The name of the Holy Imam (a.s.) was same as that of his respected great grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S). The Holy Prophet (S) saved the people from deviation and his grandson and last of the twelve successors is also the savior of humanity. Historians and tradition reporters are unanimous that his holy great grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S), selected this name for him.

The Holy Imam is endowed with numerous titles, some of which are as follows:

1. Mahdi

It is the most popular and well-known title of the Holy Imam (a.s.). It is due to the fact that he would guide the people in truth and in every concealed affair. That is why he is given the title of “Mahdi”. The same title was once accorded to the Messenger of Allah (S).

The distinguished poet, Hisaan bin Thabit has worded the following couplet at the tragedy of passing away of the Holy Prophet (S):

“What has happened to my eyes that I cannot sleep
As if in my eyes is the Kohl of sleeplessness.”

In the same way, the Prophet of Allah (S) says in his supplication,

“O Allah, embellish me with the embellishment of faith. O Allah! Make me of the guided ones.”

This title was also associated with Imam Hasan (a.s.). Sulaiman bin Sard, one of the prominent penitents of Kufa says, “O Allah, have mercy on Hasan, the martyr, son of the martyr, the Mahdi, son of the Mahdi.”

However, this honorific is specially associated with the Awaited Imam (a.s.) in such a way that its application to any other personality is very rare and any reference to it is without fail associated with Imam Mahdi (a.s.) as mentioned by Ibn Manzoor and Zubaidi, the well known lexicographers and experts of Arabic.

2. Qaim (One who rises)

This is also a title of the Holy Imam Mahdi (a.s.). It is due to the fact that he would arise for truth. And he is also referred to as the Qaim of the Progeny of Muhammad (S).

3. Muntazar (The Awaited one)

As the believers are patiently waiting for his reappearance.

4. Hujjat (Proof)

This is because he is the Proof of Almighty God upon His creatures and servants.

5. Khalaf al-Salih (the best and the righteous Successor)

Because he is the heir of the greatest families of the Islamic world.

It is a confirmed fact that the Prophet of Islam (S) had designated, Abu Abdillah as the agnomen of his last successor, the Awaited Imam (a.s.). It is also said that the agnomen of the Holy Imam (a.s.) is Abu Jafar and Abul Qasim.

The birth of His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s.), the great reformer of humanity is said to have been in the year 255 A.H. and the year 232 all is also mentioned in this regard.

The Qaim of the Progeny of Muhammad (S) was born on the blessed night of the 15th of the month of Shaban al-Moazzam. It is the most holy night and it is mentioned in some traditions and narrations that the night of Power (Shab al-Qadr) is this very night. And that all affairs are appointed on this night. On this night, the Ziyarat (visitation) of the father of the independent ones and the beloved of the Messenger of Allah (S), the chief of the martyrs, Imam Husain (a.s.) is recommended.

Supplications and recitals of prayers quoted from the Imams of guidance are recommended on the night of the auspicious birth of the Awaited Imam (a.s.). And the following supplication is recommended:

allahumma bihaqqi laylatina hadhihi wa mawludiha
wa hujjtika wa maw`udiha
allaty qaranta ila fadliha fadlan
fatammt kalimatuka sidqan wa `adlan
la mubaddla likalimatika
wa la mu`aqqba li-ayatika
nuruka almutalliqu
wa diyau´uka almushriqu
wal-`alamu alnnuru fi takhya‘i alddayjuri
algha’ibu almasturu
jalla mawliduhu wa karuma mahtiduhu
wal-mala’ikatu shuhhaduhu
wallahu nasiruhu wa mu´ayyduhu
idha ana mi`aduhu wal-mala’ikatu amdaduhu
sayfu allahi alladhy la yanbu
wa nuruhu alladhy la yakhbu
wa dhu alhilmi alladhy la yasbu
madaru alddhri
wa nawamisu al`asri
wa wulatu alamri
wal-munazzalu `alayhim ma yatanazzalu fi laylati alqadri
wa ashabu alhashri wal-nnashri
tarajimatu wahyihi
wa wulatu amrihi wa nahiihi
allahumma fasalli `ala khatimihim wa qa’imihim
almasturi `an `awalimihim
allahumma wa adrik bina ayyamahu
wa ¨uhurahu wa qiyamahu
waj`alna min ansarihi
waqrin tha’rana bitha’rihi
waktubna fi a`wanihi wa khulasa’ihi
wa ahiina fi dawlatihi na`imina
wa bisuhbatihi ghanimina
wa bihaqqhi qa’imina
wa mina alssu‘I salimina
ya arhama alrrahimina
walhamdu lillahi rabbi al`alamina
wa salawatuhu `ala sayydina muhammadin
khatami alnnabiyyina wal-mursalina
wa `ala ahli baytihi alssadiqina
wa `itratihi alnnatiqina
wal-`an jami`a al¨¨alimina
wahkum baynana wa baynahum
ya ahkama alhakimina

O Allah: I beseech You in the name of this night and in the name of him whom was born at it
and in the name of Your Argument and in the name of Your promise in it,
the night that You have added a new merit to its many merits
So, Your Word has been accomplished truly and fairly;
no one can change Your words,
nor obscure Your signs,
(He is) Your glowing Light
and Your bring splendor
and the luminous sign in the obscurity of darkness
and the absent and the concealed,
Lofty is his birth and noble is his lineage
and the angels are his witnesses
and Allah is his Supporter and Backer
when his time comes and the angels shall be his sponsors;
(He shall act as) the sword of Allah that shall never miss the target,
and His light that shall never be extinguished
And the forbearing person who shall never deviate the truth.
and the motive and reason of the course of events,
and the one for whom the laws of ages have been made
and (one of) the men of authority
who receive that which is revealed on the Grand Night.
and the managers of the Resurrection and the Account;
(They are) the interpreters of His revelations
and in charge of what is deemed lawful and what is deemed unlawful by Him.
O Allah: send blessings on their seal and their Riser
whom is hidden from their world.
O Allah: (please) make us causes for the coming of him,
and causes for his advent and reappearance
and (please) include us with his supporters
and join our vengeance to his
and decide us to be among his assistants and retinue.
and make us live in bliss in his reign,
and make us win the ecstasy of his companionship,
and make us of those who carry out our duty toward him,
and save us from evil.
O the most Merciful of all those who show mercy.
All praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
His blessings be upon our master, Muhammad
the seal of the Prophets and the Messengers,
and upon his Household, the veracious,
and his offspring, the spokespersons of the truth,
and curse all the wrongdoers
and judge between them and us
O the Most Just of all judges.

The night of the birth of the Qaim of the Progeny of Muhammad (S) is considered as the holiest and the greatest night in the view of Islam. On this night was born the one who would establish justice and equity and eradicate injustice and oppression and he will destroy every falsehood and false deities.

Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) initiated training so that the sincere Shias and his good friends may recognize His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s.) in such a way that none could deny or have doubts about him.

Muawiyah Ibn Hakim, Muhammad Ibn Ayyub and Muhammad Ibn Uthman, each of them have separately narrated that His Eminence, Abu Muhammad Hasan Askari (a.s.) acquainted us, forty persons, with his newborn son, His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s.), while we were present at his house. He said: “This son of mine is my Imam and Caliph for you after me. Obey him and after me do not become disunited in your religion, that you be destroyed. But you should know that, after this, you will not see him…”

Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) completed the argument upon them and acquainted them with the Imam of their time so that they may be testifiers of truth and that they may convey to others what they had witnessed.