THE SAVIOR OF HUMANITY

The followers of every religion in the world are waiting for the appearance of a “Savior”. The Muslims are also waiting for the Savior; the Shia Muslims and a majority of Sunni Muslims believe that he was born. Others believe that he will be born. He was named after the name of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). He is also called by other names like Saheb uz-Zaman, Mahdi, Qa’im etc. His father was the Eleventh Infallible Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.). 

At the deathbed, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had said, “I am leaving behind two weighty things: The Glorious Qur’an and my Pure Progeny. If you are attached to both, you will not go astray after me” As there is a constant struggle between the Truth and the Falsehood from the commencement of life on this planet, the same phenomena continued after the sad demise of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). The Umayyads and Abbasids kings continued to imprison, isolate, murder and poison the Pure Progeny of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) as they were aware that they were the usurper and the leadership of Ummah belonged to the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). After the martyrdom of the Infallible Imam Hasan al-Askari orchestrated by the Abbasside king, Allah (s.w.t.) saved the 5-year old Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) and placed him in occultation (invisible to the people). He will reappear when Allah wishes and fill the world with justice as it would be filled with oppressions and injustice.

There are many questions relating to his abnormal disappearance and long life, which may be addressed as follows:

1.      How a 5-year-old boy can become the Imam of the mankind? Muslims gladly accept the Prophet hood of Prophet Isa when he was an infant!

2.      How can Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) live so long? Prophet Noah had lived and preached for 950 years. Prophet Isa is still alive and must be about 2000 years old! Al-Khizr is still alive, he was before the time of Prophet Musa, hence he must also be 3,000 years old. Hanafi scholar Sibt ibn al-Jawzi in his book “Tazkirat al-Khawas al-Ummah” page 325-328 gives the names of 22 people believed by Muslims to have lived from 300 to 3,000 years. Allah (s.w.t.) is most Powerful and when He (s.w.t.) intends to do anything, He says “Kun Fa Yakoon” and it is done. No one can dare to challenge His Will.

3.      Why Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) disappeared? When Allah (s.w.t.) ordered Prophet Adam and Shaytan (l.a.) to descend on earth and promised them (out of His love for the mankind), He will send Guidance to humanity. As is stated in Surah Ta-ha Ayah 123, “When My Guidance comes to you, those who follow it will not go astray.” Consequently, He sent 124,000 prophets and after the demise of His last Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), and to continue with the Divine promise of Guidance, He started the Golden Chain of Imamate. The Infallible Imam Ali (a.s.) was the first Imam and Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) was designated as the last Imam. But the hostile forces of evil continued either to slay or poison the eleven Divinely appointed Imams, hence, to continue the Guidance of humanity, Allah (s.w.t.) placed Imam Mahdi in Occultation. Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) is guiding the humanity apparently obscured from the eyes of the people but he is functioning as sun is supplying light and energy from behind the cloud!

After the “Great Occultation “till the re-appearance of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.), the Muslims were directed by Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) to follow such learned scholars who possessed the complete and through knowledge of Islam. Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) said, “…turn to the narrators of our traditions, because they are proof to you, while I am the proof of Allah to them.”

Hence, the elite circle of Shi’i Muslims scholars, unanimously elect the most pious and knowledgeable scholar as the Grand Marjah to lead the Ummah .He himself leads a very simple life and is supposed to be responsible for the spiritual, social guidance of Muslims as a whole, protects Islam if attacked from inside and outside. He manages the Khums funds placed at his disposal to look after the indigent and needy.

It is the duty of his (Imam)s followers to practice what they believe – watch for the “Prohibitions”, practice the “Furu’-e-Deen”- Branches of Islam, comply with the rights of the people specially the relatives, read and understand the Glorious Qur’an as frequently as possible, try to be a good follower of our Imams.

Sources: Life of Imam Mahdi by Allama Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, The Sun behind the clouds by Allama Baqir Majlisi (r.a.) A Shi’ite Encyclopedia – Special Specifications of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.)