Messiah

===Shia Islam===
The [[Twelver]] branch of [[Shia Islam|Shia (or Shi'i) Islam]], which significantly values and revolves around [[the Twelve Imams]] (spiritual leaders), differs significantly from the beliefs of [[Sunni Islam]]. Unlike Sunni Islam, "Messianism is an essential part of religious belief and practice for almost all Shi'a Muslims."<ref name=":0" /> Shi'i Islam believes that the last Imam will return again, with the return of Jesus. According to religious scholar [[Mona Siddiqui]], "Shi'is are acutely aware of the existence everywhere of the twelfth Imam, who disappeared in 874."<ref name=":2" /> Shi'i [[piety]] teaches that the hidden Imam will return with Jesus Christ to set up the messianic kingdom before the final Judgement Day, when all humanity will stand before God. There is some controversy as to the identity of this imam. There are sources that underscore how the Shia sect agrees with the Jews and Christians that [[Imam Mehdi]] (''al-Mahdi'') is another name for Elijah, whose return prior to the arrival of the Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Israel: The History and How Jews, Christians and Muslims Can Achieve Peace|last=Abbas|first=Muhammad|publisher=iUniverse|year=2007|isbn=9780595426195|location=New York}}</ref>

The Imams and Fatima will have a direct impact on the judgements rendered that day, representing the ultimate [[Intercession in Islam|intercession]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Roman Catholics and Shi'i Muslims|last1=Bill|first1=James|last2=Williams|first2=John Alden|publisher=The University of North Carolina Press|year=2002|isbn=0-8078-2689-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/romancatholicssh0000bill/page/57 57–58]|url=https://archive.org/details/romancatholicssh0000bill/page/57}}</ref> There is debate on whether Shi'i Muslims should accept the death of Jesus. Religious scholar [[Mahmoud M. Ayoub|Mahmoud Ayoub]] argues "Modern Shi'i thinkers have allowed the possibility that Jesus died and only his spirit was taken up to heaven."<ref name=":1" /> Conversely, Siddiqui argues that Shi'i thinkers believe Jesus was "neither crucified nor slain."<ref name=":2" /> She also argues that Shi'i Muslims believe that the twelfth imam did not die, but "was taken to God to return in God's time," and "will return at the end of history to establish the kingdom of God on earth as the expected Mahdi."<ref name=":2" />