Al- Mahdi’s Birth and Imamate 8item Why wasn’t Imam al-Zaman’s birth postponed to the era of his re-emergence (zuhur)? How can the controversy about the date of birth of Imam Mahdi (may Allah hastenhis return), which some say corresponds to the number of the letters of the word “نور” (“nur,” light) - 256 - while according to some traditions, it took place in the year 255 A.H., be explained. In what year did the occultation of that personage take place? Miracles and supernatural events are related with regard to the birth of the twelfth Imam. To what extent are these miracles reliable and how can they be proven? And why have some historians not related them? Sunnis believe that Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) isn’t born yet. Is the Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) born and alive somewhere and will emerge when Allah wills? What are the bases for this belief? Will Isa (Jesus) (a.s.) appear at the same time as Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.)? What happens in their time and after it? I was wondering if Al Shajara al Mubarak fi Ansab at Talibia is a book written by Fakhr al Deen al Razi or by somebody else. On page 78 of the same book, it is stated that Imam Askari had 2 sons Saheb az Zaman and Musa who passed away during Imam Askari’s life and two daughters who passed away as well. Is this a hadith stated therein? If yes, can you please tell me whether or not it is sahih hasan with a good chain? Had Imam Mahdi's mother been the granddaughter of Caesar, the King of the Romans? Why wasn’t Imam Mahdi just born at the time he was to emerge instead of being born a very long time before and waiting till that time? In which age AL-Mahdi (a.s) became Imam?