The Promised Mahdi (Part One)

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The Promised Mahdi (Part One) Author:
Translator: Sayyid Akhtar Husain S.H. Rizvi
Publisher: Ja’fari Propagation Centre
Category: Imam al-Mahdi

The Promised Mahdi (Part One)

This book is corrected and edited by Al-Hassanain (p) Institue for Islamic Heritage and Thought

Author: Allamah Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi
Translator: Sayyid Akhtar Husain S.H. Rizvi
Publisher: Ja’fari Propagation Centre
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The Promised Mahdi (Part One)

The Promised Mahdi (Part One)

Author:
Publisher: Ja’fari Propagation Centre
English

This book is corrected and edited by Al-Hassanain (p) Institue for Islamic Heritage and Thought


English Translation of Biharul Anwar, Volume 13 (Old Edition)/Volumes 51-52-53 (New Edition)

7

Chapter Seven: Narrations of Amirul Momineen (a.s.) in this regard

الشَّيْبَانِيُّ عَنِ الْأَسَدِيِّ عَنْ سَهْلٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْحَسَنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ لِلْقَائِمِ مِنَّا غَيْبَةٌ أَمَدُهَا طَوِيلٌ كَأَنِّي بِالشِّيعَةِ يَجُولُونَ جَوَلَانَ النَّعَمِ فِي غَيْبَتِهِ يَطْلُبُونَ الْمَرْعَى فَلَا يَجِدُونَهُ أَلَا فَمَنْ ثَبَتَ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى دِينِهِ [وَ] لَمْ يَقْسُ قَلْبُهُ لِطُولِ أَمَدِ غَيْبَةِ إِمَامِهِ فَهُوَ مَعِي فِي دَرَجَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ع إِنَّ الْقَائِمَ مِنَّا إِذَا قَامَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِأَحَدٍ فِي عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ فَلِذَلِكَ‏ تَخْفَى وِلَادَتُهُ وَ يَغِيبُ شَخْصُهُ

1- Ikmaaluddin: Shaibani has narrated from Asadi from Sahal from Abdul Azeem Hasani from Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.) from his honorable forefathers from Amirul Momineen (a.s.) that he said:

“Our Qaim will have an occultation, the duration of which is long. As if I see the Shia, roving about like cattle searching for pasture and not finding it. Behold, whoever from them stays firm on his religion and will not become stone-hearted because of delay in occultation of his Imam, he will be with me in my rank on Judgment Day.” Then he said: “When he rises, our Qaim will not have allegiance to anyone on his shoulders. For this reason, his birth will be concealed and his person will be hidden.”

2- Ikmaaluddin: It is narrated from Hamadani from Ali from his father from Ali bin Mabad from Husain bin Khalid from Imam Reza (a.s.) from Amirul Momineen (a.s.), that he said to Imam Husain (a.s.):

“The ninth from your sons, O Husain, is the Establisher of the Right(Qaim bil-Haqq), the Manifester of the Religion and the Deliverer of Justice.” Husain (a.s.) says, “I said: O Amirul Momineen (a.s.), is that to happen?” He said: “Verily so, by the One Who sent Muhammad with Prophethood and chose him over all of creation! It will happen, however, after an occultation and a bewilderment in which no one remains on his religion, but the sincere ones who are touched by the spirit of certainty, people from whom Allah has taken covenant for our guardianship andinscribed faith in their hearts and has endorsed them with a spirit from Himself.”

3- Ikmaaluddin: Shaykh Saduq narrates from his father from Ali bin Ibrahim from Muhammad bin Sinan from Ziyad Makfuf from Abdullah Ibne Abi Afif, the poet that he said:

I heard Amirul Momineen Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) say, “It is as if I see, O congregation of Shia, you will be striding like camel herds searching for a pasture, yet you will not find him.”

Ikmaaluddin narrates this tradition again through another chain of narration.

4- Muqtadhib: It is narrated from Ayyash from Shaykh Thiqa Abul Hasan bin Abdus Samad bin Ali in Sunnat Khamsa wa Thamaneen wa Miyatain with Ubaid bin Kathir from Nuh bin Darraj from Yahya from Amash from Zaid bin Wahab from Abu Jahifa and Harith bin Abdullah Hamadani and Harith Ibne Sharb that:

They were all with Amirul Momineen (a.s.). It was customary that when his son Hasan would come, he would say, “Blessed be you, O son of Allah’s Messenger.” And when his son Husain would come, he would say, “My father be the ransom of you, O father of the son of the best of bond maids.” He was asked, “O Chief of believers, why do you address Hasan this way and Husain that way? And who is the son of the best of slave girls?” He said: “He is the lost one, the fugitive, the abandoned one, MHMD Ibne Hasan Ibne Ali Ibne Muhammad Ibne Ali Ibne Musa Ibne Ja’far Ibne Muhammad Ibne Ali Ibne Husain,” putting his hand on Husain’s head.

5- Ghaibat Tusi: It is narrated from Ja’far bin Muhammad from Muhammad bin Husain from Ibne Yazi from Asim from Ibne Siyabah from Imran bin Mitham from Abaya Asadi that he says: I heard Amirul Momineen (a.s.) say:

“How would you be like when you are left without an Imam of guidance or a visible standard, when some of you are turning away one from the other with disdain!”

6- Irshad : Shaykh Mufeed has narrated from Masada Ibne Sadaqah that he said: I heard Abu Abdullah Ja’far Ibne Muhammad (a.s.) say, Amirul Momineen (a.s.) addressed people in Kufa. He praised and extolled Allah and then said:

“I am the doyen of the aged people. In me is a mark from Ayyub and Allah will gather for me my household as He brought together the scattered house of Prophet Yaqub. That will happen when the ages pass and you say:He is lost or has perished.

Behold, before it happens, seek understanding through fortitude and repent to Allah from sins, as you have already thrown your sanctity away, extinguished your torches and have pinned your guidance in people who do not have, neither for themselves nor for you, any hearing nor any vision. By Allah, weak are the invoker and the invoked.

“If you do not entrust your fate on one another, and do not abandon one another in the cause of helping the right amongst you, and do not faint from weakening the falsity, those who will be unlike you, will not become bold against you and those who will overpower you, will not become strong. “Due to your breach of obedience and desisting it from those who deserve to be obeyed amongst you, you will wander astray like the Israelites who wandered astray at the time of Musa.

Truthfully do I say, for forsaking and oppressing my progeny, your wandering will be increased double folds to the wandering of the Israelites. If you feed and drink and saturate from the lineage that is accursed in the Quran, verily you will have gathered on the cry of misguidance, received falsity running headlong towards it, have betrayed the caller of Truth, have

ill-treated the best from the warriors of Badr, and have tended for the worst from the sons of Abu Sufyan’s father.

Behold, if what is in their hand goes away, purity for the reward and removal of the veil will be nearer. The promise will be near and the Star will appear to you from the east and your moon will shine over you like a full moon in a full night.

When that appears, return to repentance and forsake grief and sorrow and know that if you obey the riser from the east, he will lead you on the path of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) so you would avert deafness and find cure from dumbness and stay away from the labors of roving and wandering and searching and throw away the loads of burdens from your necks. Allah does not chase away anyone except the one who rejects mercy and divorces chastity.Those who do wrong will know what to what return they shall be turned to.

7- Ghaibat Nomani: It is narrated from Ibne Hamam from Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Malik from Ishaq bin Sinan from Ubaid bin Kharja from Ali bin Uthman from Harab bin Ahnaf from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) from his forefathers, saying:

“Euphrates swelled at the time of Amirul Momineen (a.s.). At this time, he and his two sons, Hasan and Husain (a.s.) rode their courses and passed by the tribe of Thaqif. They said: Ali is coming. He will made the water recede.’ Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said: ‘By Allah, I and these two sons of mine will be killed and Allah will send a man from my progeny in the last period of time, who will avenge our blood. He will go into hiding from them in order to be away from the people of misguidance, so the ignorant would say, Allah does not have any need to Ahle Bayt (a.s.).”

8- Ghaibat Nomani: It is narrated from Muhammad bin Hamam and Muhammad bin Hasan bin Muhammad bin Jamhur together from Hasan bin Muhammad bin Jamhur from his father from some of his men from Mufaddal Ibne Umar that he said: Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) said:

“One tradition, whichyou comprehend well, is better than ten you narrate. Verily, every truth has a reality and every veracity has an illumination.” Then he said: “We, by Allah, do not consider a man from our Shia to be aFaqih unless when he is addressed through hints and allusions, he understands them.

Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said on the pulpit of Kufa, ‘Dark, blind and gloomy mischiefs are ahead ofyou. None will be rescued from it, but thenauma.’ He was asked, ‘What isnauma, O Chief of believers?’ He said: ‘He is the one who does not know the people and people do not know him. Behold, the earth does not remain without a Hujjah of Allah; however, Allah will blind His creation from him due to their oppression, injustice and their excesses on themselves. If the earth would remain one hour without a Hujjah of Allah, the earth will be injested along with its dwellers. However, the Hujjah will know the people and the people will not know him, as Yusuf knew the people,while they knew him not.’

Then he recited this verse:

يَا حَسْرَةً عَلَى الْعِبَادِ مَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِؤُون

“Alas for the servants! there comes not to them an apostle but they mock at him.” (Surah Yasin 36:30)

9- Nahjul Balagha: Amirul Momineen (a.s.) says in a tradition:

“When it will be like that, the Master of the Religion will journey along with the trail of his followers. They will gather around him like the clouds of autumn. And he and his followers will be steadfast.”

The author says: This statement is on the basis of unseen knowledge of the Imam with regard to the Mahdi.

10- Nahjul Balagha: Amirul Momineen (a.s.) says in one of his sermons:

“He has appareled himself with the garment of wisdom, and has seized it with allof its protocols by proclivity towards it and cognition of it and dedication to it. For him, wisdom is his lost commodity which he seeks, and it is his wish for which he yearns. He will go far away at a time when Islam disappears like a feeble camel leaves while beating the end of its tail and dragging its neckon the earth. He is the heir of the heirs of His Hujjah and a vicegerent from the vicegerents of His apostles.”

Opinion of Ibne Abil Hadid about the promised Mahdi

The author says: Ibne Abil Hadid says in explanation of this sermon: Imamiyah believe that this passage refers to the Awaited Qaim (a.s.). The Sufis maintain that it refers to the Wali of Allah. They maintain that the world does not remain devoid fromAbdal , who are forty, andAwtad , who are seven, andQutb , who isone. Philosophers say this refers toArif . The Sunni maintain that he is the Mahdi, who will be created. All Muslims dominations agree that the world and religious laws will not end but at after the Mahdi (a.s.), “He will go faraway” means that he will hide himself when corruption and mischief manifest and Islam disappears with the desertion of equity and virtue. This is a proof of the veracity of the Imamiyah’s belief.

11- Ghaibat Nomani: It is narrated from Ali bin Husain from Muhammad bin Yahya from Muhammad bin Hasan Raazi from Muhammad bin Ali Kufi from Isa bin Abdullah Alawi from his father from his grandfather from his father from Amirul Momineen Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) that he said:

“The Master of this Affair is from my offspring. He is the one about whom it will be said: He has died, perished, no rather, has threaded to some valley.”

12- Ghaibat Nomani: It is narrated from Ali bin Husain from Muhammad Attar from Muhammad bin Hasan Raazi from Muhammad bin Ali Kufi from Muhammad bin Sinan from Abul Jarud from Muzahim Abadi from Akrama bin Saasa from his father that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) used to say:

“The Shia will continuously be the like of goats that a grabber does not know which one of them should he put his hand on. They will neither have any dignity to be dignified with nor a source of support to refer to.”

13- Ghaibat Nomani: It is narrated through the same chains from Abul Jarud from Abdullah the poet that Ibne Abi Afif said: I heard Amirul Momineen (a.s.) say:

“As if I see you roving about like camel herds seeking pastures and not finding it, congregation of the Shia.”

14- Ghaibat Nomani: It is narrated from Ali bin Ahmad from Ubaidullah bin Musa from Musa bin Harun bin Isa Abadi from Abdullah bin Muslim bin Qanab from Sulaiman bin Hilal from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) from his forefathers from Imam Husain Ibne Ali (a.s.) that he said:

A man came to Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and said: “O Chief of believers, inform us about your Mahdi.” Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said: “When generations come and perish, and believers become few, and the followers of righteousness and supporters of the religion go, then he shall be.”

He said: “O Chief of believers, peace be unto you, whose son is he going to be?” Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said: “From Bani Hashim, from the summit of the Arab mountain. He is an ocean who will water a world of oases and will not run short, a man abused when he comes to his folks, and an abode of purity when all will degenerate. He will not fear when deaths charge, and will not recede when the faithful surround him, and will not hesitate when warriors struggle. He will be prepared, far-reaching, a victorious lion, a reaper, an injurer, a warrior, a sword from the swords of Allah, generous, and adventurous. His head will be high in dignity, his nobility firmly rooted in the most distinguished character. No discouraging leader - who will be moving towards mischief, who if speaks, is the worst speaker and if remains silent, possesses evil - should mislead you from following him.”

Then he talked about the Mahdi and said: “He is the best refuge, the most knowledgeable, and the kindest of you all. O Allah, make the pledge of allegiance to him the occasion of exit from affliction, and unite the dispersion of the Ummah through him. When it is permissible for you, do it, but do not turn away from him if you find your way to him. “Ah,” said Amirul Momineen (a.s.), pointing to his chest, expressing his eagerness to see the Mahdi.”

The author said: The copy from which we have quoted this report has been tempered with and most of its statements are interpolated. Hence the researcher should compare the text with that ofGhaibat Nomani .

15- Taraif: Sayyid Ibne Tawus has quoted in Taraif from Al-Jama Bainas Sihah Sitta from Abi Ishaq that he said: Amirul Momineen (a.s.) glanced at his son, Husain and remarked:

“This son of mine is your master, as the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) has named him so. A man will rise from his progeny with the name of your Apostle, similar to him in his character, and not so similar to him in his looks. He will fill the earth with equity.”

16- Nahjul Balagha: Amirul Momineen (a.s.) has remarked: “They went right and left, following the pathways of error and leaving the traditions of guidance. Do not make haste to what is going to happen and is expected. Do not consider slow what is coming to you tomorrow. How many are a haster about something that should it reach him, he would wish it had not! How near is today to the beginnings of tomorrow! O People, this is the time of the coming of every promise and the nearing of the figure whom you do not know. Behold, the one from us who will be then, he will stride in these hard times with a luminous light and will be following the examples of the virtuous to free a captive and emancipate a slave and disperse a misguided nation and unite the followers of righteousness, while he is in hiding from the people, tracers not seeing his footprints, even if they search. A nation will be whetted like an ironsmith whets an arrowhead - their eyes bright with revelation, their ears saturated with exegesis and chalices of wisdom are presented to them day and night.”

17- Amali Tusi: It is narrated from Ali bin Ahmad alias Ibne Hamami from Muhammad bin Ja’far Qari from Muhammad bin Ismail bin Yusuf from Saeed bin Abi Maryam from Muhammad bin Ja’far bin Kathir from Musa bin Uqbah from Abu Ishaq from Asim bin Zumra from Amirul Momineen (a.s.) that he said:

“The earth will become full of oppression and injustice, so much so that no one will be able to utter God’s name but secretly. Then Allah will bring a virtuous congregation, who will fill it with equity and justice, as it will be full of oppression and injustice.”

18- Ikmaaluddin: Shaykh Saduq has narrated from his father and Ibne Walid together from Saad and Himyari and Muhammad Attar and Ahmad bin Idris together from Ibne Abil Khattab from Ibne Isa and Barqi and Ibne Hashim together from Ibne Faddal from Thalaba from Malik Jahni that narrated to us Ibne Walid from Saffar and Saad together from Tayalisi from Zaid bin Muhammad bin Qabus from Nadhr bin Abi Sari from Abu Dawood Mustaraq from Thalaba from Malik Jahni from Harith bin Mughira from Asbagh bin Nubatah that he said:

I came to Amirul Momineen Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) and found him thoughtful. He was drawing lines on the ground. I said: “O Chief of believers, why do I see you thoughtful and you are making lines on the earth? Is it out of desire for the earth?” He said: “No, by Allah, I have never desired it, nor for what is in the world even for one day. I was thinking about the son who will be born from my seed - the eleventh from my sons. He is the Mahdi and he will fill the earth with equity as it will be full of oppression and injustice. There will be a perplexity and occultation related to him in which communities will go astray and communities will be guided.” I said: “O Chief of believers, is this to happen?” “Yes,” he said: “as he will be created. How would you know this, Asbagh! They are the best of this Ummah and the companions of the righteous of this Household.” I said:

“What will happen after that?” He said:“Allah will do what He desires, for He has wills and purposes and outcomes.”

InGhaibat Tusi an identical tradition is mentioned through two other chains of narration.

InGhaibat Nomani an identical tradition is mentioned through another chain of narration.

InIkhtisaas of Mufeed, it is narrated through another reporter.

19- Ikmaaluddin: Shaykh Saduq has narrated from Ibne Walid from Ahmad bin Idris from Ja’far bin Muhammad Fazari from Ishaq bin Muhammad Sairafi from Abu Hashim from Furat bin Ahnaf from Ibne Taraif from Ibne Nubatah that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) mentioned the Qaim (a.s.) and said:

“He will go into hiding, so the ignorant will say that Allah does not have any need of Aale Muhammad (a.s.).”

20- Ikmaaluddin: It is narrated from Ibne Idris from his father from Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Malik from Ibad bin Yaqub from Hasan bin Muhammad from Abu Jarud from Yazid Dhakhim that he says: I heard Amirul Momineen (a.s.) say:

“As if I can see you are roving like cattle searching for the pasture and not finding it.”

21- Ikmaaluddin: It is narrated from Ibne Musa from Asadi from Saad from Muhammad bin Abdul Hamid and Abdus Samad bin Muhammad together from Hannan bin Sudair from Ali bin Hazur from Ibne Nubatah that he said: I heard Amirul Momineen (a.s.) say:

“The Master of this Affair is the runaway, the fugitive, the loner and the forlorn.”

22- Ghaibat Tusi: It is narrated from a group from Talakbari from Ahmad bin Ali from Ahmad bin Idris from Ibne Qutaibah from Fadhl from Ibrahim bin Hakam from Ismail bin Ayyash from Amash from Abu Wail that he says, Amirul Momineen (a.s.) looked at his son, Husain (a.s.) and said:

“This son of mine is a master as the Messenger of Allah named him a master. Allah will bring forth from his seed a man with the name of your Apostle - who will be similar to him in his character as well as his looks - in a time of oblivion of the people and death of righteousness and manifestation of injustice. By Allah, if he should not rise, his neck will be struck. The dwellers and inhabitants of the heavens will rejoice his rise. He will fill the earth with equity as it will be replete with injustice and oppression.”

23- Nahjul Balagha: In a sermon, Amirul Momineen (a.s.) says:

“Then you remain after him (meaning himself, peace be unto him) for so long as Allah wills until Allah raises for you someone who will unite you and pull you together from your dispersion...” as it was mentioned in

Kitabul Fitan (the Book of Trials from Biharul Anwar). Ibne Maitham (a.s.) says that one of his sermons contains a segment that is a sort of explanation for this promise, where Amirul Momineen (a.s.) says, “Be certain that what faces our Qaim is on the virtue of your pagan(Jahiliyya) order. Because the entire Ummah on that day will be pagans, except the ones who are shown Divine mercy. Do not make haste so fear hastens to you. Beware that gentleness is fortune and equanimity is leisure and endurance. The Imam knows better what is right and what is wrong. He will tear out the evil judges from you, cut away your dangers, and dismiss your unjust rulers, and will clean the earth from the dishonest. He will act with equity and establish amongst you a fair scale of justice. Your dead ones will wish they could return shortly once more and live again. This is to happen. For the sake of Allah, you are in your dreams! Safeguard your tongues and be after your livelihood, for depravity will come to you. And if you wait, you will be rewarded and you will find out with certainty that he is the avenger of your victimization and retriever of your rights. I take a true oath by Allah thatAllah is verily with the people who are pious and who perform good deeds.”

Ibne Abil Hadid in explanation of this, says: Sayyid Razi has mentioned this sermon inNahjul Balagha . This sermon is with regard to the condition of Bani Umayyah. A group of historians have also narrated it and it is widespread and narrated through inordinate sources. It has many parts, which Sayyid Razi has not narrated.

One of such parts asserts, “Look at the Household of your Apostle, if they remain silent, you remain silent, and if they should ask for your help, help them. Allah will bring relief through a man from us, Ahle Bayt.

My father be the ransom of the son of the best of the slave girls! He will not give them but the sword in anarchy, putting the sword on his shoulder for eight months; so much so that the Quraish will say: If he were from the progeny of Fatima, he would pity us. Then Allah will incite him over the Umayyads until he leaves them broken bits and mortal remains andaccursed they are, wherever they are come upon, they will be seized and massacred in a complete massacre. Such is Allah’s practice with those who have passed on before: you will never find any change in Allah’s conduct.”

Then Ibne Abil Hadid says: If it should be asked who this promised man is, the answer would be that the Imamiyah believe he is their Twelfth Imam and son of a slave girl called Narjis. However, our scholars maintain he is a man from the progeny of Fatima who will be born in the future and does not exist now. If it should be asked who shall be from the Umayyads in that time that this man will take revenge from, the answer is that the Imamiyah say it is throughRajah. They believe that certain people from the Umayyads and others will be brought back with their very physiques when their awaited Imam comes and that he will amputate hands and feet of many men, gouge out eyes of many, crucify many more, and will take revenge from the enemies of Aale Muhammad (a.s.), both enemies of the past and enemies who will come in the future.

Our scholars, nonetheless, believe that Allah, the High, will create in the period of time a man from the progeny of Fatima (a.s.) who does not exist now, and He will avenge through him; and he will fill the earth with equity

as it shall be replete with oppression and injustice of the oppressors; and that he will chastise them in a much severe manner.

24- Al-Kafi: It is narrated from Ahmad bin Muhammad Kufi from Ja’far bin Abdullah Hamdi from Abu Ruh Faraj bin Qurra from Ja’far bin Abdullah from Masada Ibne Sadaqah from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) saying that:

Amirul Momineen (a.s.) delivered a sermon. He praised and extolled Allah and invoked blessings for the Prophet and his House and then said: “Allah, the Holy and the High, has not broken the tyrants of the ages but after giving a respite and leisure. He has not healed the breakage of a bone of a nation but after severity and trial. O people, there are lessons in the destructions that are awaiting you and the affairs you have left behind.

However, not everyone who has a heart is sagacious, nor everyone who has an ear listens, nor everyone who has eyes observes. Servants of Allah, have a good look at what matters to you and then look at the scenes of the people whom Allah gave command through His knowledge and they followed the conduct of the House of the Firon and enjoyedgardens and springs, and crops and splendid positions. Then look at what finality did Allah lead them to after a period of deferment and gaiety, and command and forbiddance. Whoever upholds patience, he will end up in Paradise, by Allah, forever and ever,and Allah holds the destiny of things.

How odd! How do I wonder from the errors of these sects with the disparity of their proofs in their religion. Neither they follow the footprints of a prophet, nor do they defer to the actions of a successor. Neither they believe in an unseen, nor do they forgive a fault. Virtue for them is what they themselves consider virtuous and vice is what they themselves consider vice. Every man of them is his own Imam, following himself without strong proofs and undeniable reasons. They continue dwelling with injustice and ever increase in errors, never reaching proximity and ever increasing their distance from Allah, the Exalted.

Their affinity with one another and their endorsement of one another, all of that is on the virtue of their fear from what the Apostle has bequeathed and to flee from the message of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, which the Apostle has brought to them.

They are people of contrition, cavities of doubts, and dwellers of illusion and misguidance and doubts. A person who is left by Allah, abandoned to himself and his own opinion, he is only seen secure by someone who does not know him and is not suspected by someone who does not recognize him. How similar are these people to the cattle whose shepherd has disappeared from them!

Alas from the deeds of our Shia after their today’s close love!

How they will disgrace one another after me and will kill each other dispersedly tomorrow ­while they are removed from the principal and are holding on to the inferior hopes of an opening. Each party of them will hold a certain branch and will lean to whichever direction the branch will lean to.

However, Allah, glory to His name, will gather them for the worst day of the Umayyads, as autumn collects clouds. Allah will then bring them

together on love and then will gather them in masses like masses of clouds. Then He will open gateways for them. They will spring out from their ambushes like the flood of the two gardens [of Saba’] - the flood of the mighty dam of Iram, when a rat made a hole in it and neither highlands withstood against it, nor did strong mountains repulse its flow. Allah will then scatter them in the valleys and will make them flow assprings on earth. He will take the rights of one nation through them from another. He will settle a nation through them in the place of another nation to chase away the Umayyads and that they may not continue to usurp what they have usurped.

Allah will destroy through them pillars and will destruct through them the mighty structures of Iram and inhabit with them the midlands of Zaytun.

“I take a solemn oath by the Soul Who split the seed and created the nations, this will happen. As if I hear the neighing of their horses. By Allah, all the treasures in their hands after their rise and might in the lands will dissolve as fat melts on fire. Whoever of them dies, will die a pagan and to God, the Exalted, will be eventually taken whoever of them remains. And Allah, the Exalted, will forgive anyone who repents. Perchance, Allah will bring together my Shia after dispersion for their worst day. The choice is for none; rather, Allah makes the choice and determines all destinies.

“O people, claimants of Imamate who do not deserve it are many. If you do not abandon the bitter truth and do not faint from disparaging the wrong, those who are not like you will not be bold against you and those who are showing strength over you will not become strong over you in order to end and sideline obedience to God.

However, you went astray as did Bani Israel during the time of Prophet Musa (a.s.). By my life, your perplexity and misguidance will increase after me manifolds compared to that of Bani Israel. By my life, if you outlive me and the rule of the Umayyads, you will then be subjected to the rule of the caller to misguidance and you will revive the wrong and will leave the right behind your backs. You will sever your relation with the near relations, the warriors of Badr, and will look up to the aliens from the progeny of the fighters against the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.).

By my life, if they lose their scepter, the purging for the sake of requitals will come near. The promise will be near and the period will be ending. The bright comet will appear to you from east and that bright moon will shine to you. When that happens, turn to repentance and beware that if you follow the Star from the East, he will lead you on the path of the Messenger (a.s.). He will heal your blind, dumb and deaf. He will save you the toils of search and misguidance. The great burdens will be removed from your necks. Allah does not cast away anyone but the one who defies and oppresses and goes astray and takes what does not belong to him.And soon will know those who acted unjustly, which final end they will turn to.”

25- Nahjul Balagha: In another sermon of Nahjul Balagha, the Imam says:

“When our Qaim reappears, he will direct desires to guidance, when people have turned to avarice. He will direct views to the Quran, when they

have directed the Quran to their views.” He says, “So much so until wars are waged at you, which grin at you with their fangs while their breasts are filled with a milk that tastes sweet but leads to bitter ends.

Beware of tomorrow, and tomorrow shall come with what you do not know. The ruler will call unjust rulers to account for their evil acts. The earth will bring out the treasures of its heart to him and submit him their keys. He will show you the equity of character. He will revive the dead teachings of the Book and Sunnah.”

Another discussion of Ibne Abil Hadid

The author says: Commentator ofNahjul Balagha , Ibne Abil Hadid narrates from his teacher, Abu Uthman that he said: Abu Ubaidah has narrated a longer version of this tradition on the authority of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) through his forefathers, “Behold the righteous men from my Household and the pure men of my family are the forbearing of all people in their youths and the most knowledgeable of all people in their old age.

We, the Ahle Bayt, know through Divine knowledge, judge through Divine commands, and the words of the Truthful we follow. If you follow our words, you will be guided through our light, and if you do not do that, Allah will destroy you at our hands. With us is the standard of truthfulness. Whoever follows it, will find salvation and whoever falls behind, will be destroyed.

Behold, through us the faults of the believers are undone and through us the dress of dishonor is removed from your necks. Through us is the initiation and through us, not you, is the finality.”

Ibne Abil Hadid says, “Through us, not you is the finality” is an allusion to the Mahdi who will rise in the last period of time. The majority tradition scholars believe that he is from the progeny of Fatima (a.s.). Our Mutazilte scholars do not reject him and they have mentioned him in their books and their scholars have acknowledged him. However, we believe that he has not been created yet and that he will be created, which is also the belief of Ahle Sunnat.

The Chief Justice has narrated on the authority of Ismail Ibne Ibad (a.s.) from Amirul Momineen (a.s.) that he mentioned the Mahdi and said: “He is from the progeny of Husain (a.s.).” He mentioned his facial features and said: “He is a man of broad forehead, high nose, thick abdomen, bulky legs, and his front teeth are apart from one another. There is a mark on his right leg.” Abdullah bin Qutaibah has also mentioned this tradition inGharibul Hadith.

The author says: The following poem is from the book of poetry attributed to Amirul Momineen (a.s.):

My son, when the Turks make turmoil, then expect

The governance of the Mahdi, who will rise and establish justice

The kings of the earth will be humbled to Bani Hashim And they will pledge allegiance to them

A child from the children without insight

Neither he has a high aim nor does he have wisdom

Then will rise your Qaim of Truth

He will bring you the Truth and act on the Truth

The namesake of the Prophet, my soul be his ransom. My sons, do not abandon him and make haste for him.

8

Chapter Eight: Narrations of Imams Hasan and Husain (a.s.) about the Promised Mahdi

الْمُظَفَّرُ الْعَلَوِيُّ عَنِ ابْنِ الْعَيَّاشِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْبَغْدَادِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ سَدِيرِ بْنِ حُكَيْمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ عقيصاء [عَقِيصَى‏] قَالَ لَمَّا صَالَحَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ع مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ فَلَامَهُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَيْعَتِهِ فَقَالَ ع وَيْحَكُمْ مَا تَدْرُونَ مَا عَمِلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي عَمِلْتُ خَيْرٌ لِشِيعَتِي مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ أَوْ غَرَبَتْ أَ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّنِي إِمَامُكُمْ مُفْتَرَضُ الطَّاعَةِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ أَحَدُ سَيِّدَيْ شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ بِنَصٍّ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالُوا بَلَى قَالَ أَ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّ الْخَضِرَ لَمَّا خَرَقَ السَّفِينَةَ وَ قَتَلَ الْغُلَامَ وَ أَقَامَ الْجِدَارَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ سَخَطاً لِمُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ ع إِذْ خَفِيَ عَلَيْهِ وَجْهُ الْحِكْمَةِ فِيهِ وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ حِكْمَةً وَ صَوَاباً أَ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّهُ مَا مِنَّا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا وَ يَقَعُ فِي عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ لِطَاغِيَةِ زَمَانِهِ إِلَّا الْقَائِمُ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي رُوحُ اللَّهِ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ خَلْفَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُخْفِي وِلَادَتَهُ وَ يُغَيِّبُ شَخْصَهُ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِأَحَدٍ فِي عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ إِذَا خَرَجَ ذَاكَ التَّاسِعُ مِنْ وُلْدِ أَخِي الْحُسَيْنِ ابْنِ سَيِّدَةِ الْإِمَاءِ يُطِيلُ اللَّهُ عُمُرَهُ فِي غَيْبَتِهِ ثُمَّ يُظْهِرُهُ بِقُدْرَتِهِ فِي صُورَةِ شَابٍّ ابْنِ دُونِ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً ذَلِكَ لِيُعْلَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلى‏ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

1- Ikmaaluddin: It is narrated from Muzaffar Alawi from Ibne Ayyash from his father from Jibraeel bin Ahmad from Musa bin Ja’far Baghdadi from Hasan bin Muhammad Sairafi from Hannan bin Sudair from his father, Sudair bin Hakeem from his father from Abu Saeed Uqeesa that he said:

When Hasan Ibne Ali (a.s.) signed the peace treaty with Muawiyah Ibne Abi Sufyan, people went to him and some of them criticized him for it. The Imam said: “Woe unto you! You do not know what I did. By Allah, what I have done is better for my Shia than all the riches upon which the sun has risen and set. Don’t you know that I am your Imam, whose obedience is obligatory upon you, and one of the two chiefs of the people of the Garden on the virtue of explicit saying of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.)?”

They said: “Indeed so.” He said: “Don’t you know that when Khizr tore the boat and killed the boy and erected the wall, that was very harsh for Musa Ibne Imran (a.s.), since its wisdom was hidden to him, which was wisdom and propriety before Allah?

Don’t you know there is no one of us except a pledge of allegiance to the tyrant of his time falls on his neck except the Qaim behind whom Ruhullah Isa Ibne Maryam will pray? For Allah, the Exalted, will hide his birth and conceal his person, so there will not be any commitment of allegiance on his neck for anyone when he rises. He is the ninth from the children of my

brother Husain, the son of Fatima, the Mistress of bondmaids. Allah will prolong his life in his occultation. Then he will bring him forth through His power in the figure of a youth of less than forty years, so it may be knownthat Allah isAll-Powerful over everything.

2- Ikmaaluddin: It is narrated from Abdul Wahid bin Muhammad bin Abdus from Abu Amr Laithi from Muhammad bin Masud from Ali bin Muhammad bin Shajja from Muhammad bin Isa from Ibne Abu Umair from Abdur Rahman bin Hajjaj from Ja’far bin Muhammad (a.s.) from his father Muhammad bin Ali (a.s.) from his father Ali bin Husain that Imam Husain (a.s.) said:

“Blessings of Allah be unto them; in the ninth son of mine there is a tradition from Yusuf and a tradition from Musa, the son of Imran. He is the Qaim of us Ahle Bayt. Allah, the High, will restitute his affair in a single night.”

3- Ikmaaluddin: Maghazi has narrated from Ibne Uqdah from Ahmad bin Musa bin Furat from Abdul Wahid bin Muhammad from Sufyan from Abdullah bin Zubair from Abdullah Ibne Sharik on the authority of a man from Hamadan, saying:

I heard Husain Ibne Ali, Allah’s blessings be unto them both, say, “The Qaim of this Ummah is the ninth from my progeny. He is the man of the occultation. And he is the one whose inheritance is distributed while he is alive.”

4- Ikmaaluddin: It is narrated from Hamadani from Ali from his father from Abdus Salam Harawi from Waki bin Jarrah from Rabi bin Saad from Abdur Rahman bin Salit that Imam Husain (a.s.) said:

“There are Twelve Guides from us; their first is Amirul Momineen Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) and their last is the ninth from my sons and he is the Imam, the Establisher of the Truth. Allah will revive the earth after its death. He will uplift the right religion through himover all religions, dislike may the polytheists. He will have an occultation in which nations will apostatize and many more will stay firm on the religion. They will be maltreated and asked:When is this promise, if you are truthful?

Behold, the one who remains steadfast during his occultation despite maltreatments and falsifications, is in the position of a warrior with the sword in the way of Allah in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.).”

5- Ikmaaluddin: It is narrated from Ali bin Muhammad bin Hasan Qazwini from Muhammad bin Abdullah Hadhrami from Ahmad bin Yahya Hawl from Khallad Muqri from Qays bin Abu Hasin from Yahya bin Wathab from Abdullah Ibne Umar that he said: I heard Husain Ibne Ali (a.s.) say:

“Even if there should not remain but a single day from the world, Allah, the Exalted, will prolong that day so much that a man from my progeny will

rise. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it will be replete with injustice and oppression. So I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) say.”

6- Ikmaaluddin: Shaykh Saduq has narrated from his father from Muhammad bin Yahya Attar from Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Malik from Hamadan bin Mansur from Saad bin Muhammad from Isa Khashshab that he said:

I said to Husain Ibne Ali (a.s.), “Are you the Awaited Patron of this Enterprise?” He said: “No, rather, the Patron of this Enterprise is the runaway fugitive, the son of a non-avenged father, called by the patronymic of his uncle. He will put his sword on his shoulder for eight months.”

7- Ghaibat Tusi: A group has narrated from Talakbari from Ahmad bin Ali from Ahmad bin Idris from Ibne Qutaibah from Fadhl from Amr bin Uthman from Muhammad bin Ghazafar from Uqbah bin Yunus from Abdullah bin Sharik who says in a lengthy narration that Husain (a.s.) passed by a group of Umayyads sitting in the Masjid of the Messenger (a.s.). He said:

“Behold, by Allah, the world will not end until Allah sends a man from my seed, who will kill from you one thousand and with the thousand another thousand and with the thousand another thousand.”

I asked, “May I be your ransom. They are the sons of so-and-so and they do not reach this number.” The Imam said: “Look at you! At that time, a man will have from his seed so-and-­so many men. And the chief of our people will be from themselves.”