(Arabic; means absence); this term is associated with the Ithna‘ashari Shi‘i Muslim tradition in reference to the ‘hidden state’ of their twelfth Imam, Muḥammad al-Mahdī. Historically, the occultation began with the disappearance of the twelfth Imam in 260 AH/874 CE and continues to the present. According to Ithna‘ashari tradition, the occultation has two distinct stages, the lesser occultation (al-ghayba al-ṣughrā), which lasted from 260 AH/874 CE to 329 AH/941 CE, during which the hidden Imam was represented by some agents (sufarāʾ, sing, safīr) who were believed to be in touch with him and exercising authority on his behalf. The greater occultation (al-ghayba al-kubrā), continues to the present time, where the Imam has no special agent. However, the Twelver Shi‘i jurists are recognised as his representatives and the only legitimate interpreters of Shari‘a for the Ithna’ashari Shi‘i Muslims.
