Birth of Imam al-Mahdi (mid-Sha‘ban) Birth Strength of evidence: Strong Public holiday in Iran The twelfth Imam was born in Samarra in 255 AH; the night of mid-Sha‘ban is a night of special devotion. Sources الکافی، کلینی، ج۱، کتاب الحجةمصباح المتهجد، شیخ طوسیاقبال الاعمال، سید بن طاووسویکیشیعه: امام مهدی عجل الله تعالی فرجه
Death of the fourth deputy and start of the Major Occultation Religious occasion Strength of evidence: Medium Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samuri, the fourth special deputy of Imam al-Mahdi, died in Baghdad in 329 AH. Six days earlier a letter from the Imam announced the end of special deputyship and the start of the Major Occultation. Other viewsAl-Saduq and al-Tabrisi give the year 328 AH. Sources کمال الدین و تمام النعمة، شیخ صدوقالغیبة، شیخ طوسیویکیشیعه: علی بن محمد سمری
