The Ghaibat (Occultation) of Prophet Idrees (a.s.)

 In His Name And With The Remembrance of His Last Proof (a.t.f.s.) on Earth

Among the first occultations is the well-known occultation of Prophet Idrees (a.s.). His occultation was so prolonged that his followers fell into dire circumstances and the tyrant ruler of that time killed some of them; while some were subjected to poverty and terror. After that Prophet Idrees (a.s.) reappeared and promised the removal of the travails of his Shias (followers) through the uprising and Jihad of one of his descendants, that is Prophet Nuh (a.s.). Then Allah, the Mighty, and Sublime raised up Idrees (a.s.) towards Himself. And century after century his followers continued to wait for the advent of Nuh (a.s.), one generation after another. And during that time they continued to bear with patience the humiliating oppression of the tyrant rulers till the prophethood of Nuh (a.s.) became apparent.

Shaikh e Saduq (a.r.) narrates the parable of Prophet Idrees (a.s.) in his Kamal-al-deen in these words: Narrated to us my father, and Muhammad bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Walid; and Muhammad bin Musa bin Mutawakkil — may Allah be pleased with them — they said: Narrated to us Saad bin Abdullah: and Abdullah bin  Ja’far Himyari; and Muhammad bin Yahya al-Attar who said: Narrated to us Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa; and Ibrahim bin Hashim, all of them from Hasan bin Mahboob from Ibrahim bin Abi Bilaad from his father from Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (a.s.) that he said:

Incident of Syed Amili and Allama Majlisi

In His Name and With The Help of His Last Proof (a.t.f.s.)

There was a pious man called Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili who was travelling through the desert with a caravan of people, when he got lost.

Syed Amili searched and searched for the caravan but could not find them. It became dark as night set in. He was all alone in the hot desert, tired, hungry and frightened. He was about to give up and prepare himself for death when he suddenly saw some water. He went to the water drank some and then did wudhu and offered his Salaat. After his Salaat he did not have anymore strength and lay there waiting for death. All of a sudden he saw a person riding a horse getting closer and closer to him.

When the horse rider reached Syed Amili he said Salaam to him and asked him what the matter was. Syed Amili explained that he had lost his caravan and was hungry.

The rider asked him why then did he not eat the melons that were lying beside him. Syed Amili asked the rider not to make fun of him as he had searched all over for food.

The rider said he was not joking, and to look behind him. Syed Amili looked and there were three melons.

The Benefits of Praying for Imam-e-Asr (ATFS)

In His Name and With The Remembrance of His Last Proof (a) on Earth

Praying for Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) comprises of advantages for both this world as well as the hereafter. Here, we shall mention a few of them.

A)Worldly Benefits in praying for Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) are as follows:

1)Leads to a long life as it (supplication) is a form of maintaining relations with Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.a.), for Imam-e-Baqer (a.s.) says, “Maintaining (or patching) relations purifies actions, multiplies wealth, dispels calamities, simplifies accounting and postpones death.”

(Behaarul Anwaar, vol. 52, p. 92, narrating from al-Ehtejaaj of Tabarsi.

2)Repels difficulties and increases sustenance.

3)Leads to the acceptance of other invocations.

4)Is a cause for readying oneself for Imam’s (a.s.) meeting,whether in sleep or awakening.

(2)Ibid., vol. 51, p. 148, narrating from al-Ghaibah of No’mani.

5)Leads to augmentation of bounties.

The Grand Era of Reappearance

In His Name And With The Remembrance of His Last Proof (a.t.f.s.) on Earth

Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) will definitely arrive, sooner or later. He will positively come with the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) standard on his shoulder and the sword of Ameer al-Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (a.s.) in his hands. The caravan of joys and pleasures shall accompany him. He will be carrying an enormous burden of the light of guidance of human bliss, both in this world as well as the hereafter. “He” will certainly come, a standard of virtue and nobility, a fountainhead of deliverance and mastership. He will infuse a fresh lease of life in the dead humans, the lone rider of the field of faith. When “He” arrives, he will enliven the forgotten realities of the Holy Quran. In the age of excessive and vain talks, lacking substance and eloquence, he shall give life to the meaning of the words and revitalise spirituality. “He” will come for sure. His advent is a divine promise. And Allah the Almighty never reneges on His promise.

Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s.) says, “Surely the Qaim is from Allah’s promise and Allah does not violate His promise.” (Al-Ghaibah by No’mani, p. 303, Ch.18, Tr. No. 10; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 52, p. 250.).

The promise of his reappearance is associated with the true assurance of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.). Even if a day remains from the life of the earth, Allah the Almighty would extend that day till this great personality emerges.

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) prophesied, (I swear) by the One Who raised me as a Prophet with the truth! Even if one day remains for the earth’s destruction, Allah the Almighty will prolong that day, until He brings my son Mahdi.”- Behaar al-Anwaar, vol.51, p.71.

His reappearance is a divine promise, the guarantee of which is taken by none other than Allah Himself. His advent is sure and definite. He is Allah’s treasure, through whom He will honour His friends and disgrace His enemies.

His reappearance is certain. He is Allah’s Light that the apostates desire to extinguish. But Allah, the Subduer will perfect His light, notwithstanding the displeasure and discontent of the disbelievers and the infidels.

Imam Ali (a.s.) foretelling Ghaybat of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.)

In His Name And With The Remembrance of His Last Proof on Earth

Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Malik from Ishaq bin Sinan from Obayd bin Kharija from Ali bin Uthman from Furat bin Ahnaf that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (s) had narrated from his fathers:

“Once the Euphrates had overflowed during the age of Imam Ali (s). He, with his sons al-Hasan and al-Husayn, made a travel. On their way, they passed by (the tribe of) Thaqeef, who said: “Ali has come to drive water back!” Imam Ali (s) said:

“By Allah, I and both of my sons will be killed but Allah will send a man from among my descendants at the end of the time revenging our bloods. He will disappear (for a long time) so that the deviate people are to be tried until the ignorant will say: Allah has nothing to do with Muhammad’s progeny.”[1]

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[1] Ithbat al-Hudat, vol. 224, Kamal ad-Deen p.302-303, Dala’il al’Imama p.292, I’lam al-Wara p.400, Biharul Anwar, vol.51 p.112, 119.

Imam Mahdi’s (a.s.) similarity with Prophet Ismail (a.s.)

In His Name And With The Remembrance of His Last Hujjat (a.t.f.s.)

The Almighty Allah gave glad tidings of the birth of Ismail (a.s.) and He says:
“So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance.”

Surah Saffat 37:101

The Almighty Allah has also prophesied the birth and advent of Qaim (a.s.).  And in the same way the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Infallible Imams (a.s.) have also given glad tidings about them. That which additionally proves this matter is that which is mentioned in the books Tabsiratul Wali and Biharul Anwar from Ismail bin Ali Naubakhti (r.a.) that he said:

When Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) was in his fatal illness I was present with him. He summoned his servant, Aqeed, who was a Nubian black. Prior to this he was in the employ of Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.). It was he that had brought up Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.). Imam (a.s.) told him: “O Aqeed, boil for me some mastic water.” Aqeed obeyed and after the water was procured, Saiqal, the mother of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) brought it to His Eminence. His Eminence took hold of the vessel but his hands shook so much that the bowl clattered against his teeth. The Imam let go of the vessel and said to Aqeed: “Go inside the house where you will find a boy in prostration. Bring him to me.”

The similarity between Imam Mahdi (a.s.) and Prophet Dawood (a.s.)

It is now more than 1,170 years since our beloved Imam Mahdi (a.s.) went into Ghaibat (occultation). The Shias are unable to contact him like the Shias of the previous era used to meet their Imams (a.s.). Today we face so many problems. If only our beloved Imam Mahdi (a.s.) was with us, in front of us, he would solve all our problems. That is why we should pray to Allah (SWT) for the earliest reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s.).

Kamaluddin is the book written by Sheikh Saduq (a.r.) on the command of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) himself. In this book Sheikh Saduq (a.r.) has recorded several incidents of the past Prophets (a.s.) and their similarities with Imam Mahdi (a.s.).

Prophet Dawood / David (a.s.) was a prophet of Allah (SWT). He behaved very nicely with people and was a very brave man. One day he took his flock of sheep for grazing. Suddenly one lion came and took away one of the sheep. Prophet Dawood / David (a.s.) chased that lion and captured him. He opened the mouth of the lion and recovered the sheep.

Similarity between Imam Mahdi (a.s.) and previous Prophets (a.s.)

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) said, “Al-Mahdi is from my progeny. His name is the same as my name. And his kuniyat is the same as my kuniyat. In his physique and character he looks exactly like me. He will be in a state of occultation and there will be confusion (Hayra) in which people will wander about (deviate). Then he will come forth like a sharp shooting star to fill the earth will justice and equity as it was filled before with injustice and inequity.”

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (a.s.) said, “Certainly in the Qaem of the Progeny of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) is the similarity to five prophets — Yunus bin Mati, Yusuf bin Yaqoob, Musa, Isa and Muhammad, (s.a.w.a).”