WHAT IS THE OPINION OF THE SCHOLARS REGARDING THE BIRTH OF IMAM MAHDI (AJTF) AS THE SON OF IMAM HASSAN ASKARI (AS)?

[Taqavi]

What is the opinion of the scholars regarding the birth of Imam Mahdi (ajtf) as the son of Imam Hassan Askari (AS)?

 

Considering the numerous and frequent narrations[1] and the encounters of some Shia scholars with Imam Mahdi (ajtf),[2] it can be said that the birth of Imam Mahdi (ajtf) is a consensus and a necessity of the Shia religion, as Kulayni clearly writes: " Imam Mahdi (ajtf) was born in the middle of Sha'ban in the year 255 A.H."[3]

Sheikh Mufid also states that the Imam succeeding Imam Abu Muhammad (AS) was his son, who shared the same name and nickname as the Prophet (SAW). Imam Hassan Askari (AS) did not have any other children, and Imam Mahdi's (ajtf) succession was accompanied by his absence. His birth occurred in the middle of Sha'ban in the year 255 A.H.[4]

Other Shia scholars such as Sheikh Saduq[5], Syed Murtaza,[6] Sheikh Tusi,[7] Allameh Majlisi,[8] and Allameh Tabatabai[9] have also emphasized this belief.

However, the belief in the birth of Imam Mahdi (ajtf) is a disputed issue among Sunni Muslims. Some Sunni scholars deny the birth of Imam Mahdi (ajtf), such as Abd al-Muhsin al-Abbad, a professor at the University of Medina, who says: According to Sunni belief, Mahdi (ajtf) is a leader among the Muslims who will spread justice and implement Islamic law. He will be born in the end times and will lead the Muslims.[10]

Nasir al-Qaffari is also one of those who denies the birth of Imam Mahdi (ajtf) and believes that this belief in Imam Mahdi (ajtf) is derived from the Zoroastrians.[11]

But the majority of Sunni scholars have explicitly acknowledged his birth. They also agree with the Shia that Imam Mahdi is the son of Imam Askari (AS). However, some groups also accept him as the promised Mahdi (ajtf), such as;

Shams al-Din Abu al-Muzaffar popularly known as Sibṭ ibn al-Jawzī (died in 654 A.H.) said:

"He is Mohammed, son of Hassan, son of Ali, son of Mohammed, son of Ali, son of Musa al-Ridha, son of Jafar, son of Mohammed, son of Ali, son of Hussein, son of Ali, son of Abu Talib, and his name is Aba Abdullah and Aba al-Qasim. He is the guardian, the proof, the ruler of the time, the expected Mahdi, and he is the last Imam. Abdul Aziz ibn Mahmoud ibn Bazaz informed us of Ibn Umar who said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: In the end times, a man from my tribe will appear, whose name is similar to mine, and he will fill the earth with justice and peace in a time filled with oppression."[12]

Ibn Sabbagh:

Nur al-Din Ali bin Muhammad bin Sabbagh Maliki (died in 855 A.H.) mentions about Imam Askari (AS): Abu Muhammad al-Hasan was succeeded by his son the expected al-Qaim (Mahdi), and due to the king's fear and the pressure of the condition at that time, he hid his son's birth.[13]

Ganji Shafi'i presents different evidence supporting the being alive of Imam Mahdi (ajtf) being alive.[14] Abdul Wahab Shearani Hanafi,[15] Muhammad bin Talha Shafi'i,[16] Sheikh Suleiman Hanafi,[17] Nooruddin Abdul Rahman Jami Hanafi,[18] Qazi Bahlul Behjat Effendi,[19] Sadruddin Hamoini,[20] Sheikh Fariduddin Attar Neishaburi, Jalaluddin Rumi[21] and Ahmad bin Yusuf Abu al-Abbas Qormani Hanafi[22] share similar beliefs.

Many other people have believed that a child named Mahdi (ajtf) was born to Imam Hasan Askari (AS), but they doubted whether it was the Promised Mahdi (ajtf) and considered his being Mahdi (ajtf) to be a Shiite belief, such as Ibn Khallikan, who believed that a child was born to Imam Hasan Askari (AS),[23] Shams al-Din Dhahabi,[24] Ibn Hajar Haythami,[25] and Izza al-Din Ibn Athir[26] have also expressed similar words.

It is understood from the above discussions that a significant number of Sunni scholars believe in the birth of a son for Imam Hasan Askari (AS), and some even believe that his son is the promised Mahdi (ajtf).

 

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[1] . Al-Kafi: Al-Sheikh Al-Kulayni. Vol: 1 P: 328. / Al-Irshad: Al-Sheikh Al-Mufid. Vol: 2 P: 348. / Al-Ghaybah: Al-Sheikh Al-Tusi. Vol: 1 P: 232.

[2] . Kamal Al-Din wa Tamam Al-Ni'mah: Al-Sheikh Al-Saduq. Vol: 2 P: 434.

[3] . Al-Kafi: Al-Sheikh Al-Kulayni, Vol. 1, p. 514.

[4] . Al-Irshad: Al-Sheikh Al-Mufid. Vol. 2, p. 339.

[5] . Kamal Al-Din wa Tamam Al-Ni'mah: Al-Sheikh Al-Saduq, Vol. 2, p. 430.

[6] . Tanziyul Anbiya: 'Ilam Al-Hoda, Sayyid Murtadha, p. 180.

[7] . Al-Ghaybah: Al-Sheikh Al-Tusi, Vol. 1, p. 239.

[8] . Bihar Al-Anwar: Al-'Allama Al-Majlisi, Vol: 51 P: 2.

[9] . Shi'ah Dar Islam: Tabatabai, Muhammad Husayn, p. 230.

[10] . Al-Radd 'ala Man Kadhab bi Al-Ahadith Al-Sahihah Al-Warridah fi Al-Mahdi: Al-'Ibad, Abdul Muhsin, Vol: 45 P: 301.

[11] . Usul Madhab Al-Shi'ah Al-Imamiyyah Al-Ithna 'Ashariyah: Al-Qaffari, Nasser, Vol: 2 P: 907.

[12] . Tadhkirat Al-Khawas Min Al-Ummah bi Dhikr Khasais Al-A'immah: Sibṭ ibn al-Jawzī, Vol: 2 P: 506.

[13] . Al-Fusul Al-Muhimah fi Ma'rifat Al-A'immah: Al-Maliki Al-Makki, Ali bin Muhammad bin Ahmad, Vol: 2 P: 1091.

[14] . Al-Bayan fi Akhbar Sahib Al-Zaman: Al-Ganji Al-Shafi'i, Muhammad bin Yusuf, Vol: 1 P: 521.

[15] . Al-Yawaqit wal-Jawahir fi Bayan 'Aqaid Al-Akabir: Abdul Wahhab bin Ahmad bin Ali Al-Hanafi Al-Sharani, Vol. 2, p. 127.

[16] . Matalib Al-Su'ul fi Manaqib Al Al-Rasul: Al-Nasaibi Al-Shafi'i, Muhammad bin Talha, Vol: 1, p: 312.

[17] . Yanaibul Mawaddah Lil Dhawi Al-Qurba: Al-Qunduzi Al-Hanafi, Sulaiman bin Ibrahim, Vol. 3, p. 323.

[18] . Shawahid Al-Nubuwwah: Nur Al-Din 'Abd al-Rahman Jami Hanafi, p. 404.

[19] . Al-Muhakamah fi Tarikh Al Al Muhammad (SAW): Qadi Bahlul Bahjat Afandi, p. 246.

[20] . Fara'id Al-Samtayn fi Fada'il Al Murtadha wa Al-Batul wa Al-Sibtayn wa Al-A'imah min Dhurriyyatihim (AS): Ibrahim bin Sa'ad Al-Din Shafi'i, Vol. 2, p. 134, (Chapter 31 on the infallibility of the Imams from the progeny of Muhammad).

[21] . Yanabil Al-Mawaddah Lil Dhu Al-Qurbah: Sulaiman bin Ibrahim al-Qunduzi, Vol. 3, p. 349-352, (Chapter 87 on mentioning some poems of the People of God praising the Twelve Imams (AS)).

[22] . Akhbar Al-Dawal wa Athar Al-Awwal fi Al-Tarikh: Ahmad bin Yusuf Abu Al-Abbas Qormani, Vol. 1, p. 353.

[23] . Wafayat al-A'yan wa Anba' ibn al-Zaman: Ibn Khallikan, Abu Al-Abbas Shams al-Din Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, Vol. 4, p. 176.

[24] . Tarikh Al-Islam wa Wafayat Al-Mashaheer wa Al-A'lam: Dhahabi, Shams al-Din Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Uthman, Vol. 19, p. 79.

[25] . Al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah: Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami, Abu Al-Abbas Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Ali, Vol. 2, p. 601.

[26] . Al-Kamil fi Al-Tarikh: Ibn Al-Athir, 'Izz al-Din, Vol: 6 P: 320.