Imam Mahdi's Birthday

And say: "Truth has (now) arrived, and falsehood perished: for falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish." [1]

Imam Mahdi was born 15th of Shaban in year 255 Hejrah early in the morning at the Azan time in Sameraa. "Motamed Abbasi" who was the ruler of that time heard a lot about 12th Imam and his revolution which would eliminate cruel kingdoms and replace them with a divine government and he also knew that this Imam would be Imam Askari's son. So he put some spies in his house to report him Imam Mahdi's birthday and kill him. His act was like what Nimrod and Pharaoh wanted to do with Prophet Abraham and Prophet Moses and like both of them he couldn’t do it either. That was because God wants him alive, like those Prophets, his mother didn't look as a pregnant woman during her pregnancy period so his birth was clandestinely and he grew up in secret.

His birth story was written in both Shiite and Sunnite books [2] as this:

"Hakima Khatoon", who was Imam Askari's sister, was in Imam's house as a guest and prepared herself to leave there. Imam Askari told her to stay over and said: "Dear Aunt, Stay here tonight, because tonight a baby will be born who is darling near God and he'll bring dead earth to life". She asked who is his mother and Imam replied Narjes Khatoon. She went into house again and when saw Narjes Khatoon didn't seem as a pregnant woman, surprised and went back to Imam and told him about her wonder. Imam smiled at her and said: "Her pregnancy manifest to you by the morning, because Narjes is like Moses' mother who nobody find out that she was pregnant until the birth time, because Pharaoh incised and killed pregnant women to kill him. This boy is like Moses".

In the middle of the night Hakima woke up for Night Praying. After praying she found out that Narjes was sleeping and she made doubt about Imam's word, suddenly she heard Imam's telling her: "Don't be hurry! Fate is imminent!" She shied and started reciting Quran. A little bit later Narjes Khatoon woke up and performed ablution and start praying. Just before morning Azan, she found out about labor pain then Imam Mahdi who is promised of all Prophets and Imams and he would do what ever God has promised, was born with out any contamination. There was an Ayah writing on his right arm which came before at the beginning of this post.

He put his knee over ground and his face on the soil and while pointed to sky by his forefingers told:

I witness that there is no divinity except God who has no mate.

So he called Prophet Mohammad and all his grand fathers from Imam Ali till he reached his name and then told: "O God! Do what ever you promised me before and finish my job, determine me in my fight and make the Earth full of trust and justice by me."

Imam Askari told to his sister to cuddle the baby and brought him. The baby said Hello to his dad while he was in her aunt's arm. Imam took him and patted him and put his tongue in to his mouth and asked him to speak. Imam Mahdi replied with this Ayah:

And we wished to be gracious to those who were being depressed in the land, to make them leaders (in faith) and make them heirs. [3]

So start to confession to God's unification, Prophethood and all Imams until his dad. Hakima saw some birds flying over his head and one of them -with Imam's order- took him to sky and returned him after few days. She asked Imam about this bird and he replied: "He was Roh ol Ghodos who is the greatest angel and God order him to be with Imams and help them to success and train them knowledge". After his birth Imam Askari, base on Islamic tradition, dedicate [Aghighe] some sheep and distribute them with lots of bread in the Bani Hashem. [4]

Because Imam Mahdi's birth was in secret, Imam Askari wrote some letters to his Shiite and his deputy in different area and announced them his Birth. In a letter to "Ahmad bin Isaac Qomi" who was Imam's attorney in Qom, Imam wrote: "My son was born. Keep this news by yourself and don't tell to any one. We didn't tell this to any body but our family because of kinship and our friends because of friendship. We wanted to announce this to you, so you become happy like us." [5]

Also in several times while there was no spies at his house, Imam showed this baby to Shiites and introduce him as upcoming Imam. One time when about 40 Shiites went to visit him, Imam Askari went into house and brought out a handsome child and said he is your Imam. [6] And sometimes Imam committed him to answer their questions, thus they know him and believe him as Imam. In a case "Kamel bin Abraham" that was Imam's attorney in Medina went to Imam's house to ask some questions, Imam Mahdi who was 4 years old on that time and looked so handsome, told him his name, answered to his questions, before he asked them. [7]

O God! Assist his companions and despised his enemy, Amen.

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[1] Quran, Asraa, 81. [Back]
[2] "Kamal al Din", Sheykh Sadoogh, Chapter 42, also "Shavahed Al Nabova", Abdol Rahman Jami [Back]
[3] Quran, Ghesas, Ayah 5. [Back]
[4] "Kamal al Din", Pages 433 & 433. [Back]
[5] "Kamal al Din", Pages 434, Statement 16. [Back]
[6] "Esbat ol Hoda",Sheykh Hor Ameli, Pages 7, Statement 20. [Back]
[7] "Al Gheyba", Sheykh Toosi, Page 148. [Back]