The Secret Birth of
Hadhrat Mahdi (a.s.)
Shaykh Mufid, a distinguished Shi'ite
scholar, also wrote in al Irshad: "When Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.),
passed away, the caliph of that time, pursued his son because the
Shi'ite Imamiyyah's belief was famous and was spread about that the
Shi'ites were awaiting His Eminence."
Mu'tadid, one of the tyrant 'Abbasid
caliphs who ruled from 279 to 289 A.H., decided all at once to destroy
the entire family of al 'Askari when he heard that more than twenty
years had passed since the birth of the son of Imam Hasan al-'Askari
(a.s.), and that he was still living in spite of the attempts of the
preceding caliph to kill him. One of Mu'tadid's officers said: "Mu'tadid
has ordered me and two other persons, each of us to mount a horse and to
proceed to Samarra' in full speed without even stopping for prayer. He
gave us the address of (Imam) al-'Askari and instructed us to enter his
house without his permission and to bring him the head of whoever we
find there." As a matter of fact, they were unaware that the same power
which had protected the Imam from the former caliphs would give him
protection from his evil, because:
"Allah disdains (nothing) save that
He shall perfect His light, however much the disbelievers are averse"
(IX 32).
Indeed what an immature thought and
foolish act it was! If the Divine Will bears on some matter, can a
person revolt against it and combat it? Is it possible that definite
Divine Promises may not be compiled with? Or is it possible that the
reins of oppressive imposters who fight against the Divine decree will
not cut? Is it not more amazing that Peerless, Almighty Allah has shown
His power many times before, so that after that all men should know that
if He wishes to give His chosen servant government and sovereignty and
to destroy infidelity and irreligiousness through him, then there is no
one who can disrupt His rule? Fortunately, this sensational story is
mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.
Pharaoh, the great emperor of Egypt,
who had great power and pride, claimed the divinity for himself. He
determined to Kill all the youths and boy children of Bani Isra'il as a
result of what he had heard about a son being born who would destroy his
empire and divinity. He shed the blood of innocents, and banished many
persons to unknown regions; but see how Almighty Allah restored His
Prophet and how the Divine Will worked to protect the life of Musa(a.s.),
and destroy Pharaoh:
"And We revealed to the mother of
Musa, saying, "Give him suck; and if you fear for him, launch him on the
river; and fear not, nor grieve; for We will return him to you and make
him one of the Messengers." And took him up Pharaoh's people, that he
might be to them an enemy and a (cause of their) grief, (for) verily
Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were sinners ...So We did restore him
to his mother that her age might be refreshed and that she might not
grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is (always)
true, but most of them know not".
(XXVIII 7-13)
Yes, Allah will protect His Proof
(Hujjah) and will fulfil His promises and glad tidings because His
decision is based on its execution, although most people do not know it.
Would Allah wish to save the life of Prophet Musa (a.s.), who was only a
messenger to a certain nation and tribe, and yield the Imam of the Age
(Imam-e-Zamana) into the hands of Mu'tamid and Mu'tadid?
Would Allah protect the life of Musa
(a.s.) while he was in the middle of the roaring waves of a river, and
give no security to the Imam of the Age who was in the house of his
father, Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.)? Would the Sustaining Allah of the
Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.),protect Ibrahim (a.s.), in the middle of the
flaming fire, but allow the Last Pearl of the Prophet's progeny to be a
victim of the lust and anger of the 'Abbaside caliphs?
At dawn, on the middle day of Sha'ban
in the year 255 A.H., Imam Hasan al Askari (a.s.), beheld the heavenly,
shinning face of his son who was to fulfil all Divine promises and glad
tidings. Not more than three days had passed after his birth when the
Eleventh Imam took the holy child to his companions and told them:
"After me this will be your master of authority and my successor, and he
is the 'Support ' (al-Qa'im) for whose appearance all people will wait;
when the earth is full of injustice and tyranny, he will fill it with
peace and justice."
Read carefully these words of Shaykh
Mufid,
"Imam Hasan al-'Askari, peace be on
him, prepared a true Government for his fruitful son. He kept secret the
birth of his son and other related matters, because His Eminence was
living in a difficult time when the caliphs were intensively searching
for his son and were keeping a close eye on the affairs of Imam
al-'Askari. This is because the Shi'ite Imamiyyah belief about the Imam
al Mahdi (a.s.), had become so current they were waiting for His
Eminence. Hence, Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.), did not show his, and,
therefore, the enemies could not recognize Imam al-Mahdi, (a.s.), after
the demise of His Eminence (father).
Although the affairs of Imam al-Mahdi
(a.s.), were unknown to his enemies and opponents, the sincere Shi'ites
gathered the news of this important event. Some of them were informed by
Imam al-'Askari (a.s.), through a letter. One of the sincere Shi'ites,
Ahmad ibn Is'haq, received a letter from the Imam written in his own
hand writing, saying: "A son is born to me. Therefore, keep secret the
news of it from people and inform only his near relatives and particular
friends." Some of the Shi'ites used to pay private visits to Imam
al-'Askari (a.s.), who would take them into the presence of the Twelfth
Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.), who would guide them. Abu 'Umari and Ahwazi
reported: "Abu Muhammad (Imam Hasan al-'Askari) showed me his son (the
Twelfth Imam) and told me, 'This is your Master (Sahib)." Some other
Shi'ites used to visit Imam al-'Askari(a.s.), in a group, and if the
Imam trusted in them that they would faithfully keep their visit secret,
he would show them his beloved son.
Yes, in this manner was the Imam of the
Age (Imam-e- Zamana) born and kept hidden from the reach of strangers.
On some occasions only were virtuous Shi'ites allowed to see him, until
the year 260 A.H, when the Eleventh Imam expired, and by Divine decree
the office of Divine Leadership (Imamate) was vested in the Master of
the Authority (Sahibu'l-Amr). |