The book of “Al-Ghayba al-Nu’mani”
This precious book is written by “Muhammad bin Ibrahim Nu’mani”. He is one of the greatest Shia narrators in the early fourth century A.H. (After Hijrah), a gifted writer with deduction power who has a comprehensive knowledge about science of Rijal (biographical evaluation of narrators) and Hadith (evaluation the integrity of narrations), Muhammad bin Yaqub Kuleyni’s (the author of Usul al-Kafi) student and he is so respectable and known among Shia scholars and Faqihs (Islamic jurisprudents). This book is undoubtedly one of the best books about narrations related to Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) characteristics, Occultation and the Reappearance era and their features. All narrations are documented and the documents are valid and preferred by experts. (Mahdism textbook, v. 1, p. 59)
This book is one of most valid sources in Mahdism subjects especially the Occultation. (Ta zuhoor (till the Reappearance), Ayatollah Najm al-Din Tabasi, v. 2)
This is the oldest book among the books related to Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) Occultation. Scholars like Sheikh al-Mufid and Sheikh al-Tusi have used this book and quoted its narrations. (Ayatollah Madani Bejestani, Farhang e kotob e hadithi e Shia (the encyclopedia of Shia Hadith books), v. 1)
The book of “Kamal al-Din and Tamam al-Nimeh”
The writer of this book, Sheikh al-Saduq, is one of the greatest persons in the Islamic world and one of the most outstanding and bright persons of knowledge and superiority who was born due to a prayer by Imam Mahdi (PBUH) (It’s a long story).
Sheikh al-Saduq writes in the beginning of his book: “In my dream, I saw I was circumambulating the Kaaba. In the seventh round I saw my master, Qa’im, standing at the door of Kaaba. I approached him with a heavy heart and a gloomy mood… I said: “Hello.” He answered and said: “Why don’t you write a book on the Occultation so that your sadness and sorrow goes away?” I said: “O son of the Messenger of Allah, I have already written about the Occultation.” He said: “Not that way; I now order you to write a book on the Occultation and mention the occultation of prophets in it.””
This book consists of 2 parts: 1. General subjects and comprehensive Hadiths about the occultations in previous nations and proving the fact that the Occultation of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) is not something new, but rather has a long history. 2. Subjects like: birth, Imamate, the Occultation and its reasons, visits, letters issued by Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and … . (Mahdism textbook, v. 1, p. 61)
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“Al-Ghayba al-Tusi” (The Occultation)
This precious book is written by Sheikh Tusi. He has written numerous books on Usul al-Fiqh (the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence), Hadith (the science of narrations), Tafsir (interpreting the Quran), Kalaam (the science of discourse) and Rijal (biographical evaluation of narrators) and he has been at Sheikh Mufid's classes for 5 years and he is one of the most prominent scientific characters of the Shia world and a reliable person in Shia’s eyes.
Undoubtedly this book is one of the best, most important and most comprehensive Shia sources about Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) Occultation and includes the cause and reason of his Occultation and divine wisdom behind it.
He has used a new and innovative method to write this precious book and studied different aspects of Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) Occultation. He has also removed doubts of enemies according to the Quran, narrations and wisdom. It also includes Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) superiorities, his Seerah (the life history, behavior and habits) and his policy during the Occultation and Reappearance eras and many signs of the Reappearance are mentioned too. (Mahdism textbook, v. 1; Farhang-e kotob-e hadithi (Encyclopedia of Hadith Books) v. 1)
The precious book of “Mekyal al-Makarem”
In the preface of this book, the author (Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Taqi Mosvi Esfahani) has written: “I was thinking to write a separate book about the benefits of praying for Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and awaiting for the Reappearance…. But problems keep me from writing it till I saw Imam Mahdi (PBUH) in a dream and he said: “Write this book and write it in Arabic and also name it “Mekyal al-Makarem fi Fava’ed ad-Dua lil-Qa’im” (a measure to evaluate the benefits of praying for Imam Mahdi (PBUH)).””
This book has been reprinted numerous times and has been appreciated by scholars. This book is translated by Sayyed Mahdi Ha’iri Qazvini and Jamkaran mosque press has summarized and published it by the name “A’iin-e Entezaar” (the custom of awaiting for Imam Mahdi (PBUH)).
Ayatollah Safi Gulpaygani, the Marja’, says: “This is one of the best and most comprehensive books about praying for the Reappearance and it’s worth reading for everyone who wants to be thoroughly acquainted with Imam Mahdi (PBUH).”
Of the important subjects of this two-volume book is acquaintance with Imam Mahdi (PBUH), 90 benefits of praying for the Reappearance and the time and circumstances suggested for praying, and 80 duties of the awaiting people.
The book of "Imam Mahdi (PBUH), from birth to the Reappearance"
This precious book is written by Sayyed Muhammad Kazem Ghazvini and has discussed some topics about the great character of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) which are as follows:
1. Who is Mahdi? 2. His name and genealogy. 3. The Quran and the promise of him. 4. The promises in Sunnah (the tradition) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). 5. The promise of Mahdi in the narrations of the Imams. 6. How did he hide from the people? 7. The Minor Occultation of Imam Mahdi (PBUH). 8. The Four Special Deputies
9. His Major Occultation. 10. How has he lived until now? 11. When will he reappear? 12. How will he rule after his Reappearance? 13. The life of the society in his golden age. 14. The duration of his government. 15. How will his age end...
All the contents of the book are supported by Hadiths and it contains several indexes that has made it easy for readers.
The book of “A collection of Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) commands”
This book is collected and translated by Muhammad Khademi Shirazi and it is a collection of epistles and words issued by Imam Mahdi (PBUH) along with his prayers. The value of this book is in collecting, translating and explaining Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) words in one independent collection.
The writer quotes the words of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) – from before his birth until the beginning of the Minor Occultation – and the letters issued by him during the Minor and Major Occultation and his speeches in the first days of the Reappearance in chapters of the book.
The author writes in the preface of the book as follow: “So far, a collection of words about Imam Mahdi (PBUH) has not been gathered in one book and our scholars have stated them in valid books by details – but sporadically.”
The book of the “Salvation Time”
This book is the translation of the book named Yowm al-Khalas which (the original Arabic version) had been published under a single volume. Yet the translated version of ‘Salvation Time’ has two volumes due to its text is in Arabic the many number of its narrations. The writer of this book is Kmil Sulaiman, Jable Amil.
This book consists of 20 chapters which half of it is about generalities on the situations, effects of the Occultation and awaiting for the Reappearance, and the reasons and the philosophy of the Occultation and the denial of whom deny Imam Mahdi (PBUH).
The second half of the book is about the incidents close to the Reappearance, uprising and the government of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), signs and indications of the Apocalypse, the characteristics of his companions and his enemies, in an innovative way.
The book of “Ashti ba Imam Zaman (Reconciliation with Imam Mahdi (PBUH))”
This book that is about our responsibilities before Imam Mahdi (PBUH) is written by Mohammad Shojaei. It is a collection of the author's researches on the Quran verses and Hadiths on the subject of duties of Shias towards Imam Mahdi (PBUH).
Simple and fluent writing style; categorization based on daily issues and referring to key quotes from Imam Khomeini are of the superior characteristics of this book. The first chapter is about the necessity of the existence of Imam and the Proof in life. The second chapter is about the relations between our actions and behaviors and being in relation with the immaculate Imam and origins of his absence and the consequent harshness of it.
In the third chapter, the hopes and promises about the characteristics of the Apocalypse, the relation between the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the issuance of it with the Reappearance, and the narrations mentioning the Iranians' roles after the Reappearance are stated. And the fourth chapter talks about our divine duties towards Imam Mahdi (PBUH).
The book of “Imam Mahdi (PBUH), the present and the promised”
This book contains the collection of topics, sayings and essays which is written by Ayatollah Jawadi Amoli. This book is divided in the 3 following subjects:
1- The study of the Lives and traditions of the Imams
2- Awaiting for the Reappearance
3- From the Reappearance to the Mahdavi Utopia.
The subjects that have been discussed under these three topics are as following:
The criteria of an ignorant life, the life of human beings from the viewpoint of the Holy Quran, the best way to die as a Muslim, the enunciation of the Imams about the existence of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), the night of the 15th Shaban as the night of Qadr for Ahl al-Bayt, the secrets of Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) Occultation, the conditions needed to materialize the true state of being “Awaiting for the Reappearance”, the duties of the awaiting persons, the general features of the Reappearance era, the merciful government of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and ...
Book of “Imam Mahdi’s Reappearance in the viewpoint of Islam and other world religions”
This book is a historical and ideological writing about the promised Imam Mahdi’s Reappearance in Persian language, written by one of contemporary scholars, Sayyed Asadollah Hashemi Shahidi. The writer has compiled his book in 12 parts:
1- The topic of Mahdism and its authenticity and the idea of denying the Imam’s Reappearance and the opinion of prophet’s companions and the followers and other religions. 2- The promised Mahdi in the viewpoint of Islam, Shiism and Sunnism. 3- Getting to know the promised Mahdi. 4- Sunni scholars admitting the authenticity of the Mahdavi Hadiths. 5- Sunni scholars’ sayings (Baihaqi Shafe’ei, Ibn Khalkan, Khatib Baghdadi and etc) 6- Mahdism false pretenders.
7- Awaiting for Imam Mahdi in the Holy Quran and the narrations about it and its importance. 8- The Reappearance promises in the Quran. 9- The Reappearance promises in the Torah and Gospels and other holy books of other religions. 10- The world’s future religion 11- Disappointment and despair, spreading moral corruption, inventing lethal arms, scientists confessing the necessity of the world’s unitary government. 12- After the Reappearance.
Source: Mahdiaran Channel (@Mahdiaran); http://islampfr.com
