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Discussions Concerning al-Mahdi

(May Allah Hasten His Return)

Written in the form of questions and answers, it discusses about the three main topics Shiaism, Imamah and Mahdism.

Author(s): Ayatullah Lutfullah as-Safi al-Gulpaygani

Translator(s): Sayyid Sulayman Ali Hasan

Publisher(s): Islamic Humanitarian Service (IHS)

www.alhassanain.org/english

Notice:

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

The composing errors are not corrected.

The Part 3 title and Sources sections were omitted in al-islam.org version. So, we carried them here.

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Notes 8

Part 1: Shi’ism 9

Historical Factors and Shi’ism 10

Question: 10

Answer: 10

A. The Origin of Shiaism In the Prophet’s Time 10

B. The Origin of the Issue of Khilafah 11

C. Sunnism and its Sectarian Meaning (in opposition to Shiaism) After the Prophet’s Time 13

D. Cause of the Division of Muslims into two factions, Sunni and Shi‘a 15

E. The Religious Basis for Support of the Leadership of Ahl al-Bait (peace be upon them) 18

Notes 18

The Shi‘a and Armed Uprising 20

Question: 20

Answer: 20

Notes 22

Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq & the Shi’a School of Thought 23

Question: 23

Answer: 23

Before Imam as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) 24

Question: 24

Answer: 24

Shi‘a Ideology’s Practicality 26

Question: 26

Answer: 26

Notes 28

Shi‘a Positions with Respect to the Usurping Rulers 29

Question: 29

Answer: 29

Note 30

The Accusation of “Exaggeration” (Ghuluww) Against the Shi‘a 31

Question: 31

Answer: 31

Notes 33

The Relation of the Shi‘a with the Mu‘tazilah 34

Question: 34

Answer: 34

Part 2: Imamah 36

The Secret of Choosing the Imams 37

Question: 37

Answer: 37

Notes 40

Allah’s Knowledge and the Infallibles’ (peace be upon them) Knowledge of the Unseen 41

Question: 41

Answer: 41

The Countenance of the Imams’ (peace be upon them) Conduct 43

Question: 43

Answer: 43

Notes 44

The Limits of the Imam’s Leadership 45

Question: 45

Answer: 45

Notes 47

The Number of the Shi‘a Imams 48

Question: 48

Answer: 48

Principality of Reason or Narration in Specifying the Imam (peace be upon him) 50

Question: 50

Answer: 50

[Part 3: Mahdawiyyat] 53

Original Source of Belief in Imamah and Faith in The Appearance of the Twelfth Imam (peace be upon him) 54

Question: 54

Answer: 54

Note 55

The Qur’an and Messianism (Mahdawiyyat) 56

Question: 56

Answer: 56

Notes 57

Belief in the Appearance of the Mahdi and Savior and the Appearance of False Mahdis 58

Question: 58

Answer: 58

The Effect of Social, Economic, and Political Factors in Religious Thought 59

Question: 59

Answer: 59

Notes 61

“Mahdi” in a Special Meaning and Technical Usage 62

Question: 62

Answer: 62

Notes 63

Controversy Regarding the Date of Birth of Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return) 64

Question: 64

Answer: 64

Consensus of the Shi‘a Regarding the Imamah of Imam Sahib al-Amr (may Allah hasten his return) after the Demise of Imam Hasan al-‘Askari (peace be upon him) 65

Question: 65

Answer: 65

The Twelfth Imam’s Revolution 66

Question: 66

Answer: 66

The title “Al-Qa’im” (The Riser) 67

Question: 67

Answer: 67

Notes 72

Two Types of Occultation 73

Question: 73

Answer: 73

The Miraculous Birth of the Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his return) 75

Question: 75

Answer: 75

Philosophy of the Delay of Reappearance with the Presence of Conditions 76

Question: 76

Answer: 76

The Length of the Occultation and Difficult and Formidable Trials 78

Question: 78

Answer: 78

Notes 80

The Principle of Grace and the Imamah of the Concealed Imam 81

Question: 81

Answer: 81

Note 82

The Issue of Bada’ (Alteration in the Divine Will) and the Tradition of Abu Hamza 83

Question: 83

Answer: 83

First Objection: 88

Second Objection: 89

Notes 90

Belief in the Return (Raj’ah) with respect to Belief in the Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return) 91

Question: 91

Answer: 91

Notes 92

[Sources] 93

Introduction

With the Name of Allah, the Kind, the Merciful

“O’ Master of the Age, grant us succor!”

Allah has called all of His creation to obedience to Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), since obedience to him is obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), and obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) is obedience to Allah, and Allah has created the entire universe to obey and worship Him.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنُّ وَالإِنْسُ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“And I have not created the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” 1

In order to“obey the Mahdi (peace be upon them)” one must carry his guardianship and love in the heart; and to attain his love, one must recognize him.

Without recognizing the Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), his love cannot take hold in the heart. And without loving him, obeying and following him do not come about. And without following him, devoutness is not possible. And without devoutness, perplexity and misguidedness and wandering in the darkness will result; it is as we have been taught in the form of supplications:

اّللَّهُمَّ عَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ ضَلَلْتُ عَنْ دِيْنِي

“O’ Allah, make me recognize Your authority, for if You don’t make me recognize him, I shall go astray in my religion.” 2

And they have said:

مَنْ أَنْكَرَ الْمَهْدِي فَقَدَ كَفَرَ

“One who denies the Mahdi (peace be upon him) has become a disbeliever.”

And also:

مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَعْرِفْ إِمَامَ زَمَانِهِ مَاتَ مِيْتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةٍ

“One who dies without recognizing the Imam of his time dies the death of the Age of Ignorance.” 3

It is on this basis that the religion of Islam does not take form except within the limits of“Shiaism” - which is the true conformity to religion.

And obedience to the religious commands has no meaning except on the basis of“Imamah” - which is the Divine leadership.

And belief in“Imamah” and leadership in the era after the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) does not take shape except with accepting the principle of the“Mahdi” - which is the universal dissemination of the guidance.

“Shiaism” is nothing other than the reality of the pure Muhammadan Islam.

“Imamah” is nothing other than the continuity of the mission of the Noble Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his family).

And“Mahdism” is nothing other than the life and vitality of“Imamah” in the era of the concealment and the worldwide rule of Divine unity and justice in the era of the reappearance.

It is this very way of thinking that has compelled the enemies of Islam to make all kinds of plots and conspiracies to obliterate Shiaism, Imamah, and belief in the Mahdi.

Always, the Shi‘a have been put under pressure in order for the non-believers and hypocrites to be able to pursue their activities.

In order to strengthen the Islam of the caliphs and justify the expediency-based rulings of the apparently Muslim rulers, objections have been raised regarding the issue of Imamah.

And in order to crush the combatants and make reformers despair, the very principal of the Mahdi has been subject to denial.

In spite of all this, it is only the“authenticity of Shiaism,” the“majesty of the Imamah,” and the“integrity of Mahdism” that guaranteed the preservation of the true prophetic traditions, the becoming reality of the Qur’anic guidance, and the progress of the revolutionary and ideal teachings of the Divine leaders.

The book in front of you is one of the valuable works of the eminent teacher and well-known researcher, Ayatullah al-‘Uzma Safi Gulpaygani. It has been written in the form of questions and answers - which is one of the most influential ways of research and writing - about the three main topics of“Shiaism,” “Imamah,” and“Mahdism.” It has answered the existing objections according to what is necessary and possible in the limits of this brief book.

Allah is the provider of tawfiq

Research Unit of the Holy Masjid of Jamkaran,

Sha’ban, 1419

Notes

1. Surah Dhariat (51), Verse 56

2. Al-Kafi, Volume 1, Page 337, hadith 5

3. Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 8, Page 368, hadith 41

Part 1: Shi’ism