Occultation in one sense is the central theme of Shia Islam. This occultation occurred two phases. After his disappearance, the Mahdi, so we are told, went, through two periods of concealment. The first, lasting until H. 328, A.D. 939, and designated al-ghayba al-sughra, ‘Minor Cocealment’, was when he communicated to the community through special representatives. Then followed the second and longer concealment, al-ghayba al-kubra, during which his followers were shut off from any kind of communication and adviced not to inquire about things, and which will continue until he returns at the End of the World. This return will be preceded by a long period of chaos and degeneracy, to continue with increasing intensity until evil, falsehood and wickedness dominate the earth. The disintegration is to be complete and universal, and will be characterized by political unrest, immorality, falsehood and a total disregard for the principles of religion. Nature will also manifest similar signs of disorder and chaos. Then, in the final stage of this total disintegration, the Mahdi will reappear, and he will usher in a new era of restoration. Once here, he will reign for a period of seven years, each year equating ten of our years. Then, at the end of his 70 years of reign, the Mahdi will die and forty days later his resurrection will follow.
Occulted Imam, Shia Islam and Imamology
