The signs before reappearance of al-Mahdi A.S

Introduction

During their missions, all the Prophets and Apostles have emphasized the fact that a savior will arrive at the end of time who will implement the government of justice over the globe. This news has been heard since the human being appeared on the earth. Allah has indicated this promise in all the early scriptures and commanded humans throughout ages to wait for the manifestation of the kingdom of Allah. The Holy Qur’an also gives glad tidings of the day for ...

 

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The Mahdi from among the Descendants of the Prophet

 

Such hadith-reports are abundant. The main idea that runs through all of them suggests that the topic about the future coming of the Mahdi and Qa’im during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) was well known. In fact the way these reports speak about the subject indicates that it was not something new which was being presented to the people. On the contrary they relate the signs and characteristics of the person who would emerge as the Mahdi as in the statement "the promised Mahdi will be among my descendants."

The following traditions reflect such a pattern in their presentation. It is reported from Ali bin Abi Talib who said:

I asked the Prophet: "Is Mahdi going to be among our own family or from some other?" He replied: "He will be among us. God will conclude His religion through him just as He began it with us. It will be through us that people will find refuge from sedition just as it was through us that they were saved from polytheism. Moreover it will be through us that God will bring their hearts together in brotherhood following the animosity sown by the sedition just as they were brought together in brotherhood in their religion after the animosity sown by polytheism."[6]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudari a close associate of the Prophet says:

"I heard the Prophet declare from the pulpit: "The Mahdi from among my descendants from my family will rise at the End of Time while the heavens will pour rain and the earth will bring forth green grass for him. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with tyranny and injustice."[7]

In another tradition from Umm Salma the wife of the Prophet there is even more specific information given to the community. The Prophet says: "Mahdi will be among my progeny among the children of Fatimah."[8]

On another occasion the Prophet said:

"The Qa’im will be among my descendants. His name will be my name and his patronymic will be my patronymic. His character will be like my own. He will call people to my custom and to the Book of God. Anyone who obeys him would be obeying me and any one who turns away from him would be turning away from me. Anyone who denies his existence during his concealment would have denied me and anyone who falsifies him would have falsified me. Anyone who confirms his existence would have confirmed my existence. As for those who are engaged in falsifying what I have said about him and thereby mislead my community I will complain against them to God. "Those who do wrong shall surely know by what overturning they will be overturned." ( 28:88) [9]

Abu Ayyub Ansari says: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) say: "I am the chief of the prophets and Ali is the chief of the legatees. My two grandsons are the best among the descendants. The infallible Imams will come forth from among us through Hussein. Moreover the Mahdi of this community is among us." At that time an Arab stood up and asked: "O Prophet of God how many Imams are there after you?" He replied: "Equal to the number of the apostles of Jesus and the chiefs of the Children of Israel." [10]

A tradition with similar information has been cited from Hudhayfa another companion of the Prophet who heard the Prophet declare:

The Imams after me will be equal to the number of the tribal chiefs among the Children of Israel. Nine among them will be the descendants of Hussein. The Mahdi of this community is among us. Beware! Truth is with them and they are with truth. Thus be careful of the way you treat them after me. [11]

In still another tradition Sa’id b. Musayyib reports from Amr b. Uthman b. Affan who said: We heard from the Prophet saying:

"The Imams after me will be twelve in number of whom nine will be from the progeny of Hussein. Moreover the Mahdi of this community will be among us. Anyone who holds on to them after me holds on to the rope of God; and whoever abandons them has abandoned God." [12]

There are numerous hadith-reports of this kind in the sources which one can undertake to examine.

Note: This time we will work on just ten parts of this useful book but as always accompany us for other parts of this book in future.

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(6). Ibid. Vol. 51 p. 84; Ithbat al-hudat Vol. 7 p. 191; Majma" al-zawa’id by "Ali b. Abi Bakr Haythami (Cairo edition) Vol. 7 p. 317.

(7). Bihar al-anwar Vol. 51 p. 74; Ithbat al-hudat Vol. 7 p. 9.

(8). Bihar al-anwar Vol. 51 p. 75.

(9). Bihar al-anwar Vol. 51 p. 73.

(10). Ithbat al-hudat Vol. 2 p. 531.

(11). Ibid. p. 533.

(12). Ibid. p. 526.

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Source: The book named The Just Leader of Humanity

By Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini

Translated by: Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina

The Sunni hadith on the Subject of the Mahdi

Dr. Fahimi: Mr. Hoshyar! Our friends know it. But let me tell you that I follow the Sunni school of thought. Hence the positive evaluation that you have of the Shia hadith-reports I do not share. In all likelihood extremist Shi’s for whatever reasons after having accepted the narratives about the Mahdiism must have fabricated traditions in support of their views and ascribed them to the Prophet. The evidence for my contention is that the traditions about the Mahdi are recorded only in your Shia books. There is no trace of these in our authentic --Sihah-- compilations. Yes I am aware that there are some traditions on the subject in our less reliable compilations. [13]

Mr. Hoshyar: In spite of the most unfavorable conditions under the Umayyads and the Abbasids whose politics and oppressive governments did not allow the discussion or the spread of hadith about Wilayat and Imamate and the Ahl-ul-Bayt or their being recorded in the books of the hadith your compilations of hadith are not completely void of any traditions on the subject of the Mahdi. If you are not tired I may cite some of them for you.

Engineer Madani: Mr. Hoshyar! Please continue your conversation.

Mr. Hoshyar: Dr. Fahimi! In your compilations the Sihah there are chapters devoted to the subject of the Mahdi in which traditions from the Prophet have been recorded. For example the following:

Abd Allah reports from the Prophet who said: "The world will not come to pass until a man from among my family whose name will be my name rules over the Arabs."

Tirmidhi has recorded this hadith in his Sahih [14] and comments: "This hadith on the Mahdi is reliable and has been related by Ali bin Abi Talib Abu Sa’id Umm Salma and Abu Hurayra":

Ali bin Abi Talib has narrated from the Prophet who said: "Even if there remains only a day on earth God will bring forth a man from my progeny so that he will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with tyranny."[15]

In another hadith Umm Salma narrates that she heard the Prophet say: "The promised Mahdi will be among my progeny among the descendants of Fatimah."[16]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudari says: The Prophet said: "Our Mahdi will have a broad forehead and a pointed nose. He will fill the earth with justice as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will rule for seven years." [17]

Ali bin Abi Talib has related a tradition from the Prophet who informed him:

The promised Mahdi will be among my family. God will make the provisions for his emergence within a single night. [18]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudari has related a tradition from the Prophet who declared:

The earth will be filled with injustice and corruption. At that time a man from among my progeny will rise and will rule for seven or nine years and will fill the earth with justice and equity. [19]

Greater detail is provided in another hadith reported by Abu Sa’id al-Khudari. In this tradition the Prophet said:

Severe calamity from the direction of their ruler will befall my people during the Last Days. It will be a calamity which in severity shall be unprecedented. It will be so violent that the earth with injustice and corruption will shrivel for its inhabitants. The believers will not find refuge from oppression. At that time God will send a man from my family to fill the earth with justice and equity just as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. The dwellers of the heavens and the earth will be pleased with him. The earth will bring forth all that grows for him and the heavens will pour down rains in abundance. He will live among the people for seven or nine years. From all the good that God will bestow on the inhabitants of the earth the dead will wish to come to life again."[20]

There are numerous traditions that convey these meanings in your books. I believe we have cited enough reports to make our point.

Note: This time we will work on just ten parts of this useful book but as always accompany us for other parts of this book in future.

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(13). Hasan Sa’d Muhammad al-Mahdiyya fi al-islam (Cairo 1373) p. 69; Ibn Khaldun al-Muqaddima (Cairo edition) p. 311.

(14). Sahih Vol. 9 p. 74; also see: Shaykh Sulayman Yanabi’ al-mawadda (1308 AH edition) Vol. 2 p. 180; Muhammad b. Yusuf al-Shafi’i al-Bayan fi akhbar sahib al-zaman (Najaf edition) p. 57; and other Sunni sources.

(15). Abu Dawud Sahih Vol. 5/207; see also all the sources mentioned in note s 2. In addition see: Shablanji Nur al-absar p. 156; Ibn Hajar al-Sawa’iq al-muharriqah p. 161; Ibn Sabbagh Fusul al-muhimma p. 275; al-Saban As’af al-raghibin.

(16). Abu Dawud Sahih Vol. 2 p. 207; Ibn Majah Sahih Vol. 2 p. 519 and the sources mentioned in note s 3.

(17). Abu Dawud Sahih Vol. 2 p. 208; Fusul al-muhimma p. 275; and numerous other Sunni sources.

(18). Ibn Majah Sahih Vol. 2 p. 519. Also Ibn Hajar al-Sawa’iq al-muharriqa p. 161.

(19). Ahmad b. Hanbal Musnad Vol. 3 p. 27.

(20). Ibn Hajar al-Sawa’iq al-muharriqa p. 161; Yanabi’ al-mawadda Vol. 2 p. 177.

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Source: The book named The Just Leader of Humanity

By Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini

Translated by: Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina

The Existence of the Mahdi is certain

There are numerous Prophetic traditions about the Mahdi reported by both the Sunni and the Shi’ i sources. Close examination of the contents of these traditions proves that the subject of the future coming of the Mahdi and the Qa’im was a well established tenet during the Prophet’s life time. People anticipated someone who would take upon himself to establish truth and spread the worship of God. Moreover they expected that person to take charge of purifying the earth and instituting justice. The belief was so wide spread among the people that having verified it in principle they were engaged in discussing its details.

Sometimes they would ask: "From which family would the awaited Mahdi arise?" At other times they wanted to know his name and patronymic. Still at other times they wanted to know the reason why he was called the Mahdi. They wanted to know about his revolution and asked about the signs of his appearance. They also wanted to find out if the Mahdi and the Qa’im were one and the same person. They were told about the Mahdi’s occultation and wanted to understand the reasons and the obligations of his followers while he was in occultation.

The Prophet also from time to time used to inform people about the existence of the Mahdi. He would inform them saying: "Mahdi will be among my descendants. He will be among the sons of Fatimah among the descendants of Hussein." At other times he would announce his name and patronymic and give information about the signs of his reappearance and other related matters.

The Discussion among the Companions and the Subsequent Generations:

After the Prophet’s death the story of the coming of the Mahdi was often heard among the prominent companions of the Prophet and the following generation. The matter was regarded among the religious truths and was treated as one of the certain future events. The following are some examples of this in the sources:

Abu Hurayra says: "People will pay allegiance to the Mahdi between rukn and maqam."[40] Ibn Abbas is reported to have told Mu’ awiya that a person among the descendants of the Prophet will rule for forty years at the End of Time. On another occasion a man asked Ibn Abbas to inform him about the Mahdi. He said: "I hope that in the near future a young man from our family (the Hashimite) will arise to put an end to civil strife and sedition."[41] Ibn Abbas also specified the descendant of the Prophet as being from the children of Fatimah. According to another famous companion of the Prophet Ammar Yasir: "At the time when Nafs al-Zakiyya is killed a caller from the heaven will say: 'your commander is so-and-so.' Following it the Mahdi will emerge and fill the earth with justice and equity."[42]

Abd Allah bin Umar mentioned the name of Mahdi in the presence of an Arab who said: Mahdi is Mu’ awiya bin Abu Sufyan. Abd Allah said: "It is not as you say. Mahdi is a person behind whom Jesus will offer his prayers."[43]

Umar bin Qays asked Mujahid if he knew anything about the Mahdi since he did not believe in what the Shi’ a were saying about him. Mujahid said: "Yes I do. One of the Prophet’s companions told me that the Mahdi will not appear until that time when Nafs al-Zakiyya will be killed. At that time he will take the command and will fill the earth with justice and equity."[44]

Nufayl’s daughter Umayra narrates that she heard Hassan bin Ali’s daughter saying: "This affair about which you are waiting will not occur until among you some seek to distance themselves from the others and curse each other."[45]

The author of Maqatil al-talibiyin Abu al-Faraj Isfahani writes that Fatimah Hussein bin Ali’s daughter used to engage in midwifery as a voluntary service to the women of Banu Hashim. Her son used to object to her saying: "We are afraid that you will be recognized as a professional midwife." In reply she would say: "I am awaiting someone. As soon as he is born I will stop assisting in delivery."[46]

Qatada asked Ibn Musayyib: "Is the existence of Mahdi a truth?" He said: "Yes. He is a member of the Quraysh among the descendants of Fatimah." A similar tradition is reported from the famous scholar Zuhri who also related that the Mahdi will be among the descendants of Fatimah. Abu al-Faraj reports an event when Walid bin Muhammad was with Zuhri and a clamor transpired. Zuhri asked Walid to find out what had caused it. After finding out Walid reported: "Zayd bin Ali has been killed and his head has been brought." Zuhri was upset and said: "Why is this family in haste? Haste has destroyed a number of them." Walid asked: "Will they reach power?" He replied "Yes because Ali bin Hussein narrated to me on the authority of his father who heard this from Fatimah the Prophet’s daughter who in turn heard the Prophet tell her: 'Mahdi will be among your descendants.'"

Other sources that mention these traditions include the following:

Ibn Sirin used to say that the promised Mahdi will be from this Umma. He will be the one who will lead Jesus in prayers. [47]

In another place he reports a tradition from Abd Allah bin Harith. He said: "The Mahdi will arise at the age of forty and will resemble the Children of Israel." A variant of this tradition reported by Artat says that the Mahdi will arise at the age of twenty. Another tradition in the same section explains the reason Mahdi was named thus. Ka’b says: "He was named Mahdi because he will be guided to the hidden matters." Abd Allah bin Shurayk used to relate that the Prophet’s standard will be with the Mahdi. [48]

Ibn Sirin records several other traditions that speak about the function of the Mahdi. One of these reported from Hakam bin Uyayna says that the reporter asked Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir: We have heard that one among your Ahl-ul-Bayt will arise and will establish justice and equity. Is this true? He said: "We are also awaiting his appearance and living in hope."

In another tradition Salma bin Zafar reports:

One day people were talking about the appearance of the Mahdi in the presence of Hudhayfa. Hudhayfa said: "

If Mahdi has indeed appeared while you are living close to the Prophet’s period and while his companions are living among you then you are truly fortunate. However that is not the case. Mahdi will not appear until people are devoured by oppression and tyranny and there is no one absent more beloved and more needed than him."[49]

People were so familiar with the characteristics of the Mahdi that Jarir the Arab poet read the following lines of his poem for the Umayyad caliph Umar bin Abd al-Aziz in which he compares the caliph with the future Mahdi:

Your presence is a blessing. Your conduct is the conduct of the Mahdi. You are fighting your lower self and you spend the night in recitation of the Qur’an. [50]

Muhammad bin Ja’far reports that he once told Malik bin Anas his misfortunes. He said: "Wait until the significance of the verse of the Qur’an: 'Yet We desired to be gracious to those that were abased in land and to make them leaders and to make them the inheritors (27:5) ' becomes materialized."[51]

Note: This time we will work on just ten parts of this useful book but as always accompany us for other parts of this book in future.

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(40). Ibn Tawus Kitab al-malahim wa al-fitan p. 64. Rukn and maqam are two sacred spots in the grand mosque of Mecca.

(41). Ibid. p. 84.

(42). Ibid. p. 179.

(43). Ibid.

(44). Ibid. p. 171.

(45). Majlisi Bihar al-anwar Vol. 52 p. 211.

(46). Maqatil al-talibiyin p. 160.

(47). Kitab al-hawi li al-fatawa Vol. 2 p. 135.

(48). Ibid. p. 147-150.

(49). Ibid. p. 159.

(50). Ibn Qutayba al-Imama wa al-siyasa Vol. 2 p. 117.

(51). Maqatil al-talibiyin p. 359.

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Source: A book named The Just Leader of Humanity

By Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini

Translated by: Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina

People Awaited the Appearance of the Mahdi

From all the references to the Mahdi and his appearance in the sources it is obvious that people were awaiting the coming of the Mahdi from the early days of Islam and were actually counting the days for that to happen. They regarded the establishment of the legitimate government through his emergence a certainty.

This anticipation used to get intense during times of political turmoil and unfavorable social conditions. People expected that the emergence would take place imminently. On many occasions they would adhere to the false pretender or would regard some person to be truly the promised Mahdi. Those whom people thought were the promised Mahdi included the following:

(1) Muhammad bin Hanafiyya:

Since he had the name and patronymic of the Prophet there was a group that believed him to be the Mahdi. According to Tabari when Mukhtar bin Abu Ubayd Thaqafi wanted to revolt against the Umayyads and exact revenge from those who had murdered the grandson of the Prophet Hussein he ascribed Mahdiism to Muhammad bin Hanafiyya. And he claimed to be his envoy and his deputy and showed the letters he had brought with him to the people. [52]

Ibn Sa’d tells us that when people wanted to greet Ibn Hanafiyya they would address him thus: "Peace be to you O Mahdi!" And he would reply: "Yes I am the Mahdi and I shall guide you towards the straight path and prosperity. My name is the same as the name of the Prophet and my patronymic is also his patronymic. Whenever you want to greet me say: Peace be to you O Muhammad; peace be to you O Abu al-Qasim!'"[53]

This and other similar reports indicate that one of the signs of the appearance of the promised Mahdi was the combination of the Prophet's name and patronymic for a person. This is the reason Ibn Hanafiyya made a reference to this fact for himself. However careful investigation of historical sources reveals that it was not Ibn Hanafiyya who made such claims for himself. It was others like Mukhtar who introduced him thus. On his part sometimes Ibn Hanafiyya kept silent on the matter confirming the attribution to him. This policy was probably followed with the hope that the murderers of Karbala would be avenged and the Islamic leadership would revert to its rightful holder.

This is supported by another report in which Ibn Hanafiyya tells the people: "Be aware that the rightful people have a government which will be established when God desires it. Anyone who witnesses it will be fortunate and anyone who predeceases it will enjoy the blessings of God in the hereafter."[54]

Muhammad bin Hanafiyya in a sermon that he delivered in the presence of some seven thousand people said: "You have hastened in this matter. Yet among your descendants are people who with the help of the family of the Prophet will wage war against the enemies of God. The government of the family of the Prophet is not concealed from anyone. However its materialization will take time. I declare solemnly in the name of the One in whose hand is Muhammad’s life the rule will return to the Prophet’s family."[55]

(2) Muhammad bin Abd Allah bin Hassan:

This was another descendant of the Prophet whom people accepted as the Mahdi. According to Abu al-Faraj when Muhammad bin Abd Allah was born the family of the Prophet rejoiced and quoted the Prophet saying: "The name of the Mahdi is Muhammad." As such they were hopeful that Muhammad would be the promised Mahdi. They used to adore him. In the gatherings he was mentioned frequently and the Shi’ is used to give each other good news about his impending appearance.

In another place Abu al-Faraj reports an account which says that when Muhammad bin Abd Allah was born he was named Mahdi with the expectation that he was the Mahdi promised in the earlier sources. However the leaders of the Talibids used to call him nafs al-zakiyya and in accord with the divine decree he would be killed in Ihjar Zayt. One of the slaves of Abu Ja’far Mansur relates that he was told by Mansur to go and sit near the pulpit and listen to his lectures. Once he heard him say: "Do not entertain any doubt that I am the Mahdi and the reality is also thus." The slave reported the incident to the Caliph who said: "By God Muhammad is telling falsehood. The truth is that the promised Mahdi is my son." [56]

Salma bin Aslam composed lines about Muhammad bin Abd Allah in which he said: "That which is reported in the traditions will materialize when Muhammad bin Abd Allah appears among the people and takes charge of the affairs with his hands. Muhammad has a special ring which God has not given to anyone except him. There will be signs of piety and goodness in him. We hope that Muhammad will be the Imam through whose blessed existence the Qur’an will come to life again. Moreover through his existence Islam will be revived and reformed and the poor orphan children and needy families will again live in prosperity. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with corruption. And our hopes and aspirations will be fulfilled."[57]

Note: This time we will work on just ten parts of this useful book but as always accompany us for other parts of this book in future.

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(52). Ta’ rikh Vol. 4 pp. 449-494; Ibn Athir Kamil al-tawarikh Vol. 1 p. 339 358.

(53). Tabaqat al-kubra Vol. 5 p. 66.

(54). Ibid. Vol. 7 p. 71.

(55). Ibid. Vol. 5 p. 80.

(56). Ibid. pp. 165 and 157.

(57). Ibid. p. 163.

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Source: The book named The Just Leader of Humanity

By Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini

Translated by: Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina

Imam Zaman (A.S): The Last Luminary part 4

 

In a tradition the holy Prophet (PBUH) said to the Commander of believers, Ali (A.S), that:

"There will be twelve Guides after me, the first of whom is you, O' Ali, and the last one will be the 'Support' (al-Qa'im) who, with the grace of Allah, will gain victory over the whole east and west of the world."

Imam Ali al-Ridha (the eighth Imam) said, in the course of a tradition:

"The Imam after me is my son, Muhammad, and after him his son Ali, and after Ali his son, al-Hasan, and after al-Hasan his son Hujjat al-Qa'im (the proof of Allah who shall stand), who is awaited during his occultation and obeyed during his manifestation. Even if there remain from the life of the world but a single day, Allah will expand that day until he becomes manifest and fills the world with justice in the same way that it had been filled with injustice. But when? As for news of the hour (i.e., the moment of appearance), frequently my father told me, having heard it from his father who heard it from his father who heard it from his ancestors who heard it from Ali (A.S), that it was asked from the holy Prophet, O Prophet of God, when will the 'Support' (al-Qa'im) who is from your family appear? He said, His case is like that of the Hour (of time of the resurrection). 'Allah alone knows it and He will manifest it at its proper time. It is heavy in the heavens and the earth. It cometh not to you save unawares' (Quran 7:187)."

Musa al-Baghdadi said, I heard Imam Hasan al-Askari (the eleventh Imam) who said:

"I see that after me differences will appear among you concerning the Imam after me. Whoever accepts the Imams after the Prophet of God but denies my son is like the person who accepts all the prophets but denies the prophethood of Muhammad, the Prophet of God, upon whom be peace and blessing. And whoever denies (Muhammad) the Prophet of God is like one who has denied all the prophets of God, for obeying the last of us is like obeying the first of us and denying the last of us is like denying the first of us. But beware! Verily, for my son there is an occultation during which all people will fall into doubt except those whom Allah protects."

There are hundreds of prophetic traditions about Imam al-Mahdi (A.S) which have been recorded in both the Shi'ite and Sunnite collections of traditions. A large number of religious scholars form all Islamic schools of thought have independently compiled books about Imam al-Mahdi, the leader of the time. Their number runs to tens of volumes. (For more information in this regard, please see the next article.) Thus believing in Imam al-Mahdi is not exclusive to the Shi'ites, and the Sunni scholars believe in him, though they do not have the extensive information about him that the Shia possess.

Source: shia sources

Imam Zaman (A.S): The Last Luminary part 3

 

Therefore, by the reason of inner necessity and determination, the future will see a day when human society will be replete with justice, when all will live in peace and tranquillity, and when human beings will be fully possessed of virtue and perfection. The establishment of such a condition will occur through human hands but with Divine Assistance. And the leader of such a society is called in the language of the traditions, al-Mahdi (the Mahdi; the guided one).

In the different religions that govern the world (either divine or not) such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam there are references to a person who will come as the savior of mankind. These religions have given glad tidings of his coming, although there are naturally minor differences in detail that can be discerned when these teachings are compared carefully.

However one thing that all these teachings have in common is that "A human will come to establish peace and tranquillity all over the earth". Every religion has a different attachment to it, however. The least thing that a human being (regardless of his religion) is supposed to do, is to accept what ALL these teachings have in common. This goes to prove the necessity of belief for "his coming". Thus, the saviors of all these religions who are all expected to come at the end of the time, are manifested in one individual, since the foundation of such belief is established by all. The attachments of different religions can be reconciled on their own tendencies, and thus rejected. The fact remains that the teachings of the previous religions have been under a long alteration process, and only Islam has been guaranteed its survival. Thus we should accept the attachment that the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) has offered us with regard to the one who is coming whose name is Imam al-Mahdi (and, of course, there will come Jesus as one of the Imam al-Mahdi's follower, based on the prophetic traditions).

There are numerous traditions cited in the Sunni and the Shi'i sources from the Holy Prophet concerning the appearance of the Mahdi, such as that he is of the progeny of the Prophet and that his appearance will enable human society to reach true perfection and the full realization of spiritual life. In addition, there are numerous other traditions concerning the fact that the Mahdi is the son of the Eleventh Imam, al-Hasan al-Askari, and that after being born and undergoing a long occultation (disappearance; living among people while he is not identified) the Mahdi will appear again, filling the world with justice as it has been corrupted by injustice and tyranny.

Refrences: shia sources

Imam Mahdi (A.S): The Last Luminary part 2

 

Beside Quran, the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) are the most important and worthiest treasure of Islamic learning. In the sea of jewels of Islamic traditions glad tidings on the Government of Justice can be seen which is regarding to the "Divine Revolution" and the "divinely appointed leader" who will fulfill this holy aspiration.

In a tradition upon whose authenticity all Muslims agree, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has said:

"Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday, Allah will expand that day to such length of time as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my Ahlul-Bayt who will be called by my name. He will fill out the earth with peace and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny (by then)."

The above precious tradition testifies that the golden divine promises will take place, sooner or later, one way or another, as also mentioned in most of the Shi'ite and Sunnite sources.

In both subjects of prophecy and Imamat (leadership) it is discussed that as a result of the law of general guidance which governs all of creation, human is of necessity endowed with the power of receiving revelation through prophecy, which directs him toward the perfection of the human norm and the well-being of the human species. Obviously, if this perfection and happiness were not possible for human, the very fact that he is endowed with this power would have been meaningless and futile. But there is no futility in creation.

In other words, ever since he has inhabited the earth, human has had the wish to lead a social life filled with happiness in its true sense and has striven toward this end. If such a wish were not to have an objective existence it would never have been imprinted upon human's inner nature, in the same way that if there were no food there would have been no meaning for hunger (since hunger is understood when one compares a person who has eaten food and a person who has not), and if there were no water there would have been no thirst and if there were no reproduction there would have been no sexual attraction between the sexes.

Refrences: shia sources

Imam Mahdi (A.S): The Last Luminary part1

There is no doubt that the Holy Quran is the book of Allah and that all Muslims of the world are required to accept its teachings and instructions. When one opens Quran and casts a glance at its verses he will come across to what seems to be a clear landscape of an extraordinary, sensational, and exciting future and the end of the universe.

Quran indicates that the ultimate mission of the Prophet of Islam was to make this religion prevail over all other religions in the world; and one day this holy aspiration will finally be fulfilled. Allah stated in Quran:

"It is He who has sent His messenger (Muhammad) with the guidance and the Religion of truth, to prevail over all religions, even though the idolaters may detest." (Quran 9:33)

The Holy book of the last Messenger of Allah gives the glad tidings that the rule over the earth shall finally belong to the righteous and virtuous servants of Allah:

"The earth is Allah's. He gives it as a heritage to whom He wills, and the good end is for the righteous people." (Quran 7:128)

And He, Exalted, also said:

"And We wrote in Psalm (Zabur) after the Reminder that surely My righteous servants will inherit the earth." (Quran 21:105)

The earth which will be full of corruption destruction and ignorance, like a lifeless body, will be revived with the glowing light of justice as indicated in His book:

"Know that Allah gives life to earth after its death!" (Quran 57:17)

We also read in Quran:

"Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good deeds that He will surely make them succeed (the present rulers) in the earth as he caused those who were before them to succeed others and that He will surely establish for them religion which He has approved for them and will give them safety after their fear to worship Me and not to associate anything with Me." (Quran 24:55)

Allah also stated:

"They intend to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will complete His Light even though the unbelievers may detest." (Quran 61:8)

He, Exalted He is, also said:

"And We desired to show favor unto those who were oppressed in the earth to make them symbols and to make them inheritors." (Quran 28:5)

These were some short examples of the divine glad tidings mentioned in Quran. By studying these matters and tens of other similar indications, it is deduced that the Islamic message will reach its complete fulfillment when these holy aspirations will take place. All fabricated and superstitious objectives will disappear and then only the Islam, the unique and true religion, will be the faith of the people in the east and west of the world. Injustice, oppression, and inequality shall vanish, and instead, justice and equality which is the law of the creation of the world will be established everywhere. The Kingdom of the divinely appointed Caliph (Khalifatullah) will manifest itself in all the corners of the world. The light of the guidance of Allah will shine and the earth shall belong to the virtuous ones. Yes, Quran gives the Good News which the day that all Muslims of the world are enthusiastically waiting for it, will arrive.

Refrences: shia sources

Sunni Documentation on Imam al-Mahdi (A.S) part 3

Also Ahmad Ibn Hanbal recorded:

The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Allah will bring out from concealment al-Mahdi from my Family and just before the Day of Judgment; even if only one day were to remain in the life of the world, and he will spread on this earth justice and equity and will eradicate tyranny and oppression."

Sunni references:

Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, p99

A close version has also been narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud, English version, Ch. 36, Tradition #4270 narrated from Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS).

It is narrated in Sahih Muslim that:

Jabir Ibn Abdillah al-Ansari (RA) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: "A group of my Ummah will fight for the truth until near the day of judgment when Jesus, the son of Marry, will descend, and the leader of them will ask him to lead the prayer, but Jesus declines, saying: "No, Verily, among you Allah has made leaders for others and He has bestowed his bounty upon them."

Sunni reference:

Sahih Muslim, Arabic, part 2, p193

Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v3, pp 45,384

al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p251

Nuzool Isa Ibn Maryam Akhir al-Zaman, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, p57

Musnad, by Abu Ya'ala which provides another version of the tradition with more clear words on the authority of Jabir that the Messenger of Allah said: "A group among my Ummah will continue to fight for the truth until Jesus, the son of Marry, will descend, and the Imam of them will ask him to lead the prayer, but Jesus replies: "You have more right to it, and verily Allah has honored some of you over others in this Ummah."

Sahih Ibn Habban, whose tradition reads: "their leader al-Mahdi" and the rest of tradition is the same.

Ibn Abu Shaybah, another Sunni traditionist, and the mentor of al-Bukhari and Muslim, has reported several traditions about Imam al-Mahdi (AS). He has also reported that the Imam of the Muslims who will lead Prophet Jesus in prayer is Imam al-Mahdi himself.

Jalaluddin al-Suyuti mentioned that: "I have heard some of the deniers of (truth) deny what has been conveyed about Jesus that when he descends will pray the Fajr prayer behind al-Mahdi. They say, Jesus has higher status than to pray behind a non-Prophet. This is a bizarre opinion since the issue of prayer of Jesus behind al-Mahdi has been proven strongly via numerous authentic traditions from the Messenger of Allah, who is the most truthful." And then al-Suyuti goes on narrating some of the traditions in this regard. (See Nuzool Isa Ibn Maryam Akhir al-Zaman, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, p56).

Also al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani mentioned that:

"The Mahdi is of this Ummah, and that Jesus (PBUH&HF) will come down and pray behind him."

Sunni reference: Fat'h al-Bari, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v5, p362

This is also mentioned by another Sunni scholar, Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, who wrote:

"The Ahlul-Bayt are like the stars through whom we are guided in the right direction, and if the starts are taken away (or hidden) we would come face to face with the signs of the Almighty as promised (i.e., the Day of Resurrection). This will happen when the Mahdi will come, as mentioned in the traditions, and the Prophet Jesus will say his prayers behind him, the Dajjal will be slain, and then the signs of the Almighty will appear one after another."

Sunni reference: al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 11, section 1, p234

Also Ibn Hajar quoted Abu al-Husain al-Ajiri saying:

The traditions of al-Mustafa (PBUH) on the rising of al-Mahdi has been transmitted via numerous authorities and is more than the level of (being sufficient for) Mutawatir, describing that he is of his Ahlul-Bayt, and will fill the earth with justice, and that Jesus (A.S) will come at the same time and he will assist Jesus for killing al-Dajjal in the land of Palestine, and that he will lead this nation and Jesus will pray behind him.

Sunni reference:

Abu al-Husain al-Ajiri as quoted in al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 11, section 1, p254

So if al-Mahdi and Jesus are to be the same person as some ignorants claim, then how can one prays behind himself?! Moreover this shows that Imam al-Mahdi and Jesus (the Messiah) will come at the same time so that they could pray the morning prayer together in Jerusalem.

In fact, the equivalent word of "Messiah" in Arabic is "al-Maseeh" which means "Wiped Clean; Purified". This word has been used in Quran as the title of Prophet Jesus (A.S). As such, the "Messiah" is the Prophet Jesus (A.S) and not the Imam al-Mahdi (AS). However, the word "Messiah" in English has another meaning, that is "savior". As a result, there have been some English translators who used the word "Messiah" for Imam al-Mahdi (A.S) with the meaning of "Savior" which does NOT have anything to do with Arabic word "al-Maseeh".

I should point out that, there exists a fabricated tradition which is mainly used by Ahmadis and Qadianis to prove that al-Mahdi and Jesus are the same. The tradition states: "And no Mahdi except Jesus." This tradition has been rated by al-Hakim as unknown and strange and he said there are discrepancy in its chain of authorities. al-Bayhaqi said Muhammad Ibn Khalid said this tradition is single (Mufrad). al-Nisa'i has mentioned that this tradition is unfamiliar and is denied, and that the memorizers of traditions confirm that the traditions which state that al-Mahdi is the descendants of Fatimah are authentic and reliable. (See al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, Ch. 11, section 1, p252 for details).

Prophet Jesus is not the Imam of Muslims, and when he comes back, he will be the follower of the Imam of Muslims who is known as Imam al-Mahdi (A.S).

In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated that:

The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "What would be your situation if the Son of Marry (i.e. Jesus) descends upon you and your Imam is among you?"

Sunni reference:

Sahih al-Bukhari, Arabic-English, v4, Tradition #658

NOTE: The above is my own translation. The Saudi-paid translator of Sahih al-Bukhari (Muhammad Muhsin Khan) has shown pure dishonesty in translating the above tradition. His translation of the last portion of the tradition does not bear any similarity what so ever with the Arabic text of the tradition which is as follows:

Now let us look at the false translation of Mr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan:

Muhammad Muhsin Khan> Sahih Bukhari Hadith: 4.658

Muhammad Muhsin Khan> Narrated Abu Huraira:

Muhammad Muhsin Khan>

Muhammad Muhsin Khan> Allah's Apostle said "How will you be when the son

Muhammad Muhsin Khan> of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you and he

Muhammad Muhsin Khan> will judge people by the Law of the Quran

Muhammad Muhsin Khan> and not by the law of Gospel.

Mr. Muhsin Khan has trimmed the last part of the tradition which states that the Imam of Muslims (i.e., Imam al-Mahdi) is among Muslims when the son of marry descends. Instead, the translator has added another sentence which does not exists in the Arabic text. I should mention that this is not the only place that he has altered the text, and there are much more examples in this regard which proves his bias and his dishonesty.

Al-Hafidh Muhammad Ibn Ali al-Shawkani (d. 1250/1834) wrote in a book called "al-Tawdhih fi twawatur ma jaa'a fil muntadar wad-djjal wal masih" (the explanation about the frequent reports concerning the Awaited one, the Dajjal, and the messiah) in which he wrote about Imam al-Mahdi (A.S) that: "The traditions about al-Mahdi have been related by numerous authorities and are therefor reliable beyond doubt or confusion, because in jurisprudence the qualification of Mutawatir is valid even for (traditions) with less than this number of narrations. There are also many sayings of the companions (of the Prophet) which explicitly mention the Mahdi, which have the status of narrations from the Prophet since there is no question of establishing such saying through Ijtihad (one's opinion and research)". The author gives the same opinion in his other book "al-Fat'h al-Rabbani". (In this connection see also Mawsu'atil Imam al-Mahdi, v1, pp 391-392,413-414,434, and also Tuhfatul Ahwadhi, v6, p485).

to be continued...

source: shia.org

Sunni Documentation on Imam al-Mahdi A.S part 1

For the Sunni brothers, there are six major collections of traditions based on the Sunni standards for verifying the authenticity of a tradition. These six books are: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud, and Sahih al-Nisa'i. I just quote few traditions from these six books to prove that a knowledgeable Sunni brother/sister can NOT deny that:

al-Mahdi (A.S) will come in the last days to make a universal Government,

al-Mahdi (A.S) is from the Ahlul-Bayt of the Prophet (PBUH),

al-Mahdi (A.S) is from the progeny of Fatimah (A.S), the daughter of the Prophet (PBUH),

al-Mahdi (A.S) is different than Prophet Jesus (the Messiah),

Prophet Jesus (A.S) will come as one of the followers of Imam al-Mahdi and will pray behind him in congressional prayer.

Another undeniable fact is that many leading Sunni scholars have written books after books exclusively about Imam al-Mahdi (A.S) which I included some of their names at the end of this article.

Moreover, Insha Allah in the next article, I will give a list of Sunni scholars who believe that Imam al-Mahdi (A.S) is son of Imam Hasan al-Askari (A.S), and is alive and went into occultation. In that article will also discuss the special specifications of Imam al-Mahdi which are the points of disagreement between the Shia and the Sunni.

The following are only some of the traditions about Imam al-Mahdi which Sunnis admit to their authenticity and existence:

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left (before the day of judgment), Allah will expand that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my Ahlul-Bayt who will be called by my name. He will fill out the earth with peace and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny (by then)."

Sunni References:

Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v2, p86, v9, pp 74-75

Sunan Abu Dawud, v2, p7

Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, pp 84,376; V3, p63

al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn, by al-Hakim, v4, p557

Jami' al-Saghir, by al-Suyuti, pp 2,160

al-Urful Wardi, by al-Suyuti, p2

al-Majma', by al-Tabarani, p217

Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v9, p144

Fat'h al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, by Ibn Hajar Asqalani, v7, p305

al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p249

al-Tathkirah, by al-Qurtubi, p617

al-Hawi, by al-Suyuti, v2, pp 165-166

Sharh al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah, by al-Zurqani, v5, p348

Fat'h al-Mugheeth, by al-Sakhawi, v3, p41

Kanz al-Ummal, v7 P186

Iqd al-Durar Fi Akhbar al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, v12, Ch. 1,

al-Bayan fi Akhbar Sahib al-Zaman, By Ganji al-Shafi'i, Ch. 12

al-Fusool al-Muhimmah, by Ibn Sabbagh al-Maliki, Ch. 12

Arjahul Matalib, by Ubaidallah Hindi al-Hanafi, p380

Muqaddimah, by Ibn Khaldoon, p266

and also in the works of Ibn Habban, Abu Nua'ym, Ibn A

Sunni Documentation on Imam al-Mahdi (A.S) part 2

 

Also:

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "al-Mahdi is one of us, the members of the household (Ahlul-Bayt)."

Sunni reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4085

It is evident from the above traditions that Imam al-Mahdi (A.S) is from the Ahlul-Bayt of Prophet Muhammad, so he can not be Jesus (the Messiah; al-Maseeh). Thus, al-Mahdi and Messiah are two different personalities but they come at the same time, al-Mahdi as Imam and Jesus as his follower. The following tradition clearly mentions that Imam al-Mahdi is one of descendants of the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

The Prophet (PBUH) said: The Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatimah (the Prophet's daughter).

Sunni references:

Sunan Abu Dawud, English version, Ch. 36, Tradition #4271 (narrated by Umm Salama, the wife of the Prophet)

Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4086

al-Nisa'i and al-Bayhaqi, and others as quoted in:

al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p249

Also:

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "We the children of Abd al-Muttalib are the Masters of the inhabitants of the heaven: Myself, Hamza (RA), Ali (A.S), Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib (RA), al-Hasan (A.S), al-Husain (A.S), and al-Mahdi (AS)."

Sunni references:

Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4087

al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, on the authority of Anas Ibn Malik

al-Daylami

al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p245

The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "The Mahdi will appear in my Ummah. He will appear for a minimum of 7 or a maximum of 9 years; at that time, my Ummah will experience a bountiful favor like never before. It shall have a great abundance of food, of which it need not save anything, and the wealth at that time is in great quantities, such that if a man asks the Mahdi to give him some, and the Mahdi (A.S) will say: Here! Take!"

Sunni reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #5083

Remark: According to Shi'i sources, the Government of Peace and equality that Imam al-Mahdi will establish will last hundreds of years with no rival, and then the day of Judgment will commence. What is mentioned in the above tradition as 7 or 9 years is the length of time that Imam al-Mahdi (A.S) will fight to conquer the world when he starts his mission.

The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "We (I and my family) are members of a household that Allah (SWT) has chosen for them the life of the Hereafter over the life of this world; and the members of my household (Ahlul-Bayt) shall suffer a great affliction and they shall be forcefully expelled from their homes after my death; then there will come people from the East carrying black flags, and they will ask for some good to be given to them, but they shall be refused service; as such, they will wage war and emerge victorious, and will be offered that which they desired in the first place, but they will refuse to accept it till they pass it to a man from my family (Ahlul-Bayt) appears to fill the Earth with justice as it has been filled with corruption. So whoever reaches that (time) ought to come to them even if crawling on the ice/snow since among them is the Vice-regent of Allah (Khalifatullah) al-Mahdi."

Sunni references:

Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, Tradition #4082,

The History Tabari

al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 11, section 1, pp 250-251

Also:

The Messenger of Allah said: "The world will not perish until a man among the Arabs appears whose name matches my name."

Sunni reference: Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v9, p74

In Sahih Muslim, in the Chapter of al-Fitan, there are some interesting traditions on what will happen in the last days of the world. I would like to quote two of them here:

Abu Nadra reported: We were with the company of Jabir Ibn Abdillah... Jabir Ibn Abdillah kept quite for a while and then reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said: "There would be a Caliph in the last (period) of my Ummah who would freely give handfuls of wealth to the people without counting it." I said to Abu Nadra and Abu al-Ala: Do you mean Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz? They said: NO, (he would be Imam Mahdi).

Sunni references:

Sahih Muslim, English version, v4, chapter MCCV, p1508, Tradition #6961

Sahih Muslim, Arabic version, Kitab al-Fitan, v4, p2234, Tradition #67

[ NOTE: What are inside the parentheses in the above tradition are NOT my comments. They are the words of the translator of Sahih Muslim (Abdul Hamid Siddiqui).]

Similarly, we read in Sahih Muslim:

Abu Sa'id and Jabir Ibn Abdullah reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: "There would be in the last (phase) of the time a Caliph who would distribute wealth but would not count."

Sunni references:

Sahih Muslim, English version, v4, chapter MCCV, p1508, Tradition #6964

Sahih Muslim, Arabic version, Kitab al-Fitan, v4, p2235, Tradition #69

It is also narrated:

In the end of the time, my Ummah will undergo very hard affliction like never before, so that man can not find any way out. Then Allah will appear a person from my progeny, that is my Ahlul-Bayt, who will fill the earth with justice as it was filled with injustice. The inhabitants of the earth and the inhabitants of the heaven love him. The sky will bring down its water everywhere and the earth will bring all what it can offer and will become green all over.

Sunni references:

al-Sahih fi al-Hadith, by al-Hakim, as quoted in:

al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p250

Ibn Majah in his Sunan quotes Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah and Imam Ali saying that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:

"al-Mahdi is from our Ahlul-Bayt, no doubt Allah will enforce his appearance within a night (i.e., his coming is very unpredictable and is very sudden)."

Sunni references:

Sunan Ibn Majah, v2, p269

Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, as quoted in:

al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p250

Moreover, it is narrated that:

Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS) said: "When the 'Support' of the family of Muhammad (al-Qa'im Aale Muhammad) rises Allah will unite the people of east and the people of west."

Sunni references:

Ibn Asakir, as quoted in:

al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p252

Ibn Hajar wrote that:

Muqatil Ibn Sulayman and those who followed him among the (Sunni) commentators of Quran said that the verse: "And he shall be a Sign for (the coming of) the Hour" (Quran 43:61) was revealed about al-Mahdi.

Sunni reference: al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 11, section 1, p247

To be continued ...

Source: shia.org

Dying with love for the Master of the Age

By: Ayatullah Shaheed Syed Abdul Husayn Dastaghaib Shirazi

One of my friends related to me: Fifty years back, his 18 years old brother had learnt the Ziyarat Jamiah by heart. The Twelfth Imam had taught it. At last he fell ill. On his deathbed he recited the Ziyarat Jamiah and names of the twelve Imams. What is wonderful is that he said he was in bed for two months due to his serious illness he had becomes like a skeleton, unable to move. But at the last moment of his life when he recited that he remembered all the twelve Imams and so also Imam Mahdi, he got up from his bed. I do not know what this eagerness was, if not the eagerness of love, which makes a dead person alive! How much affinity and affection this youth had for the Imam of the time that it made him arise from his deathbed. When he took the name of his Master he stands up quite upright. Even after that, he once again for giving respect and honor (to the Master) throws himself at the doorstep of his room saying: Welcome, O Master. Then he rises up and then passes away from this world. Such are the things and events of the pasts.

Now our faiths have become weak and hearts devilish. O God! I do not know, in this age of mine, how I shall die? God forbid, lest I be thinking of and in anxiety for this world! Even at the last moment I may worry about all about the world!

Weep for yourself in advance

During these holy nights you read: I am weeping for the hour of my death. When you die, no one weeps for you. If you have a wife, she says: The crown of my head has gone away. If you have a son, he says: I have lost my might. Someone says: My bread earner is no more. No one ever says: In what condition this unfortunate person died? What will happen to this man in his grave? Ali says: Come, for God’s sake, rush to help your dearest thing, that is, rush to help thyself. Weep for your own self. A collective supplication is more precious. It is written in Wasaelush Shia that Imam Sadiq says: If forty persons pray to God together, God answers their prayer.

O Allah! Today we have one thing to ask from You. If You give it, You will have given us everything. If You do not grant it, we are helpless. O God! Make us die with Faith. During this Friday eve, in this night, which is full of mercy, please make this group, one of those lucky ones whom You will protect from hell. On every Friday eve in the holy month of Ramadhan, six hundred thousand people get salvation.[30] Kindly make this gathering one of those lucky ones.

Here I hint towards the last moments of Husain’s life. In the solitary pit of his assassination Husain prays to his Lord: O God! No one is my Lord except You and there is no deity for me except You. He holds such sincere talks with God. O Husain, dear Husain! Neither those innumerable wounds nor the burning of your hungry and thirsty stomach, nothing of the kind, nor the separation of your near and dear ones made you unmindful of your Lord! May I be sacrificed for you, O Husain!

Friday is a holiday

Today is Friday. Islam orders that Muslims must observe it as a holiday. They should take their hands off routine jobs once in a week. Woe unto a Muslim who even on Friday runs after his worldly affairs. One week is sufficient. Reach your religion also on one day. Do universal service. Follow the commands of your religion fully.

Listen to God’s commands about the lawful and unlawful and remember them. It is said that on Friday, come to the Mosque, offer prayer, not solitarily but in congregation. Before the said two units prayer, a qualified and pious, God-fearing speaker should draw the Muslims’ attention towards God, towards the Oneness of God and guide them to correct beliefs. Also he should pay attention to their weekly affairs and political needs. Unfortunately, the Shias are deprived of this benefit of Friday prayer and so also are the Sunnis. What they offer is not the real Friday prayer. What is the most important in the Friday prayer is that the spiritual orator, during his two sermons should correct the belief of Muslims in Allah’s oneness, should awaken the sleeping souls of the audience who were negligent for a week.

They must come to masjid on Friday collectively when the preacher must teach them that this world is not everything, why so much worry and anxiety for the material worldly needs? There are real and permanent things after death. You should have provision for the life after death also.

Source: imamalmahdi.com

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Other Links:

Responding to Some Points Raised By Ibn Khaldun (Part 2)

The Existence of the Mahdi is certain

Other Opinions from Ibn Khaldun

People Awaited the Appearance of the Mahdi

The Jurists of Medina and the Mahdi Traditions

The Occultation of Imam Mahdi A.S

1. Free From Allegiance of Every Tyrant

Amirul Momineen Ali (A.S.) said,

"Certainly', when the Qaem from among us shall arise, he will not have the allegiance of any one upon his neck. It is for this reason that his birth is secret and his person is in Ghaibat." (Kamaaluddin Vol.1. Pg.303)

2. Test of the People

Imam al Kazim (A.S.) said,

"My son ! when the fifth descendant of the seventh of the Imams is not visible to you ! It is when Allah will test your belief. Ghaibat is inevitable for the Master of this affair. Till the time when the religion is completely transformed, and only a few people will have belief in him. My son ! That Ghaibat, It is a trial through which Allah, the Almighty tests His servants."

(Ghaibat-e-Toosi Pg.166 and 337. Al Kafi vol.1 Pg.336. Kamaaluddin vol.2 Pg.359 and 360. Kifayatul Asar Pg.264-265)

3. Fear of the Enemy

Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.) said,

"The Qaem is the one who will purify the earth from the enemies of Allah, the High and the Mighty. And he will fill the earth will justice and equity just as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He is the fifth of my descendants. He will go into occultation due to the fear of his own (life)."

(Kamaaluddin vol.2 Pg.361. Kifayatul Asar Pg.265-266)

4. Weakness and Lack of Co-operation of the People

Imam Mahdi (A.S.) said.

"If our Shias; May Allah help them in His obedience; would have fulfilled their covenant with united hearts then there would have been no delay in our meeting, and they would have been blessed with our visitation at the earliest, along with the recognition of truth and confirmation of our rights."

(Al Ihtejaj vol.2 Pg.602).

Source: http://imamalmahdi.com

---

Other Links:

Responding to Some Points Raised By Ibn Khaldun (Part 2)

The Existence of the Mahdi is certain

Other Opinions from Ibn Khaldun

People Awaited the Appearance of the Mahdi

The Jurists of Medina and the Mahdi Traditions

Benefits from an Occult Imam part 2

A similar question was put to Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (a.s.) by Mahraan Al Damish: "How shall the people benefit from the hidden and the concealed proof?" Imam Sadiq (a.s.) replied, "Just like they derive benefits from the sun when it is concealed behind the clouds."(Ibid., p. 207)

The above tradition has been quoted by Shaykh Sulayman bin Shaykh Ibrahim Qandoozi on page 477 of his book "Yanaabiul Mawaddah", quoting from "Faraaidus Simtain' of Shaykh Hammui. Both the afore-mentioned are Sunni scholars of repute.

When the same query was put to Hazrat Hujjat (a.s.) himself, he remarked in his letter to Ishaq bin Yaqoob: "Deriving benefit from me during my occultation is like obtaining advantage from the sun when concealed behind the clouds." This letter was sent through the second special deputy of Imam (a.s.), Muhammad ibn Uthman Amri (r.a.). (Ibid., p. 485)

Noteworthy it is that the question was posed to three infallibles and the reply from each of them was but one. Thereby ascertaining that the patron of them all is one - and He is Allah, Blessed and High be He. Imam (a.s.)'s occultation is likened to the

hiding of the sun behind the clouds. Some of the points understood in this analogy are explained by Allama Majlisi (r.a.) and are produced hereunder :

(1) Existence - Imam (a.s.) is the means for illuminating mankind with the light of guidance and knowledge.

It is only because of Imam (a.s.) that erudition and science have appeared in the world. Had he not been existing, divine wrath would have befallen on the world. Allah (s.w.t.) declares in the Holy Quran, '''0 Prophet! as long as you are there amongst them. God will not inflict His wrath upon them".

Time and again during occultation, we have witnessed that when engulfed in difficulties and tribulations, things are placed in order with the support of Imam (a.s.) and our path is smoothened.

(2) When the sun is behind the clouds, people derive benefit from its existence. Yet, all eagerly await the clouds to sail past the sun to obtain maximum benefit from the visible sun. Similarly, at all times, the ardent Shias and the true lovers of Hazrat await the re-appearance of their leader.

(3) The denial of the existence of Imam (a.s.) during occultation after witnessing the signs is parallel to the denial of the sun when behind the clouds and not visible to the eye.

(4) Occasionally, the clouds move and let the sun be seen for some moments and the zealous manage to steal a glance at it. Similarly, some fortunate people are honored with the opportunity of seeing Imam (a.s.) during his major occultation.

(5) Just like the sun is beneficial to all, all benefit from the blessings of Imam (a.s.). However, just like a blind cannot obtain complete benefit from the sun, the one with - a blind heart does not achieve much from Imam (a.s.)'s existence.

(6) The rays of the sun enter the homes depending on the windows and ventilators. More that these impediments are done awav with, more rays enter the house. Likewise, when a man cleans the veils from his own self, the windows of his mind and spirit open for him and he will benefit all the more from the guiding light of Imam (a.s.) and thus illuminating his own personality.

Purification of the self from carnal desires, animal instincts, sins and evil deeds is directly proportionate to the reception of light and guidance of Imamat. If the purification of the heart and reformation of the soul continues, a time will come when he finds himself very close to the edifying star and his own personality exuding radiance.

(7) Apart from the above, more analogies can be presented. Just like the sun is the center of the solar system and all planets revolve around it, Imam (a.s.) is the axis of the universe and everything circumambulates his divine persona. Even the sun itself revolves around Imam (a.s.) and is subject to his orders.

(8) The sun is the source of heat and light in the universe. The brilliance of the moon is because of the solar rays. Nothing possesses its own light or heat. Similarly, Imam (a.s.) is the light of guidance for this universe. Even the sun has obtained its light from Imam (a.s.) because the day there is no Imam on this earth, the sun will be devoid of its light.

Guiding the Affair

The Almighty Allah has appointed the Pure Imams (a.s.) to guide the people through His Order. "And We made them Imams who guide (the people) by Our Command..." (Anbiya : 72)

Guidance of the people through the command of Allah is the most significant factor. Generally., everything in the world of creation comes into existence through a process. A child enters this world after a period of nine months in the womb of its mother. However, if Allah wills, this period can be reduced to moments and that is when Allah commands, "Be" and "It is".

The Almighty Allah has bestowed the Imams (a.s.) of "guiding with command". They have the capacity to transform a period just by looking at it. Imam Hasan (a.s.) changed the Syrian foe into a humble friend, Imam Husain (a.s.) transformed Zohair Qayn, Imam Mohammad Taqi (a.s.) changed the heart of the Syrian worshipper, etc. . Similarly, Hazrat Vali-e-Asr (a.s.) has brought profound changes in the lives of people like Hasan Iraqi. Apparent presence is not a pre-requisite for such transformations. If the person is deserving and is given the opportunity by Allah, he can benefit from the same. Today even we can obtain guidance from Imam (a.s.) but the necessary condition is that we must sacrifice our desires for his pleasure.

Protection from Calamities

Various traditions have emphasized the fact that the Ahiul Bayt (a.s.) are those personalities due to whom this universe is safe and sound. Hazrat Hujjat (a.s.) himself is reported to have said, "Certainly, I am the cause of he safety of this world as the stars are the cause of safety of the heavens."

(Kamaaluddin, p. 485; Al-Ihtijaaj by Shaykh Tabarsi, p. 471)

Moreover, Hazrat Vali-e-Asr (a.s.) has remarked in his letter to the respected Shaykh Mufeed (r.a.) for which the readers may refer to the back cover.

Each and everv word of this letter is a witness to the deep love and affection of Imam Asr (a.s.) for his Shias. Notwithstanding their shortcomings and defects, he protects them. If the help and assistance of Imam (a.s.) was missing, we would have most certainly perished. There is someone who is protecting us all. Numerous incidents prove this fact. Imam (a.s.) has saved a number of people and protected them. Readers can refer to the books that have recorded such incidents.

Moreover, due to the presence of Imam (a.s.), people receive sustenance, the sick are cured and the childless bear children. In brief, there is no problem that cannot be solved by the help of Imam (a.s.), despite his occultation.

He is prepared to favor us but we do not call him in the proper way.

May Allah count us among his sincere and loyal servants.

Source: imamalmahdi.com

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Other Links:

Responding to Some Points Raised By Ibn Khaldun (Part 2)

The Existence of the Mahdi is certain

Other Opinions from Ibn Khaldun

People Awaited the Appearance of the Mahdi

The Jurists of Medina and the Mahdi Traditions

Benefits from an Occult Imam part 1

Whenever the discussion of occultation crops up, queries of various kinds invade the minds of the people. The most common among them being as to what is the benefit of an Imam who is in occultation? In other words, what is the purpose of having a leader with whom neither we can come in contact nor meet?

In this article, we shall attempt to convey to our readers the answer to the query and make people realize as to how can one derive advantages from an Imam during occultation.

Benefits during Occultation

The root of this question lies in the fact that die criteria for measuring the benefits of a particular thing are relative, artificial and man made. In other words, if something is apparently useful and profitable for him, it is beneficial, not otherwise.

Such queries are raised because we do not seem to obtain any apparent benefit from Imam Mahdi (a.s.) during his occultation. Although, it is a genuine problem, yet we must know that if we are not receiving from Imam (a.s.), it is due to our own short-comings. Our laziness and defects may have closed the gates of beneficence for us.

Criteria of Utilitarianism

Before the questions are answered, it will not be out of place to ask that is it necessary that Allah should create only that thing which is of utility to other creatures or rather only its existence is enough for itself? Consequently, other creatures would claim that since man is not beneficial for them then his existence is not required.

The prophets came, propagated religion and departed from this world. What we were they for use in our existence to the prophets? The Almighty Allah did not send the prophet and messengers to serve our purpose. He had sent them to complete his proof.

He sent them to achieve a sublime position by withstanding difficulties in the way of propagation. May be it is because of this, that whenever the people offered to recompense them for their efforts, they replied, "I do not seek any reward from you. My reward is with Allah." (Holy Quran) Thus, they never expected any encouragement or praise from the people nor did they despair on account of the people's apathy.

Hence, when we are not the criterion to determine the utility of a particular thing and the prophets were not sent to serve our purpose, we cannot, in the first place, ques-tion the benefits of the Imam (a.s.ys existence during occultation.

Survival of the Universe

Putting our personal interests aside, we can consider the benefits and advantages of the Imam's (a.s.) existence. At this point it must be known that utility of each entity depends upon its individual capacity. The beggar and the king can never be equal. The Prophets and the Imam (a.s.) are the proofs of Allah upon this earth. The universe continues to exist because of their presence, Today, the proof of Allah upon earth is Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (a.s.). He is the pivot and the center of the universe. It survives because he exists. He is the Imam of the whole universe and that is why every particle of the universe acknowledges his presence. A tradition from Imam Jafar as Sadiq (a.s.) says:

"Had the earth been without an Imam, it would sink, swallowing its inhabitants."

(Al-Kafi, vol, 1, p, 179).

Another report states:

"The proof was prior to creation, it is with creation and shall continue to exist after the creation has perished"(Al Kafi Vol. 1, p. 177).

The same concept has come in an invocation, "Imam is the one whose continued existence is the cause of the universe's survival. Sustenance descends due to his presence. The earth and the heavens survive due to his existence." (Mafaatihul Jinaan, Dua-e-Adeelah)

Thus if the earth and the heavens exist, it is only because of Imam (a.s.)'s presence. We live and continue to receive sustenance due to him. Every living being in the world owes its existence to his presence. These are the consequences of the existence of Imam (a.s.). The central factor is the existence of Imam (a.s.) which neither depends upon his reappearance nor occupation. Whether apparent or concealed, he is the pivot of the universe. How meaningful are the following sentence of Ziarat Jameah:

"Allah initiated the creation for your sake and will terminate it with you. Rain descends for your sake and due to your existence, the sky is prevented from crashing to the earth. Only through your mediation are our sorrows and griefs dispelled."

(Mafaatihul Jinan)

The question however remains as to how can we derive benefit from Imam (a.s.) during his occultation? The question is as ancient as the phenomenon of occultation.

Sun Behind the Clouds

Explaining the following Quranic verse,

"0 those who believe! Obey Allah and Obey the Messenger and those who have authority amongst you", the Holy Prophet (s.a.) said to Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari,

"They will go into occultation from their partisans and followers. (And then) only those whose hearts have been tested for faith by Allah shall remain steadfast on their Imamate (and those with weak faith shall deviate)."

At this point Jabir ibne Abdullah (r.a.) inquired, "0 Messenger of Allah, would his partisans attain benefit from him while he is in occultation ?" The Holy Prophet (s.a.) replied, "By the One who has sent me as a Prophet, people will receive light from his splendor and benefit from his guardianship during his occultation just like they benefit from the sun when it hides behind the clouds." (Kamaaluddin by Shaykh Sadooq, p. 253)

Source: imamalmahdi.com

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Other Links:

Responding to Some Points Raised By Ibn Khaldun (Part 2)

The Existence of the Mahdi is certain

Other Opinions from Ibn Khaldun

People Awaited the Appearance of the Mahdi

The Jurists of Medina and the Mahdi Traditions