The last Imam of the Shiites and the twelfth successor of the Messenger of God (PBUH) was born in Samarra, a city in Iraq, at dawn on Friday, the middle of Sha’ban, 868 A.D.
His noble father was the 11th Shiite leader, Imam Hassan Askari (PBUH), and his noble mother was a lady named “Narjis” about whose nationality there are different narrations. According to a tradition, she was the daughter of Joshua, the son of the Roman emperor, and her mother was from the lineage of Shimon, the guardian of Jesus (PBUH). According to this tradition, Narjis converted to Islam after a strange dream, and under the guidance of Imam al-Askari (PBUH), she placed herself among the Roman army that was heading to fight the Muslims, and was captured by the Islamic army along with another group. Imam Hadi (PBUH) sent someone to buy her and bring her to Samarra.
Other traditions have also been narrated, but what is important and noteworthy is that Narjis (PBUH) spent some time in the house of Hakima Khatun, one of the noble sisters of Imam Hadi (PBUH), and was educated and raised by her, and was greatly respected by Hakima Khatun.
Narjis (PBUH) is the lady who was praised in the words of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (PBUH), and Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (PBUH), and she was mentioned as the best serving maid.
It is worth mentioning that the mother of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), was also called by other names such as Sawsan, Rayhana, and Malika.
Name, Nickname, and Titles
The name and nickname of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) are the same as the name and nickname of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his family), and in some narrations, it is forbidden to use his name until the time of his reappearance.
His famous nicknames include: Mahdi, Qaim, Muntazar, Baqiyatullah, Hujjat, Khalaf Salih, Mansur, Sahib al-Amr, Sahib al-Zaman, and Wali Asr, the most famous of which is “Mahdi.”
Each of these nicknames express a special message about that noble figure.
That Imam is called “Mahdi” because he is the guided one who calls people to the truth, and Qaim because he will rise up for the truth, and Muntazar for the reason that everyone is waiting for his reappearance, and he is called “Baqiyyat Allah” because he is the remnant of God’s proofs and the last divine reserve.
“Hujjat” means God’s witness over creation, and “Khalaf Salih” means the worthy successor of Friends of God. He is “Mansur” because he is helped by God, and “Sahib al-Amr” because the task of establishing a government of divine justice is his responsibility. “Sahib al-Zaman and Wali al-Asr” also means that he is the sole ruler of the time.
The life of Imam Mahdi includes three periods:
1. The period of life in disguise: His hidden life includes since the time of his birth until the martyrdom of Imam al-Askari (PBUH).
2. The period of occultation: It began from the time of the martyrdom of the eleventh Imam until Imam Mahdi reappears by the will of God.
3. The Age of The Emergence of Imam Mahdi: After the period of occultation has passed and by the will of Allah Almighty, the twelfth Imam (PBUH) will reappear and fill the world with goodness and justice. No one knows the time of reappearance of the promised Mahdi (PBUH), and it has been narrated from himself that those who set a time for his reappearance are liars.
