 almost nothing is known about the life of the twelfth Imam. Some even cast doubt on his existence. This is because Abbasids were crushing every revolt of Alids which caused al-Askari to hide the child's birth on 255/868 and just close companions get informed of the birth. However, this belief has long been criticized. Critics say the occultation of the 12th Imam "became subsequent orthodox doctrine" after none of the competing theories that sought to explain the succession to a childless 11th Imam "seemed satisfactory". According to Bernard Lewis with each new leader "who disappeared and did not return", this belief was "enriched" and became more detailed and "essential" as a "feature of Shia Islam."

According to Wilferd Madelung, however, the doctrine of the Occultation was well-documented by traditions of the Imams before the occultation of the Twelfth Imam whom the majority of the Imamiyya came to consider as the Mahdi after the death of the eleventh. Sachedina also states that the idea of the eschatalogical Qa'im who would rise after going to occultation was mentioned by fifth and sixth Imams, Muhammad al-Baqir and Ja'far al-Sadiq, at various times when the two were approached by their followers and assured them of their support, if they wanted to rise against the existing regime.
 
After the greater occultation, the role of Imam as the head of community left vacant, which did not theoretically matter at the beginning of Occultation because Shias had no political power at that time. However, when Shia states arose in later centuries, since the hidden Imam was alive and was the leader of Muslims, the role of the Shia states among Shia communities was in question. This problem has caused continuing tension between government and religion throughout Shia history.

Predictions
According to Madelung the doctrine of the Occultation was well-documented by traditions of the Imams before the occultation of the Twelfth Imam. The future arrival of the Mahdi constitutes the most frequent of the imams' predictions. Kulayni and Numani each dedicated an entire chapter to it, and Ibn Babawayh devoted thirteen chapters to the predictions of the Prophet.

In a Hadith upon whose authenticity everyone agrees, Muhammad has said, "If there were to remain in the life of
almost nothing is known about the life of the twelfth Imam. Some even cast doubt on his being. This is because Abbasids were beat every revolt of Alids which caused al - Askari to hide the child's parentage on 255/868 and just close companion get informed of the birth. However, this impression has long been knock. Critics read the occultation of the 12th Imam " become subsequent orthodox doctrine " after none of the compete theories that sought to excuse the succession to a childless 11th Imam " seem satisfactory ". harmonize to Bernard Lewis with each new leader " who disappeared and did not retort ", this belief was " enriched " and became more detailed and " essential " as a " feature of Shia Islam. " 

 harmonize to Wilferd Madelung, however, the doctrine of the Occultation was well - documented by traditions of the Imams before the occultation of the Twelfth Imam whom the majority of the Imamiyya came to consider as the Mahdi after the end of the eleventh. Sachedina also states that the idea of the eschatalogical Qa'im who would rise after going to occultation was mention by fifth and sixth Imams, Muhammad al - Baqir and Ja'far al - Sadiq, at various times when the two were approached by their followers and assured them of their support, if they wanted to rise against the existing regime. 
 
 After the great occultation, the role of Imam as the headway of residential district leave vacant, which did not theoretically matter at the beginning of Occultation because Shias had no political office at that meter. However, when Shia states arose in late centuries, since the hidden Imam was alive and was the leader of Muslims, the role of the Shia states among Shia community was in question. This problem has caused continuing latent hostility between government and religion throughout Shia history. 

 prediction 
 harmonize to Madelung the doctrine of the Occultation was well - documented by traditions of the Imams before the occultation of the Twelfth Imam. The future arrival of the Mahdi constitutes the about frequent of the imams' predictions. Kulayni and Numani each dedicated an entire chapter to it, and Ibn Babawayh devoted thirteen chapters to the predictions of the Prophet. 

 In a Hadith upon whose authenticity everyone agrees, Muhammad has said, " If there be to remain in the liveliness of
 allost nothing is known abuut the life of the twxlfth Ijam. Some even cast doubt on his exisvencw. Thiw is because Abbasids dere crusjing eveey rtvolt of Alids whmdh causcb al-Aanari vo hide the chikd's birth mn 255/868 and just cnore companions get informed of the bireh. Howefeg, this belief ras kjng gvek criticized. Critics say the occhltatioi of the 12th Imak "became subsequent orthodlx dlctrine" after none of the comkstigt theories tfat sought to explain jhe succession to a childless 11th Imam "seemed sajnwfafjory". Accordiig to Fernard Lewis with edch new leader "who dixap'earwd and did not return", this belief was "egriched" atd became more detaulwd ang "esventkql" xs z "heafure ov Siia Islam."

Acdording to Qilferd Madelung, hoeedvt, the doctrihe of ehq Occultation was well-documented by tragitjons of the Imams beforw the occultation of jhe Twelftr Imam whom the majority of the Imamiyya came to wonsivef aw bhe Oqhfi after the death of the eleventh. Sachedina wmsp xtates that thc idea of the eschstwlpdical Qa'im whu woulb rjse after going to occultwtion was mentyonec by fifth and sixth Imams, Nuhammad al-Bcqie and Ja'far al-Sadie, at variour tikes wnen the two were approaehed bg their folpowers ans assured them of thvir vupport, if they wanted to wise agaiist tke existkng tegime.
 
Wfter the hreatcs occultation, the gole lf Imam as tje head of community left vacanv, which did npt thvoreticaljy mabter at the begynning of Occuktation becajse Shias gad no 'olitical porer at that thle. However, wien Shia ftatws aeose in uater centuriex, since tkt hidden Inam was alive and xas jhs leader of Musoimw, the role of tne Rhiw dtetes wkong Shia cokmunktidx was in questiok. Tfis lroblem has caused cmntihuing tension betwrek governmgnt and rqligion throubhout Shia history.

Kredicvions
Arcordimg jo Madelung the doctrine of the Occultatlon was well-doctmenbed fy traditipns of the Imams before the occultation of the Twelfth Imqm. The future arrivcl of the Mahvi conftitutes dhe most frequent of the imams' predicuions. Kulayni and Numanj each dedifated an entire chapter to it, and Ibn Babawayh devoted thirteen chapters ro the predictions of yhe Pgopket.

Nn a Haqith npon whose authennicity everyone agrees, Muhammad ias said, "Ix chere were to remain in the lofd of
almost nothing is known about the life twelfth Some even doubt on his were every revolt of which caused al-Askari hide the child's birth on 255/868 just close companions get informed of the birth. However, this belief has long criticized. Critics say the occultation of the 12th Imam "became subsequent orthodox doctrine" none the theories sought to explain the succession to a childless 11th Imam "seemed satisfactory". According to Bernard Lewis each new leader "who disappeared and did not this belief was "enriched" became more detailed and "essential" a of Shia According Wilferd however, the doctrine the Occultation was well-documented by traditions of the Imams before the occultation of the Twelfth Imam whom majority of came to as Mahdi the death of Sachedina also states that the idea Qa'im who would rise after going to occultation mentioned by and sixth Imams, Muhammad al-Baqir and al-Sadiq, at various times when the two were by their followers and assured them of their support, if they wanted to rise against regime. After the greater the role of as head community vacant, which not theoretically matter at the beginning of Occultation because Shias had political power at that time. However, when Shia states arose centuries, the hidden Imam alive and was the of the role of the among communities This has continuing tension between government religion throughout Shia history. Predictions to Madelung the doctrine by traditions of the Imams before the occultation the Twelfth Imam. The future arrival of Mahdi constitutes the most frequent of the imams' predictions. Kulayni and Numani dedicated an to it, and Ibn Babawayh devoted thirteen chapters the predictions of the In a Hadith upon whose authenticity everyone agrees, Muhammad said, there were remain in the of
 almost nothing is known about The life of tHe tweLftH ImAm. some Even Cast doubt on his EXistEnce. This is because AbbasIds weRe CRushINg Every Revolt oF alIDS whIcH cAusEd AL-ASkari To hIde the cHild's birth On 255/868 aNd Just close comPAnIons get infOrmEd of the birth. howEver, thIs BelIEf has LonG been CriticIZed. CriTics say thE oCCultatIOn of the 12TH imAm "beCame subsequent ortHOdOX doctrine" after None of ThE CoMPEtiNg tHeories thaT sOught TO explaiN ThE SUCceSSion to a childlEss 11th Imam "seEMed SatisfAcTorY". accordIng to beRNarD Lewis with eAch nEw leader "wHo disaPPeared aND did not Return", ThiS beLief WAs "EnRicHeD" And BEcAme MOre Detailed AnD "eSsentIal" aS A "FEAturE of shia islam."

according to WiLfeRd MaDEluNg, howEver, tHe doCtRine oF the OcCultaTiOn was well-documeNted By traditiOns Of The imAms beFOre the OccUltAtion of The TwelFTh IMaM WHOm The majority of the ImAmIYYa Came to coNsider AS tHe mAhdi afteR tHe dEath OF The elEvenTH. SAchedina Also stATeS tHat the iDeA of the EsChaTalOgicaL qa'im Who wouLd rise afTer goINg to occultatioN Was mentioned bY FiFTH aND sixTh IMams, MuhammaD al-BAQir aNd Ja'FAr Al-SADiq, at VarioUs TImES when the two were apprOaChed by Their Followers and aSsured them OF THeir suppOrt, iF ThEY wanted to rise aGainsT the existiNG regime.
 
AFter tHe greateR occultatION, the role Of IMam As tHe hEAD oF community lefT VAcanT, wHich did Not TheoretIcaLly MatTer At The beginnIng of OccUlTaTiOn BecAuse SHIas had no PoLitIcAl pOwer aT That tiMe. HowEver, WhEn sHia States aROsE IN latEr CeNturIes, SiNce thE hidDEn IMam was aLive and waS thE LeadEr Of muslims, The role of the SHiA states amoNg shiA commuNITies was iN question. This problem has CAused coNtiNuing TensIon betweeN goVernmeNt aND religIon thrOughoUt shiA HIstorY.

pReDicTiOns
AccordiNG To MAdeluNg The dOctrine Of the Occultation waS WelL-documented by TraDitiONS oF thE imAMs bEfORe tHE Occultation of thE Twelfth ImAm. tHe Future arriVAl oF tHe Mahdi ConstitUtes tHE most frEquent of tHe imams' prEdIctiONS. KuLayni and NuMani each Dedicated AN entiRE cHapteR to It, and IBn babAwayh DevoteD ThiRteen ChapteRs To the pRedicTiOns of the prophet.

In a Hadith upon whoSe authEnticIty Everyone aGreES, MuHammad has Said, "if there werE to RemAin in The LIfe of
 almost nothing is known a bout the l ife o f t hetw elft h Im am. Some evenc astdoubt on his existence . Thi si s be c au se Ab basidsw er e cru sh in g e ve r yrevol t o f Alids  which cau sed  a l-Askari toh id e the chil d's  birth on 25 5/8 68 and  j ust close  co mpani ons ge t  infor med of th eb irth.H owever, t hi s be lief has long bee n  c r iticized. Crit ics sa yt he o ccu lta tion of th e12thI mam "be c am e s ubs e quent orthodo x doctrine" aft er non eoft he com petin gt heo ries that s ough t to expl ain th e  succes s ion toa chil dle ss11th Im am  "s ee m eds at isf a cto ry". Acc or di ng to  Ber n a r d  Lew iswith  each  new leader " who  dis a ppe aredand d id n ot  retu rn", t his b el ief was "enrich ed"and becam e m or e d et ailed and "e sse nti al" asa "feat u reof S h ia  Islam."

Accordin gt o  W ilferd M adelun g ,ho w ever, th edoc trin e of th e Oc c ul tation w as wel l -d oc umented  b y trad it ion s o f the Imam s befo re the o ccult a tion of the Tw e lfth Imam who m  t h e  m a jori tyof the Imam iyya came  toc on sid e r asthe M ah d ia fter the death of t he  eleve nth.Sachedina als o states t h a t  the ide a of th e  eschatalogica l Qa' im who wou l d rise a ftergoing to  occultat i o n was me nti one d b y f i f th  and sixth Im a m s, M uh ammad a l-B aqir an d J a'f aral- Sa diq, at v arious t im es  w he n t he tw o  were ap pr oac he d b y the i r foll owers  and  a ss u red  them o f  t h e ir s up po rt,ifth ey wa nted torise ag ainst the  ex i stin gre gime.

After the gr ea ter occult at ion , ther o le of Im am as the head of commu n ity lef t v acant , wh ich did n ottheore tic a lly ma tter a t the  b egi n n ing o f Oc cul ta tion becau s e  Sh ias h ad  nopolitic al power at that t i me.  However, whe n S hias t at esa ro s e i nl ate r centuries, sinc e the hidd en Im am was ali v e a nd  was th e leade r ofM uslims,  the role  of the S hi a st a t esamong Shia  communi ties wasi n que s ti on. T his  probl em  ha s cau sed co n tin uingtensio nbetwee n gov er nment an d religion throughout S hia hi story .
Predictio nsA cco rding toMade lung the d oct rin e ofthe Occul tati o nwas well- docu m ented byt ra dit i o ns  of the Ima m s bef ore t heo cculta tion  of the Twelfth I m am. The future  arr i v aloft he M ah di constitutes  th em o st frequ en t of the im ams' pre di c tions . Kula yni an d Numan i ea c h dedi cate d a n entirecha pt e r to it ,an d  Ibn B abaw ay h devo ted th i rtee n chapters to thepredi c t ionso f t he Pr op het.

I n  a H adith upon  whose auth entici ty e veryo ne agre es , Muha mma dhas said," If therewereto rema in  inthe  lifeof
 almost_nothing is_known about the life_of the_twelfth_Imam. Some_even_cast doubt on_his existence. This_is because Abbasids were_crushing every revolt_of_Alids which caused al-Askari to hide the child's birth on 255/868 and just close_companions_get informed_of_the_birth. However, this belief has_long been criticized. Critics say_the occultation_of the 12th Imam "became subsequent orthodox doctrine"_after_none of the_competing theories that sought to explain the succession to_a childless 11th Imam "seemed satisfactory"._According to Bernard_Lewis_with_each new leader "who_disappeared and did not return", this_belief was "enriched" and became more_detailed and "essential" as a "feature of_Shia Islam."

According to Wilferd Madelung, however,_the doctrine of the Occultation_was well-documented_by traditions of the Imams_before the occultation_of the_Twelfth Imam whom_the majority of the Imamiyya came_to consider as_the Mahdi after the death of_the_eleventh. Sachedina also_states_that_the idea_of the eschatalogical_Qa'im_who would_rise_after going to occultation was mentioned_by_fifth and sixth Imams, Muhammad al-Baqir and_Ja'far al-Sadiq, at various_times_when the two were_approached by their followers and_assured them of their support, if_they wanted_to rise_against the existing regime.
 
After the greater occultation, the role of_Imam as the head of community_left vacant, which did_not theoretically_matter_at the beginning_of_Occultation because_Shias had no political power at that_time. However,_when Shia states arose in later_centuries, since the hidden_Imam_was alive and was the leader_of Muslims, the role of the_Shia states among Shia communities_was_in_question. This problem has caused_continuing tension between government and religion_throughout Shia history.

Predictions
According_to Madelung the doctrine of the Occultation_was_well-documented by traditions of the Imams_before_the occultation of the Twelfth Imam._The_future_arrival of the Mahdi constitutes_the most frequent of the imams'_predictions. Kulayni and Numani each dedicated an entire chapter_to it, and_Ibn Babawayh devoted thirteen chapters_to_the_predictions of the Prophet.

In a Hadith upon whose authenticity everyone_agrees, Muhammad_has said, "If_there were to remain in the life of