By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz
     
The Ninth of Rabi al-Awwal is a very auspicious day. It marks the start of the mission of the 12th and Last Divinely Designated Heir of the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). 
He is the Prophet’s namesake, and was a boy of only five years when orphaned the day before on the 8th of Rabi al-Awwal, in the year 260 AH ( 874 AD) in the Iraqi city of Samarra on the martyrdom through poisoning of his father, Imam Hasan Askari (AS). 
The Divine mantle of imamate came to rest on his tender shoulders under circumstances when the self-styled caliph of the usurper Abbasid regime, after assassinating his father, wanted to find him, and if possible murder him. 
The Almighty, however, has His own plans. The Power that granted prophethood to Jesus (AS), while still a boy in the cradle and saved him from the conspiracies of the Israelites, decreed the safety of the Five-Year Old Boy. 
Orphaned at such a tender age, Divine Providence Willed that his imamate continue in the state of occultation. Thus, started the “Ghaybat as-Sughra” (Minor Occultation) of the Twelfth Infallible Imam. Who during this period of several decades was in contact with the most reliable and trusted of his followers. This was the well-organized system of “wikala” that guaranteed guidance for the seekers of truth.
He then, on Divine Commandment, went into Major Occultation (Ghaybat al-Kubra) that continues to this day, until the Almighty Decrees his reappearance as Qa’em al-Mahdi in the end times to cleanse the Planet of all vestiges of oppression and corruption by establishing the global government of peace, prosperity, and justice. 
This was, and is, a trial for humanity, both for the believers and doubters. For the believers to firm up their faith, that no propaganda of the faithless, no plot of hypocrites, and no treason of the Takfiris could undermine. 
For the skeptics, a respite and opportunity to reform themselves and rectify their beliefs, by availing of the long and lengthy period of God’s Grace, even though the enemies of humanity leave no stone unturned in their devilish efforts.  
The One promised by Allah, foretold by the Messenger of Mercy – as both Shi’a and Sunni sources of hadith testify – and expected in all religions as the Deliverer of humanity, will indeed reappear when the world would be brimming with violence, bloodshed, treachery, and all sorts of injustices – as the trend of events of our times indicates.
He will make his advent at the holy Ka’ba, the Symbolic House of the One and Only Creator. He will stand between the Rukn al-Yamaani and the Maqaam al-Ibrahim (or the Station of Prophet Abraham), and call five times for redemption of justice, that is, Isteghasa or appeal in the Divine Court for help.
The 1st phrase of his Isteghasa would be: “Know O’ people of the world! I am Imam al-Qa’em.”
The 2nd phrase of the Imam’s Isteghas would be: “Know O’ people of the world! I am the Avenging Sword.”
 Here some questions arise. For whose innocent blood will Imam Mahdi (AS) will be the “Avenging Sword”? Who was the person whom beasts in human form brutally martyred? For whom do the faithful continue to shed tears, while making pilgrimage to his shrine, even at the risk posed to their life by the dastardly devils of every deviationist doctrine, such as the US regime, the Zionists, the Wahhabis, the Salafis, the cannibalistic Takfiris, and all sorts of terrorists and traitors?
The answers to these questions are provided in the 3rd, 4th and 5th phrases of the Isteghatha of Imam Mahdi (AS), who will proclaim from the precincts of the holy Ka’ba: 
“Know O’ people of the world! Indeed my ancestor [Imam] Husain was slain in the state of acute thirst.”
The next phrase would be: “Know O’ people of the world! Surely, my ancestor [Imam] Husain lay bare without a shroud or burial.”
The last phrase of the Isteghasa of Imam Mahdi (AS) 
on his reappearance at the holy Ka’ba would be: “Know O’ people of the world! The bare body of my ancestor [Imam] Husain was trampled [by the Omayyad horsemen].”
True believers from all over the world will rally to the Imam’s call on his reappearance, which would be preceded by five definite signs, according to a statement from the Prophet’s 6th Infallible Heir, Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS), who says:
“Before the uprising of Imam Mahdi (AS) there will be five certain signs: (uprisings of) the Yemeni, the Sufyani, the call from the sky, martyrdom of Nafs Zakiyyah (or the pure soul) and the rift in the desert (where the earth will swallow an army sent to Hijaz by the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt)”.
This hadith is ample proof that the Arabian Peninsula will be cleared of the evil presence of the Wahhabis, who masquerade as Muslims in order to destroy the spirit of Islam through their collaboration with the US and the Zionists, and their open enmity with the followers of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt. 
Another point to note is the Islamic Revolution in Yemen and preparation of Yemeni Muslims for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AS), along with the flags of the east from Khorasan (Iran) that will converge on Iraq to save the country from the bloody hordes of Sufyani, who would be unleashing bloodbaths in Syria. 
Imam Mahdi (AS) will arrive in Iraq to save the people from the sedition of the Sufyani and his bloodthirsty invaders from Syria.
The Mahdi (AS) will have as his lieutenant Prophet Jesus (AS) – who will also reappear and disown Christianity. This means, most of the Europeans and Americans, having rid themselves of the despots in the White House and the despicable Zionists, will then become God-fearing believers, receptive to the universal mission of Islam.
No wonder, the 12th Imam of the Infallible Progeny of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), had as his mother the spotlessly pure lady, Narjes, a granddaughter of the Byzantine emperor and a direct descendant through her mother of Simeon, one of the 12 disciples of the Virgin-born Messiah.  
“O Allah make him the refuge for Your oppressed servants and a helper for him who has no other helper besides You and the reviver of the commandments in Your book which has been neglected and the strengthener of the sciences in Your religion and the way of Your Prophet – may Allah’s blessing be upon him and his progeny.”
“O Allah, enable us to witness his days, his appearance and his rising, and appoint us to be among his helpers, avenging the martyrs alongside him. Write us among his supporters and dedicated friends; bring us to life in his reign, prosperous, enriched by his company, defending his cause, and secure from all ills, O Most Merciful of the merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, and may His blessings be on our master, Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and on his Progeny, the truthful ones; (O God), may Your curse be on all oppressors!”