Qa'im al-Qiyamah

In Esoteric Shi'ism, the Qa'im al-Qiyamah (literally 'the Lord of Resurrection') is an eschatological role that Al-Sayyid al-Mu'alim, the founder of Esoteric Shi'ism, claimed to have fulfilled in 1041 CE. In Zahiri Shi'ism, it is said that the figure of the Hidden Imam would return prior to the 'end times' to institute a new book, a new religion and new laws in order to prepare humankind in a battle against 'the forces of tyranny'. Esoteric Shi'ism emerged out of the claim made by Al-Sayyid al-Mu'alim that he was the symbolic return of the Hidden Imam. The symbolic nature of his return also entailed a symbolic interpretation of what 'the Day of Resurrection' (Riysan: Yawma'l-Qiyamah) and the apocalypse (Riysan: Yawmu'l-Akhir) actually are.

Esoteric Shi'ism rejects the Abrahamic idea of a literal apocalypse or Day of Judgment, arguing instead that a symbolic Day of Resurrection has occurred on the day that Al-Sayyid al-Mu'alim openly proclaimed his station to the people as the recipient of a new revelation from God through the Hidden Imam. For Esoteric Shias, these eschatological prophecies are fulfilled with the revelation of a new book, the Lisan al-Hikma, the institution of new religious laws and the explicit break away of Al-Sayyid al-Mu'alim's religion from Zahiri Shi'ism. Esoteric Shia scripture discuss at length the symbolic nature of the apocalypse and of the return of the Hidden Imam through Al-Sayyid al-Mu'alim.