Hidden Imām

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Hidden Imām. A Shīʿa Muslim belief that the last Imām in succession from ʿAlī did not die, but disappeared, and is now in a hidden state (occultation) from which he helps believers and will return as al-Mahdī at the end of time to return peace and justice to the earth. Different Imāms are identified as the Hidden Imām by different Shīʿa groups. See AL-MAHDĪ; DRUZES; ITHNA ʿASHARIYYA; GHAIBA.