Ambassadors of Islam 
And those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways; and Allah is most surely with the doers of good. 29:69 The Quran
The Last Saviour of Mankind
Dr. Javed Kazmi
The fate of mankind depends upon the reappearance of a chosen one who would come and redirect the people to the ways of God. Now, so much depends on the man about whom the Holy Prophet(saww) said "Even if the entire time of the world's existence will have been already exhausted and one solitary day left to embrace the eve of Doomsday, God will expand and make that very day swell to such a length of time as to accommodate the ultimate reign of a person out of my holy progeny who will be called after my name. He will then make the earth abound with peace and justice as it will have been fraught with injustice and tyranny before him." (Abdullah Ibne Masood )
In another tradition Abdullah Ibne Abbas narrates that Holy Prophet said, "I am the leader of all the prophets while Ali is the leader of all the Imams. I will be followed by twelve successors. The first among these being Ali and the last one Mehdi" (Behar-ul-Anwar).
The traditions mentioned above make it clear that the twelfth Imam is the last Imam of Holy prophet and is the final Divine authority (Hujjat) on earth. Therefore, whosever declines to accept his authority, in fact will reject the authority of God on him and will harm no one else but himself.
Apostolically, career of Imam Mehdi (AS) can be divided into three phases. The period of his childhood, the period of his concealment and the period of his re-appearance.
The name of the twelfth Imam is Muhammad, epithet Abul-Qasim and his well known titles are "Alqaim" "Al-Hujjat" "Al-Muntazar" "Al Mehdi and "Sahbe-uz-Zaman."
He was born on 15th Shaban 255 A.H. in the city of Samara. His birth circumstances resemble those of Holy Prophet Moosa (AS). The Abbasids had heard about Holy Prophet's tradition regarding his birth and were apprehensive of his birth which would seal their fate. They were, Therefore, laying in ambush to discover the birth of the Imam to put an end to his life. But the Imam's birth remained enveloped and shielded by the same Divine protection which had masked the birth of Prophet Moosa. His birth remained strictly confidential.
The Holy Imam was brought up by his father Imam Hasan Askari (AS) the 11th pious Imam. He kept the birth of the Imam as a well guarded secret. Only a handful of devotees and sincere friends were conducted to the child in order to familiarize them with their would-be Imam to whom they would pledge their allegiance.
The authentic books of both Sunni and Shia sects quote traditions mentioning the blessed people who had the honour to personally see the Imam.
It is mentioned by Abi Ghanim that when Imam Hasan Askari's son was born he named him after Muhammad and on the third day after his birth, bringing forth the child to show him to some of his followers declared: "Here is my successor and your would be Imam! He is that very Qaim to whose reverence your heads will low down. He would re-appear to fill the earth with blessings and justice after it will have been abounding with sins and vices."
Further Muawiya Ibne Hakeen, Muhammad Ibni Ayub and Muhammad Ibne Usman mentioned that they called upon Imam Hasan Askari with a deputation of forty persons. The Holy Imam showed them his newly-born child and said: "This is your Imam after me! All of you should unanimously submit your allegiance to him and should not allow any controversy on the subject which will lead you in peril! Mind that he will no more be visible to you."
Imam Hasan Askari died on the 8th Rabi-ul-Awal 260 AH and the day marked the inception of his son's Imamat.
The circumstances forced Imam Mehdi to go into hiding. In occultation he imparted with his apostolistic responsibilities, through his four representatives. They were Abu Umer Uthman bin Saeed Umri, Muhammad bin Uthman Umri, Hussain bin Ruh Nobakhti and Abul Hassan Samari.
They all were the leading scholars and jurists of their time. These deputies and ambassadors of the Imam had been looking after the religious affairs from the time of his father and now they acted as the associates between the people and the concealed Imam. They conveyed the problems and religious queries of the people to the Imam and brought back the verdicts and the answers of the Imam to the people.
This period is also called "short occultation" which continued for 69 years beginning in 260 A.H at the time of the martyr of Imam Hasan Askari till 339 A.H. The shorter occultation was followed by the longer one, which still continues even today.
Now Imam Mehdi , being in longer occultation, is 1160 years old and by the will of God will re-appear to guide humanity to the ways of God and will lead it to salvation. May God shower his blessings on us and help us understand the true status of the twelve Holy Imams down to Imam MEHDI. May God count us as his friends, supporters and followers. Amin!
Information
Holy Prophet(saww) said "Even if the entire time of the world's existence will have been already exhausted and one solitary day left to embrace the eve of Doomsday, God will expand and make that very day swell to such a length of time as to accommodate the ultimate reign of a person out of my holy progeny who will be called after my name. He will then make the earth abound with peace and justice as it will have been fraught with injustice and tyranny before him." (Abdullah Ibne Masood )
Published on June 11, 2014
