Table of Contents

Transliteration Preface 1. Introduction: The Islamic Messiah, Al-Mahdi 2. The Twelver Messianic Imam, Al-Qa'Im Al-Mahdi 3. The Occultation of the Imamate Mahdi 4. The Imamate of the Hidden Imam 5. The Return of the Mahdi 6. Conclusion Appendix: Index of the Imam and the Imamate in al-Kulayni's Kitab al-hujja in al-Kafi Glossary Chart: The Imamite Imams Notes Selected Bibliography and Abbreviations Index

About the Author

Abdulaziz Abdulhussein Sachedina is Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia.