His name was Ali, his agomen was Abul Hasan. His father’s name was Mohammed. The fourth deputy of Imam Mahdi (as) – Abul Hasan Ali Ibn Mohammed attained this special position after Husain Ibn Rauh Nawbakhti (ra). Imam Mahdi (as) himself ordered the third deputy (ra) to appoint him to this post. (more…)
His name was Husain, his agnomen (Kuniyat) was Abul Qasim. His father’s name was Rauh and his grandfather’s name was Abu Jafar. He belonged to the Nawbakht family.
He was known by his name – Husain Ibne Rauh-e-Nawbakhti (ra). His exact date of birth has not been recorded in books of history. (more…)
The first deputy, Janab Usman Ibne Saeed Al-Amri was succeeded by his son Mohammed Ibne Usman Saeed Al-Amri.
Imam Hasan Askari (as) declared, “Abu Amri (Usman Ibne Saeed (ra)) and his son (Mohammed Ibne Usman (ra)) are both reliable and trustworthy (in narration). Whatever they both convey to you they convey from us.” (Tarikhe Ghaybate’ Sughra by Syed Mohammed al-Sadr page 403) (more…)
Janab Usman bin Saeed (ra) was the first special deputy of Imam Mahdi (as) in Ghaybate’ Sughra. The renowned Shiite scholar, Shaykh Tusi (ra) records in his illustrious book, ‘al-Ghaybah’ ‘Among the companions that the infallible Imams (as) considered as virtuous and pious, was Janab Usman bin Saeed al-Amri (ra). Imam Ali Naqi (as) and Imam Hasan Askari (as) have spoken highly of him and he was their most trusted companion.’ (al-Ghaybah of Shaykh Tusi page 353) (more…)
After the martyrdom of Imam Hasan Askari (as) the mantle of Imamate fell on the young shoulders of Imam Mahdi (as).
Due to the severe restrictions imposed by the reigning Caliph, Imam Mahdi (as) was forced to conceal himself from the eyes of the people. In the initial stages of Ghaybate’ Sughra (minor occultation), some very special and selected people among the Shiahs had the permission to meet their master whenever the need arose. They presented the problems of the Shiahs in the service of Imam (as) who provided answers to them and conveyed them back to the people. Such selected people were called as special representatives, deputies or the door to the Imam etc. (more…)
The history of Islam records the events of some men who claimed to be a special deputy of Imam Mahdi (as). A study of these events is important from two aspects. Firstly, it is a lesson for the masses to understand that after the fourth special deputy of Imam Mahdi (as), the door for any person to claim a direct channel to Imam Mahdi (as) has been closed forever. No person can claim to enjoy this special relationship. Secondly, history has exposed the mischief of such false claimants so that others may learn a lesson and not commit the mistake of claiming such deputyship for themselves. (more…)
What is the Benefit of a Hidden Imam?
Whenever the discussion of Ghaybat crops up, queries of various kinds invade the minds of the people. The most common among them being as to what is the benefit of an Imam who is in Ghaybat? In other words, what is the purpose of having a leader with whom neither we can come in contact nor meet In this article, we shall attempt to convey to our readers the answer to the query and make people realize as to how can one derive advantages from an Imam during Ghaybat. (more…)
Ghaybat is a difficult time for the believers. This aspect can be well understood by those who would have had the opportunity of being with the Divine leader and then suddenly found one day that he is not present in their community.
In the case of Hazrat Idrees, it is said that when Allah caused the Ghaybat of Hazrat Idrees, his community grieved over his separation. Shaitaan came to them and encouraged them to make an idol of Hazrat Idrees so that they could continue to remember him. The people did so. While the first generation did not worship the idol, Shaitaan came to the next generations and told them that his idol is actually god and they should worship it. Thus as time passed, that same idol became the object of their worship. This is how idol worship was introduced in the world. (more…)
Imam Sadiq (as), “Your Imam will be sitting on the same floor on which you would be sitting , he will come in your markets, mosques and will listen to the conversations of the people, but people will not be able to recognize him.” (more…)
The concept of Ghaybat has been discussed extensively in traditions. Right from its concept to preparation and duties of Shiahs in this period. Readers will also note that the beauty of these narrations lies in the uniformity of thought and words of the Ahle Bayt (as). These traditions are reported right from Holy Prophet (sawa) which is from about 1 AH to Imam Hasan Askari (as) which is up to 260 AH. Yet there is no contradiction in these traditions which leads us to believe in the veracity of these traditions without a shadow of doubt. (more…)