(12) THE MINOR OCCULTATION
When Imam Hasan al-'Askari ( a.s.) died, the office of
Divine Leadership (Imamate) was transferred to the Last
Luminous Pearl of the Household of the Holy Prophet, Imam
al-Mahdi (a.s.) Although His Eminence did not appear
amongst the people, some persons in whom he had trust and
confidence were allowed to visit him and present him the
problems and questions of the Shi'ites And they
communicated to the people the guidance and commands of
the Divine Luminous Light.
From the point of view faith, confidence and virtue,
these were distinguished persons among the Muslims who
were mediators between the Imam and the people And in due
time they conveyed the guidance of His Eminence to the
people.
By studying the degree of the character and perception
of the belief and piety of these individuals, not only
does the greatness of their personalities become clear to
us, but we become more familiar with the Imam of the Age,
because, among the sayings of these distinguished,
trustworthy and reliable companions of the Holy Imams,
one finds the signs of the greatness of His Eminence
(Imam al-Mahdi - a.s.).
Among the companions of Imam-e Zaman, four became his
most famous and confidential deputies who acted as
mediators between the Imam and the people, and they are
known as the Nawwab al-arb'a ah (the four
deputies).
In order to know more about the dignity and greatness
of their positions, we give below a brief description of
each one of them:
1) 'Uthman ibn Sa'id 'Umari: This honourable figure
was not only a deputy (na'ib) of Imam-e Zaman
but he was also a representative (wakil) of Imam
Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.) and Imam 'Ali an-Naqi (a.s.) He
settled and organized many affairs of the Shi'ites The
Tenth Imam (al-Hadi -a.s ) said to his followers
regarding him.
"This Abu 'Umari is a reliable and trustworthy
person. Whatever he says to you he says so on my behalf,
and whatever he does he does on my behalf."
This representation continued till 254 A H when Imam
al-Hadi (a.s.) died. Then, the Eleventh Imam is reported
to have praised the character of Abu 'Umari as having his
high esteem in his address to his Shi'ites, saying:
"This AbU 'Umari is a reliable and trustworthy
person. He had the confidence of the preceding Imam, and
has also my confidence in my lifetime and after my death.
Whatever he says to you he says so on my behalf, and
whatever he does he does on my behalf."
Likewise, with this certificate of admiration, he
became the deputy (Na'ibu 'l-Imam) of the Twelfth
Imam after the demise of Imam Hasan al-'Askari ( a s ).
On the death of Abu 'Umari, the Lord of the Age (Sahibu
'z-Zaman) himself sent condolences to his son,
Muhammad ibn 'Uthman saying:
"Verily, we belong to Allah and verily to Him
shall we return We submit to His command and are pleased
with His decree. Your father has lived in good fortune
and has died with dignity. May Allah's mercy be upon him,
he has joined his friends and masters. He was always
endeavouring to search for whatever would bring him near
to Allah and His friends. May Allah make strengthen his
countenance."
2) Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn 'Uthman: This man was the
second special deputy of Imam-e Zaman He was also
a deputy of the Eleventh Imam, about whom the latter
said:
"The greatness of his dignity and the exaltation
of his status among the Shi'ites is so famous that there
is no need to explain or dispute it."
Regarding him and his father, 'Uthman ibn Sa'id, Imam
Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.) said to one of his companions:
"'Umar and his son are both trustworthy Whatever
they do they do on my behalf, and whatever they say to
you, they say so on my behalf Therefore, listen to their
words and obey them, because both of them are reliable
and trustworthy to us."
And Imam-e Zaman himself said about him:
"He is my confident, and his letter is of the
same status as mine."
3) Abu 'l-Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh Nawbakhti: Abu Ja'far
Muhammad ibn 'Uthman, the third deputy of Imam-e Zaman,
said about him:
This Husayn ibn Ruh ibn Abu Bahr Nawbakhti is my
successor. He is a reliable and trust worthy envoy and
deputy between you and the Sahibu 'l-Amr (the
Master of the Authority). Therefore, in your affairs and
important tasks refer to him and trust him. I was given
this task; and I have announced it."
Shaykh Tusi (may Allah's mercy be upon him) said about
him:
"Abu 'l-Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh was regarded by his
friends and opponents as the most learned man among the
people."
The integrity of Husayn ibn Ruh's deputyship w as
acknowledged by his opponents too. Shalmaghani, who was
one of the pseudo-claimants to the deputyship, had to
confess his falsity when Imam-e Zaman ordered
Husayn ibn Ruh to expose him. He (Shalmaghani) said:
"It is not right between me and Allah to say
anything in the affair of Husayn ibn Ruh other than the
truth. Although his crime towards me is a big one, yet
this man was appointed by Imam-e Zaman for the
task. The Shi'ites should not turn away from him."
4) Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali ibn Muhammad Simmari: This
honourable figure was the last special deputy (Na'ibu
'l-khass) of the Holy Imam-e Zaman. His death,
coincided with the 15th of Sha'ban 329 A.H. Husayn ibn
Ruh introduced him as the deputy of the Imam. The last
letter of Imam-e Zaman (the Lord of the Age) to
the four special deputies was addressed to this
honourable man. In this order the Imam announced the
death of 'Ali ibn Muhammad and the end of the deputation:
"In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the
Merciful You are going to die in six days, may Allah
grant patience to your brothers in faith on your
departure So, be prepared, but appoint no one in your
place, because from the day of your death the period of
my major occultation (ghaybatu 'l-kubra) will
begin. Henceforth-, no one will see me, unless and until
Allah makes me appear My reappearance will take place
after a very long time when people will have grown tired
of waiting and those who are weak in their faith will
say: 'What! Is he still alive?' When men will become
cruel and inconsiderate, and the world will be full of
injustice and violence. Very soon some men will claim to
have seen me. Beware! Anyone who makes such a claim
before the coming out of Sufyani and the sound from
heaven announcing my reappearance, is a liar and an
imposter. There is no might nor strength except in Allah,
the Magnificent."
As can be seen from this, it is the last order, in
which the door of special deputation is closed by the
death of Ali ibn Muhammad; hence, anyone who claims to be
a mediator, or claims that the Imam can be seen, is a
liar. In the period of the major occultation no - one has
made the claim that he has been in the presence of the
Holy Imam-e Zaman.
The people would not accept the deputation of the four
special deputies unless they had been shown the miracles
of the Sahibu 'l-Amr to verify their truthfulness
and accuracy, although they acknowledged them as reliable
and trustworthy and had not the smallest doubt in their
piety, faith and knowledge.
The special deputies presented to Imam-e Zaman
the problems and questions of the Shi'ite scholars, and
he answered the ones that were necessary in letter form
and delivered them through the same deputies.
In these letters, the most important and difficult
problems on different subjects of Shi'ite beliefs were
cleared up.
One of these problems was a question as to what would
be the responsibility of the Shi'ites who would be faced
with new events during the period of occultation, and
what should they do to face them?
In the letter issued by Imam-e Zaman to the celebrated
and distinguished Shi'ite Is'haq ibn Ya'qub he recounted
duties, methods and guidance for the Shi'ites in the
period of occultation. This direction was carried out for
many centuries, and it is one of the proofs of the
comprehensiveness and eternity of Islamic rule.
In one of the letters to Imam-e Zaman which he
sent through the second special deputy of the Imam,
Is'haq ibn Ya'qub asked him some different questions,
among which was a question which is the subject of our
discussion The Imam said that in those affairs one must
refer to those who really understands their (Imams')
sayings and have truly related them:
"But as for the problems which will occur in the
future, you should refer to the narrators of our
traditions for their verdicts as they are my proofs to
you, and I am Allah's Proof (Hujjatu 'llah) to
them."
Other letters of His Eminence (Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.)
were issued during the minor occultation (ghaybatu
's-sughra), each one of them solved difficulties and
gave instruction in the boundless sea of wisdom. All
these letters were conveyed through the Holy Imam's
special deputy to the desirous seekers.
Yes, the four deputies, who were at the highest level
of faith and confidence for many years, were the blessed
mediators between the Imam and the people till in the
year 329 A. H., when this deputation was closed, and on
the basis of the Divine Will the major occultation of Imam-e
Zaman commenced. This was the very occultation which
was prophesied a long time previously by the Holy Prophet
and the Shi'ites Imams; and Muslims keep patient in this
period of test, till by the order of Almighty Allah, the
Awaited Imam will appear and the Divine Aim will reach
its fulfilment.
(13) THE MAJOR OCCULTATION
THE MAJOR OCCULTATION
After the year 329 A H., when the major occultation
commenced the special deputation of Imam-e Zaman
terminated. If anybody claims during the major
occultation to be a mediator and a deputy, then,
according to the declaration of Imam-e Zaman
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.
During the major occultation, many people have had
meetings with His Eminence (Imam al-Mahdi -a.s.), and
have managed to meet him, but none of them have claimed
to be able to see him or to represent him, because only
the four special deputies (Nawwab al-khass) of the
Imam had the honour of meeting with His Eminence whenever
they wished.
Some of the names of these fortunate persons who have
had the honour of meeting the Imam are mentioned in the
authentic books. Among these personalities are - 'Allamah
Hilli -- a famous scholar and a rhetorician of the
Islamic world; Muqaddas Ardibili - the most pious person
and most knowledgeable jurist of his time; Sayyid ibn
Tawus - a pious and a virtuous narrator, Sayyid Bahru
'l-'Ulum - a distinguished scholar. and other great and
no table figures in Islam.
Yes, they saw the "sun" (Imam) with their
own eyes, and their hearts were filled with the faith of Imamu
'l-'Asr (the Imam of the Period), and with
sympathetic explanations they informed others about their
meeting with His Eminence.
As an example, we can examine part of the will of
Sayyid ibn Tawus which he wrote to his son in the year
650 A.H In his own words he explained to his son,
implying the truth of the matter without claiming to have
perceived him:
"O' my son! If success in discovering the truth
and mysteries has been granted to you, then I will inform
you regarding Imam al- Mahdi (a.s.) in such a way that
you will never have any doubt, and you will not need
intellectual proofs and recorded traditions; because His
Eminence is certainly alive and exists, and as long as
Merciful Allah does not allow him to plan events, he is
excused from revealing and declaring his workings. And
this matter is not exclusively to him, but was usual
among many prophets and their successors. Then you must
know with confidence and consider it as your faith and
creed. And know that the insight of your father into His
Eminence is brighter than his knowledge of the
world."
The honour of seeing Imam-e Zaman was not
exclusive to some special Shi'ite scholars only, but many
devout and illiterate people have also had this honour.
We are completely amazed when we see people who at one
time used to commit sinful and indecent acts, but who
after their repentance, and after having their hearts
filled with love for Imam-e Zaman, also had an
opportunity to meet him, and among them were also our
Sunni brothers.
One of the Sunni brothers was Hasan 'Iraqi who lived a
life of immorality when he was young. One day, he
suddenly awoke from the slumber of heedlessness and asked
himself, "Was I created to commit these evil
deeds?" Then he left the immoral place he was in and
went directly to the mosque. By chance, a preacher there
was speaking about Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.). 'Iraqi's fully
disturbed soul turned into a heart flaming with
enthusiastic love of the Imam Henceforth, he invoked
Allah after every prayer to give him the opportunity to
see the Living Imam (Baqiyyatu 'llah) Finally, his
prayers were answered and for seven days and nights he
learned the path of salvation in His Eminence's presence.
Thereafter, this man became known as one of the great
scholars of Islam 'Abdu '-Wahhab Sha'rani, one of the
great Sunni scholars, and the original relater o f this
anecdote, used to call him by the title, "My great
master Shaykh 'Iraqi."
During the major occultation, letters were issued by
His Eminence to individuals and great scholars of Islam.
In those letters new difficult problems were solved, and
necessary guidance was given. Among these letters there
was one issued in the year 410 A.H. praising a
distinguished scholar of Islam, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn
Nu'man, alias Shaykh Mufid.
Shaykh Mufid has enjoyed a special rank for his
knowledge and devoutness, and that letter was an
acknowledgement of his efforts and worthy services. Even
after the passing of many centuries, people still ad mire
him with honour and respect.
The importance of this letter indicates the awareness
of the Imam of the mistakes and immoral actions of some
of the Shi'ites, and at the same time it gives hope in
the purpose of his existence.
"We are well informed of all your affairs and
none of them is hidden from us. We are aware of the
problems which have occupied you from the time when you
found pleasure and kept committing indecent deeds which
your predecessors had avoided. We are aware from that
time when your predecessors broke the covenant made with
them, as if they knew not about it. We will not neglect
or forget you lest calamity and troubles fall on you, and
enemies have the opportunity to overpower you. Therefore,
remember Allah and fear Him."
The valuable writings of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) during
the major occultation are the most important guidance for
his Shi'ites (followers). These writings can be referred
to in the authentic Shi'ite books.
However, we are now passing through a very sensitive
period in the major occultation.
In Islamic traditions, when the subject of the
occultation of the Twelfth Imam is discussed, reference
is made to the complex nature of this Divine test In this
Divine test, the sincere and faithful Shi'ites are
distinguished from others "and becomes as pure as a
pure gold."
In Islamic traditions, a comparison is drawn between
the sincere faith of the Shi'ites and the faith of a few
followers of the Prophet Nuh (Noah (a.s.), who remained
faithful despite their very difficult test, and who, by
boarding the ark with Prophet Nuh (a.s.), were saved from
the Deluge.
Therefore, blessed are those who have passed this
Divine test; we hope to be among their rank.