Al-Mirza Al-Qummi, Revivalist of ‘Ilm al-Usul

Al-Mirza Al-Qummi, Revivalist of ‘Ilm al-Usul Author:
Translator: Hasan Muhammad Al-Najafi
Publisher: Ansariyan Publications – Qum
Category: Ulama and Scholars

Al-Mirza Al-Qummi, Revivalist of ‘Ilm al-Usul
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Al-Mirza Al-Qummi, Revivalist of ‘Ilm al-Usul

Al-Mirza Al-Qummi, Revivalist of ‘Ilm al-Usul

Author:
Publisher: Ansariyan Publications – Qum
English

www.alhassanain.org/english

Al-Mirza Al-Qummi, Revivalist of ‘Ilm al-Usul

Series: Meeting the Pious n. 3

Author(s): al-Mirza Abu al-Qasim al-Qummi

Translator(s): Hasan Muhammad Al-Najafi

Publisher(s): Ansariyan Publications - Qum

www.alhassanain.org/english

This book tries to shed light upon one of those stars that shone in the world of Islam, undertaking a remarkable role during the Thirteenth Hijrah Century; being a dignitary that managed, through his broad dimensions, in abundantly contributing to the Islamic thought and heritage, represented by al-Mirza Abu al-Qasim al-Qummi. He has been one of the renowned men of thought in modern history, having an all-inclusive and versatile character; he was an eminent ‘alim, laboring hard for God’s sake, the very incarnation of piety and asceticism, possessing all humaneexcellences, and the legend in uprightness and forbearance.

Miscellaneous information:

Al-Mirza Al-Qummi, Revivalist of ‘Ilm al-Usul Series: Meeting the Pious n. 3 Author: Muhammad Husayn al-‘Irfani Translator: Hasan M. Al-Najafi Published by Ansariyan Publications P.O. Box 371851187 Qum Islamic Republic of Iran Tel.:741744 No. of Copies: 2,000 First Edition: 1416 H.- 1995 A.O.

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

Table of Contents

Publisher’s Foreword 7

Translator’s Introduction 8

Preamble 9

Author’s Preface 11

Chapter 1: A Glance at Al-Mirza’s Biography 12

His Father 12

His Birth 12

The Beginning 12

His Marriage 13

Migration to Iraq 13

Return to Homeland 14

The Village-Mulla’s Intrigue 14

Travel to Isfahan and Shiraz 15

Migration to Qum 15

Turning Toward Iraq 16

Pilgrimage to the Old House 16

His Trip to Kazzaz 17

His Trips to Khunsar 17

Notes 17

Chapter 2: His Academical and Cultural Activity 18

Guardianship of Proficient Disciples 18

1. Al-Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Hujjat al- ‘Islam 18

2. Al -Hajj Muhammad Ibrahim al-Kalbasi 19

3. Al-Sayyid Muhammad ‘Ali al-Hazarjeribi 19

4. Al-Sayyid Ahmad al-Kermanshahi 20

5. Al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi al-Khunsari 20

6. Al-Sayyid ‘Ali al-Khunsari 20

7. Al-Mirza Abu Talib al-Qummi 21

8. Al-Hajj al-Sayyid Isma’il al-Qummi 21

9. Al-Mirza ‘Ali Rida al-Qummi 21

10. Al-Shaykh Husayn al­Qummi 21

12. Al-Hajj Mulla Muhammad al-Kazzazi 21

License to Narrate 22

His Valuable Works 22

Propagation and Preaching 25

Notes 26

Chapter 3: Let Us Learn from al-Mirza 27

His Forbearance and Uprightness 27

His Strival in Knowledge Seeking 27

His Academic Status 28

His Tireless Labouring 28

His Curiosity for Knowledge 29

His Poeticalness 29

His Fine Handwriting 29

His Comprehensiveness 29

His Loyalty 30

His Moral Traits 30

Scholars’ Views Regarding al-Mirza 30

His Refusal to King's Affinity 31

A Grace for al-Mirza 32

Al-Mulla ‘Ali al-Nuri’s Meeting with al-Mirza 34

Notes 34

Chapter 4: The Sunset 35

His Heirs 35

1. Al-Mirza Abu Talib al-Qummi 35

2. Al-Hajj Mulla Asad Allah al-Brujerdi 35

3. Al-Mulla Muhammad al-Naraqi 36

4. Al-Mirza ‘Ali Rida al-Tahiri 36

5. Al-Shaykh ‘Ali al-Bahrani 36

6. Al-Sayyid Muhammad Sadiq al-Kalbasi 36

7. Al-Mawla ‘Ali al-Brujerdi 36

Al-Mirza in the Memory 37

Notes 37

Bibliography 38

Al-Mirza in the Memory 39

Publisher’s Foreword

The Ansarian Publications received many requests, through contacts or readers’ letters, asking about biography books about these scholars having illuminative role in world of thought and sciences. In response, the Foundation embarked on pursuing the subject attentively, for meeting the sincere desires longing for the Islamic culture and its signs.

While Ansarian Foundation presents the series of Liqa’ ma’a al- ‘Abrar (A Meeting with the Righteous). It hopes for attaining the approval and pleasure of all dear readers. And it is Allah Who helps us to succeed.

Ansarian Foundation

Translator’s Introduction

The last third of the second century witnessed a bitter struggle between the school of principles (usul) and Akhbari trend (narrative) which prevailed at that juncture in history. The great efforts exerted by the vanguard of school of principles, al-Wahid al-Behbahani, led to laying new foundations for ‘ilm al- ‘usul, and they were preserved by his disciples after him. Al-Mirza Abu al­ Qasim al-Qummi, who belongs to the first generation of that school, is considered the most eminent disciple of al­ ‘Ustadh al-Wahid, as is testified by his valuable book Qawanin al- ‘usul that remained as a curriculum for more than half a century.

Al Mirza al-Qummi has been one of the renowned men of thought in modern history, having an all-inclusive and versatile character. Moreover, the ethical pivot that distinguished his life, with the unique straightforwardness and forbearance he enjoyed despite the hard circumstances and implications he experienced throughout his blessed age. He used to spend his study nights, enduring hunger, without being affected or discouraged by this suffering. The dear reader will perceive this great man’s thirst for ‘ilm (knowledge), in all its branches, till attaining to its serene foundations and imbibing from them without being quenched.

The world has shown him its back, making him taste various sorts of torment, bitterness and destitution, depriving him of even the sustenance necessities through which he could survive. But, did this enfeeble him? No, he persisted on withstanding till all the world was humbled before his feet, and the monarch of his time came to him for his flattery. Nevertheless, he never cared for all worldly lusts and enjoyments, despite all temptations of life, maintaining his loftiness and sublimity in the world of knowledge, morals and humanity.

Hasan M Najafi

Preamble

The cultural onslaught is based on two pillars: the first is humiliating the pristine culture, and the second is overstating in publicizing for the substitute Western culture at the same time. Thus, people feel through this cultural ravishment and vilification for the deep-rooted culture, as being belittled before others, neglecting the abundant treasures their culture contains, seeking help from aliens, offering their culture and civilization (for sale) at an underrate.

The defunct Pahlavi regime strove hard to establish this policy in dealing with the West, as an idol for civilization, modernism and art, beside ethics and religion. Whereas it introduced the East as representing savagery and backwardness, and at best the Third World, the non-developed countries. These devilish policies have, to some extent, managed in achieving their goals, as many people - particularly the youth - began to look at the West as representing the free world that safeguards the human rights, and defends democracy and freedom.

But, as the known dictum says, the sun cannot be kept behind clouds forever, as realities have begun to emerge so clear, and the era of Islamic resurgence has started the era characterized with the contemporary generation’s return to its inborn nature, Qur’an, creed and ensigns.

Despite this optimistic illumination auguring well, the state of thought ravishment is still suffering, in many of the critical fields, the consequences of the Western influences.

The high degrees got in the West are still dazzling our sights, the medicine not holding an attractive Western brand is still ineffective and useless, Lot of Western cultural phenomena are penetrative or rather deep-rooted in our society's behaviorism. Besides, the West still selects for us the costumes we wear, identifies the kinds of medals to be granted to the winners, and we even expect to get the literary prizes.for which many are longing eagerly, from the West. But is it right to regard the West, as an ideal?The West whose real identity is revealed through its hollow mottos, and false claims of defending democracy and human rights.

What causes the feeling of having fault before the hangmen of the fifteenth Hijrah Century?!

We still view the West as an ideal, despite its adopting the apartheid policy, and its granting literary prizes to those who are devoid of adab (good manners), like Salman Rushdie, while ordering to prevent Muslim students from participating in the Physics Olympiad.

The Islamic world is asked tostrive bard for forming an “Islamic World Order”, and not to be hopeful of the West’s mottos, like democracy, freedom and defending the human rights.

Is there any hope, while witnessing the tragedies that occurred and still going on in the Islamic lands, in Bosnia Herzegovina, Algeria and Palestine? Whoever is concerned with Muslims’ affairs should know that no outlet or solution (for crises) is there but only through resorting and returning to the Qur’an and its expansive shadows.

Liqa’ ‘ma’a al- ‘Abrar (series) is only a step on the path, the path of recovery to the ego and self, through introducing the beacons of Islamic thought, the great magnates, in whose worlds and pervasive prospects, the leaders and thinkers of other creeds and doctrines, disappear.

The West is more intimidated and worried of the Ummah’s recognizing and attaining its identity, and return to its ensigns to those who managed, through their consolidated efforts, in paving the hard way of Islam.

The series of Liqa’ m’a al- ‘Abrar has undertaken the task of exploring the concealed characteristics and natures of seventy illuminant planets throughout the sky of Islamic thought, and introducing them as luminaries and beacons on the road of construction the construction of the Islamic civilization anew.

Baqir al- ‘Ulum Research Foundation

Qum

Author’s Preface

Man, while striving to attain perfection and nearness to Allah, is need of an example and ideal, to follow his guide and tread his path. Otherwise it is infeasible for him to attain his final objective and aspired end, besides not reaching the apex of sublime humanity.

The best example, guide and ideal for all mankind, being the prophets and Infallible Imams and their acts, without whose teachings and precepts no one can get access to the shore of bliss. After them in order, come the scholars (‘ulama’), who followed their example, and who truly constitute the inheritors of prophets, being vivid examples for piety and submission to Allah the Glorified, turning to be good pattern for others in respect of guidance and preaching.

Hence, the Islamic Ummah is asked to recognize and be acquainted with those bright faces, and be enlightened by those illuminant beacons,who elevated the status of ‘ilm (knowledge) and ‘ulama’ (scholars), beside learning lessons and getting examples from their conduct (sirah).

So, this book tries to shed light upon one of those stars that shone in the world of Islam, undertaking a remarkable role during the Thirteenth Hijrah Century; being a dignitary that managed, through his broad dimensions, in abundantly contributing to the Islamic thought and heritage, represented by al-Mirza Abu al-Qasim al-Qummi.

Talking about such a great, versatile, comprehensive personality is not so easy, as the pen fails and stops short of covering some of his aspects and horizons.

Al-Qummi was an eminent ‘alim, laboring hard for God’s sake, the very incarnation of piety and asceticism, possessing all humaneexcellences, and the legend in uprightness and forbearance. It is preponderant for the contemporary generation - particularly the youth who constitute the real resource for Islamic nations - to be acquainted with this great man who is really a genius in Islamic thought and creed.

Chapter 1: A Glance at Al-Mirza’s Biography

Ayatullah al-Mirza Abu al-Qasim al-Gilani, is the son of Akhund Mulla Hasan or Muhammad Hasan known as ‘al-Mirza al-Qummi’, and one of the great ‘ulama’ of fiqh (jurisprudence) during the 13th Hijrah century. He lived during the reign of Fath ‘Ali Shah, holding the post of Shi’ah leadership and religious high authority (marji’iyyah), being of a great status during his time.

In origin, he is from “Shaft”1 which belongs to Gilan, but he was born and grown up in Jabliq.2 The title al­Qummi is ascribed to him due to spending a long period of his life in the holy town of Qum. His great honour, broad knowledge, and all-inclusive researches and treatises were so influential, and played a great role in making him among the eminent ‘ulama’, so he was called al-Fadil al-Qummi, and al-Muhaqqiq al-Qummi, or Sahib al­ Qawanin (Owner of laws), after authoring his precious book Qawanin al- ‘usul.

His Father

His father is Akhund Mulla Hasan, from the people of Gilan, who departed it during his youth toward Isfahan in the first half of the 12th Hijrah century, which was at that time a big centre for Islamic sciences. There he acquired knowledge under two of its ‘ulama’: al-Mirza Hidayat Allah and his brother al-Mirza Habib Allah. After a short time, the two tutors prepared to travel to Jabliq for undertaking adjudication and administration affairs in that region.

So, no choice was left for the young knowledge-seeker, but to accompany them to that region, hoping for quenching his thirst for knowledge, being pleased with their lofty conduct. So, he has departed Isfahan andemigrated to that distant region, where he persevered on acquiring from their abundant knowledge. Then it was destined for him to get married to the daughter of his tutor, al-Mirza Hidayat Allah, who was a venerable lady known of piety and chastity.

His Birth

Shortly, the product of that blessedmarriage, was a sweet and pure fruit, being a candle that illumined the hearts of the two young spouses, with love and hope, in the year 11513 of the Prophetic migration (Hijrah). Then the Little child, who held the name Abu al-Qasim, has proceeded and was reared upun warm laps, full of piety, faith (iman), chastity and love.

Under an extreme patronage of his father, the boy began to learn the first lessons in shaping his future character, that was lately formed, whose foundation was faith, piety and knowledge.

Hence, his character was formed on two solid pivots, which are: inheritance and education, which enabled him to undertake heavy responsibilities in future, which began to spring forth gradually.

The Beginning

Allah has bestowed upon Abu al-Qasim numerous abilities and talents, reflected through his striving to attain the aspired perfection, and his bright forehead used to augur of a blooming future before him.

He has excelled his companions by his smartness, acumen, understanding and perception. And from the very first days of his age, be used to show keen interest for seeking knowledge, and striving for reaching the perfection. So, he started to get principles of science from his father, who never spared any effort to teach him various branches of knowledge, starting with preliminaries and Arabic literature. On attaining puberty, be asked his father’s permission to travel to Khunsar,4 to learn usul (principles), under its outstanding ‘alim - al Sayyid Husayn al Khunsari.5

His Marriage

Al-Mirza Abu al-Qasim’s acute wit, genius, full acquaintance of ‘ilmi issues, and sublime personality auguring well of a bloomy future, have impressed his tutor’s heart, to the extent that he (tutor) brought him nearer, giving him special position. Then he gave him in marriage his sister, the woman of chastity, purity and virtue, the scion of the honorable ‘Alawi household, whose marriage was regarded as a pattern.Because Islam gives great importance to moral aspect in selecting the spouse, as the criterion being piety and faith, not wealth or prettiness.

Based on this, whoever looks at marriage as a project, subject to void considerations, like dignity, opulence, and superficial charm, is greatly mistaken, as all of these are but speedily vanishing things.Whereas nobility, profound faith, piety (taqwa), chastity and purity are stable pillars never wavering with time changes.

Thus, the ethical characteristics enjoyed by Abu al­ Qasim have prompted al-Sayyid al-Khunsari to offer him marrying his sister, in an episode similar to that of the marriage of our master Moses (A) with Shu’ayb’s daughter. Shu’ayb came to recognize the lofty merits that distinguished Moses from others, on meeting him, so he offered him to marry his daughter saying to him - as stated in the Holy Qur’an:

“He said: Lo! I fain would marry thee to one of these two daughters of mine...”( 28:27). 6

Migration to Iraq

After passage of many years, Abu al-Qasim realized that Khunsar could no more quench his thirst for knowledge, or satisfy his eagerness for more learning. Therefore, he made up his mind to migrate to Iraq, after bidding his tutor al-Sayyid Husayn al-Khunsari farewell, betaking himself then to Karbala’, the metropolis of al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali (A).

There (at Karbala’) he joined the disciples of the great Ustadh al-Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Behbahani, who was then a torch of knowledge and learning, and an abundant fountainhead outpouring fiqh, culture and light. Then he managed to get school certificate in ijtihad and narration, from him.7

Through some of his poetic verses, al-Mirza mentions the year 1174 (H) in which he migrated to Iraq, as was a usual custom among some poets and literary personages, concerned with chronogram by counting the sentences, according to the numbers opposite to the alphabet.

During his stay in migration house, he learnt under its teachers and scholarly dignitaries, such as al-Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Mazandarani, al-Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi al-Futuni, beside his teacher al-Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Behbahani, who have all granted him permission to narrate

Return to Homeland

After spending long years in learning and investigation, al-Mirza al-Qummi felt quenched of knowledge, realizing then the necessity to shoulder a greatresponsibility, that he had to return to his homeland as ordained by the holy verse:

“Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when they return to them, so that they may beware” (9:122)

Thus al-Mirza started his return trip to his birth place Jabliq, residing then in one of its villages called “Durrah Bagh” where he lived with his parents. Then he, in response to the insistence of one of his disciples (al-Hajj Muhammad Sultan, who was a wealthy, benevolent and religious man) shifted to another adjacent village called “Qal’ah Babu”, where he settled down and started his activities of preaching, guiding and teaching. This village was at that time, drowned in a darkness of ignorance (jahl), as his class was only attended by two disciples: al­ Mirza HidayatAllah, and the aforementioned disciple al­Hajj Muhammad Sultan, beside another one whose name was ‘Ali Dust Khan, the son of al-Hajj Tahir Khan. He was teaching them nahw (grammar) and mantiq (logic).

Al-Mirza faced bitter experiences at the hands ofthis village inhabitants , due to their unawareness of his status and sublime position. So, they embarked on vexing and annoying him, preferring to him one of day-school ignorant teachers, or rather they could never distinguish between him and Mulla Shah Murad, who was much lower in rank than Sabz ‘Ali.

The Village-Mulla’s Intrigue

The village Mulla has never missed any chance to conspire against al-Mirza al-Qummi, gazing him with envying eyes,laying for an opportune time to launching an onslaught against him, benefiting from the utter ignorance prevailing over the whole village. The opportunity presented itself, when the villagers gathered at an occasion, so he exploited this chance, claiming before all people that al-Mirza being only an ignorant man, having no bit knowledge of anything, and rather be was illiterate unable to write.

For proving his claim before all, he asked al­ Mirza to write “snake” for him. The great mujtahid never disdained from this silly demand, so he took the pen and nicely wrote the word “snake”. Thereat, the Mulla prepared to direct his blow, so he took the paper and embarked on showing it to the people in a mocking way. Then he drew a sketch like a snake with its triangle head and twisted tail, exposing it then to the villagers, who judged that what was written byal-Mirza had nothing to do with the snake, while what was sketched by their Mulla was the truth!

This caused al-Mirza to have bitter feeling, due to living amongst ignorantpeople, that are deceived easily by the foolish tricks of Sabz ‘Ali and Shah Murad. So, he resorted to implore the Almighty Allah to deliver him of this town of which the people are oppressors.

Travel to Isfahan and Shiraz

The earth, vast as it is, was straitened for al-Mirza, besides his being unable to tolerate staying there, and feeling suffocated in that atmosphere of ignorance and plots, so he made up his mind to travel to Isfahan.

Then he settled down in “Kasah Giran” School, engaged in the profession of teaching. Soon many disciples and knowledge-seekers gathered around him, to get from his abundant knowledge. But this could not last long, due to presence of many jealous people who envied him, and soon many rumours were gossiped here and there, with the aim of poisoning the atmosphere and degrading the status and sublimity of his position.

Then he thought that it was for his convenience to depart this region toward Shiraz, during the reign of Karim Khan Zand. He lived there for about three years, suffering very straitened circumstances, with severe Poverty and destitution; whereat the late al­ Shaykh Abd al-Nabi sent him a sum of money. Then al­ Mirza returned to Isfahan to purchase a collection of books to the fields of fiqh, linguistics and hadith, which were badly needed by him, after which he decided to go back to Jabliq again.

Migration to Qum

Al-Mirza could not settle down in Jabliq, or in “Qal’ah Babu” in particular, the village that was plunged in darkness of ignorance (jahl), being unpleased to live there, due to the absence of knowledge-seekers, or anyone concerned with (Islamic) rulings (ahkam). So, he felt of distress, that led him to migrate this time to the holy town of Qum, where lies the shrine of the pure ‘Alawi “Fatimah” the daughter of al- ‘Imam Musa ibn Ja’far, the Seventh Imam of Ahl al-Bayt( A). He sought refuge at the sacred shrine, solemnly reiterating Allah’s verses:

“Lo! He who wardeth off (evil) and endureth (findeth favour); for lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the kindly.” (12:90)

“But lo! With hardship goeth ease. Lo! With hardship goeth ease.” (94:5- 6)

Then the doors of heaven began to open for him, and God has showered abundantly over him out of His plentiful sustenance, and at the same time people would recognize his worth, with his status being sublimated among them. His arrival coincided with the conflict going on between Muhammad Khan al-Qajar and Lutf ‘Ali Khan Zand, which ended with the defeat of the latter, followed by decline of the Zandi Dynasty forever.

This holy town witnessed shining of a new star in the world of Shi’i marji’iyyah (religious authority), and al­Mirza al-Qummi’s attaining worldwide fame. There at the great marji’ embarked on compilation, classification, teaching, issuing fatwas (verdicts) and preaching, beside undertaking the leadership of Muslim worshippers (imamah) at the town mosque.

During the visit of Fath ‘Ali Shah who has recently assumed the kingdom throne to Qum, he got acquainted with al-Qummi, appreciating his status and knowledge, with praying behind him. After performing the noon and afternoon prayers, the King8 advanced forward for presenting his affection and appreciation to al­ Mirza al-Qummi, making him then to ride his mount, while the King walked along with his procession till reaching his house.

This step taken by the Qajari King did impress the souls, having much influence over hearts, rendering al­ Mirza a worldwide fame.

Though Qum (the small town) was not so important at that time, but al-Qummi’s eminence prompted a large number of men of honour and knowledge, to make pilgrimage to it for acquiring from the ‘ilm of the grand marji’. Knowledge-seekers also rushed toward him like butterflies flying around the candles, longing for the abundance of knowledge whose fountains have gushed out at Qum.

Ever since, the town star glared at the sky of Islamic sciences, turning to be a centre of radiance that began to dazzle the eyes. Within a short time, Qum proved to be the metropolis of knowledge, whereas Isfahan, which used to hoist that banner, started to decline gradually. Then Qum became the Ka’bah for knowledge-seekers who used to visit it from all directions and quarters. So, al-Mirza al­Qummi can be considered the real founder of the Theological School (al-Hawzah al- ‘Ilmiyyah) at Qum, which kept, through his concerted and relentless efforts, on occupying the priority position till the contemporary time.

Turning Toward Iraq

Most of al-Mirza’s life was spent at the sacred town of Qum, during which he made several journeys and trips to different places. They included his travel to visit the sanctuaries at the land of Iraq, before his compiling the book Qawanin al- ‘usul, which he completed in 1205 (H), containing his own opinions and theories on ‘ilm al- ‘usul. He betook himself first to pay homage to the holy shrine of Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him).

The ‘ulama’ of Najaf availed themselves of that visit, offering him to hold a debate regarding his opinions, nominating for this task al-Sayyid Husayn al-Husayni al­ ‘Amili, who was the most eminent scholar in‘ilm al- ‘usul. The debate took a long time, and numerous suspicions regarding al-Mirza’s theory were introduced there, for which it was infeasible for him to give answers thereat, so he promised the questioners to give replies afterwards.

All those suspicions and questions were cited by al­ Mirza in his book Qawanin al- ‘usul, in his discussions about ijtihad and taqlid9 (imitation).

Pilgrimage to the Old House

It was one of his trips he made from Qum, betaking himself toward Makkah, with a keen desire for making pilgrimage to Allah’s sanctified House, after long waiting.

This, since he could not find opportune time before, due to his shouldering great responsibilities, like the leadership of al-Hawzah al- ‘Ilmiyyah and undertaking the administration of Muslims’ affairs. So, in the year 1212 (H), he betook himself toward the hearts fascinator: Allah's Sanctuary. After performing the hajj rituals, he made his way toward al-Madinah to visit the tomb of the holy Messenger and the graves of Ahl al-Bayt (A) at al Baqi’.

During his stay there, he met al-Sayyid Bahr al- ‘Ulum, with whom he held significant discussions. It is noteworthy to point out that al-Mirza al-Qummi, during his residence at Najaf, has granted one of its scholars - al­ Shaykh Asad Allah al-Tustari- a school -certificate (ijazah) in narration, with a signature dated “Monday 17th of Rajab, in 1212 (H)”.

His Trip to Kazzaz

His Trip to Kazzaz:10

He travelled to this region from Qum too, where he got married to the sister of al-Hajj al-Mulla Muhammad al­ Kazzazi; who joined afterwards the disciples of al-Mirza al-Qummi.

His Trips to Khunsar

Al-Mirza has made several visits to Khunsar, due to the fact reported by the author of Rawdat al-jannat, being that two Sayyids from Khunsar, who were al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi al-Khunsari and his nephew al-Sayyid ‘Ali al­ Khunsari, the grandsons of al-Sayyid Husayn al-Khunsari - the tutor of al-Mirza, as mentioned before have become among the disciples of al-Mirza. So, as a gratitude for his great tutor, he showered special care upon them, being too kind to them, preferring them over his own sons, loving them to the extent that he made several visits to Khunsar.

Notes

1. It is at the south-eastern part of the town of Foman.

2. It is a region at Loristan Province.

3. Some narration state that he was born in 1153 or 1150 H.

4. It is a town situated between Isfahan and Golbaygan and known with its moderate weather.

5. He passed away in 1191 (H), and regarded among the ‘ulama’ of the 12th Hijrah century, leaving numerous works.

6. It is reported that the late al-Mulla Muhammad Taqi al­ Majlisi has offered al-Mulla Salih al-Mazandarani to marry his daughter, due to the knowledge, piety and uprightness he enjoyed, despite the latter’s severe destitution.

7. Al-Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Behbahani, known with the title al- ‘Ustadh al-Wahid. He is one of the great Shi’ah fuqaha’ and Imamiyyah prides. He was born in 1118 (H) at Isfahan, and dead in 1205 (H), and his tomb lies now in one of the porticoes of al- ‘Imam al-Husayn’s (A) shrine.

8. This step taken by the king may be interpreted as an attempt to show toadyism toward people, who used to hold the ‘ulama’ in high status.

9. Some are of the opinion that it is al-Mirza who has introduced to the Najaf ‘ulama’ the notion of that debate.

10. It is a district related to Arak Province, famous with growing cereals, beet and grape.

Narrations from Imam al-Kadhim

1- ‘Ilal al-Shara-'e‘: ‘Ali Ibn Ja‘far narrates from his brother Musa- Ibn Ja‘far (a.s), “When the fifth from the sons of the seventh disappears, then by Allah, by Allah, watch your religiosity. Do not allow anyone to remove it from you. O’ my dear son, it is necessary for the Patron of this Enterprise to disappear until many who believe in this matter turn away from it. It will be a trial from Allah, by which He will try His creation. If your fathers and grandfathers knew a creed better than this, they would have followed it.” I said, “My master, who is the fifth from the sons of the seventh?” He said, “O’ my son, your intelligence is beneath understanding him and your dreams are narrower than to carry it. However, if you live, you will see him.”

2- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Muhammad Ibn Ziya-d al-Azdi says, I asked my master Musa- Ibn Ja‘far (a.s) about the holy Divine verse, And He has lavished His favors on you, explicit and hidden. He said, “The explicit favor is the manifest Imam and the hidden one is the hidden Imam.” I asked him, “Is there someone in the Imams who will disappear?” He said, “Yes. His person will disappear from the eyes of the people and his remembrance will not disappear from the hearts of the believers.

He is the Twelfth of us. Allah will facilitate every difficult task for him and will abase every hardship for him. He will reveal the treasures of the earth for him, proximate every far for him, destroy every tyrant through him, and kill the rebellious Satan on his hands. That is the son of the mistress of the bondmaids, whose birth will be hidden from the people, and mentioning him by his name will not be permissible for them until Allah manifests him and fills the earth through him with equity and justice, as it will be replete with injustice and oppression.” Al-Sadu-q (a.s) says, “I have not heard this narration from anyone except Ahmad Ibn Ziya-d on my return from Hajj. He was a trustworthy, religious, and knowledgeable man.

3- Ikma-l al-Di-n: al-‘Abba-s Ibn ‘A-mir says, I heard Abu al-Hasan Musa- (a.s) say, “People will say, the Patron of this Order has not been born yet.”

4- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Dawu-d Ibn Kathi-r says, I asked Abu al-Hasan Musa- (a.s) about the Patron of this Order. He said, “He is the castaway, the loner, away from his home, hidden from his family, the son of an un-avenged father.”

ما روي عن الكاظم صلوات اللـّه عليه في ذلك

1- علل الشرائع: أبي، عن سعد، عن الحسن بن عيسى بن محمد بن علي بن جعفر، عن جده محمد، عن علي بن جعفر، عن أخيه موسى بن جعفر (ع) قال: إذا فقد الخامس من ولد السابع فالله الله في أديانكم لا يزيلكم أحد عنها يا بني إنه لا بد لصاحب هذا الأمر من غيبة حتى يرجع عن هذا الأمر من كان يقول به، إنما هي محنة من الله(عزوجل) امتحن بها خلقه ولو علم آباؤكم وأجدادكم ديناً أصح من هذا لاتبعوه. فقلت: يا سيدي من الخامس من ولد السابع؟ قال: يا بني عقولكم تصغر عن هذا وأحلامكم تضيق عن حمله، ولكن إن تعيشوا فسوف تدركونه.

2- إكمال الدين: الهمداني، عن علي، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن زياد الازدي قال: سألت سيدي موسى بن جعفر (ع) عن قول الله(عزوجل) "وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً" فقال: النعمة الظاهرة الامام الظاهر والباطنة الامام الغائب. فقلت له: ويكون في الائمة من يغيب؟ قال: نعم، يغيب عن أبصار الناس شخصه ولا يغيب عن قلوب المؤمنين ذكره، وهو الثاني عشر منا يسهل الله له كل عسير ويذلل له كل صعب ويظهر له كنوز الارض ويقرب له كل بعيد ويبير به كل جبار عنيد، ويهلك على يده كل شيطان مريد ذاك ابن سيدة الاماء الذي يخفى على الناس ولادته ولا يحل لهم تسميته حتى يظهره (الله ) U فيملا به الارض قسطاً وعدلاً كما ملئت جوراً وظلماً.

3- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن سعد، عن الخشاب، عن العباس بن عامر قال: سمعت أبا الحسن موسى (ع) يقول صاحب هذا الامر يقول الناس لم يولد بعد.

4- إكمال الدين: الهمداني، عن علي بن إبراهيم، عن محمد بن خالد، عن علي بن حسان، عن داود بن كثير قال: سألت أبا الحسن موسى (ع) عن صاحب هذا الامر قال: هو الطريد الوحيد الغريب الغائب عن أهله الموتور بأبيه

5- Ikma-l al-Di-n: ‘Ali Ibn Ja‘far narrates from his brother Musa- Ibn Ja‘far, saying I asked him, “What is the interpretation of the word of Allah, the Exalted, Say, ‘Have you thought? If in the morning your water should have disappeared into the earth, then who would bring you running water?” He said, “When you lose your Imam and do not see him, what are you going to do?”

6- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Yunu-s Ibn ‘Abd al-Rahma-n says, I entered upon Musa- Ibn Ja‘far (a.s) and said to him, “O’ son of the Messenger of Allah, are you the Qa-'im bi al-Haqq (The Establisher of the Truth/the Riser/the One Standing with the Truth)?” He said, “I am the Qa-'im bi al-Haqq, however, the Qa-'im who will clean the earth from the enemies of Allah and will fill it with equity, as it will be full of injustice, is the fifth from my sons.

He will have an occultation the length of which will be much due to his fear for his life. Many nations will apostatize in that period and the rest will remain steadfast.” Then he said, “Bliss be for Shi-‘a, the adherers to our love during the occultation of our Qa-'im, who will remain steadfast on our adoration and detestation of our enemies. They are ours and we are theirs. They are pleased with us as Imams and we are pleased with them as Shi-‘a. Bliss be for them! They are, by Allah, with us in our rank on the Day of Judgment.”

5- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن سعد، عن ابن عيسى، عن البجلي، عن معاوية بن وهب وأبي قتادة علي بن محمد، عن علي بن جعفر، عن أخيه موسى بن جعفر (ع) قال: قلت له: ما تأويل قول الله(عزوجل) "قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَنْ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِمَاءٍ مَعِينٍ؟" فقال: إذا فقدتم إمامكم فلم تروه فماذا تصنعون.

6- إكمال الدين: الهمداني، عن علي، عن أبيه، عن صالح بن السندي، عن يونس ابن عبد الرحمان قال: دخلت على موسى بن جعفر (ع) فقلت له: يابن رسول الله أنت القائم بالحق؟ فقال: أنا القائم بالحق ولكن القائم الذي يطهر الارض من أعداء الله ويملأها عدلاً كما ملئت جوراً هو الخامس من ولدي، له غيبة يطول أمدها خوفا على نفسه يرتد فيها أقوام ويثبت فيها آخرون ثم قال (ع): طوبى لشيعتنا المتمسكين بحبنا في غيبة قائمنا الثابتين على موالاتنا والبراءة من أعدائنا اولئك منا ونحن منهم قد رضوا بنا أئمة ورضينا بهم شيعة وطوبى لهم، هم والله معنا في درجتنا يوم القيامة

Narrations from imam al-Redha

1- ‘Ilal al-Shara-'e‘ and ‘Uyu-n Akhba-r al-Redha-: Al-Hasan Ibn Fadhdha-l narrates from his father, who narrates from al-Redha- (a.s), “As if I see the Shi-‘a when they lose the third form my sons, they will be searching for the green pasture, but will not be finding it.” I said to him, “Why so, O’ son of the Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Because their Imam will disappear from them.” I said, “Why?” He said, “So there will not be any pledge of allegiance for anyone over his shoulders when rises with the sword.”

2- ‘Uyu-n Akhba-r al-Redha-: Ibn Mahbu-b narrates from Abu al-Hasan al-Redha- (a.s) saying, The Imam said to me, “Definitely, there will occur the dumb, catastrophic mischief, in which every secret and close relation will be dropped. That will happen when the Shi-‘a will miss the third from my sons. The dwellers of the heavens and the earth, and every worthy and merited man, and every contrite and sorrowful person will cry for him.” Then he said, “My father and mother be the ransom of the namesake of my grandfather and my look-alike and the look-alike of Musa- the son of ‘Imra-n (a.s). He is appareled in the garments of light, shining with rays of illumination of sanctity. How abundant worthy men of faith and how abundant sorrowful men of belief will be perplexed and grievous at the loss of that crystal spring. As if I see them when in their utmost despair, they are being called by call that is heard from faraway as it is heard from the near, a call that is a blessing for the faithful and a curse for the unbelievers.”

3- Ikma-l-Din: Similar narration.

4- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Di‘bil Ibn ‘Ali al-Khuza-‘i- says, I recited my long poem to my master ‘Ali Ibn Musa- al-Redha-, the beginning of which is,

Schools of verses empty of recitations

And the House of Revelation horrendously empty

When I reached to my verse,

The rise of an Imam who will definitely rise

And stand by the name of Allah and His blessings

He will make distinction between all rights and wrongs

And will proffer requital for charities and malevolence

ما جاء عن الرضا (ع) في ذلك

1- علل الشرائع وعيون أخبار الرضا: الطالقاني، عن ابن عقدة، عن علي بن الحسن بن فضال، عن أبيه، عن الرضا (ع) أنه قال: كأني بالشيعة عند فقدهم الثالث من ولدي يطلبون المرعى فلا يجدونه قلت له: ولم ذلك يا ابن رسول الله؟ قال: لان إمامهم يغيب عنهم فقلت: ولم؟ قال لئلا يكون في عنقه لاحد بيعة إذا قام بالسيف.

2- عيون أخبار الرضا: أبي، عن الحميري، عن أحمد بن هلال، عن ابن محبوب، عن أبي الحسن الرضا (ع) قال: قال لي: لابد من فتنة صماء صيلم يسقط فيها كل بطانة ووليجة وذلك عند فقدان الشيعة الثالث من ولدي يبكي عليه أهل السماء وأهل الارض وكل حرى وحران وكل حزين لهفان ثم قال: بأبي وامي سمي جدي وشبيهي وشبيه موسى بن عمران (ع) عليه جيوب النور تتوقد بشعاع ضياء القدس كم من حرى مؤمنة وكم من مؤمن متأسف حيران حزين عند فقدان الماء المعين كأني بهم آيس ما كانوا، نودوا نداء يسمع من بعد كما يسمع من قرب يكون رحمة على المؤمنين وعذابا على الكافرين.

3- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن سعد، عن جعفر الفزاري، عن علي بن الحسن بن فضال عن الريان بن الصلت، عن الرضا (ع) مثله وفيه: تتوقد من شعاع ضياء القدس يحزن لموته أهل الارض والسماء كم من حرى.

4- إكمال الدين وعيون أخبار الرضا: الهمداني، عن علي، عن أبيه، عن الهروي، قال سمعت دعبل بن علي الخزاعي يقول أنشدت مولاي علي بن موسى الرضا (ع) قصيدتي التي أولها: ومنـزل وحي مقفر العرصات مدارس آيات خلت من تلاوة فلما انتهيت إلى قولي: يقوم على اسم الله والبركات خروج إمام لا محالة خارج ويجزي على النعماء والنقمات يميـز فينا كل حق وباطل

Imam al-Redha- (a.s) cried very profusely and then raised his head and said to me, “O’ Khiza-‘i, the Blessed Spirit has spoken on your tongues in these two verses. Do you know who this Imam is and when he will rise?” I said, “No, my master, except I have heard that an Imam of yours will rise and clean the earth from mischief and will fill the earth with equity as it will be full of oppression.” He said, “O’ Di‘bil, the Imam after me is my son Muhammad; after Muhammad his son ‘Ali; after ‘Ali his son Hasan; and after Hasan his son, al-Hujja al-Qa-'im, the Awaited during his occultation, and the one obeyed in his time of appearance.

Even if not more than one day should remain from the world, Allah will prolong that day so much that he will rise and fill the world with equity just as it will be full of injustice. As for when it will happen, that is to describe its time, and my father has narrated to me through his forefathers through Prince of the Believers (a.s) that the Apostle (a.s) was asked, ‘O’ Messenger of Allah, when is the Qa-'im from your progeny going to rise?’ He said, ‘His example is like the example of the Hour: None but He shall manifest it at its time. It will be momentous in the heavens and the earth. It will not come on you but asudden.’”

5- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Ayyu-b Ibn Nu-h says, I said to al-Redha- (a.s), “We hope that you will be the Patron of this Affair and that may Allah, the Exalted, confer this to you without the sword. You have been pledged allegiance to and coins have been minted on your name.” He said, “There is no one of us that letters come and go to him, is asked questions, pointed with fingers, and religious dues taken to, but he will be assassinated or he will die on his bed, until Allah, the Exalted, sends for this Order a man whose birth and place of growth will be hidden and he will not be hidden in his lineage.”

6- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Ahmad Ibn Zakariyya- says, Al-Redha- (a.s) asked me, “Where is your house in Baghdad?” I said, “At al-Karkh.” He said, “That is the safest of places. There has to happen the deaf catastrophic mischief in which every secret and close relation will be dropped. That will happen after the Shi-‘a will miss the third from my sons.”

7- Al-Ghaiba of al-Ne‘ma-ni: Muhammad Ibn Abi Ya‘qu-b al-Balkhi says, I heard Abu al-Hasan al-Redha- (a.s) say, “They will be tested through something that is severer and greater. They will be tested with a fetus in the abdomen of his mother and the suckling baby, until it is said that he has disappeared and that he is dead.

They will say, ‘There is no Imam.’ However, even the Messenger of Allah (a.s) disappeared, and many others and many others disappeared. And here I am, awaiting a death in the bed.”

8- Al-Ghaiba of al-Ne‘ma-ni: Ayyu-b Ibn Nu-h narrates from Abu al-Hasan al-Redha- (a.s) that he said, “When your standard is raised from your behind, then expect the salvation from the beneath of your steps.”

بكى الرضا (ع) بكاء شديداً ثم رفع رأسه إلي فقال لي: يا خزاعي نطق روح القدس على لسانك بهذين البيتين فهل تدري من هذا الامام؟ ومتى يقوم؟ فقلت: لا يا مولاي إلا أني سمعت بخروج إمام منكم يطهر الارض من الفساد ويملأها عدلاً كما ملئت جوراً. فقال: يا دعبل، الامام بعدي محمد ابني وبعد محمد ابنه علي وبعد علي ابنه الحسن وبعد الحسن ابنه الحجة القائم المنتظر في غيبته المطاع في ظهوره لو لم يبق من الدنيا إلا يوم واحد لطول الله ذلك اليوم حتى يخرج فيملأها عدلا كما ملئت جورا وأما متى؟ فاخبار عن الوقت ولقد حدثني أبي، عن أبيه عن آبائه، عن علي (ع) أن النبي (ص) قيل له: يارسول الله متى يخرج القائم من ذريتك؟ فقال: مثله مثل الساعة لا يجلبها لوقتها إلا هو ثقلت في السموات والارض لا يأتيكم إلا بغتة.

5- إكمال الدين: ابن الوليد: عن الصفار، عن ابن يزيد، عن أيوب بن نوح قال: قلت للرضا (ع): إنا لنرجو أن تكون صاحب هذا الامر وأن يسديه الله(عزوجل) إليك من غير سيف فقد بويع لك وضربت الدراهم باسمك فقال: ما منا أحد اختلفت إليه الكتب وسئل عن المسائل وأشارت إليه الاصابع وحملت إليه الاموال إلا اغتيل أو مات على فراشه حتى يبعث الله(عزوجل) لهذا الامر رجلا خفي المولد والمنشأ غير خفي في نسبه.

6- إكمال الدين: العطار، عن أبيه، عن الاشعري، عن خمحمد بن حمدان، عن خاله أحمد بن زكريا قال: قال لي الرضا (ع) أين منـزلك ببغداد؟ قلت: الكرخ قال: أما إنه أسلم موضع ولابد من فتنة صماء صيلم يسقط فيها كل وليجة وبطانة وذلك بعد فقدان الشيعة الثالث من ولدي.

7- الغيبة للنعمانى: محمد بن همام، عن عبد الله بن جعفر، عن اليقطيني، عن محمد بن أبي يعقوب البلخي قال: سمعت أبا الحسن الرضا (ع) يقول: إنه سيبتلون بما هو أشد وأكبر يبتلون بالجنين في بطن امه والرضيع حتى يقال غاب ومات ويقولون لا إمام وقد غاب رسول الله(ص) وغاب وغاب وها أنا ذا أموت حتف أنفي.

8- الغيبة للنعمانى: الكليني، عن علي بن محمد، عن بعض رجاله، عن أيوب بن نوح عن أبي الحسن الرضا (ع) أنه قال: إذا رفع علمكم من بين أظهركم فتوقعوا الفرج من تحت أقدامكم

Narrations from Imam al-Jawad

1- Ikma-l al-Di-n: ‘Abd al-‘Adhi-m al-Hasani says, I entered upon my master Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali (a.s) intending to ask him about the Qa-'im whether he is the Mahdi or someone else. However, he initiated the topic before I brought it up, saying, “O’ Abu al-Qa-sim, the Qa-'im from us and he is the Mahdi. It is obligatory to wait for him in his occultation and to obey him in his appearance. He is the third from my sons. By the One Who sent Muhammad with Prophethood and distinguished us through Imamate, even if it does not remain from the world but a single day, Allah will prolong that day until he rises. He will fill the earth with equity and justice, as it will be replete with injustice and oppression. Allah, the Exalted, will rectify his order in one night, as He rectified the order of His Converser Moses (a.s) who went to fetch some fire for his family and returned a prophet, an apostle.” Then he said, “The best action of our Shi-‘a is to wait for the salvation.”

2- Al-Ghaiba of al-Ne‘ma-ni: ‘Ali al-Qaisi says, I said to Abu Ja‘far Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali al-Redha- (a.s), “Who is the heir after you?” He said, “My son ‘Ali, my son ‘Ali.” Then he lowered his head down briefly in contemplation and then raised it and said, “There will be a considerable perplexity.” I said, “When it happens, to whom we should turn to?” He remained silent. Then he said, “No where,” and repeated it three times. I asked again. He said, “To the cities.” I asked, “Which city?” He said, “This city of ours; and is there a Medina other than this?”

3- Al-Ghaiba of al-Ne‘ma-ni: ‘Abd al-‘Adhi-m says that he heard Abu Ja‘far Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali al-Redha- (a.s) say, “When my son ‘Ali dies, the light after him will come into view and then disappear. Woe is for the doubter and bliss is for the believer, who will run with his religion for refuge. Then after that there will be events in which forelocks would go grey and times will be very severe.”

4- Kifa-ya al-Athar: ‘Abd al-‘Adhi-m al-Hasani says, I said to Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Musa-, “I hope that you would be the Qa-'im from the Household of Muhammad, who will fill the earth with equity and justice as it will be replete with injustice and oppression.” He said, “O’ Abu al-Qa-sim, there is no one of us but he is a Qa-'im with the order of Allah and guide to the religion of Allah.

ما روي في ذلك عن الجواد صلوات اللـّه عليه

1- إكمال الدين: الدقاق، عن محمد بن هارون الرؤياني، عن عبد العظيم الحسني قال: دخلت على سيدي محمد بن علي(ع) وأنا اريد أن أسأله عن القائم أهو المهدي أو غيره؟ فابتدأني فقال: يا أبا القاسم إن القائم منا هو المهدي الذي يجب أن ينتظر في غيبته ويطاع في ظهوره وهو الثالث من ولدي والذي بعث محمدا بالنبوة وخصنا بالامامة إنه لو لم يبق من الدنيا إلا يوم واحد لطول الله ذلك اليوم حتى يخرج فيملأ الأرض قسطاً وعدلاً كما ملئت جوراً وظلماً وإن الله تبارك وتعالى يصلح أمره في ليلة أصلح أمر كليمه موسى (ع) ليقتبس لاهله نارا فرجع وهو رسول نبي ثم قال (ع): أفضل أعمال شيعتنا انتظار الفرج.

2- الغيبة للنعمانى: محمد بن همام، عن أحمد بن مابنداد، عن أحمد بن هلال، عن امية بن علي القيسي قال: قلت لابي جعفر محمد بن علي الرضا (ع): من الخلف بعدك؟ قال: ابني علي ابني علي ثم أطرق مليا ثم رفع رأسه ثم قال: إنها ستكون حيرة قلت: فإذا كان ذلك فإلى من؟ فسكت ثم قال: لا أين حتى قالها ثلاثا فأعدت فقال إلى المدينة فقلت: أي المدن فقال: مدينتنا هذه وهل مدينة غيرها.

3- الغيبة للنعمانى: محمد بن همام. عن أبي عبد الله محمد بن هشام، عن أبي سعد سهل بن زياد عن عبد العظيم بن عبد الله، عن أبي جعفر محمد بن علي الرضا (ع) أنه سمعه يقول: إذا مات ابني علي بدا سراج بعده ثم خفي فويل للمرتاب وطوبى للعرب الفار بدينه ثم يكون بعد ذلك أحداث تشيب فيها النواصي ويسير الصم الصلاب.

4- كفاية الأثر: أبو عبد الله الخزاعي، عن الاسدي، عن سهل، عن عبد العظيم الحسني قال: قلت لمحمد بن علي بن موسى: إني لارجو أن تكون القائم من أهل بيت محمد الذي يملأ الأرض قسطاً وعدلاً كما ملئت جوراً وظلماً فقال: يا أبا القاسم مامنا إلا قائم بأمر الله وهاد إلى دين الله

However, I am not the Qa-'im through whom Allah will cleanse the earth from men of infidelity and rejection, and will fill it with equity and justice. He is the one whose birth will be hidden from the people and whose person will disappear from them and it will be unlawful to mention him by his name. He is the namesake of the Messenger of Allah and will bear his patronym. He is the one for whom the earth will roll and every difficult task will be facilitated for him. His companions, equal to the three hundred and thirteen fighters of Badr, will gather around him from the distant locations of the earth.

To this the word of Allah refers, Wherever you be, Allah will bring all of you; verily Allah is all powerful over all things. When this number of people of the earth will unite for him, his command will appear. When the covenant, which is ten thousand people, fulfills for him, he will rise with the permission of Allah. He will continue to kill the enemies of Allah until Allah, the High, will be happy from him.” I asked, “My master, how would he know Allah is pleased with him?” He said, “Allah will cast compassion in his heart.”

5- Kifa-ya al-Athar: Al-Saqar Ibn Abi Dalaf says, I heard Abu Ja‘far Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali al-Redha- (a.s) say, “The Imam after me is my son ‘Ali. His command is my command, his word my word, obedience to him is obedience to me. The Imam after him is his son Hasan. His command is his father’s command, his word is his father’s word, and obedience to him is obedience to his father.” Then he became silent. I said, “O’ son of the Messenger of Allah, who is the Imam after Hasan?” He cried very profusely and then said, “After Hasan is his son al-Qa-'im bi al-Haqq, the Awaited.” I said to him, “O’ son of the Messenger of Allah, why is he called al-Qa-'im?” He said, “Because he will rise after the death of his remembrance and apostasy of the majority of the believers in his Imamate.

“I said, “Why is he called the Awaited?” He said, “He will have an occultation the days of which will be many and the duration of which will be long. The sincere will wait his uprise and the doubters will reject him and rejecters will mock at him. A person who will assign a time will lie, a person who will hurry will perish, and the one who will submit will be saved.”

6- Kifa-ya al-Athar: ‘Ali al-Qaisi says, I said to Abu Ja‘far II (a.s), “Who is the heir after you?” He said, “My son ‘Ali.” Then he said, “Behold, there will be a perplexity.” I said, “To where shall we turn then?” He remained quiet and then said, “To Medina.” I asked, “Which Medina?” He said, “This Medina of ours, and is there a Medina other than this?”

7- Ahmad Ibn Hila-l says, Muhammad Ibn Isma-‘il Ibn Bazi-‘ narrated to me that Umayya Ibn ‘Ali came and asked Abu Ja‘far II the same question, to which he gave the same answer.

8- Through the same chain of narration on the authority of Abu al-Haitham al-Tami-mi: Said Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s), “When three names, Muhammad, ‘Ali and Hasan, come consecutively, their fourth one will be their Qa-'im.”

ولست القائم الذي يطهر الله به الارض من أهل الكفر والجحود ويملأها عدلا وقسطا هو الذي يخفى على الناس ولادته، ويغيب عنهم شخصه ويحرم عليهم تسميته، وهو سمي رسول الله وكنيه وهو الذي يطوى له الارض ويذل له كل صعب يجتمع إليه من أصحابه عدد أهل بدر ثلاثمائة وثلاثة عشر رجلا من أقاصي الارض وذلك قول الله(عزوجل): "أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمْ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ." فإذا اجتمعت له هذه العدة من أهل الارض أظهر أمره فإذا أكمل له العقد وهو عشرة آلاف رجل خرج باذن الله فلا يزال يقتل أعداء الله حتى يرضى الله تبارك وتعالى قال عبد العظيم: قلت له: يا سيدي وكيف يعلم أن الله قد رضي؟ قال يلقى في قلبه الرحمة.

5- كفاية الأثر: محمد بن علي، عن ابن عبدوس، عن ابن قتيبة، عن حمدان بن سليمان، عن الصقر بن أبي دلف قال: سمعت أبا جعفر محمد بن علي الرضا (ع) يقول: الامام بعدي ابني علي أمره أمري وقوله قولي وطاعته طاعتي والامام بعده ابنه الحسن أمره أمر أبيه وقوله قول أبيه وطاعته طاعة أبيه ثم سكت فقلت له: يابن رسول الله فمن الامام بعد الحسن؟ فبكى (ع) بكاء شديدا ثم قال: إن من بعد الحسن ابنه القائم بالحق المنتظر فقلت له: يابن رسول الله ولم سمي القائم قال: لانه يقوم بعد موت ذكره وارتداد أكثر القائلين بإمامته فقلت له: ولم سمي المنتظر قال: إن له غيبة يكثر أيامها ويطول أمدها فينتظر خروجه المخلصون وينكره المرتابون ويستهزئ به الجاحدون ويكذب فيها الوقاتون ويهلك فيها المستعجلون وينجو فيها المسلمون.

6- كفاية الأثر: علي بن محمد بن السندي، عن محمد بن الحسن، عن الحميري عن أحمد بن هلال، عن امية بن علي القيسي قال: قلت لابي جعفر الثاني (ع): من الخلف من بعدك قال: ابني علي ثم قال أما إنها ستكون حيرة، قال: قلت: إلى أين؟ فسكت ثم قال إلى المدينة قال: قلت: وإلى أي مدينة قال: مدينتنا هذه وهل مدينة غيرها.

7- قال أحمد بن هلال: فأخبرني محمد بن إسماعيل بن بزيع أنه حضر امية ابن علي وهو يسأل أبا جعفر الثاني عن ذلك فأجابه بمثل ذلك الجواب.

8- وبهذا الاسناد عن امية بن علي القيسي، عن أبي الهيثم التميمي قال: قال أبو عبد الله (ع): إذا توالت ثلاثة أسماء كان رابعهم قائمهم محمد وعلي والحسن

Narrations from Imam al-Hadi and Imam al-‘Askari

1- ‘Uyu-n Akhba-r al-Redha-: Abu Ha-shim al-Ja‘fari says, I heard Abu al-Hasan of the ‘Askar (a.s) say, “The heir after me is my son Hasan. How would you be like to the heir after the heir?” “Why, may I be your ransom?” I asked. He said, “Because you will not see his person and it will not be permissible for you to mention him by his name.” I asked him, “So how are we going to mention him?” He said, “Say, al-Hujja from the House of Muhammad.”

2- Kifa-ya al-Athar: ‘Ali Ibn Mahziya-r says, I wrote to Abu al-Hasan (a.s) asking him about the relief. He wrote, “When your Patron will disappear from the abode of the oppressors, expect the relief.”

3- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Isha-q Ibn Ayyu-b says, I heard Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad (a.s) say, “The Patron of this Order is the one about whom people will say he is not born yet.”

4- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Muhammad Ibn Fa-ris says, I and Ayyu-b Ibn Nu-h were on the way to Mecca. We disembarked at the valley of Zaba-la and sat down talking. We ended up discussing our current situation and the lack of access to the Imam. Ayyu-b Ibn Nu-h said, “I wrote this year, mentioning some of these things. He wrote back to me, ‘When your standard is raised from your backs, expect the relief from the beneath of your feet.’”

5- Ikma-l al-Di-n: ‘Ali Ibn ‘Abd al-Ghaffa-r says, When Abu Ja‘far II (a.s) passed away, the Shi-‘a wrote to Abu al-Hasan (a.s) asking him about the position of Imamate. He wrote to them, “The position is mine so long as I am alive. When the measures of Allah, the High, catch me, my heir will come to you. And how would you be like to the heir after the heir?”

6- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Musa- Ibn Ja‘far al-Baghda-di says, I heard Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (a.s) say, “As if I see you, you have disputed after me with regard to my heir. Behold, someone who professes faith in the Imams after the Prophet of Allah yet denies my son, is like someone who professes faith in all prophets and apostles of Allah and then rejects the Prophethood of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (a.s); and the denier of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) is like the one who rejects all of the prophets.

نص العسكريَّين صلوات اللـّه عليهما على القائم (ع)

1- عيون أخبار الرضا وإكمال الدين: أبي وابن الوليد، عن سعد، عن محمد بن أحمد العلوي، عن أبي هاشم الجعفري قال: سمعت أبا الحسن صاحب العسكر (ع) يقول: الخلف من بعدي ابني الحسن فكيف لكم بالخلف من بعد الخلف؟ فقلت: ولم جعلني الله فداك؟ فقال: لانكم لاترون شخصه ولا يحل لكم ذكره باسمه، قلت: فكيف نذكره؟ قال: قولوا الحجة من آل محمد(ص).

2- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن الحميري، عن محمد بن عمر (ان) الكاتب، عن علي بن محمد الصيمري، عن علي بن مهزيار قال: كتبت إلى أبي الحسن (ع) أسأله (عن) الفرج فكتب: إذا غاب صاحبكم عن دار الظالمين، فتوقعوا الفرج.

3- إكمال الدين: أبي وابن الوليد معا، عن سعد، عن الخشاب، عن إسحاق بن أيوب قال: سمعت أبا الحسن علي بن محمد(ع) يقول: صاحب هذا الامر من يقول الناس: لم يولد بعد. وحدثنا بهذا الحديث محمد بن إبراهيم، عن إسحاق بن أيوب

4- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن سعد، عن محمد بن عبيد الله بن أبي غانم، عن إبراهيم بن محمد ابن فارس قال: كنت أنا وأيوب بن نوح في طريق مكة فنـزلنا على وادي زبالة فجلسنا نتحدث فجرى ذكر ما نحن فيه وبعد الامر علينا فقال أيوب بن نوح: كتبت في هذه السنة أذكر شيئا من هذا فكتب (إلي): إذا رفع علمكم من بين أظهركم فتوقعوا الفرج من تحت أقدامكم.

5- إكمال الدين: الهمداني، عن علي، عن أبيه، عن علي بن صدقة، عن علي بن عبد الغفار قال: لما مات أبو جعفر الثاني (ع) كتبت الشيعة إلى أبي الحسن (ع) يسألونه عن الامر فكتب (ع) إليهم: الامر لي مادمت حيا فإذا نزلت بي مقادير الله تبارك وتعالى أتاكم الخلف مني وأنى لكم بالخلف من بعد الخلف.

6- إكمال الدين: العطار، عن سعد، عن موسى بن جعفر البغدادي قال: سمعت أبا محمد الحسن بن علي(ع) يقول: كأني بكم وقد اختلفتم بعدي في الخلف مني أما إن المقر بالائمة بعد رسول الله المنكر لولدي كمن أقر بجميع أنبياء الله ورسله ثم أنكر نبوة محمد رسول الله(ص) والمنكر لرسول الله(ص) كمن أنكر جميع الانبياء

Because obedience to our last one is obedience to our first one and rejecter of our last one is the rejecter of our first one. Behold, my son will have an occultation in which people will doubt except the ones whom Allah saves.”

7- Ikma-l al-Di-n: ‘Ali Ibn Hima-m says, I heard Muhammad Ibn ‘Othma-n al-‘Amri, (a.s) say, I heard my father say, Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (a.s) was asked, while I was with him, about the tradition narrated from his forefathers, peace be unto them, that the earth does not remain without the Hujja of Allah over His creation until the Day of Judgment and that if anyone who dies without the cognition of the Imam of his Age, he dies a pagan death. He said, “This is true as the daylight is true.

“It was said, “O’ son of the Messenger of Allah, who is the Hujja and the Imam after you?” He said, “My sonM. U. H. A. M. M. A. D. And he is the Imam and the Hujja after me. Whoever dies not knowing him, will die a pagan death. Behold, he will have an occultation during which the ignorant individuals will be perplexed and the invalidators will perish and the time-assigners will lie. Then he will rise. As if I am gazing at the white standards waving over his head in the Najaf of Kufa.”

8- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Musa- Ibn Ja‘far al-Baghda-di says, A letter came from Abu Muhammad (a.s) which stated, “They presumed that they want to murder me in order to cut off my progeny. Allah belied their word, and all praise is due to Allah.’”

9- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Ahmad Ibn Isha-q says, I heard Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali al-‘Askari (a.s) say, “All praise is due to Allah, the One Who did not take me from the world until He showed me the heir after me, the one who our of all people looks most similar to the Messenger of Allah (a.s) in his physique and in his character. May Allah, the High, protect him in his occultation and then manifest him, so he may fill the earth with equity and justice as it will be full of injustice and oppression.”

10- Al-Ghaiba of Sheikh Tusi: Bana-n Ibn Hamdawayh says, The passing away of Abu Ja‘far (a.s) was mentioned before Abu al-Hasan al-‘Askari (a.s). He said, “That is so long as I am alive and remaining. However, how would it be like when they miss the one after me?”

11- Al-Ghaiba of Sheikh Tusi: Abu Ha-shim al-Ja‘fari says, I said to Abu Ja‘far (a.s), “Your majesty prohibits me from asking you, would that you give me permission to inquire from you?” He said, “Ask.” I said, “O’ my master, do you have a son?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “If something happens, then where should I inquire about him?” He said, “In Medina.”

12- Al-Ghaiba of Sheikh Tusi: A congregation of scholars narrates on the authority of Ahmad Ibn Isha-q that he asked Abu Muhammad (a.s) about the Patron of this Order, in reply to which the Imam made a gesture with his hand, meaning he is alive and his neck has hardened.

لأن طاعة آخرنا كطاعة أولنا والمنكر لآخرنا كالمنكر لاولنا أما إن لولدي غيبة يرتاب فيها الناس إلا من عصمه الله(عز و جل).

7- إكمال الدين: الطالقاني، عن أبي علي بن همام قال: سمعت محمد بن عثمان العمري قدس الله روحه يقول: سمعت أبي يقول: سئل أبو محمد الحسن بن علي (ع) وأنا عنده عن الخبر الذي روي عن آبائه (ع) أن الارض لا تخلو من حجة الله على خلقه إلى يوم القيامة وأن من مات ولم يعرف إمام زمانه مات ميتة جاهلية (فقال (ع): إن هذا حق كما أن النهار حق. فقيل له: يابن رسول الله فمن الحجة والامام بعدك؟ فقال: ابني محمد وهو الامام والحجة بعدي، من مات ولم يعرفه مات ميتة جاهلية) أما إن له غيبة يحار فيها الجاهلون، ويهلك فيها المبطلون، ويكذب فيها الوقاتون ثم يخرج فكأني أنظر إلى الاعلام البيض تخقق فوق رأسه بنجف الكوفة.

8- إكمال الدين: علي بن عبد الله الوراق، عن سعد، عن موسى بن جعفر البغدادي قال: خرج من أبي محمد (ع) توقيع: زعموا أنهم يريدون قتلي ليقطعوا نسلي وقد كذب الله قولهم والحمد لله.

9- إكمال الدين: المظفر العلوي، عن ابن العياشي، عن أبيه، عن أحمد بن علي بن كلثوم، عن علي بن أحمد الرازي، عن أحمد بن إسحاق قال: سمعت أبا محمد الحسن ابن علي العسكري (ع) يقول: الحمد لله الذي لم يخرجني من الدنيا حتى أراني الخلف من بعدي أشبه الناس برسول الله(ص) خلقا وخلقا يحفظه الله تبارك وتعالى في غيبته ثم يظهره فيملأ الأرض عدلاً وقسطا كما ملئت جوراً وظلماً.

10- الغيبة للشيخ الطوسي: سعد بن عبد الله، عن الحسن بن علي الزيتوني، عن الزهري الكوفي، عن بنان بن حمدويه قال: ذكر عند أبي الحسن العسكري (ع) مضي أبي جعفر (ع) فقال: ذاك إلي مادمت حيا باقيا ولكن كيف بهم إذا فقدوا من بعدي.

11- الغيبة للشيخ الطوسي: أبو هاشم الجعفري قال: قلت لابي محمد (ع): جلالتك تمنعني عن مسألتك فتأذن لي في أن أسألك؟ قال: سل، قلت: يا سيدي هل لك ولد؟ قال: نعم، قلت: فان حدث حدث فأين أسأل عنه فقال: بالمدينة.

12- الغيبة للشيخ الطوسي: جماعة، عن أبي المفضل الشيباني، عن أبي نعيم نصر بن عصام بن المغيرة الفهري المعروف بقرقارة، عن أبي سعيد المراغي، عن أحمد بن إسحاق أنه سأل أبا محمد (ع)، عن صاحب هذا الامر فأشار بيده أي إنه حي غليظ الرقبة

13- Kifa-ya al-Athar: Abu al-Mufadhdhal al-Shayba-ni narrates from ‘Alla-n al-Ra-zi, saying, One of our scholars narrated to me that when the concubine of Abu Muhammad was pregnant, he said to her, “You will give birth to a boy. His name isM. U. H. A. M. M. A. D. and he is the Qa-'im after me.”

14- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Al-‘Atta-r narrates through the chain of narration on the authority of Abu Ha-tam, who says, I heard Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (a.s) say, “In the year two hundred and sixty my Shi-‘a will go asunder.” In that year Abu Muhammad (a.s) passed away and his Shi-‘a and supporters went different ways. Some of them followed Ja‘far; some of them went astray and were seized by doubts; some of them remained on their perplexity; and some of them remained steadfast on their religion through the help of God, the Exalted.

15- Al-Khara-’ij wa al-Jara-’ih: ‘Ali Ibn Ibra-him narrates from his father, from ‘Isa- Ibn Sabi-h: Al-Hasan al-‘Askari (a.s) entered upon me in the prison. I knew him. He said to me, “You are sixty five years and one month and two days old.” There was a book of supplication with me, which had my birth date. I looked and it was as he had said. He asked, “Do you have a son?” I said, “No.” He said, “O’ Allah, give him a son so he may be his forearm. Good a forearm is a son!” Then he said,

A person with an arm avenges his oppression

Desolate is the one who does not have an arm.

I asked, “Do you have a son?” He said, “By Allah, soon I will have a son who will fill the earth with equity. But now, no.” Then he versified,

Perchance, you will see me one day

As I will be with my many sons around me,

Because before Tami-m sired a nation

He lived a long while amidst the people as he was one man

13- كفاية الأثر: أبو المفضل الشيباني، عن الكليني، عن علان الرازي قال: أخبرني بعض أصحابنا أنه لما حملت جارية أبي محمد (ع) قال: ستحملين ذكرا واسمه م ح م د وهو القائم من بعدي.

14- إكمال الدين: العطار، عن أبيه، عن جعفر الفزاري، عن محمد بن أحمد المدائني، عن أبي حاتم قال: سمعت أبا محمد الحسن بن علي (ع) يقول: في سنة مأتين وستين تفرق شيعتي ففيها قبض أبو محمد (ع) وتفرقت شيعته وأنصاره فمنهم من انتمى إلى جعفر ومنم من تاه وشك ومنهم من وقف على تحيره ومنهم من ثبت على دينه بتوفيق الله(عز و جل).

15- يج: علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن عيسى بن صبيح قال: دخل الحسن العسكري (ع) علينا الحبس وكنت به عارفاً فقال لي: لك خمس وستون سنة وشهر ويومان وكان معي كتاب دعاء عليه تاريخ مولدي وإني نظرت فيه فكان كما قال وقال: هل رزقت ولداً؟ فقلت: لا فقال: اللهم ارزقه ولداً يكون له عضداً فنعم العضد الولد ثم تمثل (ع): إن الذليل الذي ليست له عضد من كان ذا عضد يدرك ضلامته قلت: ألك ولد؟ قال: أي والله سيكون لي ولد يملأ الأرض قسطاً فأما الآن فلا. ثم تمثل: بني حوالي الاسود اللوابـــد لعلك يوماً إن تراني كأنما أقام زمانا (وهو) في الناس واحد فان تميماً قبل أن يلد الحصا

Narrations from Imam al-Kadhim

1- ‘Ilal al-Shara-'e‘: ‘Ali Ibn Ja‘far narrates from his brother Musa- Ibn Ja‘far (a.s), “When the fifth from the sons of the seventh disappears, then by Allah, by Allah, watch your religiosity. Do not allow anyone to remove it from you. O’ my dear son, it is necessary for the Patron of this Enterprise to disappear until many who believe in this matter turn away from it. It will be a trial from Allah, by which He will try His creation. If your fathers and grandfathers knew a creed better than this, they would have followed it.” I said, “My master, who is the fifth from the sons of the seventh?” He said, “O’ my son, your intelligence is beneath understanding him and your dreams are narrower than to carry it. However, if you live, you will see him.”

2- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Muhammad Ibn Ziya-d al-Azdi says, I asked my master Musa- Ibn Ja‘far (a.s) about the holy Divine verse, And He has lavished His favors on you, explicit and hidden. He said, “The explicit favor is the manifest Imam and the hidden one is the hidden Imam.” I asked him, “Is there someone in the Imams who will disappear?” He said, “Yes. His person will disappear from the eyes of the people and his remembrance will not disappear from the hearts of the believers.

He is the Twelfth of us. Allah will facilitate every difficult task for him and will abase every hardship for him. He will reveal the treasures of the earth for him, proximate every far for him, destroy every tyrant through him, and kill the rebellious Satan on his hands. That is the son of the mistress of the bondmaids, whose birth will be hidden from the people, and mentioning him by his name will not be permissible for them until Allah manifests him and fills the earth through him with equity and justice, as it will be replete with injustice and oppression.” Al-Sadu-q (a.s) says, “I have not heard this narration from anyone except Ahmad Ibn Ziya-d on my return from Hajj. He was a trustworthy, religious, and knowledgeable man.

3- Ikma-l al-Di-n: al-‘Abba-s Ibn ‘A-mir says, I heard Abu al-Hasan Musa- (a.s) say, “People will say, the Patron of this Order has not been born yet.”

4- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Dawu-d Ibn Kathi-r says, I asked Abu al-Hasan Musa- (a.s) about the Patron of this Order. He said, “He is the castaway, the loner, away from his home, hidden from his family, the son of an un-avenged father.”

ما روي عن الكاظم صلوات اللـّه عليه في ذلك

1- علل الشرائع: أبي، عن سعد، عن الحسن بن عيسى بن محمد بن علي بن جعفر، عن جده محمد، عن علي بن جعفر، عن أخيه موسى بن جعفر (ع) قال: إذا فقد الخامس من ولد السابع فالله الله في أديانكم لا يزيلكم أحد عنها يا بني إنه لا بد لصاحب هذا الأمر من غيبة حتى يرجع عن هذا الأمر من كان يقول به، إنما هي محنة من الله(عزوجل) امتحن بها خلقه ولو علم آباؤكم وأجدادكم ديناً أصح من هذا لاتبعوه. فقلت: يا سيدي من الخامس من ولد السابع؟ قال: يا بني عقولكم تصغر عن هذا وأحلامكم تضيق عن حمله، ولكن إن تعيشوا فسوف تدركونه.

2- إكمال الدين: الهمداني، عن علي، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن زياد الازدي قال: سألت سيدي موسى بن جعفر (ع) عن قول الله(عزوجل) "وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً" فقال: النعمة الظاهرة الامام الظاهر والباطنة الامام الغائب. فقلت له: ويكون في الائمة من يغيب؟ قال: نعم، يغيب عن أبصار الناس شخصه ولا يغيب عن قلوب المؤمنين ذكره، وهو الثاني عشر منا يسهل الله له كل عسير ويذلل له كل صعب ويظهر له كنوز الارض ويقرب له كل بعيد ويبير به كل جبار عنيد، ويهلك على يده كل شيطان مريد ذاك ابن سيدة الاماء الذي يخفى على الناس ولادته ولا يحل لهم تسميته حتى يظهره (الله ) U فيملا به الارض قسطاً وعدلاً كما ملئت جوراً وظلماً.

3- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن سعد، عن الخشاب، عن العباس بن عامر قال: سمعت أبا الحسن موسى (ع) يقول صاحب هذا الامر يقول الناس لم يولد بعد.

4- إكمال الدين: الهمداني، عن علي بن إبراهيم، عن محمد بن خالد، عن علي بن حسان، عن داود بن كثير قال: سألت أبا الحسن موسى (ع) عن صاحب هذا الامر قال: هو الطريد الوحيد الغريب الغائب عن أهله الموتور بأبيه

5- Ikma-l al-Di-n: ‘Ali Ibn Ja‘far narrates from his brother Musa- Ibn Ja‘far, saying I asked him, “What is the interpretation of the word of Allah, the Exalted, Say, ‘Have you thought? If in the morning your water should have disappeared into the earth, then who would bring you running water?” He said, “When you lose your Imam and do not see him, what are you going to do?”

6- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Yunu-s Ibn ‘Abd al-Rahma-n says, I entered upon Musa- Ibn Ja‘far (a.s) and said to him, “O’ son of the Messenger of Allah, are you the Qa-'im bi al-Haqq (The Establisher of the Truth/the Riser/the One Standing with the Truth)?” He said, “I am the Qa-'im bi al-Haqq, however, the Qa-'im who will clean the earth from the enemies of Allah and will fill it with equity, as it will be full of injustice, is the fifth from my sons.

He will have an occultation the length of which will be much due to his fear for his life. Many nations will apostatize in that period and the rest will remain steadfast.” Then he said, “Bliss be for Shi-‘a, the adherers to our love during the occultation of our Qa-'im, who will remain steadfast on our adoration and detestation of our enemies. They are ours and we are theirs. They are pleased with us as Imams and we are pleased with them as Shi-‘a. Bliss be for them! They are, by Allah, with us in our rank on the Day of Judgment.”

5- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن سعد، عن ابن عيسى، عن البجلي، عن معاوية بن وهب وأبي قتادة علي بن محمد، عن علي بن جعفر، عن أخيه موسى بن جعفر (ع) قال: قلت له: ما تأويل قول الله(عزوجل) "قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَنْ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِمَاءٍ مَعِينٍ؟" فقال: إذا فقدتم إمامكم فلم تروه فماذا تصنعون.

6- إكمال الدين: الهمداني، عن علي، عن أبيه، عن صالح بن السندي، عن يونس ابن عبد الرحمان قال: دخلت على موسى بن جعفر (ع) فقلت له: يابن رسول الله أنت القائم بالحق؟ فقال: أنا القائم بالحق ولكن القائم الذي يطهر الارض من أعداء الله ويملأها عدلاً كما ملئت جوراً هو الخامس من ولدي، له غيبة يطول أمدها خوفا على نفسه يرتد فيها أقوام ويثبت فيها آخرون ثم قال (ع): طوبى لشيعتنا المتمسكين بحبنا في غيبة قائمنا الثابتين على موالاتنا والبراءة من أعدائنا اولئك منا ونحن منهم قد رضوا بنا أئمة ورضينا بهم شيعة وطوبى لهم، هم والله معنا في درجتنا يوم القيامة

Narrations from imam al-Redha

1- ‘Ilal al-Shara-'e‘ and ‘Uyu-n Akhba-r al-Redha-: Al-Hasan Ibn Fadhdha-l narrates from his father, who narrates from al-Redha- (a.s), “As if I see the Shi-‘a when they lose the third form my sons, they will be searching for the green pasture, but will not be finding it.” I said to him, “Why so, O’ son of the Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Because their Imam will disappear from them.” I said, “Why?” He said, “So there will not be any pledge of allegiance for anyone over his shoulders when rises with the sword.”

2- ‘Uyu-n Akhba-r al-Redha-: Ibn Mahbu-b narrates from Abu al-Hasan al-Redha- (a.s) saying, The Imam said to me, “Definitely, there will occur the dumb, catastrophic mischief, in which every secret and close relation will be dropped. That will happen when the Shi-‘a will miss the third from my sons. The dwellers of the heavens and the earth, and every worthy and merited man, and every contrite and sorrowful person will cry for him.” Then he said, “My father and mother be the ransom of the namesake of my grandfather and my look-alike and the look-alike of Musa- the son of ‘Imra-n (a.s). He is appareled in the garments of light, shining with rays of illumination of sanctity. How abundant worthy men of faith and how abundant sorrowful men of belief will be perplexed and grievous at the loss of that crystal spring. As if I see them when in their utmost despair, they are being called by call that is heard from faraway as it is heard from the near, a call that is a blessing for the faithful and a curse for the unbelievers.”

3- Ikma-l-Din: Similar narration.

4- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Di‘bil Ibn ‘Ali al-Khuza-‘i- says, I recited my long poem to my master ‘Ali Ibn Musa- al-Redha-, the beginning of which is,

Schools of verses empty of recitations

And the House of Revelation horrendously empty

When I reached to my verse,

The rise of an Imam who will definitely rise

And stand by the name of Allah and His blessings

He will make distinction between all rights and wrongs

And will proffer requital for charities and malevolence

ما جاء عن الرضا (ع) في ذلك

1- علل الشرائع وعيون أخبار الرضا: الطالقاني، عن ابن عقدة، عن علي بن الحسن بن فضال، عن أبيه، عن الرضا (ع) أنه قال: كأني بالشيعة عند فقدهم الثالث من ولدي يطلبون المرعى فلا يجدونه قلت له: ولم ذلك يا ابن رسول الله؟ قال: لان إمامهم يغيب عنهم فقلت: ولم؟ قال لئلا يكون في عنقه لاحد بيعة إذا قام بالسيف.

2- عيون أخبار الرضا: أبي، عن الحميري، عن أحمد بن هلال، عن ابن محبوب، عن أبي الحسن الرضا (ع) قال: قال لي: لابد من فتنة صماء صيلم يسقط فيها كل بطانة ووليجة وذلك عند فقدان الشيعة الثالث من ولدي يبكي عليه أهل السماء وأهل الارض وكل حرى وحران وكل حزين لهفان ثم قال: بأبي وامي سمي جدي وشبيهي وشبيه موسى بن عمران (ع) عليه جيوب النور تتوقد بشعاع ضياء القدس كم من حرى مؤمنة وكم من مؤمن متأسف حيران حزين عند فقدان الماء المعين كأني بهم آيس ما كانوا، نودوا نداء يسمع من بعد كما يسمع من قرب يكون رحمة على المؤمنين وعذابا على الكافرين.

3- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن سعد، عن جعفر الفزاري، عن علي بن الحسن بن فضال عن الريان بن الصلت، عن الرضا (ع) مثله وفيه: تتوقد من شعاع ضياء القدس يحزن لموته أهل الارض والسماء كم من حرى.

4- إكمال الدين وعيون أخبار الرضا: الهمداني، عن علي، عن أبيه، عن الهروي، قال سمعت دعبل بن علي الخزاعي يقول أنشدت مولاي علي بن موسى الرضا (ع) قصيدتي التي أولها: ومنـزل وحي مقفر العرصات مدارس آيات خلت من تلاوة فلما انتهيت إلى قولي: يقوم على اسم الله والبركات خروج إمام لا محالة خارج ويجزي على النعماء والنقمات يميـز فينا كل حق وباطل

Imam al-Redha- (a.s) cried very profusely and then raised his head and said to me, “O’ Khiza-‘i, the Blessed Spirit has spoken on your tongues in these two verses. Do you know who this Imam is and when he will rise?” I said, “No, my master, except I have heard that an Imam of yours will rise and clean the earth from mischief and will fill the earth with equity as it will be full of oppression.” He said, “O’ Di‘bil, the Imam after me is my son Muhammad; after Muhammad his son ‘Ali; after ‘Ali his son Hasan; and after Hasan his son, al-Hujja al-Qa-'im, the Awaited during his occultation, and the one obeyed in his time of appearance.

Even if not more than one day should remain from the world, Allah will prolong that day so much that he will rise and fill the world with equity just as it will be full of injustice. As for when it will happen, that is to describe its time, and my father has narrated to me through his forefathers through Prince of the Believers (a.s) that the Apostle (a.s) was asked, ‘O’ Messenger of Allah, when is the Qa-'im from your progeny going to rise?’ He said, ‘His example is like the example of the Hour: None but He shall manifest it at its time. It will be momentous in the heavens and the earth. It will not come on you but asudden.’”

5- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Ayyu-b Ibn Nu-h says, I said to al-Redha- (a.s), “We hope that you will be the Patron of this Affair and that may Allah, the Exalted, confer this to you without the sword. You have been pledged allegiance to and coins have been minted on your name.” He said, “There is no one of us that letters come and go to him, is asked questions, pointed with fingers, and religious dues taken to, but he will be assassinated or he will die on his bed, until Allah, the Exalted, sends for this Order a man whose birth and place of growth will be hidden and he will not be hidden in his lineage.”

6- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Ahmad Ibn Zakariyya- says, Al-Redha- (a.s) asked me, “Where is your house in Baghdad?” I said, “At al-Karkh.” He said, “That is the safest of places. There has to happen the deaf catastrophic mischief in which every secret and close relation will be dropped. That will happen after the Shi-‘a will miss the third from my sons.”

7- Al-Ghaiba of al-Ne‘ma-ni: Muhammad Ibn Abi Ya‘qu-b al-Balkhi says, I heard Abu al-Hasan al-Redha- (a.s) say, “They will be tested through something that is severer and greater. They will be tested with a fetus in the abdomen of his mother and the suckling baby, until it is said that he has disappeared and that he is dead.

They will say, ‘There is no Imam.’ However, even the Messenger of Allah (a.s) disappeared, and many others and many others disappeared. And here I am, awaiting a death in the bed.”

8- Al-Ghaiba of al-Ne‘ma-ni: Ayyu-b Ibn Nu-h narrates from Abu al-Hasan al-Redha- (a.s) that he said, “When your standard is raised from your behind, then expect the salvation from the beneath of your steps.”

بكى الرضا (ع) بكاء شديداً ثم رفع رأسه إلي فقال لي: يا خزاعي نطق روح القدس على لسانك بهذين البيتين فهل تدري من هذا الامام؟ ومتى يقوم؟ فقلت: لا يا مولاي إلا أني سمعت بخروج إمام منكم يطهر الارض من الفساد ويملأها عدلاً كما ملئت جوراً. فقال: يا دعبل، الامام بعدي محمد ابني وبعد محمد ابنه علي وبعد علي ابنه الحسن وبعد الحسن ابنه الحجة القائم المنتظر في غيبته المطاع في ظهوره لو لم يبق من الدنيا إلا يوم واحد لطول الله ذلك اليوم حتى يخرج فيملأها عدلا كما ملئت جورا وأما متى؟ فاخبار عن الوقت ولقد حدثني أبي، عن أبيه عن آبائه، عن علي (ع) أن النبي (ص) قيل له: يارسول الله متى يخرج القائم من ذريتك؟ فقال: مثله مثل الساعة لا يجلبها لوقتها إلا هو ثقلت في السموات والارض لا يأتيكم إلا بغتة.

5- إكمال الدين: ابن الوليد: عن الصفار، عن ابن يزيد، عن أيوب بن نوح قال: قلت للرضا (ع): إنا لنرجو أن تكون صاحب هذا الامر وأن يسديه الله(عزوجل) إليك من غير سيف فقد بويع لك وضربت الدراهم باسمك فقال: ما منا أحد اختلفت إليه الكتب وسئل عن المسائل وأشارت إليه الاصابع وحملت إليه الاموال إلا اغتيل أو مات على فراشه حتى يبعث الله(عزوجل) لهذا الامر رجلا خفي المولد والمنشأ غير خفي في نسبه.

6- إكمال الدين: العطار، عن أبيه، عن الاشعري، عن خمحمد بن حمدان، عن خاله أحمد بن زكريا قال: قال لي الرضا (ع) أين منـزلك ببغداد؟ قلت: الكرخ قال: أما إنه أسلم موضع ولابد من فتنة صماء صيلم يسقط فيها كل وليجة وبطانة وذلك بعد فقدان الشيعة الثالث من ولدي.

7- الغيبة للنعمانى: محمد بن همام، عن عبد الله بن جعفر، عن اليقطيني، عن محمد بن أبي يعقوب البلخي قال: سمعت أبا الحسن الرضا (ع) يقول: إنه سيبتلون بما هو أشد وأكبر يبتلون بالجنين في بطن امه والرضيع حتى يقال غاب ومات ويقولون لا إمام وقد غاب رسول الله(ص) وغاب وغاب وها أنا ذا أموت حتف أنفي.

8- الغيبة للنعمانى: الكليني، عن علي بن محمد، عن بعض رجاله، عن أيوب بن نوح عن أبي الحسن الرضا (ع) أنه قال: إذا رفع علمكم من بين أظهركم فتوقعوا الفرج من تحت أقدامكم

Narrations from Imam al-Jawad

1- Ikma-l al-Di-n: ‘Abd al-‘Adhi-m al-Hasani says, I entered upon my master Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali (a.s) intending to ask him about the Qa-'im whether he is the Mahdi or someone else. However, he initiated the topic before I brought it up, saying, “O’ Abu al-Qa-sim, the Qa-'im from us and he is the Mahdi. It is obligatory to wait for him in his occultation and to obey him in his appearance. He is the third from my sons. By the One Who sent Muhammad with Prophethood and distinguished us through Imamate, even if it does not remain from the world but a single day, Allah will prolong that day until he rises. He will fill the earth with equity and justice, as it will be replete with injustice and oppression. Allah, the Exalted, will rectify his order in one night, as He rectified the order of His Converser Moses (a.s) who went to fetch some fire for his family and returned a prophet, an apostle.” Then he said, “The best action of our Shi-‘a is to wait for the salvation.”

2- Al-Ghaiba of al-Ne‘ma-ni: ‘Ali al-Qaisi says, I said to Abu Ja‘far Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali al-Redha- (a.s), “Who is the heir after you?” He said, “My son ‘Ali, my son ‘Ali.” Then he lowered his head down briefly in contemplation and then raised it and said, “There will be a considerable perplexity.” I said, “When it happens, to whom we should turn to?” He remained silent. Then he said, “No where,” and repeated it three times. I asked again. He said, “To the cities.” I asked, “Which city?” He said, “This city of ours; and is there a Medina other than this?”

3- Al-Ghaiba of al-Ne‘ma-ni: ‘Abd al-‘Adhi-m says that he heard Abu Ja‘far Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali al-Redha- (a.s) say, “When my son ‘Ali dies, the light after him will come into view and then disappear. Woe is for the doubter and bliss is for the believer, who will run with his religion for refuge. Then after that there will be events in which forelocks would go grey and times will be very severe.”

4- Kifa-ya al-Athar: ‘Abd al-‘Adhi-m al-Hasani says, I said to Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Musa-, “I hope that you would be the Qa-'im from the Household of Muhammad, who will fill the earth with equity and justice as it will be replete with injustice and oppression.” He said, “O’ Abu al-Qa-sim, there is no one of us but he is a Qa-'im with the order of Allah and guide to the religion of Allah.

ما روي في ذلك عن الجواد صلوات اللـّه عليه

1- إكمال الدين: الدقاق، عن محمد بن هارون الرؤياني، عن عبد العظيم الحسني قال: دخلت على سيدي محمد بن علي(ع) وأنا اريد أن أسأله عن القائم أهو المهدي أو غيره؟ فابتدأني فقال: يا أبا القاسم إن القائم منا هو المهدي الذي يجب أن ينتظر في غيبته ويطاع في ظهوره وهو الثالث من ولدي والذي بعث محمدا بالنبوة وخصنا بالامامة إنه لو لم يبق من الدنيا إلا يوم واحد لطول الله ذلك اليوم حتى يخرج فيملأ الأرض قسطاً وعدلاً كما ملئت جوراً وظلماً وإن الله تبارك وتعالى يصلح أمره في ليلة أصلح أمر كليمه موسى (ع) ليقتبس لاهله نارا فرجع وهو رسول نبي ثم قال (ع): أفضل أعمال شيعتنا انتظار الفرج.

2- الغيبة للنعمانى: محمد بن همام، عن أحمد بن مابنداد، عن أحمد بن هلال، عن امية بن علي القيسي قال: قلت لابي جعفر محمد بن علي الرضا (ع): من الخلف بعدك؟ قال: ابني علي ابني علي ثم أطرق مليا ثم رفع رأسه ثم قال: إنها ستكون حيرة قلت: فإذا كان ذلك فإلى من؟ فسكت ثم قال: لا أين حتى قالها ثلاثا فأعدت فقال إلى المدينة فقلت: أي المدن فقال: مدينتنا هذه وهل مدينة غيرها.

3- الغيبة للنعمانى: محمد بن همام. عن أبي عبد الله محمد بن هشام، عن أبي سعد سهل بن زياد عن عبد العظيم بن عبد الله، عن أبي جعفر محمد بن علي الرضا (ع) أنه سمعه يقول: إذا مات ابني علي بدا سراج بعده ثم خفي فويل للمرتاب وطوبى للعرب الفار بدينه ثم يكون بعد ذلك أحداث تشيب فيها النواصي ويسير الصم الصلاب.

4- كفاية الأثر: أبو عبد الله الخزاعي، عن الاسدي، عن سهل، عن عبد العظيم الحسني قال: قلت لمحمد بن علي بن موسى: إني لارجو أن تكون القائم من أهل بيت محمد الذي يملأ الأرض قسطاً وعدلاً كما ملئت جوراً وظلماً فقال: يا أبا القاسم مامنا إلا قائم بأمر الله وهاد إلى دين الله

However, I am not the Qa-'im through whom Allah will cleanse the earth from men of infidelity and rejection, and will fill it with equity and justice. He is the one whose birth will be hidden from the people and whose person will disappear from them and it will be unlawful to mention him by his name. He is the namesake of the Messenger of Allah and will bear his patronym. He is the one for whom the earth will roll and every difficult task will be facilitated for him. His companions, equal to the three hundred and thirteen fighters of Badr, will gather around him from the distant locations of the earth.

To this the word of Allah refers, Wherever you be, Allah will bring all of you; verily Allah is all powerful over all things. When this number of people of the earth will unite for him, his command will appear. When the covenant, which is ten thousand people, fulfills for him, he will rise with the permission of Allah. He will continue to kill the enemies of Allah until Allah, the High, will be happy from him.” I asked, “My master, how would he know Allah is pleased with him?” He said, “Allah will cast compassion in his heart.”

5- Kifa-ya al-Athar: Al-Saqar Ibn Abi Dalaf says, I heard Abu Ja‘far Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali al-Redha- (a.s) say, “The Imam after me is my son ‘Ali. His command is my command, his word my word, obedience to him is obedience to me. The Imam after him is his son Hasan. His command is his father’s command, his word is his father’s word, and obedience to him is obedience to his father.” Then he became silent. I said, “O’ son of the Messenger of Allah, who is the Imam after Hasan?” He cried very profusely and then said, “After Hasan is his son al-Qa-'im bi al-Haqq, the Awaited.” I said to him, “O’ son of the Messenger of Allah, why is he called al-Qa-'im?” He said, “Because he will rise after the death of his remembrance and apostasy of the majority of the believers in his Imamate.

“I said, “Why is he called the Awaited?” He said, “He will have an occultation the days of which will be many and the duration of which will be long. The sincere will wait his uprise and the doubters will reject him and rejecters will mock at him. A person who will assign a time will lie, a person who will hurry will perish, and the one who will submit will be saved.”

6- Kifa-ya al-Athar: ‘Ali al-Qaisi says, I said to Abu Ja‘far II (a.s), “Who is the heir after you?” He said, “My son ‘Ali.” Then he said, “Behold, there will be a perplexity.” I said, “To where shall we turn then?” He remained quiet and then said, “To Medina.” I asked, “Which Medina?” He said, “This Medina of ours, and is there a Medina other than this?”

7- Ahmad Ibn Hila-l says, Muhammad Ibn Isma-‘il Ibn Bazi-‘ narrated to me that Umayya Ibn ‘Ali came and asked Abu Ja‘far II the same question, to which he gave the same answer.

8- Through the same chain of narration on the authority of Abu al-Haitham al-Tami-mi: Said Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s), “When three names, Muhammad, ‘Ali and Hasan, come consecutively, their fourth one will be their Qa-'im.”

ولست القائم الذي يطهر الله به الارض من أهل الكفر والجحود ويملأها عدلا وقسطا هو الذي يخفى على الناس ولادته، ويغيب عنهم شخصه ويحرم عليهم تسميته، وهو سمي رسول الله وكنيه وهو الذي يطوى له الارض ويذل له كل صعب يجتمع إليه من أصحابه عدد أهل بدر ثلاثمائة وثلاثة عشر رجلا من أقاصي الارض وذلك قول الله(عزوجل): "أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمْ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ." فإذا اجتمعت له هذه العدة من أهل الارض أظهر أمره فإذا أكمل له العقد وهو عشرة آلاف رجل خرج باذن الله فلا يزال يقتل أعداء الله حتى يرضى الله تبارك وتعالى قال عبد العظيم: قلت له: يا سيدي وكيف يعلم أن الله قد رضي؟ قال يلقى في قلبه الرحمة.

5- كفاية الأثر: محمد بن علي، عن ابن عبدوس، عن ابن قتيبة، عن حمدان بن سليمان، عن الصقر بن أبي دلف قال: سمعت أبا جعفر محمد بن علي الرضا (ع) يقول: الامام بعدي ابني علي أمره أمري وقوله قولي وطاعته طاعتي والامام بعده ابنه الحسن أمره أمر أبيه وقوله قول أبيه وطاعته طاعة أبيه ثم سكت فقلت له: يابن رسول الله فمن الامام بعد الحسن؟ فبكى (ع) بكاء شديدا ثم قال: إن من بعد الحسن ابنه القائم بالحق المنتظر فقلت له: يابن رسول الله ولم سمي القائم قال: لانه يقوم بعد موت ذكره وارتداد أكثر القائلين بإمامته فقلت له: ولم سمي المنتظر قال: إن له غيبة يكثر أيامها ويطول أمدها فينتظر خروجه المخلصون وينكره المرتابون ويستهزئ به الجاحدون ويكذب فيها الوقاتون ويهلك فيها المستعجلون وينجو فيها المسلمون.

6- كفاية الأثر: علي بن محمد بن السندي، عن محمد بن الحسن، عن الحميري عن أحمد بن هلال، عن امية بن علي القيسي قال: قلت لابي جعفر الثاني (ع): من الخلف من بعدك قال: ابني علي ثم قال أما إنها ستكون حيرة، قال: قلت: إلى أين؟ فسكت ثم قال إلى المدينة قال: قلت: وإلى أي مدينة قال: مدينتنا هذه وهل مدينة غيرها.

7- قال أحمد بن هلال: فأخبرني محمد بن إسماعيل بن بزيع أنه حضر امية ابن علي وهو يسأل أبا جعفر الثاني عن ذلك فأجابه بمثل ذلك الجواب.

8- وبهذا الاسناد عن امية بن علي القيسي، عن أبي الهيثم التميمي قال: قال أبو عبد الله (ع): إذا توالت ثلاثة أسماء كان رابعهم قائمهم محمد وعلي والحسن

Narrations from Imam al-Hadi and Imam al-‘Askari

1- ‘Uyu-n Akhba-r al-Redha-: Abu Ha-shim al-Ja‘fari says, I heard Abu al-Hasan of the ‘Askar (a.s) say, “The heir after me is my son Hasan. How would you be like to the heir after the heir?” “Why, may I be your ransom?” I asked. He said, “Because you will not see his person and it will not be permissible for you to mention him by his name.” I asked him, “So how are we going to mention him?” He said, “Say, al-Hujja from the House of Muhammad.”

2- Kifa-ya al-Athar: ‘Ali Ibn Mahziya-r says, I wrote to Abu al-Hasan (a.s) asking him about the relief. He wrote, “When your Patron will disappear from the abode of the oppressors, expect the relief.”

3- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Isha-q Ibn Ayyu-b says, I heard Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad (a.s) say, “The Patron of this Order is the one about whom people will say he is not born yet.”

4- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Muhammad Ibn Fa-ris says, I and Ayyu-b Ibn Nu-h were on the way to Mecca. We disembarked at the valley of Zaba-la and sat down talking. We ended up discussing our current situation and the lack of access to the Imam. Ayyu-b Ibn Nu-h said, “I wrote this year, mentioning some of these things. He wrote back to me, ‘When your standard is raised from your backs, expect the relief from the beneath of your feet.’”

5- Ikma-l al-Di-n: ‘Ali Ibn ‘Abd al-Ghaffa-r says, When Abu Ja‘far II (a.s) passed away, the Shi-‘a wrote to Abu al-Hasan (a.s) asking him about the position of Imamate. He wrote to them, “The position is mine so long as I am alive. When the measures of Allah, the High, catch me, my heir will come to you. And how would you be like to the heir after the heir?”

6- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Musa- Ibn Ja‘far al-Baghda-di says, I heard Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (a.s) say, “As if I see you, you have disputed after me with regard to my heir. Behold, someone who professes faith in the Imams after the Prophet of Allah yet denies my son, is like someone who professes faith in all prophets and apostles of Allah and then rejects the Prophethood of Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (a.s); and the denier of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) is like the one who rejects all of the prophets.

نص العسكريَّين صلوات اللـّه عليهما على القائم (ع)

1- عيون أخبار الرضا وإكمال الدين: أبي وابن الوليد، عن سعد، عن محمد بن أحمد العلوي، عن أبي هاشم الجعفري قال: سمعت أبا الحسن صاحب العسكر (ع) يقول: الخلف من بعدي ابني الحسن فكيف لكم بالخلف من بعد الخلف؟ فقلت: ولم جعلني الله فداك؟ فقال: لانكم لاترون شخصه ولا يحل لكم ذكره باسمه، قلت: فكيف نذكره؟ قال: قولوا الحجة من آل محمد(ص).

2- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن الحميري، عن محمد بن عمر (ان) الكاتب، عن علي بن محمد الصيمري، عن علي بن مهزيار قال: كتبت إلى أبي الحسن (ع) أسأله (عن) الفرج فكتب: إذا غاب صاحبكم عن دار الظالمين، فتوقعوا الفرج.

3- إكمال الدين: أبي وابن الوليد معا، عن سعد، عن الخشاب، عن إسحاق بن أيوب قال: سمعت أبا الحسن علي بن محمد(ع) يقول: صاحب هذا الامر من يقول الناس: لم يولد بعد. وحدثنا بهذا الحديث محمد بن إبراهيم، عن إسحاق بن أيوب

4- إكمال الدين: أبي، عن سعد، عن محمد بن عبيد الله بن أبي غانم، عن إبراهيم بن محمد ابن فارس قال: كنت أنا وأيوب بن نوح في طريق مكة فنـزلنا على وادي زبالة فجلسنا نتحدث فجرى ذكر ما نحن فيه وبعد الامر علينا فقال أيوب بن نوح: كتبت في هذه السنة أذكر شيئا من هذا فكتب (إلي): إذا رفع علمكم من بين أظهركم فتوقعوا الفرج من تحت أقدامكم.

5- إكمال الدين: الهمداني، عن علي، عن أبيه، عن علي بن صدقة، عن علي بن عبد الغفار قال: لما مات أبو جعفر الثاني (ع) كتبت الشيعة إلى أبي الحسن (ع) يسألونه عن الامر فكتب (ع) إليهم: الامر لي مادمت حيا فإذا نزلت بي مقادير الله تبارك وتعالى أتاكم الخلف مني وأنى لكم بالخلف من بعد الخلف.

6- إكمال الدين: العطار، عن سعد، عن موسى بن جعفر البغدادي قال: سمعت أبا محمد الحسن بن علي(ع) يقول: كأني بكم وقد اختلفتم بعدي في الخلف مني أما إن المقر بالائمة بعد رسول الله المنكر لولدي كمن أقر بجميع أنبياء الله ورسله ثم أنكر نبوة محمد رسول الله(ص) والمنكر لرسول الله(ص) كمن أنكر جميع الانبياء

Because obedience to our last one is obedience to our first one and rejecter of our last one is the rejecter of our first one. Behold, my son will have an occultation in which people will doubt except the ones whom Allah saves.”

7- Ikma-l al-Di-n: ‘Ali Ibn Hima-m says, I heard Muhammad Ibn ‘Othma-n al-‘Amri, (a.s) say, I heard my father say, Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (a.s) was asked, while I was with him, about the tradition narrated from his forefathers, peace be unto them, that the earth does not remain without the Hujja of Allah over His creation until the Day of Judgment and that if anyone who dies without the cognition of the Imam of his Age, he dies a pagan death. He said, “This is true as the daylight is true.

“It was said, “O’ son of the Messenger of Allah, who is the Hujja and the Imam after you?” He said, “My sonM. U. H. A. M. M. A. D. And he is the Imam and the Hujja after me. Whoever dies not knowing him, will die a pagan death. Behold, he will have an occultation during which the ignorant individuals will be perplexed and the invalidators will perish and the time-assigners will lie. Then he will rise. As if I am gazing at the white standards waving over his head in the Najaf of Kufa.”

8- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Musa- Ibn Ja‘far al-Baghda-di says, A letter came from Abu Muhammad (a.s) which stated, “They presumed that they want to murder me in order to cut off my progeny. Allah belied their word, and all praise is due to Allah.’”

9- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Ahmad Ibn Isha-q says, I heard Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali al-‘Askari (a.s) say, “All praise is due to Allah, the One Who did not take me from the world until He showed me the heir after me, the one who our of all people looks most similar to the Messenger of Allah (a.s) in his physique and in his character. May Allah, the High, protect him in his occultation and then manifest him, so he may fill the earth with equity and justice as it will be full of injustice and oppression.”

10- Al-Ghaiba of Sheikh Tusi: Bana-n Ibn Hamdawayh says, The passing away of Abu Ja‘far (a.s) was mentioned before Abu al-Hasan al-‘Askari (a.s). He said, “That is so long as I am alive and remaining. However, how would it be like when they miss the one after me?”

11- Al-Ghaiba of Sheikh Tusi: Abu Ha-shim al-Ja‘fari says, I said to Abu Ja‘far (a.s), “Your majesty prohibits me from asking you, would that you give me permission to inquire from you?” He said, “Ask.” I said, “O’ my master, do you have a son?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “If something happens, then where should I inquire about him?” He said, “In Medina.”

12- Al-Ghaiba of Sheikh Tusi: A congregation of scholars narrates on the authority of Ahmad Ibn Isha-q that he asked Abu Muhammad (a.s) about the Patron of this Order, in reply to which the Imam made a gesture with his hand, meaning he is alive and his neck has hardened.

لأن طاعة آخرنا كطاعة أولنا والمنكر لآخرنا كالمنكر لاولنا أما إن لولدي غيبة يرتاب فيها الناس إلا من عصمه الله(عز و جل).

7- إكمال الدين: الطالقاني، عن أبي علي بن همام قال: سمعت محمد بن عثمان العمري قدس الله روحه يقول: سمعت أبي يقول: سئل أبو محمد الحسن بن علي (ع) وأنا عنده عن الخبر الذي روي عن آبائه (ع) أن الارض لا تخلو من حجة الله على خلقه إلى يوم القيامة وأن من مات ولم يعرف إمام زمانه مات ميتة جاهلية (فقال (ع): إن هذا حق كما أن النهار حق. فقيل له: يابن رسول الله فمن الحجة والامام بعدك؟ فقال: ابني محمد وهو الامام والحجة بعدي، من مات ولم يعرفه مات ميتة جاهلية) أما إن له غيبة يحار فيها الجاهلون، ويهلك فيها المبطلون، ويكذب فيها الوقاتون ثم يخرج فكأني أنظر إلى الاعلام البيض تخقق فوق رأسه بنجف الكوفة.

8- إكمال الدين: علي بن عبد الله الوراق، عن سعد، عن موسى بن جعفر البغدادي قال: خرج من أبي محمد (ع) توقيع: زعموا أنهم يريدون قتلي ليقطعوا نسلي وقد كذب الله قولهم والحمد لله.

9- إكمال الدين: المظفر العلوي، عن ابن العياشي، عن أبيه، عن أحمد بن علي بن كلثوم، عن علي بن أحمد الرازي، عن أحمد بن إسحاق قال: سمعت أبا محمد الحسن ابن علي العسكري (ع) يقول: الحمد لله الذي لم يخرجني من الدنيا حتى أراني الخلف من بعدي أشبه الناس برسول الله(ص) خلقا وخلقا يحفظه الله تبارك وتعالى في غيبته ثم يظهره فيملأ الأرض عدلاً وقسطا كما ملئت جوراً وظلماً.

10- الغيبة للشيخ الطوسي: سعد بن عبد الله، عن الحسن بن علي الزيتوني، عن الزهري الكوفي، عن بنان بن حمدويه قال: ذكر عند أبي الحسن العسكري (ع) مضي أبي جعفر (ع) فقال: ذاك إلي مادمت حيا باقيا ولكن كيف بهم إذا فقدوا من بعدي.

11- الغيبة للشيخ الطوسي: أبو هاشم الجعفري قال: قلت لابي محمد (ع): جلالتك تمنعني عن مسألتك فتأذن لي في أن أسألك؟ قال: سل، قلت: يا سيدي هل لك ولد؟ قال: نعم، قلت: فان حدث حدث فأين أسأل عنه فقال: بالمدينة.

12- الغيبة للشيخ الطوسي: جماعة، عن أبي المفضل الشيباني، عن أبي نعيم نصر بن عصام بن المغيرة الفهري المعروف بقرقارة، عن أبي سعيد المراغي، عن أحمد بن إسحاق أنه سأل أبا محمد (ع)، عن صاحب هذا الامر فأشار بيده أي إنه حي غليظ الرقبة

13- Kifa-ya al-Athar: Abu al-Mufadhdhal al-Shayba-ni narrates from ‘Alla-n al-Ra-zi, saying, One of our scholars narrated to me that when the concubine of Abu Muhammad was pregnant, he said to her, “You will give birth to a boy. His name isM. U. H. A. M. M. A. D. and he is the Qa-'im after me.”

14- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Al-‘Atta-r narrates through the chain of narration on the authority of Abu Ha-tam, who says, I heard Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (a.s) say, “In the year two hundred and sixty my Shi-‘a will go asunder.” In that year Abu Muhammad (a.s) passed away and his Shi-‘a and supporters went different ways. Some of them followed Ja‘far; some of them went astray and were seized by doubts; some of them remained on their perplexity; and some of them remained steadfast on their religion through the help of God, the Exalted.

15- Al-Khara-’ij wa al-Jara-’ih: ‘Ali Ibn Ibra-him narrates from his father, from ‘Isa- Ibn Sabi-h: Al-Hasan al-‘Askari (a.s) entered upon me in the prison. I knew him. He said to me, “You are sixty five years and one month and two days old.” There was a book of supplication with me, which had my birth date. I looked and it was as he had said. He asked, “Do you have a son?” I said, “No.” He said, “O’ Allah, give him a son so he may be his forearm. Good a forearm is a son!” Then he said,

A person with an arm avenges his oppression

Desolate is the one who does not have an arm.

I asked, “Do you have a son?” He said, “By Allah, soon I will have a son who will fill the earth with equity. But now, no.” Then he versified,

Perchance, you will see me one day

As I will be with my many sons around me,

Because before Tami-m sired a nation

He lived a long while amidst the people as he was one man

13- كفاية الأثر: أبو المفضل الشيباني، عن الكليني، عن علان الرازي قال: أخبرني بعض أصحابنا أنه لما حملت جارية أبي محمد (ع) قال: ستحملين ذكرا واسمه م ح م د وهو القائم من بعدي.

14- إكمال الدين: العطار، عن أبيه، عن جعفر الفزاري، عن محمد بن أحمد المدائني، عن أبي حاتم قال: سمعت أبا محمد الحسن بن علي (ع) يقول: في سنة مأتين وستين تفرق شيعتي ففيها قبض أبو محمد (ع) وتفرقت شيعته وأنصاره فمنهم من انتمى إلى جعفر ومنم من تاه وشك ومنهم من وقف على تحيره ومنهم من ثبت على دينه بتوفيق الله(عز و جل).

15- يج: علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن عيسى بن صبيح قال: دخل الحسن العسكري (ع) علينا الحبس وكنت به عارفاً فقال لي: لك خمس وستون سنة وشهر ويومان وكان معي كتاب دعاء عليه تاريخ مولدي وإني نظرت فيه فكان كما قال وقال: هل رزقت ولداً؟ فقلت: لا فقال: اللهم ارزقه ولداً يكون له عضداً فنعم العضد الولد ثم تمثل (ع): إن الذليل الذي ليست له عضد من كان ذا عضد يدرك ضلامته قلت: ألك ولد؟ قال: أي والله سيكون لي ولد يملأ الأرض قسطاً فأما الآن فلا. ثم تمثل: بني حوالي الاسود اللوابـــد لعلك يوماً إن تراني كأنما أقام زمانا (وهو) في الناس واحد فان تميماً قبل أن يلد الحصا