He is the promised savior, who will rise one day and fill the earth with peace and justice. Imam al-Mahdi (a) has been in occultation from the early years of his life. Shi'as regard him as the Imam of the present age. Among his well-known titles are Imam al-Zaman (the Imam of the time) and Wali l-Asr (the guardian of the age).

Imam al-Mahdi (a) became the Imam after the demise of his father Imam al-Hasan al-Askari (a) , when he was five. He was in contact with his followers through his Four Deputies. After that, his Major Occultation started, in which period the direct guidance and leadership of the Shi'a community rests with religious scholars.