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IMAM AL-HUJJAH (A.S.) & THE HOLY QURAN
RECITATION OF QURAN IN THE WOMB
Bibi
Hakeemah Khatoon was the aunt of Imam Hasan al-‘Askary (as). She has
narrated that:
[One
day I came to visit Abu Muhammad (as) – referring to Imam al-‘Askary
(as) – when he (as) told me,
“O aunt! I want you to stay over at our place. Indeed today Allah (SWT)
will reveal my successor”.
I asked,
“From whose womb?” And he (as) said, “(From
the womb of) Narjis”. “But no sign of pregnancy is apparent
from her”, I said. He (as) said, “O aunt!
Narjis Khatoon is like the mother of Moses whose pregnancy became
apparent during birth”.
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IMAM-E-ZAMANA
(A.J.): THE MASTER OF OUR AGE
Name:
Muhammad
Parents:
Imam Hasan Al-‘Askary (a.s.) & Bibi Narjis Khatoon
Birth:
15th Sha’ban 256 A.H. Samarra,
‘Iraq
Titles: Al-Mahdi, Al-Qaim, Baqiyyatullah, Hujjatullah, Imam
Al-‘Asr
De’bal
Khuzaa’i was a great and popular poet of the Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.). One day,
he was reciting some poems in the presence of our 8th Imam
‘Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (a.s.) when he also mentioned in it about the
re-appearance of Imam Al-Mahdi (A.J.). He said,
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Awaiting the Beloved
A person is indebted to the blessing of hope and anticipation in
his social and personal life. If it was not for this hope and
anticipation there would be no purpose in looking forward to the
future. Life for such a person would lack meaning and goal.
To await and to act go hand in hand, and do not separate. Anticipation
is the cause of acting and movement. The value for the actual purpose of
anticipation also gives importance to the anticipation itself.
Furthermore, one may become familiar with the value of people through
the anticipations they hold:
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Identifying Al- Mahdi
By:
Dr. Ayatullah Sayed Fadhil Al-Milani
Following is the list of traditions reported by Sunni and Shia sources
about the identification of Al-Mahdi'.
1. The lmams are twelve in number, among whom the first is Ali b Abi
Talib and the last is tile Mahdi - 91 hadith.
2. The Imams are twelve, arid the last one is the Mahdi - 94 hadith
3. The Imams are twelve, nine among whom are the descendants of Husayn,
and the ninth is the Qa'im - 107 hadith.
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The Holy
Prophet [s] said: "The person who dies and has not known the Imam of his
time (Imam Mahdi [a] is that of the present time) has died the same as
one who died during the Age of Ignorance."
Musnad-i-Ahmad-ibn-Hanbal, vol. 2, p. 83; vol. 3, p. 446 & vol. 4, p.
96: Sahih-i-Bukhari, vol. 5, p. 13 & Sahih-i-Muslim vol. 6, p. 21,
No.1849
Who is the Imam
Mahdi that the Holy Prophet is talking about? Do we know who our Imam
is? What exactly is an Imam? An Imam literally means a leader or someone
who guides. Imams can be of three types: The Imam who leads prayers, the
political Imam and the other one is an Imam for mankind. The third
definition is what is going to be our main topic.
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The Rising of Imam al Mahdi (a.s.)
Please take note that before Imam al
Mahdi arises, there are some signs that have to happen and will
happen. We have heard of a lot of signs that have already sought our
senses, but these are the ones that reveal to us the closeness of Imam
al Mahdi's coming.
Before the Big Day of Judgment (Qiyamat al Qubra), there is going to be
Qiyamat al Sughra before it.
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Imam al Mehdi (a.s.)
Title:
Al-Mehdi, Saheb-ul-Asr and Al-Hujjat
Kunyat: Abul Qasim
Born at Samarra, on Friday, the 15th Shaban 255 A.H.
Father’s name: Imam Hasan-al-Askari
Mother’s name: Nargis Khatoon
He is still living and will appear before the end of the end.
1st Heavenly concealment: 8th Rabi-ul-Awwal 260 A.H.
Final Heavenly concealment: 10th Shawwal, 328 A.H. (939 A.D.)
There existed a good deal of harmony
and uniformity between the aspects pertaining to the births of Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W.), the last Apostle of God and Imam Mehdi, the last
Apostolic Imam. Just as the coming of the Holy Prophet was prophesied
well in advance by the preceding Prophets, similarly the impending news
of the gracious birth of Imam al-Mehdi (A.S.) was foretold by the Holy
Prophet (S.A.W.).
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Imam
AL-MAHDI (a-s) -
OCCULTATION AND OUR DUTIES. -
Part
TWO.
A
study by: Brother Ali Ja’afary Stump.
“In the Name of ALLAH the Merciful, the Compassionate”
INTRODUCTION:
The
birth of Islam introduced to mankind a new standard of living, filled
with true belief along with a new hope and essence to a populace of
rather harsh and heartless idol worshipers, polytheist, fire worshipers,
atheist, etc… In fact Islam introduced to all mankind a true divine
agenda perfectly created for the human being, in the most natural and
fulfilling way for him. Islam is the single biggest event to shape
mankind, in all of the history of creation, never has one single
movement change so many lives, reach to such great distances and change
the entire intellectual, spiritual, scientific, ethical, theoretical,
linguistics point of view, so quickly and so accurately as did Islam.
The Islamic agenda in all its perfection is not only a religious
movement, but is in fact a complete and comprehensive programme that
touches absolutely all aspects of the human being. Islam’s positive and
natural progression for mankind was as much a crucial part of its
beginning as it is today, tomorrow and until the Day of Resurrection.
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The advent of
IMAM AL-MAHDI (a-s),
the natural course for humanity
HIS LIFE AND HIS LINEAGE.
PART 2
A
study by: Brother Ali Ja’afary Stump.
“In the Name of ALLAH the Merciful, the Compassionate”
INTRODUCTION:
Even though I am somewhat late in completing this project
(I was
away in the Middle East),
I, however, felt that perhaps this is one of the more important parts of
this project. During my voyage to the Middle East I discovered that the
waiting of the Awaited Saviour has truly a collective base which is
backed by both Religious and Scientific proofs. As we have already
mentioned in the 1st part of this article and in the article
by the title:
“Imam
AL-MAHDI (a-s)
OCCULTATION AND OUR DUTIES”
the
advent of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s)
(Allahumma ‘ajjil farajahu-sh-sharif)
is
without any doubt a reality that can not be ignored, in fact it is a
sure destination for human kind, the Holy Prophet Muhammed (saww)
confirmed this in his (saww) life time when he said:
“Bliss be for the person who will be in the time of the Qā’im
of my Ahlul-Bayt (a-s), who follows the Qā’im
during his occultation before his rise and loves his lovers and
despises his enemies. Such a person is of my friends and lovers and he
is the most honourable of my Ummah to me on the Day of Judgement”. (Bihar Al-Anwar (Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51,
p.126 with English translation. Allama al-Majlisi (r-a). / Ikmāl
al-Din.)
and when
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a-s) said:
“If there are no people on the earth
except two men, one of them must be al-Hujjah
(Imam Al-Mahdi a-s)”. (Al-Kafi, vol. 1 p. 180. Ash-Shaykh Al-Kulayni
(r-a) / Al- Ghayba. Shaykh Ibn Abu Zaynab An-Nu’mani (r-a))
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Imam
AL-MAHDI (a-s) -
OCCULTATION AND OUR DUTIES. -
Part
one.
A
study by: Brother Ali Ja’afary Stump.
“In the Name of ALLAH the Merciful, the Compassionate”
INTRODUCTION:
We are the followers of the true and original Islam. We, the Shi’a of
the Prophet Muhammad (saww) and his Ahlul-Bayt (a-s), we have in our
beliefs and values many different responsibilities and duties. As well
as our religious daily duties, we also have many different individual
and social duties to perform, all in the goal of closeness and nearness
to ALLAH (swt). We perform each duty with knowledge that it will bring
us a deeper comprehension of our reality, which in return brings up our
intellectual and spiritual capacities, which drives away our inner base
desires, which cleans and purifies our hearts (soul) from all sorts of
pollution and corruption, which in fact brings us closer to our LORD,
MASTER and CREATOR ALLAH Azz wa Jall.
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The advent of
IMAM AL-MAHDI (a-s),
the natural course for humanity
HIS LIFE AND HIS LINEAGE.
PART 1
A
study by: Brother Ali Ja’afary Stump.
“In the Name of ALLAH the Merciful, the Compassionate”
INTRODUCTION:
As in all of the Divine knowledge which is
constantly overflowing from the Holy Qur’an, the call of solace that
will be brought to man by the Command of ALLAH (swt) through Al-Mahdi
(a-s) is a true indisputable Qur’anic principle. And if anyone one
studies the natural course of humanity, they will find that the
evolution of the human race cannot turn away from this promised
phenomenon. And those evil oppressors, who are doing everything in their
power to stop this knowledge from spreading, in fear of loosing their
so-called iron fist over the general populace, will fail in every way
possible. ALLAH (swt) says in the Holy Qur’an:
“It is HE who has
sent HIS Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that HE
may uplift it above every religion, though the unbelievers be averse”.
(The
Holy Qur’an 9 At-Tawabah-33).
And
“It is HE who has sent HIS
Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that HE may
uplift it above every religion, though the unbelievers be averse”.
(The Holy Qur’an 61 As-Staff-9).
Surely no believing Muslim can ignore a command statement such as this
one, which is repeated in 2 different Surahs of the Holy Qur’an.
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Fourteenth Infallible Sayings
-
Keep prayers to Allah for hastening
the reappearance, hence it is your victory.
-
Rest assured that no one has a
special relationship with Allah. Whoever denies me is not my
(follower). The appearance of the Relief (al-Faraj) depends solely
upon Allah; therefore, those who propose a certain time for it are
liars. As to the benefit of my existence in Occultation, it is like
the benefit of the sun behind clouds where the eyes do not see.
Indeed, my existence is an amnesty for the people of the earth. Pray
much to Allah to hasten the Relief, for therein also lays the release
from your sufferings.
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Muhammed Al-Mahdi (AS)
Birth
The Sun of the existence of the
twelveth Imam (A.S.) cast its reflection and enlightened and brightened
the hearts of the Shias with its light.
The Abbasade caliphs and government
functionaries had heard that the Imams are twelve people and that the
last and final of them is the son of eleventh Imam Hassan Askari (A.S.)
whose occultation will prolong, and he is the one who will form the
world government.
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Shaykh Mufid, a distinguished Shi'ite
scholar, also wrote in al Irshad: "When Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.),
passed away, the caliph of that time, pursued his son because the
Shi'ite Imamiyyah's belief was famous and was spread about that the
Shi'ites were awaiting His Eminence."
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After the year 329 A.H, when the major
occultation commenced, the special deputation of Imam e Zamana (a.s.)
terminated. If anybody claims during the major occultation to be a
mediator and a deputy, then, according to the declaration of Imam e
Zamana (a.s.) himself, that claimer is a liar In the Holy Imams'
traditions, the purpose of the Imam's going into occultation is compared
to the sun being behind the clouds yet being a source of vitality and
life for living creatures Likewise, while the Imam is behind the curtain
of occultation, he is still a source of the existence and remaining of
the world.
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"Mahdi" and "Qaem" seem
different but depict interconnected truths, the word "Mahdi" makes
manifest the truth that reforming the world cannot be done through a
selfmade or worldly reformer, for this such a person is needed whose
guidance is arranged by Providence, and Allah has made him Mahdi and
responsible for guidance, and "Qaem" points to this truth that, the task
of reforming cannot be discharged sitting at home but advent, troubles,
tribulations and storms have to be encountered, and combat with the
universal commotion of injustice and oppression.
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The contemporary Scholar, Safi
Golpaygani, has collected all these traditions in his book: Muntakhab
al-athar, citing their Sunni and Shi'i sources. Following is the list of
the subject and the number of traditions on that subject:
91 Hadith on: "The Imams are twelve in
number, among whom the first is Ali b. Abi Talib and the last is the
Mahdi."
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Philosophy of
Occultation
And We made them Imams, guiding
(mankind) by Our Command, and We inspired in them the doing of good
deeds, performing Salat, and the giving of Zakat and of Us (Alone) they
were worshippers.” (Chapter 21, verse 73)
The
belief in a reformer who will appear at the end of time is a common
belief among both the Sunni and Shia schools of thought. This belief is
derived from a famous tradition from the Holy Prophet whose authenticity
has been agreed upon by both schools of thought. The Holy Prophet
states: “Even if there remains only a day on earth, Allah will
prolong that day until a man from my progeny whose name is my name, he
will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with
oppression and corruption.”
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The Awaited
Reformer
The belief in the Mahdi is not only an
essential doctrine deep-rooted in Islamic faith; it is rather an
embodiment of human nature regardless of one’s religious affiliations.
For it is the universal desire of humans as a whole to try to achieve or
at least witness the realisation of the ultimate objective of their
existence, through which they will achieve perfection and social
happiness in its entirety. Therefore, by reason of inner necessity and
inspiration, humans will see a day when society will be replete with
justice.
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What is the Benefit of an Imam in Concealment?
By Fazleabbas Kanji
The tragic death of our eleventh Imam was
the advent of a new era for the Shi’a world. It was the beginning of a
period, which the followers of Ahlul Bayt had never experienced before.
A period that would last till an appointed time not known by any except
the Lord of the worlds, Allah (SWT). The Imam of the time had always
been available to the believers so as to lead them and guide them
without the presence of a veil, but now the age had arrived when the
faith of the people would be truly under test.
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The Promised Imam
Mahdi a.s
"What Remains with Allah is better for
you if you are believers (11:86)"
The Birth of the Imam (A.S): Al Hujjat
ibn Al -Hassan Al – Mahdi (as) the 12th divine leader of Islam was born
on dawn, Friday the 15th of Shaaban 255 AH correspondent to 868 AD in
the house of the 11th Imam (as) in the city of Samerrah (Iraq).
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