Iranian Holydays And Holy Days       5. Birthday of the Savior of the World In Shiism, there is a strong belief in a savior, who will by God's direction, come in a certain, but unknown date to salvage the human race. The Shiites hold the belief that the immediate successor of Holy Prophet was his son-in-law, Imam Ali who lost the succeeding to the title through a series of historical events and eventually, Abu-Bakr, one of the oldest companions of prophet during promoting Islam could succeed the Prophet. Omar-ibn Khattab succeeded Abu-Bakr and after him, Osman took control over the Muslims. After Osman was killed at hands of a group of discontent people, the inhabitant of Kufa (the center of Islamic Government) referred to Imam Ali, pleading with him for accepting the leadership of Ommah (the Muslims). These four people are known as Kholafa-e Rashedin. However, the Shiites (which mean disciples, mostly lovers of Imam Ali) think that the unquestionable rights of their Imam was usurped and his descendants must have taken power in their hands.     Unfortunately, after martyring Imam Ali by a hide-bond, narrow-minded Muslim, who had his own misinterpretation of Islam, the old, latent enemies of Islam snatched the power and changed the Kholafa's simple way of lives into a majestic monarchy. In this way, Imam Ali's descendants began to guide Ommah and set them on their way toward real Mohammedan Islam. They were twelve "saints" including Imam Ali who are called "Imam" in Shiite culture which means "leader" or "director". The last of them is Mehdi who will have messianic return. Born in 825 AD in Iraq, he undertook leadership of Shiites who lived in camouflage. But since the 'Muslim' kings were ambushing to liquidate him and his disciples, Imam Mehdi ascended to the heaven. From that day on, the Shiite Muslims living in countries like Lebanon, Pakistan, India, and mostly in Iran, celebrate his anniversary birthday on the 15th of Sha'ban (this year it is on Nov.1st). On this day, people will begin to decorate streets by festoons and light bulbs and a majority of them will hand out candies among people.