fetched that a person will die suddenly and neither repentance will be beneficial for him nor his expression of regret can save him from the punishment of our God.” -Imam Mahdi [Biharala Nawar: Vol. 53, p. 176,]
“It is narrated from Sadir Sirafi that Imam Jafar Sadiq (peace be upon him) said. “There will be some resemblance in Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) to Hazrat Yusuf (peace be upon him).”
I said: Are you referring to their disappearance or surprise? He (Imam Jaffar Sadiq), peace be upon him, said: Why do these cursed people like pigs deny it.? Consider that the brothers of Hazrat Yusuf (peace be upon him) were wise and understanding, they were sons of Prophets. When all of them went to Hazrat Yusuf (peace be upon him). They also talked with him and did business with him. But until Hazrat Yusuf (peace be upon him) did not introduce himself to them, they could not recognize him.
Then why does this ummah refuse this order.? Allah intends to keep Imam Mahdi hidden from these people for a period of time. Hazrat Yusuf (peace be upon him) was the king of Egypt. And there was a distance of only eighteen days between him and his father. So, if Allah Ta’ala does the same with His Hujjat(Imam Mahdi). As He did with Hazrat Yusuf (peace be upon him), then why does this Ummah deny it.?
It is possible that Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) will walk among the people, buy and sell in their bazaars, and sit with them. But these people will not recognize him until Allah Almighty orders that you introduce yourself now. As Allah commanded Hazrat Yusuf (peace be upon him), he introduced himself and his brothers said to him: Are you Yusuf.? He said yes, I am Yusuf.” [1:Bihar-ul-Anwar volume 12, 2:Ghibta Nu’mani, 3:, Dalai Al-Tabari]
“You think that Allaah has disconnected the connection between Himself and His creatures, even though it has not happened, nor will it be until the Day of Resurrection will be made. Indeed, Allah will never leave the earth empty from His Caliph.” -Imam Mahdi a.s [Bahrulnawar vol. 1, Urdu version, Letter No. 16]
“I give you the glad tidings of the Mahdi. The Mahdi a.s will be sent to my ummah at a time when disputes have arisen among them and there will be many earthquakes. He will fill the earth with justice and righteousness while it is full of cruelty.” -Hazrat Muhammad SAWAW [Masnad Ahmad Bin Hanbal, vol 3]