1. Birth & Early Life
Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (a.s.) wasborn on15th Sha‘bān 255 A.H.
(868CE)inSamarratoNarjis,thewifeoftheeleventhImam.LadyNar-
jis’s lineage goesbackto Sham‘ūn, one of thedisciples of Prophet ‘Isa
(a.s.);andshewashighlyrespectedbyHakima, thesisterof Imam an-
Naqi and leader of the Hashimite ladies.
Since the reports about the anticipated birth of Mahdi, the Messiah
who will put an end to injustice and tyranny was widespread, the
‘AbbāsidswerecloselywatchingthefamilyoftheAhlulBayt(a.s.).The
situationwasnotunlikethedayspriortothebirthofProphetMusa(a.s.)
when Pharoah had ordered that the male children of the Israelites be
killed. Just as Musa’s birth was concealed from the public byAllāh’s
power, Muhammad al-Mahdi’s birth was also concealed from the public.
Forfiveyears,Imamal-Mahdilivedunderthelovingcareofhisfath-
er.Hewasseen onlybysomefamilymembersandafewselected com-
panionsofhisfather.Thiswasalldonetoprotecthimfromthe‘Abbāsid
agents.Some of thosewho hadseen the Imam during thisperiod are
mentioned below:
- Lady Hakima, aunt of Imam Hasan al-‘Askari (a.s.).
- Nasīm, the servant of Imam al-‘Askari.
- Muhammad bin ‘Uthmān al-‘Amri.
- Husayn bin al-Hasan al-‘Alawi.
- Ja‘far bin Muhammad bin Mālik and his group.
- Ahmad bin Ishāq.
Herewe shallonlynarratethe eventinwhichAhmadbinIshāqsaw
Imam al-Mahdi. Ahmad, a prominent Shi‘a of the time, once visited
ImamHasanal-‘Askari(a.s.)andwantedtoaskhimabouthissuccessor.
BeforeAhmadaskedhisquestion,theImamsaid,“OAhmad!Fromthe
dayHecreatedAdam,Allāhhasnotlefttheearthwithoutarepresentat-
ive(hujjat),nor willHeleave itwithoutarepresentative tillthe dayof
judgement.It isbecauseof thehujjatthat Allāhavertsthe chastisement
fromthepeople,sendsdowntherainandbringsforththeblessingsfrom
the earth.”