Acquainting oneself with the Imam of each era - The second series

The protection provided by twelve Caliphs

Shiites – and also Sunnis – believe that the prophet has ensured the survival and dignity of Islam until 

the Judgment Day through the protection provided by twelve Caliphs. Sunnis have been incapable of introducing these twelve Caliphs; however, for Shiites, these twelve divine Caliphs are identified. Through studying the history of their lives, it is revealed that unfortunately, "oppressive regimes’ pressure" caused "the birth of the last divine caliph" to happen in secret, like that of Abraham and Moses.  

This form of birth, created doubts; therefore, most of the Sunnis deny his birth. Shia scholars, so far, have written numerous books to prove his birth.

 

Hadith al-Thaqalayn and the existence of Imam Mahdi

The text of the Hadith: “O people, I am a human being [like others]. I am about to leave you (and go with the Angel of death) …. I am leaving among you two weighty things: these two are “the Book of God “and “My kindred (Itrah): my Ahl al-Bayt”. Indeed, the two will never separate from each other until they come back to me by the Pond (of al-¬Kawthar).Do not overtake them because this transgression will destroy you"

The points of the Hadith al-Thaqalayn:

1-  The Prophet has left “Two successors” after himself to guide the nation.

2-  Both successors will remain until the Doomsday and they will never separate.

3-  Hold fast to them (obey them) to be safe from misguidance.

This hadith has been much repeated in Shiite books and also has written down in Sunni sources including: Sahih Muslim, Sunan Tirmidhi and Sonan al-Darami

Milad , A collection of Articles on the birth of Imam Mahdi, p. 16

 

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Mahdism miniSermons and heart to heart writings - First series

We have lost the aim of life…

In this series, brief and heart to heart writings are going to be used. You can send us your brief and moving heart to heart writings to be used…

 “In my opinion, to live as getting up in the morning, doing some repetitious actions, sleeping at night and continuing this way is the same as animals’ lives, we should ponder how effective we are in this world. Some of us come to that we should serve Allah: “I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.”

Those who come this far, have passed this animal stage and are humans but unfortunately most of people stay here. We should go further. Serving without knowing Imam Mahdi (PBUH) is worthless, that is why one of the duties of the awaiting people is to know Imam Mahdi (PBUH).”  

(Professor Raefipoor, Hashtgerd, 26 May 2017)

 

The barriers of the Occultation

My master, we call you in our meetings and on our streets to return! But we are unaware that you’re not the one who should return! It’s us who should return to ourselves!

O dear master, we want you to hear us and take a short glance at us! But we have forgotten that you are an observer of our activities and twice a week you become aware of what we do.

We implore you to tell us about your location so we promptly sacrifice ourselves at your feet! But I don’t know why we can’t sacrifice our wishes for your Reappearance! Aren’t you our beloved and don’t we constantly ask for your Reappearance? Then why what you want is grave, hard and impossible for us?

All of us are after those who have visited you, but we have forgotten that you may pass us every moment. O Imam Mahdi, all of us wish we could see you and say hello to you. But we have forgotten that anywhere we say hello to you, you will answer us.

We even forget to say hello to each other in alleys and streets! Maybe the one we passed by slowly… O Flower of Narcissus … I don’t know what happened. We have missed this much the scent of daffodil (you). You pray. Perhaps we return because of the sake of your prayers. I wanted to talk about the barriers! But the barriers of the Occultation took away other barriers from my mind…

 

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Mahdism examples - First series

Breaking the glass, breaking the pottery

Imam Sadiq’s (PBUH) warnings:

1-I swear to God,  you will break undoubtedly such as shattering of a glass but glass can be recycled (by melting and reproducing). I swear to God you will break like pottery, very truly it does not return to original condition.

2-“I swear to God you will be screened and distinguished from each other undoubtedly and you will be selected until a few of you remain.”

(Al-Qaibat  Na´mani, page 307)

 

The leaders of the occultation

Imam Hadi(PBUH) said :

In the occultation of our Qa’im, if there weren’t any scholars and sages who invite people to Imam Mahdi or any defenders of the religion or helper to save unable people from evil’s and enemies’ traps, all people would stop following God’s religion and would become a pagan.

Scholars and sages, who save weak and poor Shia Muslims like a captain who guides a ship, are better and beloved ones for God.

(Al-Ihtijaj, volume 1, page 18)

 

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Introducing Mahdavi Books - First series

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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Mahdism Dictionary - First series

Because of the numerous words and titles used in Mahdism connection, in this series of Mahdavi messages, we are going to engage in more important and useful words and titles. God willing.

 

A- Abdal (the substitutes)

 (They are Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) companions in the Reappearance era.) It is said that: “There are some known decent servants of Allah who the Earth is not vacant of them and whenever one of them is dead, Allah choose another one.” (1) It is narrated that: “They are a group of Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) companions living in the current Syrian area and reach to him at the Reappearance and swear fealty to him.” (2) Imam Reza (PBUH) said: “Abdal are the successors whom Allah has set the substitutes for prophets.”(3)

 

A- Antioch

 (The place where the original Torah and Bible will be brought out after the Reappearance.) Antioch is the name of a city built 300 years before Christ by the Greeks and now located in Turkey borders. Maybe the use of Antioch in Mahdism narrations denotes the close relation between Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and Prophet Jesus (PBUH). Imam Baqir (PBUH) said: “(Imam Mahdi (PBUH)) brings out the (original) Torah and Bible from a land named Antioch.” (4)

(1: Kanz al-Ummal, v. 11; 2: Al-Ghayba al-Tusi, p. 476; 3: Al-Ihtijaj, v. 2; 4: Elal al-Sharaye’a, v. 1)

 

H- The Hujjatia society

They are a group that have been the center of attention in Mahdism context since over half a century ago. This society was established in 1953 to fight Bahaism (that had also influenced the Pahlavi regiment) by Sheikh Mahmoud Zakerzadeh Tavallaei’s (Halabi) efforts in cooperation with a group of religious people. The existence of a clause in their statute has annoyed the revolutionaries before and after the revolution very much: “The society won’t interfere in political affairs in any way.”

Most people who returned from Bahaism by the society would write a letter of repentance which most of them are available in the Library of Astan Quds. They had confirmations from some Marja’s before the revolution that they still refer to. Their trained forces were divided into three types: some were against the revolution, some for the revolution and some were indifferent. The Hojjatieh society changed its stance regarding politics a few months prior to the revolution (September 1978) and went alongside with the revolution. After the revolution, the society was introduced as a dangerous element by some revolutionary leaders.

For instance, Imam Khomeini who once approved Mr. Halabi, gradually became pessimistic about the movement of the society and cut his support. And they, after going back and forth, officially announced their dissolution in a statement in 1983. Now that it’s been 35 years since their dissolution, some parties still talk about the influence of the society every now and then.

 

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Mahdavi Questions and Answers - First series

What does Mahdism mean and what subjects are included?

Answer: Mahdism is the belief to a certain rise of a divine leader from the progeny of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who will come before the end of the world to save humans and promote justice and Islam all over the world that his name is Mahdi.

Mahdism subjects are: all teachings related to Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and knowing the savior, Imam Mahdi (PBUH) in the Quran and narrations, reasons and effects and benefits of the absence of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), the duties of the awaiting people, the signs and conditions of the Reappearance, the characteristics of Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) companions and feature of his global government, conditions of the world before the Reappearance, Rajaat (return to the world), debate on the prayers and places related to Imam Mahdi (PBUH), Mahdism pathology, the history of the Minor Occultation, Welayat e Faqih (the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) and general deputation of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) during the Major Occultation.

We have studied some of these subjects up to now. We will state more in the future. Some books for further readings are: Kamal al-Din and Tamam al-Nimeh, Montakhab al-Athar, Mekyal al-Makarem, Musua’a al-Imam al-Mahdi (the encyclopedia of Imam Mahdi)

 

What are the characteristics and appearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH)?

Answer: According to narrations and some valid meetings it could be said that Imam Mahdi (PBUH):

1. Is the most similar person to the Prophet of Islam, 2. Has a beautiful young face, about 30 to 40 years old, 3. Is average, slender and strong in stature, 4. Has a fair-reddish (tawny) complexion, 5. Has long, curly and wavy hair, 6. Has a broad and shiny forehead with the effects of prostration and a black mole on the cheek, 7. Has strong and big shoulders, 8. Has a broad chest, 9. Has big and black eyes, 10. Has drawn and long eyebrows and narrow nose and calves.

 (Sources for further study: 1. “Maa’sum e chahardahom (The fourteenth infallible)” authored by Ayatollahi, 2. “Yoosof e Zahra” authored by Ayati, 3. “Mahdi (PBUH), Imam e hazer (Mahdi (PBUH), the present Imam)” authored by Bahadori Nejad, 4. “Gol e Narges (The flower of Narcissus)” authored by Mohamad Ali Shahab.)

 

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From Ashura to the Reappearance - First series

From Hussain’s (PBUH) Ashura to the Reappearance of Mahdi (PBUH)

Ashura is a lesson for everyone who wants Imam Mahdi (PBUH). Maybe Ashura is the instance of the bloodiest disloyalty of the history, but it didn’t end and since it proves a notion to the people of each era, it is flourishing more and more day by day.

Ashura is a tearful historic event for all people of the world in every times to know who is Imam and how is his absence? So that they know the contrast between wanting and not wanting is and endless conflict between who chooses either himself or Imamate. Ashura is the root of Mahdism and awaiting ideology of Shia. The basis of Ashura and Karbala is the lesson of awaiting and a hope for bright future of Shia.

Nowadays those can wish companionship of Hussain of the time (Imam Mahdi (PBUH)) and yell “we wish we were with you” who do whatever needs to be done and consider awaiting as taking action and make it their first priority in all stages of their life during the Occultation.

 

Ashura is the criterion…

Quran and narrations always remind us that the two lines of the Truth and Falsehood are together. Quran introduces a Falsehood line against the course of the Truth throughout the history. “Their intention is to extinguish Allah's Light” (The Quran, Surah 61, Verse 8)

It’s interesting that the verb that the Quran uses is future continuous, meaning it will continue and it’s continuous. It means there are still people who are after opposing the religion of Allah, as some people tried to eliminate the religion of Allah during the lifetime of the prophet and Imams, and it led to the divine and entirely shiny jihad of Imam Hussein (PBUH) and the event of Ashura that separated the Truth from Falsehod until the end of the world.

Nowadays, there are also some people who are after breaking and opposing the course of the Truth and one should learn the lesson of recognizing the criterion from Ashura and be after establishing justice and opposing any tyranny and cruelty which its superhighway is awaiting and helping Imam Mahdi (PBUH)…

 

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Rational reasons for Imamate and Mahdism - First series

Imamate (leadership) has to be understood…

Since “understanding the generalities” is the realm of wisdom and “Understanding the details” is the realm of the five sense, normally the intellectual reason can’t be used to prove detailed matters. For example intellect just know two plus two is four and everything happens for a reason.

In Mahdism scope, intellect suggests "it is not only good, but essential to comprehend some issues like introduction, appointment and the existence of a divine guide for humans" but "recognition and verification of the Imam to actual persons" is not something wisdom can do solely, we have to refer to the Quran, the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and miracles of the claimant of Imamate.

In other words, intellectual and logical reflection is a mean to explain that existence of an Imam is essential in every time, but verification of that fact to Imam Mahdi (PBUH) is something else.

(Selected from the book “Adele e aqli e Imamat wa Mahdaviat” (Rational reasons for Imamate and Mahdism); Rahim Latifi)

 

Where to start with?

To investigate and reason the principle of Imamate, we should first understand Allah and His prophet; because these are the prerequisites for the subject of Imamate. Therefore the information that is uploaded with the title of “rational reasons for Imamate and Mahdism” is on the assumption that we have already investigated, understood and accepted its prerequisite (that means Monotheism, Resurrection, Prophethood and Divine Justice).

This is a list of some “rational reasons for Imamate” that we are going to study later on: Mercy of Allah, purposefulness of creation, the need to an interpreter of revelation, divine grace, the means of divine grace, the issue of perfect human, the regulation of the possibility of highness and… .

(Extracted from the book “Adele e aqli e Imamat wa Mahdaviat (rational reasons for Imamate and Mahdism)”: Rahim Latifi)

 

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1001facts about Imam Mahdi - First series

Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Power)

Laylat al-Qadr is the night of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) on which angels are sent down on him and present the destiny of affairs to him. The infallible leaders have said while interpreting the Surah of Qadr: “On this night, angels bring the destiny of one year to the Absolute Guardian of the Time, present it and hand it over to him.”

(The book “al-Kafi”, the book “al-Hujjah”)

 

The features of the Minor Occultation era

1- It was a short period and lasted almost 70 years.

2- Imam Mahdi (PBUH) was not totally hidden during this era, but he was in contact with his Special Deputies and sometimes these Deputies made appointments for people.*1

3- Imam Mahdi (PBUH) had 4 Deputies during this era that he himself appointed every single one of them and other representatives were chosen by these four ones. After this period, there is no particular person as his special Deputy but everyone who is qualified (like Islamic Jurists) can be his General Deputy.

4- It was possible for some people to see Imam and recognize him during the Minor Occultation era, but in the Major Occultation era no one sees him or if someone does, would not recognize him.*2 If some special ones do see and recognize him, they are not allowed to tell people except by Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) permission.

( 1-Al-Ghayba al-Tusi, p. 216; 2- Pazuheshi piramun-e zendegi-e nuvvab-e khas-e Imam Mahdi (A research on Imam Mahdi's (PBUH) Special Deputies lives), Ghaffar Zadeh, p.33 )

 

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Mahdavi Prayers and Salutations - First series

In the subject of “Mahdavi Prayers and Salutations”, we are going to study topics like prayers related to Imam Mahdi (PBUH)

some special prayers for days and months, resorting to Imam Mahdi (PBUH), Ziarahs (a type of salutations) and …We recommend all of you, helper to Imam Mahdi (PBUH), to find the book of Sahifah Mahdiah by Sayyed Murteza Mujtahedi Sistani and use it.

The prayer of Imam Mahdi (PBUH)

Qutb Ravandi writes: “The prayer of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), may our souls be his ransom, has two Rakats. In each Rakat the Surah “AL-FAATEHAH” should be recited and once arriving “Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek” this verse should be repeated 100 times and after finishing the prayer, salute Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his progeny100 times and then ask Allah your need.” (Da’avat Ravandi, p. 89)

This prayer is not exclusive to special time and place and reciting a Surah is not obligatory after the Surah “AL-FAATEHAH” and no specific benediction is recommended after the prayer.

 

The prayer of the Holy Mosque of Jamkaran

Hasan ibn Muthlah says: “My master, Imam Mahdi (PBUH), told me: “People should be eager for (come to) this place (Jamkaran) and cherish it and offer 4 Rakats of prayer: two Rakats for salutation and honor of the mosque and in each Rakat recite the Surah al-Hamd once and the Surah al-Ikhlas seven times and recite the special dhikr (invocation) of every Rukoo (bowing with the hands on the knees) and Sujud (prostration) seven times.

And after those, two Rakats for Imam Mahdi (PBUH), in each Rakat recite the Surah “al-Hamd”, once reaching “Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek”, repeat it a hundred times, then finish the Surah “al-Hamd” and recite the Surah “al-Ikhlas” after that and recite the special dhikr of every Rukoo and Sujud seven times and offer the second Rakat the same way. When the prayer is completed, say “There is no God but Allah” and recite the Tasbih of Lady Fatimah (PBUH) and prostrate and recite salutation a hundred times.”

 “Then he said: “Anyone who offer this prayer is like he has offered it in the Kaaba.””

(Jannah al-Ma’va, p. 231)

 

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