Today, we discuss the Imamate of the 12th Infallible Successor to Prophet of Islam, Imam Mahdi (May God hasten his reappearance).

The Abbasid rulers were worried about the birth of Imam Hassan Askari's infallible son, Imam Mahdi (AS). Based on the hadiths cited from the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), the Abbasid caliphs knew that the 11^th Infallible Successor to Prophet Mohammad, Imam Hassan Askari (AS) would have an infallible son, whose global uprising and movement will uproot injustice across the world.

Imam Mahdi (AS) was born on the 15^th day of the Islamic month of Sha'aban in the year 255 AH, at his infallible father's house, although the 11^th Infallible Imam was closely monitored by the Abbasid regime's agents. The concealed birth of Imam Mahdi (AS) is similar to the birth of Prophet Moses. As Prophet Moses was born at Pharaoh's palace, despite the strict measures taken by the Pharaoh's agents against it, Imam Mahdi (AS) was born at the dawn of Friday, 15^th of Islamic month of Sha'aban, in the midst of conspiracies hatched by the agents of Abbasid regime to monitor Imam Hassan Askari's house.

In accordance to historical evidences, the Abbasid rulers were hard on the Prophet of Islam's Infallible Household and their followers, while obstructing the communications of people with the Infallible Imams via shaping a climate of fear. Given that Infallible Imams were the religious and scientific sources of reference, and were highly popular among people, the Abbasid rulers piled up pressure on these Infallible Imams. Abbasid regime piled up pressure on the 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th Infallible Imams, Imam Javad (AS), Imam Hadi (AS), and Imam Hassan Askari; leading to the martyrdom of Imam Javad and Imam Hassan Askari at a young age. Under these conditions, if the Abbasid regime was informed about the birth of the infallible successor to Imam Hassan Askari (AS), it would have detained and martyred Imam Mahdi (AS).

Therefore, in order to protect the life of the 12^th Infallible Imam, Imam Mahdi (AS), the occultation of this Infallible Imam took place.

The occultation of Imam Mahdi took place in two phases, which were namely Minor and Major Occultation.

Throughout the Minor Occultation, Imam Mahdi was in touch with people via his representatives. The Minor Occultation of Imam Mahdi (AS) began as of the martyrdom of Imam Hassan Askari (AS) on 8^th of the Islamic month of Rabi Ul-Awwal of the year 260 AH, until the demise of the last representative of Imam Mahdi (AS) in the Islamic month of Sha'aban of the year 329 AH.

During the Minor Occultation of Imam Mahdi, the Infallible Imam guided people via his representatives. The Minor Occultation took nearly seventy years. In this phase in time, the representatives of Imam Mahdi were in touch with the Infallible Imam.

The representatives of Imam Mahdi (AS) maintained a number of ethical virtues such as courage, patience, and piety, and were trusted by the Infallible Imam. Due to such merits, they were instated as the representatives of Imam Mahdi (AS). There were four representatives of Imam Mahdi (AS).

The first especial representative of Imam Mahdi (AS) was Ottoman bin Saeed Amri, who was one of the disciples and students of Imam Hadi (AS) and Imam Hassan Askari (AS). He was trusted by the Infallible Imams. He was Imam Mahdi's (AS) representative for a period of five years.

The second especial representative of Imam Mahdi (AS) was Mohammad ibn Ottoman, the son of Ottoman ibn Saeed. He maintained an especial status among Shias.  This especial representative of the Infallible Imam prudently guided the Shia community, passing away in the year 305 AH. His representation of the Imam Mahdi (AS) lasted for nearly forty years.

The third especial representative of Imam Mahdi (AS) was Hussein ibn Rouh Nobakhti. He was a well-known jurisprudent and hadith scholar, and was a highly influential figure. Upon the relentless efforts of this especial representative of Imam Mahdi (AS), the status and power of Shias relatively improved. He was the representative of Imam Mahdi for 21 years, passing away in the year 326 AH.

The 4^th especial representative of Imam Mahdi (AS) was Abul Hassan Ali ibn Mohammad Samori, who represented the Infallible Imam for three years, passing away in the year 329 AH. Upon the demise of the last especial representative of Imam Mahdi (AS), the era of Major Occultation of the Infallible Imam began and has continued to this day.

The plans of the especial representatives of Imam Mahdi (AS) included correct and appropriate display of pure Islamic beliefs and teachings; response to the theological questions and ideological doubts; and preparation of people for acceptance of Major Occultation of Imam Mahdi (AS).

At this stage, we should point out a number of facts about the Occultation of Imam Mahdi (AS). The Occultation of the 12^th Infallible Imam of the Prophet of Islam's Household was previously predicted in hadiths. Years ago, the Prophet of Islam and the Infallible Imams had reminded people about the Occultation of Imam Mahdi (AS), in their remarks, preparing the public opinion for the Occultation of the 12^th Infallible Successor to Prophet Mohammad.

Meanwhile, given that the human community is constantly changing; the problems that mankind face are in need of new solutions. Hence, people are not left on their own throughout the era of Occultation of Imam Mahdi (AS). In this phase in time, jurisprudents and Ulema are sources which people can refer to.

 Undoubtedly, whenever God Almighty finds expedient, the savior of mankind, Imam Mahdi (AS) will reappear. Upon his uprising, injustice and corruption will be uprooted, justice will be served, and equality will be established across the world.

In the following episodes, we will continue to discuss the occultation of Imam Mahdi (May God hasten his reappearance) in detail.

MR/EA