Twelver eschatology is dominated by the figure of the twelfth
Imam,
Muhammad al-Mahdi, the son of the
eleventh Imam. The twelfth Imam is also known by the titles al-Mahdi (), al-Qa'im (), and Saheb al-Zaman (). It is believed that he was born around 868, and has been concealed by God from the humanity after the death of his father in 874, who was possibly poisoned by the Abbasids. During the
Minor Occultation (874–941), it is held that the twelfth Imam remained in contact with his followers through
Four Deputies. During the
Major Occultation (941-present), his life has been prolonged by divine will until the day he manifests himself again by God's permission to fill the earth with justice. In particular, there is no direct communication during the Major Occultation, though it is popularly held that the twelfth Imam occasionally appears to the pious in person or, more commonly, in dreams and visions. He is also viewed responsible in Twelver belief for the inward spiritual guidance of humankind (whereas his outward role begins with his
reappearance).
Identification with the Mahdi As early as the
Minor Occultation (874–941), or possibly much earlier, Twelver sources identify the twelfth Imam with the messianic figure of
Mahdi in Islam, though he is often referred to as al-Qa'im and less frequently as al-Mahdi. Al-Nu'mani, for instance, lived during the Minor Occultation and preferred the title al-Qa'im to al-Mahdi in his writings or joined the two as "al-Qa'im al-Mahdi." There is also a tradition ascribed to
Ja'far al-Sadiq (), the sixth Imam, which explicitly identifies the promised al-Mahdi with al-Qa'im, which might indicate some confusion among the Shia about this.
Significance is also often contrasted with (), in reference to those Imams who remained politically quiescent, especially the sixth Imam and his successors. At the same time, some traditions emphasize that every imam is the of his own age ().
Sachedina notes that the titles al-Qa'im has more of a political emphasis than the eschatological title al-Mahdi. More specifically, the title al-Qa'im signifies the rise of the twelfth Imam against tyranny, though a () hadith from Ja'far al-Sadiq connects this title to the rise of al-Qa'im after his death. As a hadith, this report is not viewed as reliable by experts, writes
Majlesi, especially because it contradicts the Twelver belief that the earth cannot be void of Imam at any time, as the (). Majlesi instead suggests that death is meant figuratively in this hadith, referring to the forgotten memory of al-Qa'im after his long occultation.
Alternate use While the title itself is for Messianic use some Shia scholars ascribed it to Imam Sadiq, according to some traditions narrated from his father in al Kafi Imam Baqir said about him : By God this is Qaim āl Muhammad. Some scholars like
Ali Khamenei in his book,
A 250 Years Old Person said : that this title is about his rising in his time to spread religion by peace and this was similar to the Messianic rising of Imam Mahdi to spread religion by sword for that Imam Sadiq is Qaim āl Muhammad fī zamānihi. However In Imam Sadiq time many saw him as a Messianic figure in Rijāl al Kashi, Manaqib and al Kafi even some historical sources some of his companions wanted to rise by his name in Kufa and Khurasan even Abu Muslim and Abu Salamah wanted to plege alleigience to him instead of Abbasids however He never claimed to be a Messianic figure and refused political uprising or Caliphate or even Alleigence. == Isma'ilism ==