Ali Khamenei And The Hidden Imam

The main difference between these branches seems small at first glance, but it ultimately speaks volumes about how these two, largest branches of the Muslim faith view their relationship with God and the world around them. For the Shi’a, true spiritual leadership cannot come from the elections of men and women. It is only through God, and his greatest Prophet Muhammad, that leadership may be derived. As such, secular authority, particularly one derived from democracy, will always be inferior to a leader in the proper succession of Muhammad.

Here is where Shi’a eschatology becomes particularly interesting, and informative, concerning current politics in Iran. The succession of Imams, which follows Mohammad’s bloodline, is currently stalled out. It has not come to an end, though. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, the Twelfth Imam in the linage, became “occulted” in 872. Occultation is the belief that al-Hassan was born but has since disappeared from the visual world, at least as humans know it. Aside from being the last (though current) Imam, Shi’a believe that he is the Mahdi, an apocalyptic figure synonymous in various schools of Islam with the coming of Judgment Day. This figure will right injustices and bring about the formation of a Muslim Caliphate to rule the world in the end times.

Sunni Islam also believes that such a being as the Madhi will come, but his identity is not known. The Shi’a know who he is, though, as they believe that he never really left earth at all. This offers some interesting possibilities, particularly the chance that this Hidden Imam might be in communication with Shi’a religious leaders throughout history.