Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

The Occultation of the Twelfth Imam (A Historical Background)

Author: Jassim M. Hussain
Publisher: Muhammadi Trust of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Category:

• Dedication
• Preface
• Introduction
• Survey of the Sources
• 1. Books on the question of the Ghayba
• A. Books on the question of the occultation written before 260/874
• The Waqifa
• The Zaydites
• The Imamites
• B. Books on the Question of the Ghayba written between the years 260-329/8'74-941
• C. Books on the question of the Ghayba written after 329/941
• 2. The Biographical Works
• 3 The Books of General History
• Notes
• The Role of Traditions in the Occultation of the Twelfth Imam
• 1. The early usage of the term al-Mahdi
• 2. The Occultation of al-Qa’im al-Mahdi in the Qur'an
• 3. The traditions concerning the Twelfth Imam and his occultation
• A) The traditions concerning al-Qa’im al-Mahdi
• B) The traditions of the Sunnites (Ahl al-Hadith)
• C) The Twelfth Imam in the Zaydite traditions
• D) The Twelfth Imam in the Imamite traditions
• a. The traditions concerning the Twelfth Imam
• b. The political role of al-Qa’im
• c. The signs of the rise of al-Qa’im
• Notes
• The Role of the Imams in the Shiite Underground Activities and their Influence upon the Evolution of the Ghayba
• 1. Al-Sadiq's Attitude towards the new Regime
• 2. The Imamite activities during the period of al-Kazim (148-183/765-799)
• 3. The Attitude of al-Riďa towards the ‘Alid Revolt against al-Ma’mun
• 4. The development of the Imamite organization (al-Wikala) during the time of al-Jawad
• 5. The ‘Abbasids' Attitude toward the activities of al­-Hadi
• 6. Conclusion
• Notes
• The Imamites’ Views concerning the Concealed Imam and His Birth
• 1. The Schisms Amongst the Adherents of al-Hasan al-'Askari After His Death
• A) Introduction
• B) Schism I: the Waqifa at al-’Askari
• C) Schism II: The Ja’farites
• D) Schism III: The Muhammadiyya
• E) Schism IV: The Qat’iyya
• F) Schism V: The Cessation of the Imamate
• G) Conclusion
• 2. The Question of the Birth of the Twelfth Imam
• A) The Origin of the Mother of the Twelfth Imam
• B) The Birth of the Twelfth Imam
• 3. The Reasons for the First Occultation of the Twelfth Imam
• 4. Al- ‘Askari’s Plan to Hide his Successor
• 5. The Abbasid Attempt to Arrest al- 'Askari's Son
• Notes
• The Underground Activities of the Twelth Imam as seen in the Actions of the Saf’irs
• 1. A Brief Study of the Wikala Before the Twelfth Imam
• 2. The Main Functions of the Wikala
• 3. The Early Career of Uthman b. Sa’id
• 4. The Career of the First Saf’ir
• 5. The Opposition to the First Saf’ir
• 6. The Imam's Wikala During the Time of the First Saf’ir
• A) Iraq: The Centre of the Wikala
• B) The Second Area: Egypt, the Hijaz and Yemen
• C) The Third Area: Azerbayjan and Arran
• D) The Fourth Area: Qumm and Dinawar
• E) The Fifth Area: Rayy and Khurasan
• 7. The Death of the First Saf’ir
• Notes
• The Underground Activities of the Second Saf’ir of the Twelfth Imam
• 1. The Designation of the Second Saf’ir, Abu Ja’far
• A) Ibn Hilal
• B) al‑Bilali
• C) Muhammad b. Nusayr
• 2. The Activities of Abu Jafar, the Second Saf’ir
• A) The Career of Abu Ja’far
• B) The Agents of the Second Saf’ir in Baghdad
• C) The Relationship of the Second Saf’ir to the Agents in the other Provinces
• 3. The Effect of the Shiite Revolutionary Activities upon the 'Abbasids' Attitude towards the Twelfth Imam
• Notes
• The Career of the Third Saf’ir, al-Nawabakhti
• 1. Al‑Nawbakhti’s Activities During the Time of the Second Saf’ir
• 2. The Installation of the Third Saf’ir
• 3. The Activities of Ibn Ruh al‑Nawbakhti
• 4. The Third Saf’ir and al‑Shalmaghani
• Notes
• The Fourth Saf’ir and the Complete Occultation of the Twelfth Imam
• 1. The Career of the Fourth Saf’ir (326-329/937-941)
• 2. An Analysis of the Tawqi’ of the Fourth Saf’ir
• 3. The Imamite Learned Men's Attitude Towards the Second Occultation
• 4. The Attitude of the Ordinary Imamites towards the Second Occultation
• 5. The Application of the Epithet al-Mahdi to the Twelfth Imam
• Notes
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• List of Abbreviations Employed in the Footnotes and in the Bibliography