Every major religion
is waiting for the “Awaited Savior”. The Muslims are also waiting for the
Savior; the Sunni Muslims believe that he will be born, while the Shi’i Muslims
believe that he was the son of the Eleventh Infallible Imam Hasan al-Askari
(a.s.). His name is Muhammad, his titles are Mahdi, Qa’im, Imam al-Asr.
At the death-bed the
Noble Prophet (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 with both, you
will not go astray” As there is a constant struggle between Truth and Falsehood
from the commencement of life on this planet, the same phenomena continued
after the sad demise of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). The Umayyads and Abbasids
continued to imprison, isolate and poison the Pure Progeny of the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.). After the martyrdom of the Infallible Imam Hasan al-Askari by the Abbasside
king, Allah (s.w.t.) saved the 5-year Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.) and placed him in
occultation (invisible to the common man). 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, 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 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 Powerful and He (s.w.t.) intends “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 (that out of His love for the mankind), He will send Guidance to
humanity. “When My Guidance comes to you, those who follow it will not go
astray.” (Ta-Ha 123). Consequently, He sent 124,000 prophets and after the
demise of His last Messenger the Noble Prophet (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 the last Imam Muhammad Mahdi (a.t.f.) was designated. But
the hostile forces of evil continued to either slay or poison the eleven
Divinely appointed Imams. 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 concealed from physical eyes but functioning as sun is supplying
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 knowledge of the Commands of the
permitted and prohibited deeds in 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 Shi’i Muslims unanimously elect the most pious
and knowledgeable person as the Grand Ayatullah who leads a very simple life
and responsible for the spiritual guidance of Muslims as a whole, protects Islam
when attacked, caters to the needs of the poor.
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.)
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