Muhammad ibn Uthman: The Second Special Deputy of Imam Mahdi (AS)

Uthman ibn Saeed’s role as Imam Mahdi’s deputy lasted until his death . This short period is estimated by some to be around five years. Prior to his death, Uthman ibn Saeed informed the Shias about the appointment of his son, Muhammad, by Imam Mahdi as the next special deputy. Imam Askari had foretold the appointment of Muhammad ibn Uthman as Imam Mahdi’s representative when a group of Shias from Yemen had visited Imam Askari in Samarra. The Imam had introduced Uthman ibn Saeed as his deputy and told them, “His son will also be my son’s deputy.” Imam Mahdi also gave Muhammad ibn Uthman a letter as proof of his appointment. In the letter, the Imam expressed his condolences to Muhammad ibn Uthman for his father’s demise, and expressed his high regards for his father. The Imam then appointed Muhammad ibn Uthman as his father’s successor and the next special deputy. From Baghdad, Muhammad ibn Uthman continued his father’s policy of leading the network organization of the representatives. He guided the Shias about Imam Mahdi’s occultation, explained that it occurred by God’s decree, and reminded them of the many narrations from the previous Shia Imams about the occultation of the last Imam. At the same time, he would portray to the Abbasids that Imam Askari had left no successor to the Imamat. He did this in order to convince the Abbasids that the Shias were without an Imam, and were no longer a threat to the government. Ever since the establishment of the Abbasid government, the Shia Imams and their followers had not accepted its legitimacy. Muhammad ibn Uthman’s policy was to distract the Abbasids from putting pressure on the Shias and their hidden network of the representatives. Like his father, he banned the Shias from revealing Imam Mahdi’s name, as this could have posed a threat from the Abbasids to the Shia communities and their activities. Imam Mahdi also guided and helped his Shias to overcome their challenges. In one incident, Mu’tazid, the Abbasid Caliph, re