Ahmad al-Hassan, full name Ahmad bin Ismail bin Saleh bin Hussain bin Salman (Arabic: احمد بن اسماعيل بن صالح بن الحسين بن سلمان, born in Basra, Iraq) is the leader of the Shia Iraqi movement Ansar of Imam al-Mahdi who claims to be the savior of mankind. He started claiming to be the messenger of the messianic figure the Imam Mahdi, after he had a vision in which Imam Mahdi told him to enroll in the religious institute Hawza Ilmiya in Najaf, Iraq. Ahmad al-Hassan isolated himself at home to learn the sciences of the Hawza with an attempt of reforming it as he claims it to be disordered. He later formed a group called the Ansar. His followers believe him to be al-Yamani, the eschatological Yamani leader who will precede the return of the ImAhmad al-Hassan, full name Ahmad bin Ismail bin Saleh bin Hussain bin Salman (Arabic: احمد بن اسماعيل بن صالح بن الحسين بن سلمان, born in Basra, Iraq) is the leader of the Shia Iraqi movement Ansar of Imam al-Mahdi who claims to be the savior of mankind. He started claiming to be the messenger of the messianic figure the Imam Mahdi, after he had a vision in which Imam Mahdi told him to enroll in the religious institute Hawza Ilmiya in Najaf, Iraq. Ahmad al-Hassan isolated himself at home to learn the sciences of the Hawza with an attempt of reforming it as he claims it to be disordered. He later formed a group called the Ansar. His followers believe him to be al-Yamani, the eschatological Yamani leader who will precede the return of the Imam due to his claim of being al-Yamani
Ahmad al-Hassan started his religious call privately, only first announcing it publicly in 2002, during the last months of Saddam’s rule, after his attempted Hawza reformations.
Regarding the purposes of his movement, he claimed:
“The goal of my message is the goal of the Prophets: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, which is to spread the true monotheism with which God is satisfied, and for the earth to be filled with peace and justice after it had been filled with oppression and injustice." He also claimed, "I am the Messenger of Imam Mahdi, and I am his vicegerent, and I am the first of the twelve Mahdis from the sons of Imam Mahdi.” His followers have described his call as being universal, because his preaching addresses Muslims, Christians, Jews, and all of mankind
The adherents of Ahmad al-Hassan collectively identify themselves as Ansar of Imam al-Mahdi ("Supporters of the Imam Mahdi"), or Ansars. While many of his supporters are in Iraq, he has followers outside of Iraq as well, largely due to dissemination of his teachings through English websites
He has written some books, as well as having a section on his website dedicated to answering questions sent to him
Ahmad al-Hassan's books which are translated into English
Atheism Delusion For the Supremacy of God, not for the Supremacy of the People They ask you about the Spirit The Successor and Messenger of Imam Al-Mahdi pbuh in the Torah, Gospel, Quran The Journey of Moses to the junction of the Two Seas The Thirteenth Disciple The Sealing Prophecy Letter of Guidance Enlightenments from the calls of the Messengers The Wilderness or the Path to God The Allegories The Return...more