Twelve Imams

Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Fatima bint Asad, Ali was raised in the household of his cousin Muhammad and was among the first to accept his teachings.

grandson of Muhammad and the 3rd Shia Imam (626–680)

5th Rashidun Caliph (r. 661) and second Shia Imam

Muslim scholar and Imam (died 765)

Great-grandson of Muhammad and the fourth of the Shiite Imams

eighth of the Twelve Shia Imams (766–818)

seventh of the Twelve Imams (745–799 CE)

Fifth of the Twelve Shia Imams

twelfth and last Imam in Shia Twelver of Islam

Muhammad ibn Abdullah's successors according to the beliefs of the Twelver Shiites

eleventh of the Twelve Shia Imams

tenth of the Twelve Shia Imams (828–868)

ninth of the Twelve Imams of Twelver Shi'ism

Mahdism () is a kind of messianism. In the Twelver branch of Shia Islam, it is derived from the belief in the reappearance of the Twelfth Shiite Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, as the savior of the apocalypse for the salvation of human beings and the establishment of peace and justice. From this perspective, it is believed that Jesus and Khidr are still alive and will emerge with Muhammad al-Mahdi in order to fulfil their mission of bringing peace and justice to the world.