Translator's Introduction

Author's Introduction

Chapter 1
The Beginning of the Belief in the Mahdí

The Mahdí from among the Descendants of the Prophet
The Sunni <adíth on the Subject of the Mahdí
The Objection Raised by One of the Authors
Ibn Khaldún and the Traditions about the Mahdi
Other Opinions from Ibn Khaldún
The Existence of the Mahdí is Certain
People Awaited the Appearance of the Mahdí
The Discussion among the Companions and the Subsequent Generations
The Jurists of Medina and the Mahdí Traditions
The Poetry of Di'bil and the Mahdí

Chapter 2
The Pseudo-Mahdís

Manipulation of the Beliefs of the People
Fabrication of the Traditions
The Family of the Prophet and the Eleven Imams' Predictions about the Mahdí
Are these Traditions about the Mahdí Authentic?

Chapter 3
Mahdiism, the Jews, and the Iranians

The Reasons for the Emergence of Belief in the Mahdiism
Does it Really Need Explication?
The Legend of 'Abd Alláh b. Sabá
The Messianic Leader, Mahdí, in Other Religions
The Qur'an and Mahdiism
The General Prophethood and the Imamate
What System Can Make Human Beings Prosperous?
The Other-worldly Prosperity
The Path of Perfection
The Infallibility of the Prophets
Rational Proof in Support of the Imamate
Textual Proof for the Necessity of the Imamate

Chapter 4
The Unseen World and the Imam of the Age

Will the Imam Be Born at the End of the Time?
Descriptions Identifying the Mahdí
Mahdí Is Among the Descendants of \usayn b. 'Alí
What If the Mahdí Was Well-known?
The Traditions from the ahl al-bayt Are Proofs for All Muslims
`Alí b. Abí ^álib, the Paragon of the Prophetic Knowledge
The Book of 'Alí b. Abí ^álib
The Heirs to the Prophet's Knowledge

Chapter 5
Who Was the Imam after \asan 'Askarí?

Those Who Saw the Imam of the Age When He Was Small
Why Was the Twelfth Imam Not Mentioned in the Will of Imam \asan 'Askarí?
Why Did Others Not Know about the Twelfth Imam's Birth?
The Mother of the Twelfth Imam
The Sunni 'Ulamá' and the Birth of the Mahdí

Chapter 6
Can a Five Year Old Boy Become an Imam?

The Gifted Children
Rising of the People when Naming the Qá'im
When Did the Story about the Occultation Begin?
The Books on the Subject of the Occultation before the Birth of the Twelfth Imam
The Short and Complete Occultation
The Short Occultation and the Contacts with the Shí'a
Were these Letters from the Imam in His Own Handwriting?
The Number of Deputies
'Uthmán b. Sa'íd, the First Deputy
Mu<ammad b. 'Uthmán, the Second Deputy
\usayn b. Rú<, the Third Deputy
'Alí b. Mu<ammad Samarrí, the Fourth Deputy

Chapter 7
Why Did Not the Occultation Become Complete from the Beginning?

Is There Any Time Limit to the Complete Occultation?
The Philosophy of Occultation
What Danger Faced the Imam If He Were Visibly Present?
Why Is the Mahdí Afraid of Being Killed?
Does Not God Have the Power to Protect the Imam?
Is It Not Likely That the Unjust Rulers Would Have Submitted to Him?
He Should Remain Silent So That He Would Be Safe
He Could Have Negotiated a Treaty of Non-interference with the Rulers
Why Did He Not Appoint Special Deputies During the Complete Occultation?
What Is the Benefit of Having the Imam in Occultation?
The Twelfth Imam Endeavors to Defend Islam during the Occultation

Chapter 8
The Sunni Books on the Characteristics of the Mahdí

The Occultation of the 'Alawid Leaders
Violations of Free Expression under the Caliphs
The Implications of the Situation
How Long Will the Hidden Imam Live?

Chapter 9
The Research about Longevity

Is There Any Fixed Term for Human Age?
The Reasons for Longevity
Senility and Its Causes
The Long Life of the Twelfth Imam
The Article by Justin Glace
Research into the Matter of Longevity
Further Research on Longevity
New Research on Longevity
A Summary of a Russian Study on the Subject of Old Age
A Little Known Theory about the Cause of Death
Those Who Lived a Long Life in History

Chapter 10

The Residence of the Twelfth Imam

The Story about the Countries that Belong to the Sons of the Imam
Jazíra Kha_rá' (The Evergreen Island)
When Will He Appear?
The Signs of His Appearance
The Story of Sufyání
The Story of Dajjál

Chapter 11
The Minds of the People Prepare for the Advent of the Mahdí

The Final Victory of the Downtrodden (musta_'afín)
Why Does the Mahdí Not Appear?
Another Reason for the Delay in the Appearance of the Mahdí

Chapter 12
How Will the Imam Know That the Time for the Appearance (|uhúr) Has Come?

The Preparation for the Emergence Will Take Place Overnight
Awaiting Deliverance through the Appearance of the Imam
Investigation into the Traditions against the Rise (qiyám)
Governance within Religion
The Obligation to Command the Good and Forbid the Evil
Concluding Remarks
The Prophet as the Leader of the Muslims
Islamic Governance after the Prophet
`Alí b. Abí ^álib, the Designated Caliph of the Prophet of God
Islamic Governance during the Period of Occultation
The Obligations of Muslims during the Occultation

Chapter 13
Further Investigation in the \adíth-Reports

First Group of Traditions
Second Group of Traditions
Third Group of Traditions
Fourth Group of Traditions
Conclusions of the Discussion

Chapter 14
The Signs of the Appearance (|uhúr) of the Mahdí

The Destiny of the Unbelievers
The Destiny of Jews and Christians
Will the Majority of the Peoples on the Earth Be Killed?
The Teachings of Islam Will Be Proclaimed to the World from Qumm
"Your Enemies Will Destroy Each Other"
War Is Inevitable
The Mahdí's Defense
The World under the Mahdí
The Victory of the Prophets
The Mahdí and the New Constitution
The Conduct of the Mahdí
The Freshness of the Explanations Offered by the Mahdi
The Mahdí and Abrogation of the Ordinances
Is It Not Possible that the Mahdí Has Already Appeared?
Sayyid 'Alí Mu<ammad Shirází, "the Báb"
Sayyid 'Alí Mu<ammad's Acknowledgement of the Hidden Imam's Existence
Sayyid 'Alí Mu<ammad and the Traditions about Fixing of the Time
What Do the Sayyid's Followers Say?
The Bayán and Messianic Claim
False Claims and the Existence of a Followership

An effort of the Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project