Events Before and After the Appearance of Imam Mahdi

The Events Surrounding the Birth and Early Life of Imam Mahdi

Imam Mahdi was born on the 15th of Sha'ban in the year 255 AH (August 2, 869 CE).⁽¹⁾ His father was Abu Muhammad, Imam Hasan al-Askari (Peace be upon him), who was martyred in the year 260 AH (874 CE).⁽²⁾ The mother of Imam Mahdi was a noble woman named Rayhana, who was also known by the names Narjis, Sawsan, and Sayqal.⁽³⁾
Imam Mahdi lived under the care and supervision of his honorable father until the year 260 AH. During that time, he was kept hidden from the general public, and only a few of his father's close and trusted followers were aware of his existence. Even individuals like Abu Hashim al-Ja'fari—who was considered among the close companions of Imam Hasan al-Askari—were unaware of him.
Abu Hashim once said:
I told Abu Muhammad (Imam Hasan al-Askari), “Your great status prevents me from asking, but may I ask a question?”
The Imam replied, "Ask".
I said, “My master, do you have a son?”
He answered, "Yes, I do."
I asked, “If something were to happen to you, where can I find him?”
He replied, "In Medina."⁽⁴⁾

One of the People Who Saw Imam Mahdi

One of the individuals who saw Imam Mahdi was Abu Amr Uthman ibn Sa'id. Abdullah ibn Ja'far al-Himyari narrates: He and I (Abu Amr) went to visit Ahmad ibn Is-haq. When we had all gathered, Ahmad ibn Is-haq signaled to me to ask Abu Amr about the successor of Imam Abu Muhammad, Imam Hasan al-Askari.
I said to Abu Amr:
"O Abu Amr, I want to ask you something that I already firmly believe in, because it is my conviction and part of my faith that the earth is never without a Divine Proof (Hujjah). But I seek reassurance, so that my heart may be at peace,just as the Prophet Abraham asked God to show him how He gives life to the dead. When God asked him, 'Do you not believe?' Abraham replied, 'I do, but I want my heart to be at ease.'"
Then I added:
"Ahmad ibn Is-haq once told me that he asked Imam Abu al-Hasan, Imam al-Hadi (PBUH): 'Whom should I associate with, and from whom should I take my religion?' The Imam replied, 'Abu Amr is trustworthy. Whatever he says, he says on my behalf.'
And later, Ahmad ibn Is-haq said: 'I asked Imam Hasan al-Askari the same question: From whom should I learn my religious duties?' The Imam replied, 'Abu Amr and his son are both trustworthy. Whatever they say on my behalf is the truth. Follow them and obey their words, for they are both reliable and trusted by me.'
I then said to Abu Amr:
"This is the testimony of two Imams about you."
When Abu Amr heard my words, he fell into prostration and wept.
After that, he said, “Go ahead and ask your question.”
I said, “Have you seen the successor of Imam Hasan al-Askari?”
He replied, “By God, I have seen him.”
I said, “I have one more question.”
He said, “Ask.”
I asked, “What is his name?”
He replied, “You are forbidden from asking about his name. This is the instruction of the Imam himself, not mine. The current ruler believes that Imam Hasan al-Askari has passed away without leaving a son. His inheritance has been divided, and the authorities think that his family line has ended. If his name becomes public, they will pursue and try to capture him. So, fear God and refrain from asking about this matter.” ⁽⁵⁾
This Abu Amr and his son are among the special representatives (appointed deputies) of Imam Mahdi (PBUH).
After the martyrdom of his father, Imam Mahdi no longer met with anyone except his special deputies, except in rare and exceptional cases. From the time Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH) was martyred, the occultation (ghaybah) of Imam Mahdi began.
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (PBUH) said:
"For the Imam Mahdi, there will be two periods of occultation. One will be short, and the other long. During the short occultation, only the close followers (khawass) among the Shia will know his whereabouts. During the long occultation, even the closest of his devoted followers will be unaware of his exact location."⁽⁶⁾
During the Minor Occultation, Imam Mahdi appointed four special deputies, known as the Four Deputies (نواب الاربعه):
1. Uthman ibn Saʿid al-ʿAmri
2. Muhammad ibn Uthman
3. Husein ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti
4. Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samari
The Minor Occultation began in the year 260 AH (874 CE) and ended in 329 AH (940 CE). The Major Occultation began in 329 AH and will continue until God wills his reappearance.⁽⁷⁾
During the Major Occultation, Imam Mahdi has no appointed special deputy, and anyone who claims to be a special representative is a liar.
Numerous narrations (hadiths) state that Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will reappear after the end of the Major Occultation and will fill the world with justice. For references to these narrations, you may refer to the book “Muntakhab al-Athar” by Ayatollah Safi. In chapter 25, page 247, the author presents many narrations from various reliable sources.
Both the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), his daughter Fatimah al-Zahra, and the infallible Imams gave glad tidings about the coming of Imam Mahdi.
Moreover, both Shia and Sunni Muslims believe in the existence of Imam Mahdi. Some of the Sunni narrations include:
• The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"The world will not end until a man from my family, whose name is the same as mine, will rule over the Arabs."⁽⁸⁾
• The Prophet also said:
"The Mahdi is from among our family, and Allah will prepare him for his mission overnight."⁽⁹⁾
• The Messenger of God also said:
"The greatest act of worship is to await the reappearance of the Mahdi." ⁽¹⁰⁾

The Duty of a True Believer Waiting for Imam Mahdi

A person who is waiting for Imam Mahdi must live like a true and sincere "awaiting one."
When someone is genuinely waiting for a guest, everything about their behavior reflects that: they clean the house, prepare refreshments, dress properly, and wait with a cheerful face. Such a person can truly claim to have been waiting.
But if someone neither cleans the house, nor prepares anything, nor dresses appropriately, and is not even thinking about the guest—yet claims to be waiting—people will laugh at such a false claim. In the same way, one who truly awaits Imam Mahdi must reflect this hope in their actions, lifestyle, and sincerity.
True Awaiting Is Reflected in One's Actions, Not Just Claims
Therefore, the state of awaiting the reappearance of Imam Mahdi is better understood through one’s actions and behavior rather than mere words or claims.
Not everyone who claims to love and follow the Imam can truly be considered one of his followers or genuine awaiters.
As the famous saying goes:
"The fragrance of musk speaks for itself; it doesn’t need the perfumer to promote it."
With this understanding, it becomes clear that a true believer who awaits Imam Mahdi should live in a way that shows he is ready for the Imam’s return at any moment.
Such a person would feel joy upon hearing of the reappearance, and be fully prepared to support him—with both wealth and life, even sacrificing everything in his path.
Thus, a true awaiter is not someone who is deeply attached to sins or worldly pleasures, because such attachments make it hard for a person to let go and sincerely serve the sacred mission of Imam Mahdi.

A Glimpse into the Era of the Reappearance

Although it is not possible to describe the era of reappearance in full detail, the narrations give us a general picture:
The uprising and revolution led by Imam Mahdi will begin from Mecca, once the regional and global conditions are ready.
There will be a fierce global conflict involving Western powers and Turks (or their allies), which will escalate into a world war.
Meanwhile, in the region, two governments that support Imam Mahdi will be established—one in Iran and one in Yemen.
The Iranian supporters of the Imam will form their government before his reappearance and will engage in a long battle, which they will eventually win.
Shortly before the Imam’s return, a man named Shu’ayb ibn Salih will rise in Yemen, and another leader referred to as "Sayyid from Khorasan" will emerge in Iran.(Based on Islamic tradition, Shia Muslims refer to descendants of the Prophet Muhammad as "Sayyid.")
Both of these individuals will help pave the way for Imam Mahdi’s reappearance.
Some narrations mention that Shu’ayb ibn Salih will emerge from Samarkand (a historical city in present-day Uzbekistan). (18)
As for the Yemeni followers, their uprising and revolution will take place a few months before the Imam’s reappearance, and it seems they will help manage the political vacuum in the Hijaz region (modern-day Saudi Arabia) during that time.

A Sign of Imam Mahdi’s Reappearance

One of the notable signs of the Imam’s emergence is a significant event unfolding between the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina. At that moment, the portents of Imam Mahdi’s reappearance become clear—and perhaps the greatest sign is a heavenly call heard on the 23rd of Ramadan (Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed with fasting).
After this divine proclamation, Imam Mahdi will secretly contact some of his loyal followers. Word of him will spread far and wide; his name and reputation will reach every corner of the earth, and hearts will be filled with love for him.
The enemies will fear his presence and attempt to capture or eliminate him. An army will enter Medina, arresting or killing any Hashimite man they encounter. Meanwhile, Imam Mahdi will be communicating with his allies in Mecca. Then, on the night of the 10th of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic lunar year), after Maghrib and Isha prayers, he will launch his uprising from the sacred sanctuary of Mecca.
A fierce battle will ensue, and Imam Mahdi will take control of Mecca. On the morning of the 10th of Muharram, he will broadcast his message in multiple languages to the entire world, calling all nations to support him. He will declare his intention to stay in Mecca until the promised miracle foretold by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) occurs—the sinking of the army of the Sufyani, who had marched to crush his movement in Mecca.

The March of Victory

Following this miracle, Imam Mahdi, with an army exceeding ten thousand soldiers, will leave Mecca and head toward Medina. After confronting and defeating the enemy forces there, he will liberate the city. This victory in the Hijaz region—securing both Mecca and Medina—will symbolize the collapse of opposing forces.
He will then march into southern Iran, where he will meet the Iranian forces and local supporters led by the Sayyid of Khorasan. They will pledge allegiance to him and join forces to fight the enemy in Basra, achieving a decisive and resounding victory.
Next, the Imam will cleanse Iraq of strife—defeating the remnants of Sufyani’s forces and quelling rebellious factions. He will establish his government in Iraq, with Kufa as its capital, thus unifying Yemen, the Hijaz, Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf states under his rule.
Conflicts with Turks, Jews, and Western Nations.
Subsequently, he will engage in battles against the Turks and the Jews, emerging victorious in both confrontations. The Western Christian powers, alarmed by these sweeping changes, will declare war. At this critical juncture, Jesus Christ (PBUH) will descend from heaven in Jerusalem (Al-Quds), addressing the world—and especially the Christians—with his words.
His descent will serve as a global sign and cause joy among Muslims and Christian communities alike.
It seems that Jesus (PBUH) will mediate between Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and the Westerners, resulting in a peace treaty between the two sides that will last for seven years. However, after two years, the Westerners will break the treaty. Consequently, the Romans (Western armies), with nearly one million soldiers, will launch a sudden assault on the lands of Sham (Greater Syria) and Palestine. The Islamic forces will stand against them, and Prophet Jesus (PBUH) will declare his alignment with Imam Mahdi, praying behind him in Jerusalem.
In this war, the Muslims will achieve victory. Following this, Imam Mahdi will conquer the Western lands. After most of their people convert to Islam, Prophet Jesus(PBUH) will pass away. Imam Mahdi and the Muslims will offer his funeral prayer, shroud his pure body in a cloth woven by his mother, the truthful Mary (PBUH), and bury him beside her blessed grave in Jerusalem.
After these victories, Imam Mahdi will begin implementing divine objectives in various aspects of life and across all nations. He will rise to elevate material well-being, ensure universal prosperity, spread knowledge and culture, and raise the level of both religious and worldly awareness among people.
This has been a general overview of the global movement and revolution led by Imam Mahdi (pbuh). As for the signs and indications of his reappearance—which each herald the nearness of that event—they are many. We will suffice with mentioning the most important ones.

1. The Emergence of Sufyani:

Sufyani is a man from the lineage of Abu Sufyan who will rise before the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and will fight against him after his advent. Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (PBUH) said:
"We and the family of Abu Sufyan are two households who are enemies with each other over the religion of God. We confirmed the word of God, and they denied it. Abu Sufyan fought against the Prophet of Islam, Mu'awiyah opposed Ali (the first Imam of the Shia), and Yazid confronted Husayn ibn Ali (the third Imam). Likewise, Sufyani will wage war against Imam Mahdi."⁽¹¹⁾

2. The Swallowing in the Desert of Bayda:

Bayda is a desert land between Mecca and Medina. The event refers to the swallowing of Sufyani’s army by the earth. Imam Ali (PBUH) said:
"At the threshold of the rise of our Qa’im (Imam Mahdi), Sufyani will emerge. His army will march toward Medina, and when they reach the land of Bayda, God will cause the earth to swallow them whole."⁽¹²⁾

3. The Emergence of Yamani:

Yamani is a commander from Yemen who will rise and call people toward truth and justice. Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) said:
"The uprisings of Khurasani, Sufyani, and Yamani will occur in the same year, in the same month, and on the same day. Among them, no banner is more guided and truthful than the banner of Yamani."⁽¹³⁾

4. The Killing of the Pure Soul (Nafs Zakiyyah):

"Nafs Zakiyyah" refers to a pure and righteous individual. Imam al-Baqir (PBUH) said:
"There will not be more than fifteen nights between the martyrdom of Nafs Zakiyyah and the reappearance of Imam Mahdi."⁽¹⁴⁾

5. The Heavenly Call (Cry from the Sky):

Apparently, this refers to a voice that will be heard from the sky on the eve of the reappearance.
Imam al-Baqir (PBUH) said:
"A caller will call out from the sky, announcing the name of the Qa’im (Imam Mahdi). Everyone in the East and West will hear it."⁽¹⁵⁾
Regarding the number of Imam Mahdi’s close companions, general narrations state the following:
Imam al-Baqir (PBUH) said:
"By God, 313 individuals will gather for him without prior arrangement. Among them will be fifty women."⁽¹⁶⁾
As for their qualities, based on some narrations, they are known for their deep knowledge of God, devotion and worship, bravery, obedience, self-sacrifice, ascetic lifestyle, simplicity, and strict discipline.

References

1. Shaykh al-Mufid. (n.d.). Al-Masa'il al-Sarawiyyah (p. 32). Mehr Printing Press. International Conference Publisher.
2. Sayyid Mahdi Rajai (Ed.). (1405 AH). Rasa'il al-Sharif al-Murtada (Vol. 1, p. 125). Dar al-Qur'an, Sayyid al-Shuhada Press.
3. Al-Majlisi. (1405 AH). Bihar al-Anwar (Vol. 53, pp. 122–144). Al-A'lami Publishing Institute, Beirut.
4. Ibid. (pp. 136–139).
5. Ibid. (p. 121).
6. (n.d.). Al-Iyaqaz min al-Haj‘ah, Chapter Two.
7. Al-Majlisi. (1405 AH). Bihar al-Anwar (Vol. 53, p. 53).
8. Quran. Surah al-Nahl, Verse 87.
9. Al-Majlisi. (1405 AH). Bihar al-Anwar (Vol. 53, pp. 122–144).
10. (n.d.). Al-Iyaqaz min al-Haj‘ah, Chapter Two, Third Argument.
11. Al-Majlisi. (1405 AH). Bihar al-Anwar (Vol. 53, p. 56).
12. Al-Ghaybah, al-Nu‘mānī, p. 187, Chapter 14.
13. al-Ghaybah, al-Nu‘mānī, p. 264, Chapter 14, ḥadīth 13.
14. Al-Ghaybah by al-Nu‘mānī, p. 188.
15. Al-Ghaybah by Shaykh al-Tusi, p. 435.
16. Bihar al-Anwar by al-‘Allamah al-Majlisi, vol. 52, p. 223.

The Twelfth Imam