The Twelfth Imam Hazrat Mahdi (A.S.)

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The Imam, the just Guide, Hazrat Mahdi (A.S.) was born half-way through the month of Sha'ban in the year 255 A.H. in the town of Samarra, and in 260 A.H., when his great father died, he reached the exalted position of the Imamate. His name (Muhammad) and his agnomen (Abu'l-Qasim) are the same as the Prophet's. His father, the 11th Shi'a Imam, was Hazrat Imam Hasan al-'Askari (A.S.), and his mother, the great lady Nargis. For various reasons, the twelfth Imam, from the first day of his life, did not appear publicly, and for about seventy years people were in communication with him through the intermediary of his special representatives, in order of succession: 'Uthman ibn Sa'id, Muhammad ibn 'Uthman, Husayn ibn Ruh, and 'Ali ibn Muhammad as-Samarri. This period of seventy years is known as the minor occultation (al-ghaybat as-sughra), and at the end of that period the major occultation (al-ghaybat al-kubra) began. During the major occultation till the time of his reappearance, no one has been his special representative, and there will be no one in the future, and the people have the duty to refer to the fuqaha, those excelling in knowledge of the shari'ah, and the narration of hadith who are specialised in the matters of the religion.

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دوستان خوبم اگر مقدور هست توی این تاپیک اسپم نذارید تا تاپیک یک دست داشته باشیم...
ممنون

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Characteristics and Qualities of the Imam of the time

The qualities and merits of His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s) are same as those of the divine messengers and legatees. The effulgence of Imamate and the awe of the prophets was perfectly apparent in the face of the Holy Imam. His description and details have come in the narrations as follows:

1. Abu Saeed Khudri narrates from the Messenger of Allah (a.s) that he said, “Indeed, the Almighty Allah will raise from my progeny and Ahle Bayt a man, who would have appropriate gap between his front teeth and have a bright forehead so that he may fill the earth with justice, welfare and economic equality.”

Numerous traditions of the same type have been recorded by the scholars and narrators of Ahle Sunnat from the Holy Prophet (a.s) describing the various characteristics of Imam Mahdi, the descendent and great grandson of the Prophet.

2. His Eminence, Abu Ja’far, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) through his forefathers has narrated from the chief of Ahle Bayt, His Eminence, Amirul Momineen (a.s) that His Eminence proclaimed from the pulpit, “In the last age a man from my progeny would rise, having a fair complexion that has some redness (hue) and having a clear and wide belly and his thighs would be broad and his bones shall be long (big) and prominent and he would have two beauty spots one of whom shall be the color of the Prophet. He shall rise up.”

3. In another tradition His Eminence, Ali (a.s) again mentions about Imam Mahdi (a.s) in the following words:

“He shall have a wide forehead and big eyes and a clear and wide belly, broad thighs, his front teeth would be sparkling and there is a mole on his right thigh.”

A fact derived from traditions and reports of the Holy Prophet (a.s) is that in his facial appearance he is most handsome and elegant. All physical and facial beauties would be humble and submissive before the elegance of Imam Mahdi (a.s).

The prominent and acknowledged poet, Agha Sayyid Hasan has thus mentioned about His Eminence:

“The elegance came up (arose) through his clear face

The morning breeze spread from his calming countenance.”

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Resemblance of Imam of the time with the Prophet

Among all the people, His Eminence is most resembling His great grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (a.s), by way of method, Jihad and revolution against oppression and transgression and transformation of the system of the oppressive rulers in society, from theft and destruction humiliation, affliction and problems. He would replace all this with a system that would provide every kind of comfort and security and be a cause of general welfare and happiness of the people. When the Qaim of the progeny of Muhammad would appear, he would work in the same way as his great grandfather had done. That is why he would destroy the false powers and tyrannical rulers whose power is based on falsehood and hypocrisy and he shall eradicate them completely. He would then establish justice and equity in every sense of the term.

Numerous traditions of the Holy Prophet (a.s) and the Imams of guidance have reached us that mention that Imam Mahdi (a.s) resembles his great grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (a.s). Some of them are mentioned below:

1. Abdullah Ibne Masud narrates from the Messenger of Allah that he said, “A man from my family would arise having my name, and his manners and habits would be like my manners and habits and he would make the earth abound with justice and equity.”

2. Huzaifah relates from the Messenger of Allah (a.s) that he said:

“Even if there remains one day in the life of the earth, God will bring forth a man whose name and character will be like mine, and whose patronymic will be Abu Abdillah. People would pay allegiance to him between the Rukn and Maqam of Ka’ba. Through him God will revive His religion and bring it back to its early glory. God will also endow him with many victories and there will remain on earth none other than the ones who will declare: There is no god, except Allah.”

Sulaiman got up from his place and asked as to which of his children’s descendent he would be.

The Prophet struck his hand on Husain (a.s) and said, “From his [descendants].”

3. Ayesha has narrated from the Messenger of Allah (a.s) that he said:

“Mahdi is a person from my progeny. He will fight for my Sunnah like I have fought for revelation.”

4. Jabir Ibne Abdullah Ansari has quoted the Messenger of Allah (a.s) that he said:

“The Mahdi is from my progeny, his name and patronymic is same as mine. Among all the people he would resemble my character. There would be an occultation for him during which people shall be perplexed. After that he would reappear like a bright star and make the earth abound with justice and equity after it had been completely fraught with injustice and oppression.”

5. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s) has narrated through his forefathers from the Messenger of Allah (a.s) that he said:

“The Mahdi shall be from my descendants. He would be having the same name and agnomen as I have. He would resemble me most in character; he would have an occultation which would cast people into confusion, till they deviate from their religion. At the time he reappears he shall be like a brilliant star. Then he would spread justice and equity on the earth just as it would have been absolutely fraught with injustice and inequity.”

6. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s) has narrated through his blessed ancestors from the Holy Prophet (a.s) that he said:

“The Qaim is from my descendents. His name is same as mine and patronymic is same as mine. His appearance is like my appearance and his practice like my practice. He will establish the people on my religion and my law and call them to the Book of my Lord, the Mighty and the sublime. One who obeys him has obeyed me and one who disobeys him has disobeyed me. And one who denies his occultation has denied me. And one who falsifies him has falsified me. And one who testifies for him has testified for me. I would complain to Allah about those who falsify me in my affair and those who mislead the people. And the oppressors would soon realize where they would be returned when they are sent back (to Hell).”

The above tradition is the most comprehensive one that shows that Imam Mahdi (a.s) would be like his great grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (a.s) in many respects.

7. Abu Salih Saibi in Al-Fitan has narrated from His Eminence, Amirul Momineen (a.s) that he said: “His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s), in appearance, character, habits and good virtues, would most resemble the Messenger of Allah (a.s).”

Such types of traditions have reached us in large numbers from the Holy Prophet (a.s) and the Holy Imams (a.s). They all prove beyond any doubt that Imam Mahdi (a.s) not only resembles the Holy Prophet (a.s) in appearance and built; he is also having the same type of character and habits, due to which he is more superior to the other prophets of God. Rather in his method of reformation, engagements and his war tactics for the annihilation of oppression and injustice and for the establishment of equity and justice on the earth he closely resembles his great grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (a.s).

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Concocted Traditions

Sources of Islamic beliefs are heavenly revelation, the Holy Quran and the practice of the Infallibles (a.s). Reason, understanding, conscience and nature are bestowed by Almighty God so that through them we may derive the authentic and correct heavenly sciences and avoid the pitfalls of deviation.

All these are provided as internal prophets for humanity. That is why Islamic thoughts derived from these pure sources are actually bestowed by God.

They all are pure and conform to reality.In spite of all this, people of evil and malicious nature and enemies of religion have always been in pursuit to cast doubts and spoil the true face of religion and religious leaders.

That is why enemies of faith and malicious people have concocted many traditions to defame and spoil the true Islamic facts and beliefs and these concocted traditions were surreptiously included in the tradition compendiums. In the parlance of traditional science these concocted traditions are termed as “Israiliyat.”

One of such fabricated traditions is related by Ganji and others that the Messenger of Allah (a.s) said,“Mahdi is

from my descendants. His face is like a bright star and his complexion is of Arab and his body is of an Israelite. He would make the earth abound with justice just as it would befilled with oppression.

All the folks of the heaven and the earth and also the birds would be happy during his kingdom and caliphate.

He would reign for twenty years.”The reason that this tradition is fabricated is that the body of the Holy Imam (a.s) is a part of the body of the Prophet and Amirul Momineen (a.s), which were the most pure and clean; infused with the effulgence of guidance. How can the physique of Imam (a.s) resemble that of the Israelites, while they are having the worst of the bodies and the most evil of the appearancea They are the wolves among human beings, the germs and personification of low character. Most probably, the Jews have fabricated this tradition to defame the Muslims on the basis of their enmity towards Islam and to present their own deficiencies in favorable light.

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Prominent Characteristics and merits of the Imam of the time

The predominant characteristics and personal traits of His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s) are the same as that of his honorable ancestors and forefathers, the Holy Imams (a.s). Those great personages were the centers of mercy and torchbearers of effulgence of guidance on the earth, as the Almighty had sent them for the guidance of His creatures, they were created from effulgence, and appointed as guides and callers to Himself. Some of the important merits of the Holy Imam Mahdi (a.s) are as follows:

Encompassing knowledge of the Imam of the time

It is an established fact that His Eminence, would be the most knowledgeable and possess proficiency in all the sciences because he is the heir of his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (a.s) and he is the custodian of the treasure of prophetic wisdom.

He is having encompassing knowledge about the religious law and the various aspects of the Shariah of his grandfather, the chief of the prophets. It is one of the comprehensive sciences of the Awaited Imam.

The Purified Imams have mentioned the high intellectual level of Imam Mahdi (a.s) in their sayings issued long before he was born in this world.

1. His Eminence, Amirul Momineen (a.s) says with regard to the virtues of Imam Mahdi (a.s), “He shall be most refuge-giving and the one having most knowledge and the one who does the most ‘Sile Raham’ (doing good to relatives).”

2. Harth Ibne Mughaira Nazari says, “I inquired from His Eminence, Aba Abdillah Husain Bin Ali (a.s), ‘From what would the Mahdi be recognizeda’ He replied, ‘By recognizing the permissible and the prohibited and by the fact that people would be needful of him while he would not be needful of them.’”

3. His Eminence, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) said, “His matter, that is, Kingdom would be from the youngest and the most handsome of us (the Progeny of Muhammad). The Almighty Allah would give him knowledge in inheritance and not leave him on his own (rather He is his helper and supporter).”

4. His Eminence, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) said, “Knowledge of Almighty Allah, the Mighty and Sublime and the Sunnah (practice) of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) grows luxuriantly in the heart of our Mahdi in the best form. Any of you that survives and sees it should say when you see him: ‘Peace be upon you (all) of Ahle Bayt of Mercy and Prophethood and the mines of knowledge and the location of messengership.’”

Under the discussion of his excellent knowledge and accomplishments of His Eminence it is narrated that when he would reappear, he will discuss and prove his points with the Jews on the basis of Torah as a result of which a majority of them would accept Islam.

His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s) during the minor occultation, was the sole point of reference and the greatest center of the final decision. Therefore the special deputies used to convey the questions of the people to the Holy Imam and obtain their replies. Such questions in large numbers are recorded in books

of jurisprudence and traditions and they serve as references for the Islamic jurisprudents in deriving their verdicts.

It is better to reiterate here that Shaykh Saduq (a.r.) had collected many replies bearing the signature of the Holy Imam.

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Piety of the Imam of the time

The character and hearts of the Imams of Ahle Bayt (a.s) in all aspects of thoughts and actions (among them is piety in the world and giving up of material pleasures and joys) are same for all of them. It is not possible to pick out a single instance from them but that it would be found to be piety in the world and the renunciation of material things. His Eminence, Amirul Momineen (a.s), the gate of the city of knowledge of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) in fact, divorced the world thrice so that it did not remain worthy of reconciliation. His pure and chaste descendents have also been bestowed with this exalted quality. Many traditions regarding the piety of Imam Mahdi (a.s) are recorded in history. Some of them are presented below:

a. Muammar Ibne Khuld has narrated from Imam Reza (a.s) the he said, “The dress and food of the Qaim of the Progeny of Muhammad shall be coarse and dry.”

b. Abu Basir has quoted that Imam Sadiq (a.s) said, “Do not be in haste of the advent and reappearance of the Imam of the time. By Allah, his dress shall be coarse and his food, barley bread, thick and dense.”

c. Ali Ibne Hamzah and Wahab have narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s) that he proclaimed regarding His Eminence, the Awaited Imam, “His dress is coarse and thick and his food is hard and rigid.”

It is an established fact that this method is found in all aspects of the life of His Eminence. If he had not possessed such mannerism, the Almighty Allah would not have selected him for the greatest reformative movement, from all the personalities of the earth. Then he it is, who would make the earth abound with justice and equity, as it would be completely fraught with injustice and oppression, and he would save humanity from arrogance and pride of oppressors. He would distribute divine wealth and goodness between deprived and needy people.

Patience of Imam of the Time

One of the prominent characteristics and spiritual excellence of His Eminence is patience and forbearance.

His Eminence is encountering more severe problems and calamities than faced by all the infallible Imams. During his prolonged life he has experienced many bitter incidents and great tragedies, which has made the Islamic world black and broken its limbs and the Muslim community with these pieces, is subjugated under the yoke of disbelievers and tyrants and struggling in that position. Such types of different oppressions have become common in the world of Islam and the divine rules and laws have been rendered useless. The wealth of the Muslims has been plundered and they interfere in all the decisions of the Muslim nation and they force their own view upon them.

All these calamities and corruptions are being wrought under the very eyes of His Eminence and he, being the father of the broken-up community, is very much pained by it.

He has indeed resorted to patience and forbearance and entrusted everything to the Almighty. And this is so because He is the One, Who has everything in His power, and He is the true Ruler on His creatures, and there is no kind of any command or opinion for anyone else.

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Valor of the Imam of the time

His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s) is the bravest and the most valiant of all the people. In strength, power, courage and daring, he is like his great grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (a.s), because His Eminence, with all his capacity uprooted the powers of polytheism and destroyed roots of ignorance and oppression and announced the rights and honor of human beings. The Prophet of Islam rose against the leaders of oppression and enemies of Islam who intended to destroy and humiliate the lofty religion of God and destroyed their leaders and dispersed their supporters and bestowed honor and majesty to the word of Allah on the earth. In the same way, his great grandson and caliph, the Promised Imam, will also perform the same function. He would make the oppressors and rebels taste their misdeeds. And with firm determination, bereft of sloth, reinfuse greatness and honor to Islam without in any way surrendering to any sort of difficult matter and painful circumstances due to weakness and lack of attitude.

Steadfastness of the Imam of the time in rightfulness

His Eminence, the Awaited Imam is among the most steadfast defenders of truth and his defense and help for the oppressed and tortured one is more than that of anyone else. No kind of criticism hinders him from the deliverance of truth and its establishment.The forefather and elders of His Eminence supported truth and displayed steadfastness in the face of falsehood and presented their sacrifice for social justice among the people. His Eminence, the Mahdi (a.s) also possesses the same quality.When the world shall be illuminated by the reappearance of the Qaim of the Progeny of Muhammad and humanity would become fortunate by the advent of His Eminence, His Eminence would enliven all aspects of truth and destroy every kind of fraud, cheating and oppression.

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Generosity of the Imam of the time

His Eminence, the Awaited Imam is the most generous and charitable among all the people. Narrators of traditions are unanimous that during the time of his government, His Eminence would distribute bounties and sustenance of God among all the poor people in such a way that not a single poor and needy person would remain on the face of the earth; so much so, that a person who desires to pay his Zakat to the eligible one would not be able to find a single recipient of alms. Some of these types of traditions are presented below:a. Abu Saeed Khudri has narrated from the Prophet of Islam, in the events of His Eminence, Mahdi (a.s) that he said, "A man comes to him and says, 'O Mahdi! Give me! Give me!' His Eminence fills his utensil to the extent of what he could lift."b. Ibne Asakir has quoted from the Messenger of Allah (a.s) that he said, "In the last age there would be a caliph who would pile up wealth."c. Jabir has narrated that he was in the company of His Eminence, Abu Ja'far Imam

Muhammad Baqir (a.s) when a person came to him and addressing the Imam

said, "Please accept these 500 dirhams, that is the Zakat of my wealth, and spend it in a suitable way." His Eminence, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) said, "Search for them yourself in your neighbors, orphans, the needy and brothers-in-faith and distribute it among them. And it is the time when our Qaim would rise so that he could distribute it in equitable way and establish justice among the creatures of God, according to their good or evil. One who obeys him has obeyed Allah and one who disobeys him has disobeyed Allah. Since he guides in a secret and subtle manner, he is called 'the Mahdi.'"His Eminence will bring out the Torah and other books from a cave in Antioch and command the people of Torah by Torah and people of Injeel with Injeel and people of Zabur with Zabur and people of Quran with Quran. All the wealth of the earth that is on its surface and below its surface would be gathered with him. Then he would say, 'O People! Come towards that for which you had severed relations and spilled blood on the earth and committed things prohibited by God.' Then he would give so much wealth to them as had never been given.And other traditions that prove that His Eminence is a sea of mercy and generosity are those that mention that His Eminence would deal with the people with kindness and favors and save them from the yokes of hunger and deprivation and spread peace, comfort and needlessness among them.

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The Minor and the Major Occultation

I am certain that the readers would be eager to gain information on the minor and major occultation of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s), as this belief is not fully supported by all the sects of Muslims. Therefore, we present the following discussion for the benefit of our respected readers.

The Imam of the time under the shade of his respected father

As His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) is that divine reformer whom the Almighty Allah has kept especially for the reformation of the world and the establishment of religious rule on the Earth therefore, His Eminence, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) also accorded the best of respects and honors to his son who would be the “Remnant of Allah on His Earth” (Baqiatullah Fil Arzih). He kept his affair concealed very meticulously from the oppressive Abbasids who were in severe pursuit of him. In spite of this Imam Askari (a.s) informed many great trusted personalities of the Shias regarding this matter and introduced His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) to them in special audiences. These people saw His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) in some gatherings of Imam Askari (a.s). These gentlemen in turn conveyed this information to the other Shias who were considered trustworthy and sincere with regard to the Wilayat (love and guardianship) of Ahle Bayt (a.s) till the existence of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) became a certain fact to all of them and no doubts remained in this regard.

The subject of the Awaited Imam is the foremost of the accepted and clear beliefs of the Shias. He is the last of the successors of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) who were certified by him as the leaders of his community. Therefore, it was but natural for the Shias to pose many detailed questions about him to the Prophet and other Imams in order to recognize him perfectly and to gain as much information in this subject as possible. We have hinted about this in the previous discussions.

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Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) goes towards the Eternal Abode

The Abbasid tyrants used to wreak the worst kind of tortures and pressures on His Eminence, Imam Askari (a.s). They transferred him from one prison to another so that a major part of his limited and brief life passed away in dark and horrible prisons. Similarly they did not permit that Shias should meet His Eminence and that the scholars and narrators of tradition should benefit from the company of the Imam. Also, with absolute strictness and mercilessness they imposed economic embargo on His Eminence and all this was as a result of malice and jealousy that these evil people had harbored against the Holy Imam for the following reasons:Firstly: His Eminence, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) was the most eminent personality of his times, as a big portion of the Muslim community regarded him as their Imam and leader. And it did not support the tyrannical rule of the Abbasides and were not in favor of it. Rather they were in the forefront of opposition to the oppressive Abbaside regime and their view was exactly opposed to the Abbasides to the extent of even criticizing and denouncing them. Therefore, the Abbasides behaved with utmost severity and force with His Eminence.Secondly: The Abbaside rulers were absolutely terrified of the son of His Eminence and the Awaited Imam whom the Messenger of Allah (a.s) had prophesied that he would be his last vicegerent and the unique reformist who would establish thesystem of absolute justice and equity and wipe off all oppressions and injustice, because they were certain that their oppressive rule would be destroyed at his hands. That's why they tried to murder Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) time and again so that his progeny is cut off just as some letters of His Eminence state. In letters that he wrote to some of his Shia followers it is mentioned:“They thought that they could plan to murder so that my progeny may be cut off. And the Almighty Allah rendered their word and their plots ineffective and thanks and gratitude is to the Allah, the High.”The above letter was written after the birth of His Eminence, the Awaited Imam (a.s).Thirdly: The Alawite Sadats raised standards of revolts in various areas against the tyrannical and despotic rule of the Abbasides in order to establish justice and restore the rights of humanity that had been trampled by the Abbasides. These uprisings were supported in sections of the society and Muslim community. Naturally this was a matter of great consternation for the Abbasides who became deadly foes of anyone who was even suspected to be an Alawite and they wreaked upon them the worst of the tortures and atrocities. At that time Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) was a pivot and a great personality and obeyed by everyone. Therefore he was the target of the wrath and enmity of the Abbaside tyrants. Thus they subjected him to the worst of the tortures, atrocities and pressures. All these are examples of the causes for the enmity and malice of the Abbasides against the Holy Imam (a.s).

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Clarification of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) on the Imamate of the Awaited Imam (a.s)

When Imam Hasan Askari became cognizant that his death and martyrdom was near he clearly announced the Imamate of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) and he introduced him to his close confidants and reliable followers. Ahmad bin Ishaq Ashari, a trustworthy, pious and god-fearing man was one of these persons. It has come in narrations that he said: I went to Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) and wanted to inquire about his successor. His Eminence, preceded me in the matter and said as follows:

“O Ahmad bin Ishaq! The Almighty Allah has not left the earth without a Divine Proof since the creation of Adam (a.s) and would not leave it without a Divine Proof till the hour shall be established (Day of Judgment). Through the Divine Proof calamities are repelled from the inhabitants of the Earth, rain falls and the bounties of the earth come out.”

After hearing these words Ahmad asked His Eminence: “Who is the Imam and Caliph after youa” Imam Hasan Askari arose from his seat and hurried inside his house and returned after a short while in such a way that upon his neck on his shoulders sat a boy, whose face seemed to be like the full moon and it seemed that he was three years old. After that, His Eminence, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) said:

“O Ahmad! If you were not having a special and exalted position before Allah and the Proof of Allah, I would not have shown this son of mine to you. His name and patronymic is the same as that of the Messenger of Allah (a.s). He would fill the earth with justice and equity, as it would be fraught with injustice and oppressions. O Ahmad! In this community his example is like that of Khizr and Dhulqarnain. By Allah! He will have an occultation and none shall be safe from destruction but one whom Allah has kept steadfast in the belief of his Imam and given the divine opportunity (Tawfeeq) to pray for his reappearance.”

Ahmad immediately asked, “Is there any sign or symbol so that it may satisfy my heart ?”

Just then the boy, who looked like a full moon, began to speak and he said:

“I am the remnant of Allah on His earth and the revenge- taker from His enemies and do not demand proof after what is before you…”

After hearing these words of the Proof of Allah, Ahmad went out of the house of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) in such a condition that his complete being was surrounded by joy. When again he came to Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) after that he said: “O son of Allah's Messenger! I was very much pleased with the favor you bestowed me that day. Thus what is the continuing practice of Khizr and Dhulqarnain ?”

His Eminence, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) said in reply, “Prolonged occultation.”

Ahmad at once said, “O son of Allah's Messenger, would the occultation of the Promised Imam (a.s) be also prolonged ?”

His Eminence, Imam (a.s) replied, “By my Lord! Yes, so much so, that even those who had accepted him, would turn away from their belief and none shall remain except one from whom Allah has taken the covenant of our guardianship and in whose hearts is rooted our love and those who support it with their hearts.

O Ahmad! This is the command of Allah and one of the divine secrets and one of the Unseen matters of Allah. So remember what I am telling you and keep it confidential and be of the thankful ones so that you may reside in the position of Illyeen with us.”

This tradition contains some very important points as follows:

Firstly: Since the Almighty Allah created man on the earth, He considered it necessary for their needs to establish His proof on them. So He sent prophets and successors towards them that they may convey the message of their Lord and complete the proof upon them. And this is due to the kindness of the Lord. And divine grace is having a logical base which the scholars and experts of scholastic theology in their discussions present their arguments through it. And they say that it is incumbent on Allah according to rational arguments to establish and complete His argument on the people so that one who intends to awaken himself, his awakening should be on the basis of proof and logical arguments. And one who desires to destroy himself, it should also be on the basis of proof and argument. And apart from this, the existence of the Proof of Allah is itself a cause of His innumerable fruits and blessings. Some of them are repelling of calamities from the creatures of the earth and the coming down of rain etc.

Secondly: When the Almighty Allah favors His creatures with the reappearance and advent of His great reformer, His Eminence, the Awaited Imam (a.s), they would establish the loftiest values, chief of whom is the establishment of political and social justice in the world and destroy the various forms of oppressions that shall be present there.

Thirdly: The Almighty Allah shall prolong the age of the Awaited Imam (a.s) like the age of Khizr (a.s) and Dhulqarnain. And this is not difficult for the All-powerful and All-wise Lord. It is the same way as the Almighty has made the stars and the planets fixed in their orbits and which continue to exist on the face of the earth. Thus for such a wise Lord it is not difficult to prolong the age of His reformer saint in view of those hidden wisdoms that only He is aware of.

Fourthly: The Almighty Allah tests His servants through the prolonged occultation of His Saint and helper, the Awaited Imam (a.s). And only those shall remain steadfast on his Imamate who are firm in their belief about him. These were some important points mentioned in the blessed tradition.

One of the traditions that Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) has stated to explain the Imamate of his great son, His Eminence, the awaited Imam (a.s) is the one quoted by the eminent and trustworthy personality, Muhammad Ibne Uthman Amri from his father. He said: I was present in the service of Abu Muhammad Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) when His Eminence was asked about the traditions, ‘Indeed the earth shall never be devoid of the Proof of Allah upon His creatures till the Day of Qiyamat and if he dies without recognizing the Imam of his time he dies the death of ignorance...’ that had been narrated by the forefathers of His Eminence. His Eminence in reply to the question emphasized on the authenticity of this tradition and said: “This tradition is true and correct, just as the day and the sun is true and correct...”

At that time a person in the gathering stood up and asked: “O son of Allah's Messenger! Who is the Divine Proof and Imam after youa”

His Eminence, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) guided him to the Imam after him and said, “My son, Muhammad, is the Imam and the Proof of Allah after me. Whosoever dies without recognizing him shall die the death of ignorance. He has an occultation when the foolish and misguided people would be perplexed and destroyed. And those who fix the time of his reappearance are liars. Then he shall reappear.”

This tradition also contains the same points as the previous one we had discussed before.