Imam Ahmad Al–Hassan (fhip) has clarified that the Twelfth Imam (pbuh) is in fact Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) in his return
There are multiple narrations that point to the return of Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) during the End Times. Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan (fhip) revealed that Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) has indeed returned and that he reincarnated as the Twelfth Imam, Imam Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan Al-Askari (pbuh) the long-awaited Imam Al-Mahdi, of whom Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan (fhip) is his right hand.
In the Book of Monotheism Imam Ahmad Al–Hassan (fhip) says:
“And His [The Exalted] saying: {Do they await but that Allah comes to them in shades of clouds and the angels [as well] and the matter is [then] decided And to Allah [all] matters are returned}. [Holy Quran, Al-Baqara verse 210]
So the one who comes in the shades of clouds is Muhammad (pbuhahf) in the World of Raja’a (The world of Return) and with him shall be the People of his House (Ahlulbayt) and some of the prophets (pbut). And it is known that Muhammad is the one shaded with the clouds, and there were glad tidings given with this description in the Torah and The Gospels about the Messenger Muhammad and the Riser (Al-Qa’im) from the Family of Muhammad”.
– The Book of Monotheism, Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan (fhip), p.80
Abu Khalid Al-Kabili narrated from Ali ibn Al-Hussain (pbuh) regarding the verse {Certainly the one who sent the Quran to you, shall return you to the returning (place)} (Holy Quran, Al-Qasas verse 85), he (pbuh) said: “Your Prophet (pbuhahf) shall return to you”.
– Bihar Al-Anwar, Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi, 3rd ed., v.53, p.56, hadith 33
– Mukhtasar Basa’er Al-Darajat, Al-Hassan Al-Helli, 1st ed., p.44
Abi Marawan narrated: I asked Aba Abdillah (meaning Imam Al-Sadiq pbuh) about the saying of Allah {Certainly the one who sent the Quran to you, shall return you to the returning (place)} (Holy Quran, Al-Qasas verse 85). He (pbuh) said: “No, by Allah! The world does not end till the Messenger of Allah (pbuhahf) and Ali (pbuh) come together in Al-Thawiyya, they meet each other and build a mosque with 12000 entrances in Al-Thawiyya, meaning a place in Al-Kufa.”
– Bihar Al-Anwar, Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi, 3rd ed., v.53, p.113, hadith 17
– Mukhtasar Basa’er Al-Darajat, Al-Hassan Al-Helli, 1st ed., p.210
Jabir ibn Yazeed narrated that Aba Ja’far (meaning Imam Al-Baqir pbuh) said about the saying of Allah the Almighty {O you who covers himself [with a garment] Arise and warn} (Holy Quran, Al-Muddaththir verses 1-2): “He means by that Muhammad (pbuhahf) and his rise in the Raja’a (Return), he will warn in it. And His saying: {Surely, it is one of the greatest portents As a warner to humanity} (Holy Quran, Al-Muddaththir verses 35-36), meaning Muhammad (pbuhahf), a warner to humanity, in the Raja’a and when He says, {We sent you to all people} (Holy Quran, Saba’ verse 28), it is in the Raja’a.”
–Bihar Al-Anwar, Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi, 3rd ed., v.53, p.42, hadith 10
On the commentary of the verse: {He is the One Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth in order to prevail over all religions, even though the polytheists may be averse.} (Holy Quran, Al-Tawba verse 33)
….. Al-Mufaddal ibn Umar asked Imam Al-Sadiq (pbuh): “O Master, didn’t the Messenger of Allah (pbuhahf) prevail over all religions?” He (pbuh) replied: “O Mufaddal! If the Messenger of Allah (pbuhahf) had prevailed over all religions, there wouldn’t have been any Magus, Jew, Sabian, or Christian, or any sect, or any disagreement, or doubt, or polytheism, or any idol worshippers, or idols Al-Lat and Al-Uzza, or any worshippers of the sun and moon, or of the stars, or fire or stones. Rather His saying {in order to prevail over all religions…} is in the time of Al-Mahdi during the Raja’a, and this is His saying: {And fight them until there is no fitna and till religion is entirely to Allah.}” (Holy Quran, Al-Anfal verse 39)
–Bihar Al-Anwar, Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi, 3rd ed., v.53, p.33-34
The books of the Sunnah have narrations that mention the Return of Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) as well.
‘Urwah ibn Al-Zubayr narrated that ‘Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (pbuhahf), said that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) died while Abu Bakr was at a place called As-Sunh (Al-‘Aliyah), so Umar stood up, saying, “I swear by Allah! The Messenger of Allah is not dead!” She narrated “Umar said: I swear by Allah! Nothing occurred to my mind except that. Verily! Allah will resurrect him and he will cut the hands and legs of men …”
–Sahih Bukhari, Abi Abdullah Muhammad ibn Isma’il Al-Bukhari, 1st ed., Book 62: Companions of the Prophet, p.901, hadith 3667
Abi Huraira said: “When the Messenger of Allah (pbuhahf) passed away, Umar ibn Al-Khattab stood up and said: “There are hypocrites who allege that the Messenger of Allah has died. Verily, the Messenger of Allah did not die, but he went to his Lord as Moses, son of Imran, went to his Lord, for he was absent from his people 40 nights then he returned to them after it was said he had died. By Allah, the Messenger of Allah (pbuhahf) will return as Moses returned and he will cut the hands and legs of men who claimed that the Messenger of Allah has died”.
– Al-Sira Al-Nabawiyya, Ibn Hisham, 3rd ed., v.4, p.306 (Online book: p.1069-1070)
We can see from narrations such as these that the people of that era were speaking very candidly about the concept of Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) returning to this world. This indicates that it should not be a far-fetched idea for the Muslim nation to believe that the soul of Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) returns during the End Times.
Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan (fhip) has revealed that Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) has indeed returned, as it was prophesied. He is the Twelfth Imam Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan Al-Askari, Al-Mahdi (pbuhahf), in his return.
