The twelfth Imam in Twelver Shi‘i belief
Identity in Twelver Islam
Twelver Shi‘i Muslims believe that Muhammad al-Mahdi is the son of Hasan al-Askari, the twelfth Imam, and the divinely guided figure who will reappear to establish justice. These are the beliefs of a particular tradition, not a description shared identically by all Muslim schools.
The two occultations
Twelver accounts distinguish a minor occultation, conventionally dated 874–941 CE, during which four successive deputies mediated contact, and a major occultation beginning in 941. The latter is understood by believers to continue until his reappearance.
Reading the subject
Academic history examines the formation and transmission of these doctrines alongside the succession disputes following Hasan al-Askari’s death. A careful treatment respects believers while identifying the source and status of each claim. This page does not predict a date of return.
Sources and further study
Encyclopaedia Iranica — the Mahdi in Twelver Shi‘ism
Institute of Ismaili Studies — occultation (ghayba)
An introductory, source-attributed profile. Dates and disputed reports are qualified where necessary. The linked works represent their authors’ historical or religious approaches; linking a source does not endorse every interpretation it contains.