• Sahab az-Zaman (the Master of the Age)
• Imam az-Zaman (the Leader of the Age)
• Wali al-’Asr (the Guardian of the Era or alternatively, the Guardian in the Twilight [of man])
• Al-Hujjah (the Proof [of Allah’s justice])
Sunni view:
The majority of Sunni Muslims do not consider the son of Hasan al-Askari to be the Mahdi nor to be in occultation. However, they do believe that the Mahdi will come from Muhammad’s family, more specifically from Al-Hasan’s descendants. Sunnis believe that the Mahdi has not yet been born, and therefore his exact identity is only known to Allah. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri narrated that Muhammad said:
Our Mahdi will have a broad forehead and a pointed (prominent) nose.
He will fill the earth with justice as it is filled with injustice and tyranny.
He will rule for seven years
—Abu Sa’id al-Khudri
Umm Salamah said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “The Mahdi is of my lineage and family”
—Umm Salamah,
He would protect the Muslims from destruction and would restore the religion to its original position.
Sunnis also believe that Jesus will return alongside the Mahdi, with the only difference being that they disagree with the Shi’a regarding exactly who the Mahdi is.
Scholarly observations:
Some scholars, including Bernard Lewis also point out, that the idea of an Imam in occultation was not new in 873 but that it was a recurring factor in Shi’a history.
Consequence of occultation of Twelfth Imam:
The occultation of 12th Imam left a considerable gap in leadership of Shi’as. According to Shi’as beliefs the Imam was both the spiritual and political head of the community. After the greater occultation, the role of Imam as the head of community left vacant, which did not theoretically matter at the beginning of Occultation because Shi’as had no political power at that time. This problem has caused continuing tension between government and religion throughout the Shi’as history.
Muhammad Al-Mahdi Imam of Twelver Shi’a Islam
| Rank | 12th Twelver Imam |
| Birthplace | Samarra, Iraq |
| Buried | n/a – in Occultation |
| Life Duration | Before Imamate: 5 years (255 – 260 AH) Imamate: Occultation (260 AH – present) -Minor Occultation: 70 years (260 – 329 AH) -Major Occultation: ??? (329 AH – present) |
Titles
• Al-Mahdi (Arabic for Guided One)
• Al-Qa’im (Arabic for One who Rises)
• Al-Hujjah (Arabic for The Proof)
• Sahib az-Zaman (Arabic for Master of the Era)
• al-Muntadhar (Arabic for the Awaited One)
• Hujjatullah (Arabic for Proof of Allah)
• al-Gha’ib (Arabic for The Unseen One)
• Sahib al-Amr (Arabic for Master of Command)
• Imam al-’Asr (Arabic for Imam of the Age)
• Onikinci Ali (Turkish for Twelfth Ali)
| Father | Hasan al-’Askari |
| Mother | Narjis |
Ali – Hasan – Husayn al-Sajjad – al-Baqir – al-Sadiq al-Kadhim – al-Rida – al-Taqi al-Hadi – al-Askari – al-Mahdi
***
Al Maktum, Rashid ibn Said (1914-1990): ruler of Dubai emirate in the United Arab Emirates, 1990; vice president of the UAE 1990, prime minister of the UAE, 1971-79, 1990 Born in Dubai al Maktum was educated there and in Britain. After the death of Shaikh Rashid in October 1990, al Maktum took over his father’s positions; vice president and premier of the UAE, and the ruler of the Dubai emirate. Under his leadership, Dubai has been developed successfully as a tourist resort for Europeans. ruler of the Dubai emirate in the United Arab Emirates, 1958-90, vice president of the UAE 1971-90, prime minister of the UAE 1979-90 Born in Dubai al Maktum belonged to the Aal bu Falasa section of the Bani Yas tribe. Following the founding of the United Arab Emirates in July 1971, a Supreme Council of seven rulers was established, with Shaikh Zaid al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi as its president and al Maktum its vice president. At the behest of Shaikh Zaid the Supreme Council called on al Maktum to become the UAE’s prime minister in July 1979.
***
Al-Mansur (914-1002): (Muhammad ibn Abi-Amir al-Mansur Billah), Moorish regent of Cordoba, known in Spanish as Almanzor. He became steward to Princess Subh, wife of the caliph Hakim II, and under her patronage and by clever manipulation he rose to become (978) royal chamberlain for Hakim’s successor, the young Hisham II. Al-Mansur kept Hisham in seclusion at his court and assumed complete control over the caliphate. A great warrior, he reorganized the army and undertook many campaigns against the Christian states of N Spain; he sacked Barcelona (985), razed the city of Leon (988), and destroyed the church and shrine of St. James at Santiago de Compostela (998). Before he died he appointed one of his sons as his successor.
***
Al-Mansur (754-775):[Arab., the victorious], 2nd Abbasid caliph and founder of the city of Baghdad. His name was in full Abu Ja’far Abd-Allah al-Mansur. He was brother and successor of consolidated his empire even though it was threatened by internal strife and foreign wars. He could not prevent the secession of Muslim Spain, however, under the Umayyad prince Abd ar-Rahman I. Mansur lived at first, as his brother had, near Kufa, but in 762 he began to build a new city, Baghdad. Abbasid caliph (754-75). Strongly suppressed Shii dissidents and moved the capital of the empire to the new city of Baghdad.
***
Al-Mansur, Abu Ja’far Abdallah Ibn Muhammad (714-775): Al-Mansur or Abu Ja’far Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur (95 AH – 158 AH (714 AD – 775 AD);[1] was the second Abbasid Caliph from 136 AH to 158 AH (754 AD – 775 AD).
Biography:
Al-Mansur was born at the home of the ‘Abbasid family after their emigration from the Hejaz in 95 AH (714 AD). “His father, Muhammad, was reputedly a great-grandson of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the youngest uncle of Mohammad; his mother, as described by 14th century Moorish historian Ali Ibn-Abd Allah’s Roudh el Kartas was a “Berber woman given to his father.” He reigned from Dhu al-Hijjah 136 AH until Dhu al-Hijjah 158 AH (754 AD – 775 AD). In 762 he founded as new imperial residence and palace city Madinat as-Salam (the city of peace), which became the core of the Imperial capital Baghdad.
Al-Mansur was concerned