Mahdism (Mahdaivat) is the most genuine and fundamental Islamic belief, which even a person with a limited knowledge of Islam will surely accept.
He is the authority of the Last Luminous Jewel of Allah He it is who will decide the end of the long struggle between truth and falsehood. His appearance will mean a victory for truth and the annihilation of falsehood.
He will remove ignorance and class-discrimination from the world and will establish equality instead; he will exploit the earth’s resources distribute them among the poor and make them sufficient.
The outburst of enthusiasm and happiness will at that time cause tears to flow down the cheeks of enthusiasts, and the lustrous and mournful eyes of the awaiting people will be filled with light.
Mahdism (Mahdaivat) is the most genuine and fundamental Islamic belief, which even a person with a limited knowledge of Islam will surely accept.
Shaikh Mofeed, a distinguished Shiite scholar, also wrote is Irshad:
“When Imam Hassan al-Askari (A.S) passed away, the caliph of that time pursued his son. Because the Shiite Imamyya’s belief was famous and was spread about that the Shiites were awaiting his Eminence.
Mu’tamid, one of the tyrant Abbasid caliphs who ruled from 279 to 289 A.H., decided all at once to destroy the entire family of al-Askari when he heard that more of Imam Hassan Askari (A.S) and that he was still living in spite of the attempts of the preceding caliph to kill him.
One of Mu’tamid’s officers said:
“Mu’tamid has ordered me and two other persons, each of us to mount a horse and to proceed to Samara in full speed without even stopping for prayer. He gave us the address of Imam al-Askari (A-S) and instructed us to enter his house without his permission and to bring him the head of whoever we find there.”
As a matter of fact, they were unaware that the same power that had protected the Imam from the former caliphs would give him protection from his evil, because:
Allah disdains (nothing) save that He shall perfect his light, however much the disbelievers are averse. (Quran, 9:32)
Is it not more amazing that Almighty Allah has shown His power many times before, so that after that all men should know that if He wishes to give His chosen servant government and sovereignty and to destroy infidelity and irreligiousness through him, then there is no one who can disrupt his rule.
His (a.s)’s Birth – Dawn of a New Era
At dawn, on the 15th Sha’ban 255 A.H., the rays of the illuminating world shone with a powerful shaft of light into a human form, which became the source of existence for the universe.
Yes, finally, the Divine promise was fulfilled and Imam al- Mahdi (atfs) was born inspite of the efforts of those who denied him.
Imam Hassan al Askari (A-S) beheld the heavenly, shining face of his son who was to full fill all divine promises and glad tiding. Not more than three days had passed after his birth when the eleventh Imam took the holy child to his companions and told them:
After me this will be your master of authority and my successor, and he is the support (al-Qaaim) for whose appearance all people will wait; when the earth is full of injustice and tyranny, he will fill it with peace and justice.
Minor Occultation – Gaibat e Sugra : (260 A.H – 329 A.H.)
During the rule of Al-Mu’tamid poison was given to the Imam Askari (a.s.) mixed in some fruit and he died on 8th Rabi-al-Awwal 260 Hijri. He left only one son, whose name was Muhammad who was only five years old when his father died.
The Caliph Mu’tamid himself attended the funeral prayer. When they all lined up and were ready to commence the prayers, Imam Hasan al-Askari’s brother Jaafar stood in front of the people to lead the prayer. Before he could commence the prayer, a five year old boy came out of the house, went near his uncle. Shook his mantle and told him, “set aside uncle, only an Imam can lead the funeral prayer of an Imam”. His uncle Jaafar stepped aside and this five year old boy lead the prayers. Immediately after the end of the prayer he went inside his house and was not seen by his pursuers, lead by the caliph Mu’tamid himself.
This was the beginning of Gaibat e Sugra (Minor Occultation).
There were threats on the holy life of Imam e Zamana (a.t.f.s.), thus he went into occultation. The previous Imam (a.s.)’s had prepared a base for this.
Although Imam Mahdi (a.s.) did not appear amongst the people, some persons in whom the he had trust and confidence were allowed to visit him and present him the problems and questions of the Shiites .And in due time they conveyed the guidance to the people.
Among the companions of Imam-e-Zaman , four became his most famous and confidential deputies who acted as mediators between the Imam and the people, and they are known as the as-Nawab-e-Arba’a (the four deputies).
1.Otham bin Saeed Omari
2.Muhammad bin Othman
3.Husain bin Roh Nawbakhti.
4.Ali bin Muhammad Saimari.
This honorable figure was the last special deputy (Naibol-Khass) of the holy Imam-e-Zaman (atfs). Imam announced the death of Ali bin Muhammad and the end of the deputation.
The last letter of Imam-e-Zaman to Saimari:
In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful.
You are going to die in six days, may Allah grant patience to your brother’s in faith on your departure. So, be prepared, but appoint no one in your place, because from the day of your death the period of my major occultation (Gaibat e Kubra) will begin. Hence forth, no one will see me, unless and until Allah makes me appear.
My reappearance will take place after a very long time when people will have grown tired of waiting and those who are weak in there faith will say: What! Is he still alive?
When will men become cruel and inconsiderate, and the world will be full of injustice and violence. Very soon some men will claim to have seen me. Beware! Anyone who makes such a claim before the coming out of Sufyani and the sound from heaven announcing my reappearance, is a liar and impostor. There is no might nor strength except in Allah.
As can be seen from this, it is the last order, in which the door of special deputation is closed by the death of Ali bin Muhammad; Hence, any one who claims to be a mediator, or claims that the Imam can be seen, is a lair.
Major Occulation - Gaibat e Kubra : (329 A.H. – till date)
The four deputies who were at the highest level of faith and confidence for many years were the blessed mediators between the Imam and the people till in the year 329 A.H. when the deputation was closed, and on the basis of the Divine Will the major occultation of Imam-e-Zaman, commenced. This was the very occultation, which was prophesied a long time previously by Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Shiites Imam and Muslims keep patient in this period of test, till by the order of Almighty Allah, the awaited Imam will appear, and the Divine Aim will reach its fulfillment.
Traditions of Imam (a.s.)’s have compared the occultation of Imam-e-Zamana(atfs) with the sun concealed behind clouds. As the sun, though concealed behind clouds is still an eternal source of life, so is Imam (a.s.) in occultation, the cause of existence of the whole universe.
In the Islamic tradition when the subject of occultation of the Twelfth Imam is discussed, reference is made to the complex nature of the Divine test, in this Divine test the faithful Shiites are distinguished from the others” and become as pure as a pure gold.
In Islamic tradition, a comparison is drawn between the sincere faithful of the Shiites and faith of a few followers of the prophet Nuh (A-S), who remained faithful despite their very difficult, and who, by boarding the ark with prophet Nuh (A-S), were save from the deluge.
Therefore, blessed are those who have passed this Divine test; we hope to be among their rank.
In Gaibat e Kubra if anyone claimed to be the special deputy or intermediary of Imam (a.s.) then as per the verdict of Imam (a.s.) he is a liar and has casted aspersion on Imam (a.s.).
Although many persons were blessed with the meeting of Imam (a.s.) in Gaibat e Kubra but none of them claimed to have volitional approach to Imam (a.s.). Many books have recorded the incidents of those persons, who have met Imam (a.s.) in Gaibat e Kubra. One of those books is ‘Najmus Saaqib’ written by Mirza Husain Noori. It narrates incidents of great Islamic Scholars and thinkers meeting Imam (a.s.) like Allama Hilli, Muqaddas e Ardbeli, syed bin Tawoos, Bahrul Uloom, and many more.
They have all seen their beloved Imam (a.s.) with their bear eyes, because their hearts were filled with the regonotion and love of Imam (a.s.). These great men strived according to their level and capabilities to instill the recognition of Imam (a.s.) in the hearts of his followers.
Apart from Shia scholars some common men were graced with the meeting of Imam (a.s.).
In Gaibat e Kubra many great scholars have received ‘Tawke’ (Letters) from Imam (a.s.). One of them was Shaikh Mufid. Shaikh Mufid atatined a very lofty degree in knowledge and piety. This ‘Tawke’ came to him as a reward for his incessant endeavours. A part of that ‘Tawke’ is reproduced which was received in 410 (A.H.).
“We are well-aware of your affairs. None amongst you can escape from our concern. We are also aware of your shortfalls. Most of you have committed such vices, which were shunned by your pious ancestors. These people have flouted the covenant, as if they do not have ken of it. Surely we are not negligent of your affairs and we are not forgetful of your remembrance. Had it not been so, calamities would have descended on you, And your enemies would have prevailed upon you, Hence remember Allah and fear Him alone.”
Many such ‘Tawkes’ are recorded in various authentic books.
However, in this period of Major Occultaion, Shias are passing through the most critical and toughest phase of their history.
As we read thus in Dua e Nudba :
…It is intolerable for me that I see the people but donot see you. And neither do I hear a sigh of breadth nor (any) whispering from you. …It is intolerable for me that I cry for you while all other forsake you. It is intolerable for me that this (isolation) befalls you instead of befalling others. .... When shall we spend morning and evening with you to delight our eyes with a glance (at you).
…It is intolerable for me that I see the people but donot see you. And neither do I hear a sigh of breadth nor (any) whispering from you. …It is intolerable for me that I cry for you while all other forsake you. It is intolerable for me that this (isolation) befalls you instead of befalling others. .... When shall we spend morning and evening with you to delight our eyes with a glance (at you).
THE SHIITES DURING THE IMAM’S OCCULTATION
Are we among the real followers of Imam Mahdi (atfs) ?
If we study the lives of the devout Shiites (followers) of the Holy Imams before the Twelfth Imam and consider their sacrifices without the slightest hesitation, we shall at once awake from our neglectful slumber and realize our weakness and guilt.
Were not Salman al-Farsi, Abu Zal al-Ghifari, Ammar bin Yasir and Malik-e-Ashtar the followers of the contemporary Imam Ali, Ameer al Momineen (A-S), and are we too the followers of Imam of our Age?
Were not the martyrs of Karbala, who with love strove in the way of defending the Imam of their time, Husain (a.s.), and were martyred, and are we too the followers of Imam Mahdi (atfs), who refuse to give our wealth (Khums), lives and other means in the way of the Imam of our time.
A person like Hisham bin Hakam is a follower of the Imam of his time, who in his extraordinary and valuable debates crushed and defamed the opponents of the Devine Leadership (Imamate) in such a way that he was called the “assistant of the Imam” by Imam as-Sadiq (a.s). And are we too, who are sluggish in fulfilling our foremost duty to recognize the Imam of our time, Shiites and follower of Imam Mahdi (atfs)?
From what we read of the glad tiding in the Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet and the infallible Imam, the Imam of the Age (Imam-e-Zaman) has special responsibilities that other Imams did not have Imam-e-Zaman will establish Universal Government. He will fill the earth with righteousness and justice, He will exploit the earth’s treasures and natural resources, He will improve and develop the land, and in this way people’s awareness and understanding will improve.
It is an necessary for us to have recognition of the Imam of our time, and know what are our responsibilities and duties towards him (a.s.).
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says; “One who dies without the recognition of the Imam of his time, dies the death of ignorance.”
One who is waiting and preparing himself for the appearance of the Imam Mahdi (a.s.) must have characters and merits of the companions of Imams before Imam Mahdi (a.s.). So, we should pray to Allah that He may include us among those who are waiting for the Imam of the age, and that our acts and conduct may also symbolize the truth of our claim.
Shiites must have a strong link with Imam e Zamana (atfs) during the periof of occultation. Their prayers should be to ask for blessing of Allah to be showered on Imam(a.s.), and their supplication should be of salvation. Their existence should be one welded and fused unit, and their life should blaze with love for him.
MAY ALLAH HASTEN THE RE-APPEARANCE OF HIS LAST HUJJAT (A.T.F.S.)
source : http://www.mahdawiat.com
