While discussing the long life of Imam Mahdi (as), it is important to establish that a person can have a long life, if Allah so desires. Allah the Almighty knew that people would doubt the long life of his Proof, Imam Mahdi (as). Hence Allah kept many examples in the Quran for the same. (more…)
Criticizing the scholars has always been a pastime among the masses. Whenever there is a discussion related to them, everybody has something to say against them. Each one has a few ‘interesting’ anecdotes to narrate. In fact, some people feel that it is their inherent right to criticize them and consider this as a scholarly act. Perhaps they ignore the fact that in this world (with the exception of the infallible Prophets (as) and the Imams (as)) there are several groups of people – good as well as bad. There are traders, workers, laborers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, etc, and each of these has categories of good and bad individuals. In a market we find the original as well as the imitation. (more…)
It is important for us to understand why Allah decreed Ghaybat for Imam Mahdi (as) in the light of His entire Message. (more…)
Allah, the Blessed, the High says in the Holy Quran: “The day when We will call every people with their Imam” (Surah Bani Israel, verse 71)
Allah, the High at various places, has promised guidance to the people. To fulfill His promise, He sent Prophets and Messengers (as) one after another, who called people towards His religion, recognition and worship. When the prophethood was completed with the advent of the last prophet Mohammed (sawa), He introduced Imamate in the progeny of Holy Prophet (sawa) so that people may turn to them and save themselves from straying and attain eternal happiness. (more…)
The present era, in which we are living, is known as Ghaybate’ Kubra (major occultation). It is a period when there is no special representative of Imam Mahdi (as) through whom we can contact him or correspond with him (as). This era will continue till as long as Allah wishes and Imam Mahdi (as) does not reappear. When he (as) does reappear, people will be blessed with the opportunity to meet him in person and also recognise him (as). They will get the good fortune of presenting themselves in his honourable presence. Thus, till Imam (as) does not reappear and remains in occultation, we will be deprived of numerous priceless blessings. Among the most important characteristics of the major occultation is that it is the era of ordeal and tribulation. (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…)
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…)