Imam Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Mahdi (a): Difference between revisions

===Prohibition of Mentioning his Name===

There are many hadiths in Shiite sources according to which it is forbidden to mention the Twelfth Imam's (a) real name.<ref>Ṭabasī, ''Tā ẓuhūr'', vol. 1, p. 44.</ref> There are two well-known theories about these hadiths: the first view, which is propounded by scholars such as [[al-Sayyid al-Murtada]], [[al-Fadil al-Miqdad]], [[al-Muhaqqiq al-Hilli]], and others, restricts the ban to the period in which the Shi'as had to practice [[Taqiyya]] (dissimulation). However, [[Mir Damad]] and [[al-Muhaddith al-Nuri]] take the ban to be in force before the [[Reappearance]].<ref>Riyshahrī, ''Dānishnāma-yi Imām Mahdī'', vol. 2, p. 311.</ref>

===Kunyas and Titles===

In different sources, supplications, and [[ziyaras]], the Twelfth Imam of the Shi'as is characterized with different [[kunyas]] and titles, the best-known of which are: al-Mahdi ({{ia|المَهدی}}, guided), Ṣāḥib al-Zamān ({{ia|صاحب الزمان}}, the owner of the time), Muntaẓar ({{ia|مُنتَظَر}}, expected), Baqīyyat Allāh ({{ia|بَقیّة الله}}, what remains with [[Allah]]), Muntaqim ({{ia|مُنتَقِم}}, avenger), Maw'ūd ({{ia|مَوعود}}, promised), Khātam al-Awṣīyā' ({{ia|خاتَم الأوصیاء}}, the last successor), Ghā'ib ({{ia|غائب}}, hidden), Ma'mūl ({{ia|مأمول}}, hoped), and Muḍṭarr ({{ia|مُضطرّ}}, distressed). Another well-known title of Imam al-Zaman (a) is "Qa'im" ({{ia|قائم}}, upriser or standing) upon the hearing of which the Shi'as stand up and put their hands on their heads, as practiced by [[Imam al-Rida (a)]].<ref>Ṭabrisī al-Nūrī, ''al-Najm al-thāqib'', vol. 1, p. 165-269.</ref>