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The Twelfth Imám
This part of the story that is very important to the Dawn-Breakers: Shí’a believe that this 12th Imám, the Imám Mahdí did not die but went into occultation (meaning that he is no longer seen by us). They say he disappeared into a cave and went to the hidden cities of Jabulqa and Jabulsa. They believe that the Imám Mahdi is still alive there, but he will return on the Day of Judgement. The Imám Mahdi has many other titles including the Qá’im (“He who ariseth”) and Sáhib-u-zamán (Lord of the Age). The Shí’a further believe that after the Imám Mahdí’s arising will come the return of Imám Husayn and the other Imáms, which will mark the Yawm-al-Qíyámáh (Day of Resurrection), and they will fill the earth with justice and establish God’s reign over all things.
Why is the above relevant? The physical return of the Imám Mahdí/the Qá’im, its relation to the Day of Judgement and the Day of Resurrection, and establishment of God’s reign of justice on earth, has and still plays a critical role in Shí’a thought, both in religious doctrine as well as popular religion, even in Írán of today.
Below are brief descriptions of a few other aspects of Islam that are important to understand for the stories of the Dawn-Breakers.
The Holy Qur’án
The Holy Qur’án is considered by all Muslims to be verbatim the revealed Word of God. The Qur’án (noun meaning the Reading or the Recitation) as we have it today is composed of 114 súwar (chapters, singular is súra). Each súra is composed of verses (Arabic singular áyah, plural áyát; this word means verse but also can mean evidence, sign, or miracle). The longest súra has 286 verses, and the shortest has 4 verses. The ordering of the súras in the Qur’án is not chronological but solely based on length from the longest súra being the 1st and the shortest surah the last. For ease of identification. Each súra has also been given a name, which is usually associated with its main theme or subject.
The Qur’án was revealed over a 23-year period. The Prophet Muhammad was illiterate. When revelation came to Him, those around Him (the Companions) would memorize the words. In time some verses are thought to have been written down