The Last Deputy, and the Promise That Remained

In the quiet days of Baghdad, when the world felt heavy with uncertainty, Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri sat alone with his thoughts. Years of responsibility rested on his shoulders. He was the final trusted bridge between the hidden Imam and a community learning to live with absence. His heart was faithful, yet weary, aware that an era was ending.

One evening, as the lamps flickered and the city hushed, a letter reached him. Its seal carried a weight unlike any other. He knew, before opening it, that these words would not be like the ones before. His hands trembled, not from fear, but from reverence.

The letter was from Imam Mahdi (atfs).

It spoke with gentleness and finality, like a sunset that is beautiful precisely because it fades. The Imam informed him that his earthly life was nearing its end. In six days, he would return to his Lord. And with his passing, the era of appointed deputies would end. There would be no new na’ib after him.

Ali ibn Muhammad closed his eyes. This was not a message of loss alone. It was a message of trust.

The Imam’s words continued, guiding the believers into a new chapter. From now on, the community would be tested in patience and sincerity. The Imam (atfs) would remain present, though unseen. His care would not vanish, nor would his guidance be cut off. But the path would require maturity, reliance on knowledge, and unwavering hope.

The letter warned against those who would falsely claim special access or divine authority. Truth, it reminded them, is quiet, humble, and rooted in the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (as). The believers were told to hold firmly to scholars who preserved the faith, guarded their souls, and obeyed Allah (swt).

As Ali ibn Muhammad finished reading, tears fell onto the parchment. Not tears of despair, but of honour. He had been entrusted with delivering the final public message of the Hidden Imam (atfs). His role was ending, but his mission was complete.

In those final days, he prepared the community, not with drama or fear, but with calm certainty. When he returned to Allah (swt), the door of representation closed, yet the door of hope remained wide open.

From that moment onward, the believers learned a profound truth. The absence of the Imam (atfs) was not abandonment. It was an invitation to grow, to remain steadfast, and to wait actively, with faith, justice, and love.

And in every age since, that letter still speaks, softly but clearly, to hearts that are listening.