Major Occultation

In Twelver Shia Islam, the Major Occultation (Arabic: الغيبة الكبرى, al-Ghayba al-Kubrā) (329 AH–present; 941 CE–present) is the second occultation of the Hidden Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, which is expected to continue until his rise at the end times to establish peace and justice on earth. Although Sunni and Shia Muslims differ slightly in their interpretation of him, most Muslims believe in the figure of Mahdi owing to the numerous prophetical traditions in canonical Sunni and Shia hadith mentioning him. The Major Occultation began in 329 AH (941 CE) with the death of the fourth successive agent of the Hidden Imam, Abu al-Hasan al-Samarri, marking the end of the Minor Occultation (260-329 AH, 874-941 CE). Shortly before his death, al-Samarri received a letter from the Hidden Imam, which predicted his imminent death, ordered him not to designate a successor, and announced the beginning of the complete occultation, in which there would be no agent. He is believed by Twelver Shia Muslims to remain responsible for the affairs of men and their inward spiritual guidance during the occultation. The concept of occultation was already present among Muslims in the 7th century since the Kaysanites who believed Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya was the Mahdi. After his death in 700, some Kaysanites thought he had entered occultation until his reappearance. The Twelver theory of occultation crystallized during the first half of the tenth century AD, drawing on both rational and textual arguments. It holds that the life of Muhammad al-Mahdi has been miraculously prolonged and that the Earth cannot be devoid of God's highest proof. In the absence of the Hidden Imam, the leadership vacuum was gradually filled by faqīh jurists. It is popularly held that the Hidden Imam occasionally appears to pious individuals. Accounts of such encounters are numerous and widespread. Every year, millions...