‘There are 12 Imams in this nation’

Abi Tufayl Aamir bin Wathila narrates:

“We witnessed the funeral prayer of Abu Bakr after that we gathered around Umar bin Khattab and paid allegiance to him and visited him in the masjid for some days, till we addressed him by the title of chief of believers. One day we were seated with him when a Jew, who claimed to be a descendant of Prophet Harun (a.s.), brother of Prophet Musa (a.s.) came and stood before Umar and said: O chief of believers,

who among you is most knowledgeable regarding the Sunnah of your Prophet and the Book of your Lord so that I can ask questions?  The narrator says: Umar pointed out towards Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.). The Jew said: O Ali, are you such? He replied: Yes, ask me whatever you want.

The Jew said: I have three, three and one question. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: Why don’t you say that you have seven questions? He replied: If you answer the first three questions correctly, I will ask the next three and if you reply to them also correctly, I will ask the remaining one. But if you answer the first three questions incorrectly, I will not ask any more questions. Imam Ali (a.s.) asked:  How would you know whether the replies  I have given are right or wrong?  

The narrator says:  The Jew put his hand inside his garment and took out an old book and said: I have inherited this book from my ancestors. It was dictated by Musa (a.s.) and written down by Harun (a.s.). It contains replies to all the questions. I am going to ask you.

Imam Ali (a.s.) said: If I reply to all your questions correctly, will you accept Islam? “Yes,” he said, by Allah, if you reply to my questions, I will immediately embrace Islam at your hands. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: You may ask. He said: Which was the first stone to come down to the earth? Which was the first spring of water that gushed out on the earth? And which was the first tree that grew on the earth?

Imam Ali (a.s.) said: O Jew, you people say that the first stone is that of Baitul Muqqadas. It is a lie. The first stone is the Black Stone which came with Prophet Adam (a.s.) from Paradise. Which he placed at the Rukn of the House of Allah. People touch and kiss it and through it renew their covenant with Allah.

The Jew said: By Allah, you are right. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: Jews say that the first tree that grew on the earth is olive. It is a lie. The first tree is that of Ajwa dates that came down with Adam (a.s.) and his wife. The Jew said: By Allah, you are right. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: You people say that the first spring that gushed forth is the spring of Baitul Muqqadas.  You lie. The first spring is that in which the companion of Musa (a.s.) forgot the salted fish and when the water of the spring of life reached it, it became alive and swam away and Musa and his companion followed it and met Khizr.

The Jew said: By Allah, you are right. Imam Ali (a.s.) asked: Ask the next three questions? He said: How many just Imams are there after the Prophet in this nation? What is the place of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) in Paradise? And who all will stay with him in his house in Paradise?

Imam Ali (a.s.) replied: O Jew, there are twelve Imams in this nation and their enemies cannot do them any harm. The Jew said: By Allah, you are right. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: The house of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) in Paradise is in the Jannat of Adn. It is at the center of Paradise and nearest place to the throne of the Beneficent.

The Jews said: By Allah, you are right. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: And those who will stay with him in his house are the twelve Imams.  The Jew said: By Allah, you are right. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: You may ask the remaining question also. He asked: For how many years will the successor of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) live?

Would he have a natural death or will be murdered?  Imam Ali (a.s.) replied: O Jew, he would live for thirty years after the Prophet. This will be dyed with this. Saying this he pointed towards his beard and his blessed head. The narrator says: At that moment the Jew got up from his place and said: I bear witness that there is God except Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and you are the successor of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).”

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Imam Mahdi’s (a.t.f.s.) similarity to Hazrat Khizr (a.s.)

بسم الله الرحمن ارحيم و صلى الله عليك يا صاحب الزمان (ع) ادركنا

 

The subject of Khizr  (a.s.), that Allah prolonged his lifespan is having unanimity among the Shias and the Sunnis and a large number of traditions prove this. One such report is as follows:

In Biharul Anwar it is quoted from Manaqib from Dawood Riqqi that he said:

“Two of my brothers decided to travel for performing Ziarat. One of them was overwhelmed by thirst so much that he fell down from his mount and the other one also fell on his hands. But he got up from his place and recited the prayer and sought the help of Almighty Allah, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and the Imams (a.s.). He uttered their names one by one till he came to the name of Ja’far bin Muhammad (a.s.), and he began to beseech and call out for His Eminence. Suddenly he saw a man standing beside him and asking: ‘What’s the problem?’ He related his circumstances to that gentleman. That person gave him a piece of wood and said: ‘Keep it between his (fellow traveler’s) lips.’  He complied with this and once he saw him open his eyes, he sat up, without feeling any thirst. They continued their journey and performed the Ziarat of the holy tomb.

And when they returned towards Kufa the one who had supplicated, traveled to Medina and went to Imam Sadiq (a.s.). His Eminence asked: ‘Sit down, how is your brother? Where is that (a piece of) wood?’ I politely replied: ‘O master, when my brother fell down in that condition I was extremely distraught and when the Almighty Allah returned his soul, due to being overjoyed I forgot the (piece of) wood/ His Eminence, Sadiq (a.s.) said: ‘When you were depressed by the condition of your brother, my brother, Khizr came to me. I sent you the piece of Tooba tree wood with him/ After that His Eminence turned to his servant and said: ‘Go and bring that container/ The servant went and brought it. His Eminence opened it and that same piece of wood came out. He showed it to that person who recognized it. Then the Imam returned it to its place.”⁵¹⁵

Qaim (a.s.) is also such that the Almighty Allah gave him a long lifespan. Rather some traditions inform us that the wisdom behind the prolongation of Khizr’s life is that it should be a proof for the longevity of Qaim (a.s.). Shaykh Sadooq (q.s.) has mentioned a lengthy tradition in his book, Kamaluddin that we shall bring in Chapter Eighth, Insha Allah. In that report Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) says:

“And as for the Righteous Servant, Khizr (a.s.); the Almighty Allah bestowed him with a long lifespan not due to the fact that He had made him a Prophet, or because a book was revealed to him, nor that he brought a new Shariat nullifying the previous one, nor that He made him an Imam and required the people to follow him, nor because his obedience was compulsory. Rather it was because it was there in the knowledge of Allah, the Blessed and the High, that during occultation the age of Qaim (a.s.) would be prolonged to an extent that people would not believe it, and they would deny a long age, He prolonged the age of the Righteous Servant, Khizr (a.s.) without any justification, except that it be a basis for proving the age of Qaim (a.s.) so that the arguments and proofs of the opponents may be invalidated and that people may not have any argument against the Almighty Allah.”^[1]

And also in the book of Kamaluddin it is narrated from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that he said:

Prophet Muhammad (s) says:

Abi Abdullah (a.s.) narrates from his forefathers that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said:

“Surely Allah, Mighty and Glorified be He, chose Friday from the days, the month  of  Ramadan  from  the  months,  the  Night  of  Power  (Lailatul Qadr)  from  the nights, chose me from all the Prophets and chose Ali (a.s.) from me. He granted him (Ali) superiority  over all the successors.  From  Ali (a.s.)  He chose  Hasan (a.s.) and Husain (a.s.) and from Husain (a.s.), He chose the successors from his descendants.  They  (descendants)  will  dispel  the  distortion  of the  exaggerators  from the Quran,  the plagiarism  of the liars and the interpretation  of the deviated ones. The ninth of them is their Qaim (a.t.f.s.) and he is their apparent and their concealed.”

 

Ghaibat — an era of trepidation for Imam (a.s.)

designed by vahid ahmadi

In The Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful

We had said that Imam Sajjad (a.s.), while drawing similarities between Imam-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.) and the Prophets (a.s.), had compared his ‘trepidation and occultation’ to that of Prophet Moosa (a.s.).[1]

Ameerul Momeneen (a.s.) while briefing Kumayl says:

اللّٰهُمَّ بلٰى لأَ تَخْلَوَا الأَرْضُ مِنْ قَائِمِ للهِ بِحُجَّةِ اِمّا ظَاَهِراً مَشْهُوْرًا
وَ اِمّا خَائِفًا مَغْمُوْرًا

O My Allah (this is certain) never will this world be devoid of a Divine Proof notwithstanding if he is manifest or recognized or whether he is in a state of fear or angst hidden from the eyes of the people.[2]

In some narrations the word ‘Fear’ (خائف) has been categorically used for Hazrat Baqiyatullah (a.s.). As Imam Sadeq (a.s.) says:

“There will be an occultation before reappearance for Qaem (a.s.).” Zorarah says, ‘I asked Imam: Why?’ Imam replied: “He will be apprehensive of being killed.[3]”

One of the reason of Imam’s (a.s.) fear is the apprehension of being killed. This fear isn’t a psychological fear or uneasiness or in negative sense. But instead it is a question of insecurity. It was on the basis of insecurity that Hazrat Moosa (a.s.) had exited Egypt. As Holy Quran says: فَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا خَائِفًا يَتَرَقَّب (Moosa) exited from the city in fear, and awaiting.

The prayer which follows Ziyarat-e-Aale Yaseen, in this too, Imam (a.s.) is referred to as the ‘vigilant and fearful’

(اَلْمُرتَقَبَ الْخَا ئِف).

We are aware that Imame-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.) is from the treasures of Allah and gift of all the glad tidings given by the Prophets and there are lot of responsibilities on him. Like establishing justice and for that it is also necessary that he protects himself. More so, the oppressors and tyrants have narrowed down the living space and hence Imam (a.s.) had to go into seclusion. His father and grand fathers were martyred either by sword or poison and it is for this that Imam Mahdi (a.s.) was compelled to agree and live his life far from the clutches of the oppressors. The cause for this insecurity is due to non-availability of companions and helpers.

There could be other reasons for Imam’s (a.s.) fear. For instance the apprehension of a long extended occultation. Or the fear of delay in his reappearance. Another reason for Imam’s (a.s.) apprehension could be the believers who may become the victims of difficulties and afflictions in the era of occultation and as a consequence find themselves in Iblees’ trap and stray from the straight path of Imamate.

Allah has promised.

وَ لِيُبَدِّ لَنَّهُمْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ اَمْنًا

 He will most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange.[4]

[1] Al Muhajjatul Al Baizaae, Tradition 4, Page 338

[2] Nahjul Balagah saying 139

[3] Kamaaluddin 2-281 (chapter 44)

[4] Surah Nur (24): 55

Twelve hundred years of solitude! The loneliness of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.)

 

 

In The Name Of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful

My Master! My lonely and beleaguered Master! The distressed son of Fatemah! The chief of Aale Muhammad (a.s.)! The benevolent father of the universe!

I wish to discuss your loneliness. Aloneness that has continued for twelve hundred years. That loneliness over which the sky and the earth weep incessantly. That lonesomeness which even your followers fail to comprehend. That solitude over which your ancestors (a.s.) had grieved over even before your birth.

I am at loss and don’t know with which chapter to begin this ode. Which volume of this moving book should I pick. Which line, which page and which lesson should I read. This picture — of sorrow and loneliness — has weakened me.

Where do I begin? Should I express this saga in my own words or in someone else’s? Should I tell the past generations, complain with the present ones or the enemies? Should I make a complaint with the masses or the noble classes? Should I speak with those who offend you?[1] Should I talk to those who interpret your merciful and compassionate hands as hands that will shed blood? Should I protest with those who introduce your flashing sword in such a manner that even your friends feel intimidated? Or should I have a word with those who say you are not reachable for the masses? Or should I address those who feel seeing you is impossible? Or should I talk to those who invite people towards their desires in your name? Or should I talk to those who give hope to people of your coming but they themselves assume that your reappearance is far-off? Should I have a word with those who describe you as per their fancies and not as your holy being actually is? Should I complain to those who take your occultation as a state of your non-existence.

The days of his occultation will be lengthy…

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

Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ali bin Hatim Naufali alias Kermani: Narrated to us Abul Abbas Ahmad bin Isa Washsha Baghdadi: Narrated to us Ahmad bin Tahir [Qummi]: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Najr bin Sahl Shaibani: Informed us Ali bin Harith from Saeed bin Mansur Jaushini: Informed us Ahmad bin Ali Budaili: Informed us my father from Sadeer

Sairafi that he said:

“I, Mufaddal bin Umar, Abu Baseer and Aban bin Taghlib came to our master Abi Abdullah as-Sadiq (a.s.) and saw him sitting on the floor and covered with Khaibari sheet made of hair, his neck was open and his sleeves folded up. He was crying like a mother who laments the death of her only son. The signs of sorrow were apparent from his face and its effects were spread on his cheeks.

Tears had moistened the hollows of his eyes and he was saying: My master, your occultation has taken away my night’s sleep, it has narrowed my bed for me, and has snatched away the solace from my heart. My master your occultation has turned my tragedies into the atrocities of eternity!

The loss of one after the other perishes a crowd and a multitude. No more I feel the tear that drops from my eye, and the moon that faintly leaves my chest from the places of tragedies and past calamities except that it exemplifies before my eye the greatest and cruelest of catastrophes, the most dismal and disdainful mishaps, mixed with your wrath, and calamities coupled with your anger.”

Sudair says: Our hearts and minds were overwhelmed by that terrifying scene and mortifying view. We thought that it is the sign of a dreadful shattering or times have brought him a calamity. So we said, “May Allah, O son of the best of the creation, never bring tears into your eyes. For what incidents are your eyes pouring and your tears raining and what situation has led you to this mourning?”

Sudair says: As-Sadiq (a.s.) took a deep sigh that his chest expanded and his fright enhanced, and he said, O, you, I looked at the Book of al-Jafr this morning, and that is the book that encompasses the knowledge of deaths, trials and tribulations and the knowledge of all that has been and all that will be until the Day of Judgment, which Allah, glory to His name, has exclusively imparted to Muhammad and the Imams after him, peace unto him and them. I viewed therein the birth of our Qaim and his disappearance and its protraction and the length of his lifespan and the trials of the believers through him and after him in that period and the generation of doubts in their hearts from the length of his disappearance and the apostasy of most of them from their religion and their removing the cord of Islam from their necks, about which Allah, glory to His name, has said, We have fastened to every man’s neck his fateful bird which is the Wilayah. So emotions overpowered me and griefs overwhelmed me.”

We said, “O son of Allah’s Messenger, dignify us and bestow honor upon us by sharing some of what you know from the knowledge.”

Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) and his Shias

In His Name and With The Help of His Last Proof (atfs)

The Shias were created from the leftover clay that made the family of revelation just as the son is created from his father. A tradition of His Eminence, Reza (a.s.) is mentioned in Kafi that he remarked:

“The Imam is a caring friend and a kind father.”

(Usool Kafi; Muhammad bin Yaqoob Kulaini; Vol. 1/200)

And it is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) that he said: “I and Ali are the fathers of this nation.”

It is narrated from His Eminence, Abu Abdillah Sadiq (a.s.) that he said:

“The Almighty Allah created us from Illiyeen and created our souls from its upper layer and He created the souls of our Shias from the Illiyeen and their bodies from its lower portion. There is relationship and proximity between us and them in every aspect and their hearts are eager for us.”

(Usool Kafi; Muhammad bin Yaqoob Kulaini; Vol. 1/389)

And it is narrated from His Eminence, Abu Ja’far Baqir (a.s.) that he said:

Imam Mahdi’s (a.t.f.s.) similarities with Prophet Moses (a.s.)

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

When the mother of Moosa (a.s.) was pregnant with him, her pregnancy did not become apparent on anyone. The situation of Qaim (a.s.) was also same. When his mother was pregnant with him, the pregnancy did not become obvious.

The birth of Moosa (a.s.) was concealed.

Shaykh Sadooq, through the author’s own chain of narrators from Abdullah bin Sinaan that he said: His Eminence, Abu Abdillah Sadiq (a.s.) said: “In the Qaim (a.s.) is a resemblance to Moosa bin Imran. I asked: What is that resemblance to Moosa bin Imran (a.s.)? He replied: His concealed birth and his disappearance from the people. I asked: For how long did Moosa bin Imran remain concealed from the people and his family? He replied: Twenty eight years.”

(Kamaluddin, Vol. 2, Pg. 340)

And the duration of the second disappearance was forty days; Allah, the Mighty and the High says:

“…so the appointed time of his Lord was complete forty nights…”

(Surah Araaf 7:142)

Qaim (a.s.) is also having two occultations. One of them is longer than the other. Moosa (a.s.) was such that the Almighty Allah spoke to him. And He said to him: “Surely I have chosen you above the people with My messages and with My words, therefore take hold of what I give to you and be of the grateful ones.”

(Surah Araaf 7:144)

Qaim (a.s.) is also like this. The Almighty Allah spoke to him when they took him up in the sky. Thus it is narrated in Biharul Anwar from Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) that he said: “When the Almighty Allah bestowed me with the Mahdi of this community he sent two angels who took him to the curtain of the Arsh (throne) till they conveyed him into the presence of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime. The Almighty Allah said to him:

The birth of Qaim (a.s.) was also concealed.

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.

Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) names his successors

In His Name and With the Remembrance of His Last Hujjat on Earth

 

Sulaym Ibn Qais Al-Hilaali relates (1) that I heard Ali (a.s.) say, “No verse from the Quran descended on the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) but that he recited it for me and He taught me its interpretation, its exegesis, its abrogating verse, its abrogated verse, its clear verse and its ambiguous verse. He prayed to Allah, Mighty and Glorified be He, that he should teach me its understanding and its memorisation. Consequently, I never forgot even one verse from the Book of Allah, nor the knowledge, which he dictated to me and I had written it down. He did not leave anything which Allah, Mighty and Glorified be He, taught him from the permissible and the prohibited, the commands and the prohibitions, the past and the present, obedience as well as defiance, but that he taught me and I memorised it. I did not forget even one word from these.