Imam
AL-MAHDI (a-s)
OCCULTATION AND OUR DUTIES.
Part
one.
A
study by: Brother Ali Ja’afary Stump.
“In the Name of ALLAH the Merciful, the Compassionate”
INTRODUCTION:
We are the followers of the true and original Islam. We, the Shi’a of
the Prophet Muhammad (saww) and his Ahlul-Bayt (a-s), we have in our
beliefs and values many different responsibilities and duties. As well
as our religious daily duties, we also have many different individual
and social duties to perform, all in the goal of closeness and nearness
to ALLAH (swt). We perform each duty with knowledge that it will bring
us a deeper comprehension of our reality, which in return brings up our
intellectual and spiritual capacities, which drives away our inner base
desires, which cleans and purifies our hearts (soul) from all sorts of
pollution and corruption, which in fact brings us closer to our LORD,
MASTER and CREATOR ALLAH Azz wa Jall.
We try to live our days in performing the best deeds possible and we try
to refrain from our desires and laziness that in the long run will bring
us nothing else but pain, sorrow and self-destruction. Too often, we
forget our destination and towards what we are headed, we become to self
centered, we unfortunately over focus and concentrate on this transient
life and its idle attractions. We then completely lose touch with the
Afterlife and our salvation, for it is after we demise and leave this
transitory life that our real eternal life begins and it will depend on
how we spent this short time on this earth. We must work hard now and
move forward and collect the best deeds possible and put ourselves in
check against sin and base desires, in order to achieve our goals in the
Hereafter. Therefore we must grip onto and hold tight to our Islamic
beliefs, for they are our guides to salvation. Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s) is
one of these tools of hope and one of these beliefs; in fact he is our
current Imam and is the one who will deliver onto us solace and relief.
(Please read article:
‘The
advent of IMAM AL-MAHDI (a-s), the natural course for humanity, HIS LIFE
AND HIS LINEAGE’.
For
more information on this subject.)
In this particular article we will look at the 1st part on
the Occultation of Imam Al-Mahdi Al-Qa’im (a-s) and the 2nd
part our duties during this time, here is how we will divide these
subjects:
1st
Part: The Occultation:
A-
Scientifically:
A
scientific discourse on Occultation.
B-
Theoretically:
A
theoretical discourse on Occultation.
C-
Religiously / Traditionally:
Occultation from the Hadiths of the Ahlul-Bayt (a-s).
2nd Part: Our Duties:
A-Morality:
Our
behaviour and conduct.
B-Training:
Our
preparation for our meeting with Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s).
C-
Assignment:
Our
Islamic Mission.
THE OCCULTATION:
A SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE ON OCCULTATION.
In my research on possibilities of a human being living very long
periods of time such as 500 years and more, I came across many very
interesting articles and studies on the issue of prolonged existence.
Nowhere did I find in any of my investigation, any information that
would confirm that the life of a being has a certain time of ending. In
fact, most of the scientific proof on prolonged existence and longevity
prove that prolonged existence is feasible and science may break the
code of what ages man and in fact shortens his life, for his organs have
been created without any kind of time limit. There are in many
laboratories throughout the world organs of human beings being kept
alive in what we can call artificial environments. In these environments
these living organs are kept alive free from bacteria, pollution,
stress, poisons and injuries, which are what most scientists in this
field say produce illness and makes the human being age. In fact because
of the abuse we put our bodies through every second, of every minute, of
every hour, of every day, most scientist say the human life span is
greatly reduced. The human cells and organs that these scientists keep
in these protected environments can live for hundreds and even thousands
of years. In other words, many of these scientists claim that aging is a
slow accruing condition that slowly deteriorates the human’s physical
body. In other words, they are saying that things such as the food we
eat, air we breathe (pollution), the stress we suffer, the injuries and
physical shocks we receive are all factors that weaken our bodies’
defences and make our bodies victim of the illness that very gradually
sicken the cells, the result of this is weakening of the organs and
aging of the human being.
Surely through the genes and hereditary traits, many of these offensive
poisons are passed from generation to generation, other factors that may
infect the body with these cell killers are through the environment
(climate, pollution and weather),
profession or occupation
(over
stressful work and harsh working conditions are a cause, however,
laziness, idleness and lethargy are extreme deadly attributes that will
most certainly add to the infection of the cells, for when the human
body become inactive it definitely deteriorates),
of course there is the nutrition factor
(we are
finding more and more diseases that originate from bad eating habits, in
the Occident, obesity, high cholesterol, heart failure are becoming
dilemmas of the society there),
social
and leisure time can also weaken the body and allow these cell killers
into the system, for if the person is doing extreme sports or activities
that may injure his body and organs or as well for the one who abuses
sleep and rest time and engages himself into perversion and sinful acts
(such as alcoholism, drugs, dancing, sexual perversion and deviation,
etc…)
I also found a very interesting write up in a book by Ayatollah Ibrahim
Amini, it was written
by a
specialist in the field of longevity by the name of Dr. Abū
Tūrāb
Nafisi,
he spoke of hibernation of animals and how in their state of hibernation
their need for food vanishes and wear and tear on the body decreases
anywhere from 30% to 100%. The temperature of their body drops down to
39-41 degrees Fahrenheit. Both the breathing becomes slow and the heart
rate random and sluggish.
I also discovered longevity to be an extremely big and booming business;
the internet is full of advertisers trying to sell their products to
reduce aging. When I investigated them closer, I discovered that the big
majority of them are based on cleansing and regeneration of the organs
and or the blood system. It seems they have based themselves on the
research we have found and mentioned above.
There is absolutely no reason to refute any claim of human beings living
as long as thousands of years, for this theory is very acceptable and
backed up by scientific proof, that the body may indeed live 10 or 20
times longer under controlled conditions and protected against the cell
killers that slowly poison the human organs and age man prematurely.
However, only the Almighty ALLAH (swt), decides the time that man shall
live in this transitory world and it is said to those who deny this
truthful fact in the Holy Qur’an:
“And they say: There is nothing but our life in this world; we live and
die and nothing destroys us but time, and they have no knowledge of
that; they only conjecture”.
(The Holy Qur’an 45 Al-Jātiya-24)
In conclusion, if our limited knowledge and science is discovering more
and more facts that refute the claim of the impossibility of a man
living for extreme long periods of time, then surely ALLAH Azz wa Jall
Who has the most perfect science can achieve things that we can not
understand. If today we now can keep organs of humans to live for
extremely long periods of time by protecting them against bacteria and
microbes that attack the cells and begin the aging process, then in
complete certainty we can say and belief without any doubt that a human
being under the Divine protection of ALLAH (swt) can live until the Day
of Reckoning. One who does not believe in this surely cannot believe
that ALLAH (swt) is the Originator and Creator of all existence and the
Only Lord and Master of all creation; therefore he cannot belief that
ALLAH (swt) will resurrect all mankind on the Day of Judgement, then we
can conclude that such a person is an atheist and is in no way a Muslim.
A THEORETICAL DISCOURSE ON OCCULTATION.
A POPULAR THEORY:
One of the popular theories I came across about soul and body separation
is that many scholars
(Especially in the Occident)
have
the theory that as the body is worn and weakens it expels the soul of
man causing death to the human being. In my opinion, I cannot accept
this theory for as we all know in our Islamic beliefs based on the
teachings of the Holy Qur’an, man’s goal in this transient life is to
perfect and purify his soul in order to achieve proximity and nearness
to ALLAH (swt). Therefore I believe the soul is the pilot and the body
the vehicle in the Holy Qur’an it says:
“And the soul and HIM who made it perfect, then HE inspired it to
understand what is right and what is wrong for it; He will indeed be
successful who purifies it, and he will indeed fail who corrupts it”.
(The Holy Qur’an 91 Al-Shams 7-10)
By this verse we can understand that truly ALLAH (swt) created man for
perfecting his soul, therefore surely the body could not expel the soul.
In other words, if the soul is the source to purification and proximity
to ALLAH (swt), logically it would not be up to the body to expel the
soul. If I am to accept this theory it would mean I would have to
re-analyze all that I have studied about the soul, the body, the human
being, creation and the Creator. Although I am not an expert, this
theory doesn’t fulfill my expectations of the human soul and body
separation. I did find a theory in a book by Ayatollah Ibrahim Amini
that comes from the great scholar Mulla Sadra. I found it to be nearer
to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (saww) and the Holy Imams.
THE THEORY BY MULLA SADRA:
The theory by Mulla Sadra is without doubt a very well reflected theory,
which on its own, answers all the questions about prolonged existence
and soul and body separation. Before we look into this theory let us
review some of our fundamental beliefs about our existence. As we have
already mentioned man’s goal is to perfect himself and purify his soul
in order to achieve closeness and nearness to ALLAH (swt). And by
understanding this point, man will conduct himself and behave in such a
manner, that a purifying effect will take place over him, which in
return leads him on the Straight Path, that brings him closer to his
Only Lord ALLAH Azz wa Jall. Now understanding this simple process
completely and without doubt, we must admit then that surely the soul is
the pilot and the body the vehicle.
Now we can look deeper and understand the theory of the great
philosopher Mulla Sadra. He claimed that the administration and
fortification of the living being is the responsibility of the soul. It
is the soul that controls the body in all ways. So for however long the
soul needs the body in order to progress, it keeps its body healthy and
alive. Once it has obtained its objectives, it no longer needs its human
body and begins to drift away from it, the result as the soul leaves the
body, the body then deteriorates and dies. So if this theory is correct
then certainly a man who is sent to earth as the liberator and one who
brings solace to all mankind can live 500 years, 1000 years or even
10000 years. For his mission he needs a strong soul and in order to
achieve victory a strong body. His soul will keep his body in the best
of condition until he has achieved his Mission.
Question:
How can Mulla Sadra’s theory be correct, when some men are evil and do
not live to purify their souls and perfect themselves? If this theory is
correct, then wouldn’t wrong doers die right away because their souls
would be corrupt and their mission meaningless?
Answer:
First:
we must remember as we spoke about in ‘The
advent of IMAM AL-MAHDI (a-s), the natural course for humanity, HIS LIFE
AND HIS LINEAGE’
the natural course for humanity is to progress and to go forward in
action and with hope of solace in the future. This is a Divine blessing
from ALLAH (swt) for all mankind, the chance to better ones self freely
and not under any kind of compulsion. Therefore ALLAH (swt) the Most
Merciful Creator gives this chance to all. If man starts his life in
wrongness and evildoing, he may at any point repent and perhaps maybe
even become one of the most pious, generous, caring, helpful, straight,
moral, and best behaved amongst mankind. ALLAH (swt) has created us all
equal and with the same chances to better ourselves, therefore a tyrant
today can be a saintly person tomorrow, this is part of the never ending
Generosity of ALLAH (swt).
“Yet surely your Lord, with respect to those who do an evil in
ignorance, then turn after that and make amends, most surely your Lord
after that after that is Forgiving, Merciful”.
(The Holy Qur’an 16 Al-Nahl-119)
“And HE it is who accepts repentance from HIS servants and pardons the
evil deeds and HE knows what you do”.
(The Holy Qur’an 42 Ash-Shura-25)
Second:
A wrong doer does only harm to himself, when he closes his heart to the
Mercy and Generosity of ALLAH (swt), his own deception drifts him
farther away from the truth until he has completely lost himself in
falsehood. His own soul opens to the accursed Shaïton and his filthy and
polluted heart fools him in thinking he is right and above all others.
As the fool turns his back on ALLAH (swt), his heart becomes cold and
his mind fills with ignorance. And as they choose not to know the truth
ALLAH (swt) puts a seal on their hearts making them drift ever farther
from the light of guidance. We must not forget man’s real punishment
will come on the Day of Judgement and for all eternity. There are many
proofs of this in the Holy Qur’an.
“And when it is said to them: believe as the people believe, they say:
Shall we believe as fools believe?
Now surely they themselves are the fools, but they do not know”.
(The Holy Qur’an 2 AL-Baqarah-13)
“Surely those who disbelieve, it being alike to them whether you warn
them, or do not warn them, will not believe. ALLAH has set a seal upon
their hearts and upon their hearing and there is a covering over their
eyes, and there is a great punishment for them”.
(The Holy Qur’an 2 Al-Baqarah-6 and 7)
“These are they on whose hearts and their hearing and their eyes ALLAH
has set a seal and these are the heedless ones”.
(The holy Qur’an 16 An-Nahl-108)
This is only a theory, however, we can find in our pure and perfect
teachings from the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (saww) and his
Ahlul-Bayt (a-s) a deeper understanding about Spirit and Body
separation, which is the basis of this theory. However, for this article
we only wanted to show how according to this theory, a man who was
chosen for relieving mankind of all the Tyranny and corruption, his
divinely gifted soul from ALLAH (swt), could keep him alive for a very
long time, until his Mission was completed. Another interesting fact is
if we look in History, many great people knew ahead of time when their
death was to come, long before sickness struck them. For example The
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) announced his death before his sickness;
his Mission was completed, when he announced to all mankind, that his
successor was to be Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s). Therefore it was not
his body that was ready to leave this transient life, but it was his
soul. There are many other examples in history of such cases just read
about the Holy Imams who all predicted their deaths ahead of time and
many very pious and believing people as well as many Scholars have also
done this. Anyhow this is enough on this subject for this article, we
must move on.
OCCULTATION FROM THE HADITHS OF THE AHLUL-BAYT (A-S).
Below I have only chosen some of the many hadiths about Occultation and
tried to keep only the hadiths which speak about occultation. However,
in the upcoming articles we will touch on many other subjects of hadiths
that have to do with the advent of Imam Al-Mahdi (a-s).
The Holy Prophet and Messenger of ALLAH, Muhammad (saww) said:
“Bliss
be for the person who will be in the time of the Qā’im
of my Ahlul-Bayt (a-s), who follows the Qā’im
during his occultation before his rise and loves his lovers and
despises his enemies. Such a person is of my friends and lovers and he
is the most honourable of my Ummah to me on the Day of Judgement”.
(Bihar Al-Anwar (Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51,
p.126 with English translation. Allama al-Majlisi (r-a). / Ikmāl
al-Din.)
Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) said:
“The
earth does never remain without a Hujjah; either apparent and known or
afraid and unknown lest ALLAH (swt)’s proofs and signs will be invalid”
(Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.67)
Amir ul-Mu’mineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s)
said:
“The earth will become full of oppression and injustice, so much so that
no one will be able to utter ALLAH’s (swt) name but secretly. Then ALLAH
Azz wa Jall will bring a virtuous congregation, who will fill it with
equity and justice, as it will be full of oppression and injustice”.
(Al-Amali
of Shaykh Tusi (r-a) /
Bihar Al-Anwar (Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51, p.186 with English
translation. Allama al-Majlisi (r-a)).
Amir ul-Mu’mineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s)
said:
“The Qā’im
of this Ummah 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”.
(Al- Ghayba. Shaykh Ibn Abu Zaynab An-Nu’mani (r-a) / Biharul Anwar,
Vol. 51 p.184 English translation Allama al-Majlisi (r-a)).
Amir ul-Mu’mineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s)
said:
“Al-Mahdi occultation will be so long that
an ignorant person will say: God does not need the Ahlul-Bayt”.
(Ithbat al-Hudat, Vol. 2, p. 393)
Imam Hussayn Ibn Ali (a-s) said:
“The Qā’im
of this Ummah is the ninth from my progeny. He is the man of the
occultation. And he is the one whose inheritance is split up while he is
alive”.
(Bihar Al-Anwar (Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51, p.198 with English
translation. Allama al-Majlisi (r-a) / Ikmāl
al-Din.)
Imam Ali Ibn Al-Hussayn (a-s) said:
“The birth of our Qā’im
will be hidden from the people, so they will say that he is not born
yet. He will rise at the time of his rise, without any pledge of
allegiance to anyone on his shoulders”.
(Bihar Al-Anwar (Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51, p.202 with English
translation. Allama al-Majlisi (r-a). / Ikmāl
al-Din.)
Umm Hani’ had asked Imam Muhammad Ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a-s):
“What is the meaning of the Qur’anic verse:
“But nay! I swear by the stars that recede**”?”
Imam
Muhammad Ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a-s) Answered:
“O Umm Hani’, it is an Imam receding until his news will be ignored by
the people in the year 260 and then immediately he will appear like a
burning meteor in a dark night. If you remain alive until that time,
then your eyes will be delighted!”
(Al- Ghayba. P. 195-196 English translation: Shaykh Ibn Abu Zaynab An-Nu’mani
(r-a) / Biharul Anwar, Vol. 51 p.137 / Tafseer al-Burhan, Vol.4 p.433 /
Al-Mahajja feema nazala fil Hujjah p.244-245, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam
al-Mahdi, Vol. 5 p. 480)
** Holy Qur’an 81:15-16.
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a-s) said:
“If there are no people on the earth
except two men, one of them must be al-Hujjah
(Imam Al-Mahdi a-s)”. (Al-Kafi, vol. 1 p. 180. Ash-Shaykh Al-Kulayni
(r-a) / Al- Ghayba. Shaykh Ibn Abu Zaynab An-Nu’mani (r-a))
Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a-s) said:
“A tradition that you perceive is better that ten that you narrate
(without perceiving them). Every truth has a fact and every rightness
has a light. By ALLAH (swt) we do not consider a Shiite as a
jurisprudent until it is mistaken before him and he notices the mistake.
Amirul Mu’mineen (a-s) has said from upon the minbar of Kufa:
“There will be dark, blind and dim seditions awaiting you, from which no
one will be saved except the Nooma”
People asked: “What is the Nooma?”
He (a-s) said:
“It is the one, who knows people but people do not know him”.
Then he (a-s) added:
“Know
well that the world will not be empty of a Hujjah (an authority) from
ALLAH Azz wa Jall but ALLAH (swt) will make HIS people not see HIS
Hujjah (an authority) because of their injustice, oppression and
excessiveness in disobedience. If the world remains without a Hujjah fro
ALLAH (swt) for an hour, it will sink with its people. The Hujjah knows
the people but they don’t know him. It is like Prophet Yussef (a-s), who
knew people but they denied him.
‘Alas for MY servants! There comes not to them a messenger but they mock
him. **’””.
(Al- Ghayba. P. 185-186 English translation: Shaykh Ibn Abu Zaynab An-Nu’mani
(r-a) / Biharul Anwar, vol. 51, p. 112 Allama al- Majlisi (r-a) / Ithbat
al-Huddat, Vol3 p.532 / Awalim al-Uloom, Vol.3 p. 526, Mo’jam Ahadeeth
Al-Imam Al- Mahdi, Vol.5 p.366)
** Holy Qur’an 36:30.
Imam Ja’far Ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq
(a-s) said:
“The benefit
for people from the Imam, who is in occultation, is in the same way as
they benefit from the sun behind the clouds”.
(Yanabi
al-Mawadda, Vol. 2, p. 317)
Imam Musa Ibn Ja’far Al-Kadhim (a-s) said:
“The Qā’im
is the castaway, the loner, away from his home, hidden from his family,
the son of an un-avenged father”.
(Bihar Al-Anwar (Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51, p.222 with English
translation. Allama al-Majlisi (r-a). / Ikmāl
al-Din.)
Imam Ali Ibn Musa Al-Rida (a-s) said:
“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 disappeared and that he is dead.
They will say: ‘There is no Imam’. However, even the Messenger of ALLAH
(saww) disappeared, and many, many others disappeared. And here I am
awaiting a death in the bed”.
(Al- Ghayba. Shaykh Ibn Abu Zaynab An-Nu’mani (r-a) / Biharul Anwar
(Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51, p.228 with English translation. Allama
al-Majlisi (r-a).).
Imam Muhammad Ibn Ali Al-Jawād
(a-s):
“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”.
(Al- Ghayba. Shaykh Ibn Abu Zaynab An-Nu’mani (r-a) / Biharul Anwar
(Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51, p.230 with English translation. Allama
al-Majlisi (r-a).).
Imam Ali Ibn Muhammad Al-Hadi (a-s) said:
“When your Hujjah will disappear from
abode of the oppressors, expect relief”.
(Bihar Al-Anwar (Kitab al-Ghaibah) vol. 51, p.234 with English
translation. Allama al-Majlisi (r-a). / Kifaya al-Athar.)
Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a-s) said:
“All
praise is due to ALLAH (swt) who did not take me out of the world until
HE showed me my successor; most resembling the Holy Messenger of ALLAH
(saww) in features and character. ALLAH (swt) will keep him safe during
his occultation, then HE will make him reappear; and he will fill the
earth with equity and justice as it would be filled with injustice and
oppression”.
(Mukhtasaru Ithbāti’r-Raj’ah
Hadith # 10. Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan (r-a))
Imam Muhammad Ibn Hasan Al-Mahdi Al-Hujjah Al-Qā’im
(a-s) said:
“So indeed the major occultation has taken place therefore, there is no
advent except when ALLAH (swt) gives permission”.
(Kamal Uddin Vol. 2, p. 516)
Imam Muhammad Ibn Hasan Al-Mahdi Al-Hujjah Al-Qā’im
(a-s) said:
“Those who fix a time for my
advent are liars”.
(Kamal Uddin Vol. 2, p. 483)
Imam Muhammad Ibn Hasan Al-Mahdi Al-Hujjah Al-Qā’im
(a-s) said:
“And
when I appear then at that time of my advent there would be no oath of
allegiance taking for the Shaïtins on my neck”.
(Bihar Al-Anwar Vol. 78, p. 380)
The End Of part one.
Brother Ali Ja’afary Stump. |