Re-investigating the Report of Asbagh ibn Nabatah on the “Number of Imams” and “the Issue of Occultation”

One of the reports discussing the monopoly of Imams on the number twelve and the occultation of the twelfth Imam is “Asbagh ibn Nabatah”’s report based on his meeting with Imam Ali (A.S), expressing the existence of Imam Mahdi (A.S) and the event of occultation for the twelfth Imam. The two expressions from the narration: “من ظهر الحادی عشر من ولدی” and “کم تکون الحیرة، ستة ایام أو ستة أشهر أو ست سنین” is the source of this paper. According to the first phrase, some of the false claimants have suggested the existence of a child for Imam Mahdi (A.S) as the thirteenth Imam which is in conflict with the teachings expressing twelve Imams. According to the second phrase, the duration of the occultation of Imam Mahdi (A.S) for the minor or major occultation is stated to be six days, or six months, or six years which is not compatible with the duration of occultation either for the minor or major occultation. The method for this research is descriptive-analytic, using library-based sources that have a comprehensive view to this narration in terms of document and hadith family.