2006-09-18 23:31:01 · 9 answers · asked by analyst 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Does this spell doom for the world?
2006-09-18 23:32:02 · update #1
The 12th Imam is believed by Shia Muslims to be the last appointed ruler of the Muslim people, and 14th "infallible". (Similar to Catholics' view of the pope - not a prophet, but a human who has been given divine guidance in matters of religion.) Shia believe that the 12th Imam (The Mahdi) will return with Jesus (pbuh) when the world is at its worst, and will bring about a period of justice and peace. They believe that this Imam, just like Jesus, did not die, but was hidden, therefore the man who was born a thousand or so years ago will be the same one who returns to bring about this period of peace.
Sunni Muslims do not believe in the 12th Imam, but do believe in The Mahdi. They believe he is a man who will be born at a time when the world is at its worst, and will bring about peace and freedom from tyranny. The Sunni believe this man will be named Mohammed, and his father will be named Abdullah, and he will be a descendant of the prophet Mohammed (pbuh).
2006-09-18 23:42:05 · answer #1 · answered by Mahdiya B 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Sunnis do not believe in the 12th Imam, but Shia consider him the leader of the Muslim people.
2006-09-19 14:53:52 · answer #2 · answered by Smiley 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
868- ?) Muhammad al Mahdi (the guided)is the 12th and last
Imam of the Twelver Shi'i, and is also known as Muhammad al Muntazar (the awaited).
Very little can be said of him with any certainty. In fact, the non-Twelver might very well question whether there was an historical person associated with the name. Jafar, the brother of the Eleventh Imam denied the existence of any child and claimed the Imamate for himself. In fact, accounts of public appearances by Muhammad al Mahdi often involve his mysterious arrival at key moments to challenge his uncle's claims.
In brief, the Twelver Shi'i believe that he was born to a Byzantine slave named Narjis Khatun, and that his birth was kept quiet by his father, the Eleventh Imam, Hassan al Askari, because of the intense persecution of the Shi'is at that time.
Hidden since birth, he reappeared at age of 6 to assert his claim to the Imamate, only to then disappear down a well to avoid the sad fate of his father and grandfather. For the next seventy years he maintained contact with his followers through a succession of four assistants, each known as Bab (Gate), Uthman al Amir; his son Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Uthman; Abu'l Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh an Nawbakhti; and Abu'l Husayn Ali ibn Muhammad as Samarri. The period when he used the 4 Babs as his form of contacting the Shi'is is known as the Lesser Occultation
On his deathbed in 941 CE, the fourth Bab, as Samarri produced a letter from the Imam stating that there should be no successor to as Samarri and that from that time forward the Mahdi would not be seen until he reappeared as champion of the faithful in the events leading to the Judgement Day. Therefore, after 941 CE there has been no earthly expression of the Imamate. This period is known as the Greater Occultation. However, it is still possible to seek the Twelfth Imam's advice or intercession by writing him a letter and leaving it at one of the Shi'i shrines. To explain the doctrine of the Occultation, Shi'i theologians draw an analogy to the idea of the sun being occulted by clouds. While the sun is out of sight, it still exists and warms the earth.
There is much that is miraculous associated with al Mahdi. The various traditions are rich in stories and are often contradictory. Tales range from speaking from the womb, growing at so astonishing a rate that he was full grown by age 6, being raised by birds and with the ability to appear and disappear at will.
While there was much controversy over the succession of the 12th Imam, as the Lesser Occultation proceeded, dissent gradually diminished. This can be attributed in part to the active support of the Caliphate for the institution of the Bab. Several opponents of the doctrine of the Occultation were executed and others were persecuted in various ways. Another factor explaining the acceptance of the Lesser Occultation, and by extension the Greater Occultation, was that due to the house arrest of the 10th and 11th Imams. Hence, most Shi'i were already accustomed to the idea of their Imam being hidden from their view.
In the time of the 10th and 11th Imams a network of wikala (agents) had developed to act as intermediaries between the Imam and his followers, handling money and carrying messages back and forth. In fact, Uthman al Amri, the first Bab of the 12th Imam had held the same position as head of the wikala under the 11th Imam. Therefore, for most Shi'i, there was not a significant change in their relation to their Imam after the death of the Eleventh Imam.
Some titles of the 12th Imam include: Sahib az Zaman (Master of the Age), Sahib al Amr (Master of Command), al Qa'im (the one to arise), Bagiyyat Allah (remnant of Allah) and Imam al Muntazar (the awaited Imam).
2006-09-18 23:54:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
12th Imam? havent heard of him and I am a muslim.
I only know of the 13 disciples of Christ. According to christians Jesus(pbuh) had tweve disciples but one of them(Judas) had the devil in him. Because of the 12 thrones in heaven which had to be occupied by his disciples to judge the children of israel(luke22:30)
I wonder who will fill the vacancy since Judas has devil in him or is he going to seat at the throne together with the rest? if yes, i can smell trouble for the children of Israel.
2006-09-18 23:44:59 · answer #4 · answered by shaawanat 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Apparently he is called Muhammad al Mahdi
and will descend to the earth during the time of the end!
Here is a link of the article!
2006-09-18 23:39:36 · answer #5 · answered by Mr Y! Answers 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes , Our flower. Nickname Mahdi , His father was 11th Imam and his mother was a queen (Rome caesar 's daughter).
He is anywhere but perfectly unknown.He is totally in protection of God.Only will appear with God's permission.
2006-09-18 23:47:22 · answer #6 · answered by First♥ 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
who shall fill the world with justice. This is IMAM MEHDI , God's true reason and proof for His servants. HE IS God's Remainder."
see also ...
http://www.shia.org/mehdi.html
2006-09-19 00:13:23 · answer #7 · answered by Akmal Zaidi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fiction.
2006-09-18 23:32:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i'm a muslim n i dont know wut a "12th imam" is..
i guess its something related to the Shia's...
2006-09-18 23:54:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
am muslim but i don't believe in him...
2006-09-18 23:33:01 · answer #10 · answered by Oma 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋