(And warn your nearest relations)26;214.
So, the Prophet (PBUH) gathered his tribe of near kindred, fed them and lastly asked them if any of them is willing to be his minister, trustee and successor after him. Everybody refrained except for Ali (PBUH), so the Prophet (PBUH) said:“This is my brother, trustee and successor after me; listen to him and obey him”.
The second case was when the Prophet (PBUH) left him in Medina to go for Tabouk conquest. So, Ali (PBUH) wondered why the Prophet (PBUH) left him behind with women and children; the Prophet (PBUH) replied:“You are of the same status to me as Aaron to Moses except there is no prophet after me”. You know better that Aaron was the successor of Moses (PBUH).
The third evidence is related to the well-known Ghadir Day and the speech the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) gave in which he said:“Whoever I am his master, then this is Ali his master. O Lord! Support whoever supports him, show enmity towards whoever shows enmity towards him and, let triumph whoever stands up for him, forsake whoever forsakes him and let the truth follow him wherever he turns”.
The fourth incident was when this Holy Verse was revealed:
(Only Allah is your Vali and His Apostle and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow)5;55.
The expositors mentioned that this Holy Verse was revealed because Ali (PBUH) gave his ring for charity to a poor man who later told the Prophet (PBUH) about it, the fact that made the Prophet (PBUH) exclaim ‘God is Great’ (Allah-o-Akbar).
There are many other incidents refer to Ali Bin Abi Talib (PBUH) as the Imam and the successor of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and you can do your own research if you like to expand on this matter.
Anwar:What you presented was quite enough.
Hasan:Excellent. Let’s take a rest.
Symposium 55
The Evidence to Imamate of Ali Bin Abi Talib and His offspring (PBUT)
Anwar:Salam ‘Alaykom!
Hasan:Alaykom As-Salam Wa Rahmatollah Wa Barakatoh!
Anwar:I cannot really take a rest until I get answers for all my questions.
Hasan:Please, ask whatever you wish.
Anwar:All you mentioned so far is absolutely accurate, yet there is one significant question here. Even if we admit that Ali Bin Abi Talib (PBUH) is the Imam and the successor of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), how can
we possibly concede the Imamate to his offspring?
Hasan:Dear Akhi Anwar, this is actually an essential and a very significant question, and I will try to put the ideas in some plain words:
· There are twelve Imams (PBUT) after the Prophet (PBUH); this is mentioned in the Hadith.
· It is reported from the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that he mentioned the exclusive characteristics of the Imams (PBUT):“Of his secrets are to live the life I had, to die the death I had, to enter the Paradise I am promised by my Lord to enter, to hold on to the rod placed by my Lord in his hand, so Ali Bin Abi Talib (PBUH) be in charge and his trustees after him; they never let you go astray as they never let you off the right path. Do not teach them as they know far more than you do”.
· The Prophet (PBUH) also said:“I am the Messenger of Allah to all people, but there will be Imams after me upon people by Allah and from my near relatives (Ahl Al-Bait); they watch over people, yet they are accused of lying and oppressed by the leaders of infidelity and
·
·deviation and by their followers”.
· Al-Thaqalain Hadith.
Anwar:Do you mind mentioning the names of Imams just for records?
Hasan:Of course, I will not only mention their names but also their dates of birth and decease.
· Amir Al-Mu'minin (The commander of the Faithful) Abu Al-Hasan Ali Bin Abi Talib (Al-Mortaza), born in 23 BH and martyred in 40 AH.
· Abu Mohammad Al-Hasan Bin Ali (Al-Zaki), (2-50)
· Abu Abdullah Al-Husain Bin Ali (Saiyed Al-Shohada), (3-61)
· Abu Mohammad Ali Bin Al-Husain (Zain Al-Abidin), (38-95)
· Abu Ja’far Mohammad Bin Ali (Al-Baqir), (57-114)
· Abu Abdullah Ja’far Bin Mohammad (Al-Sadiq), (83-148)
· Abu Ibrahim, Mosa Bin Ja’far (Al-Kadim), (128-182)
· Abu Al-Hasan Ali Bin Mosa (Al-Riza), (148-203)
· Abu Ja’far Mohammad Bin Ali (Al-Jawad), (195-220)
· Abu Al-Hasan Ali Bin Mohammad (Al-Hadi), (212-254)
· Abu Mohammad Al-Hasan Bin Ali (Al-Askari), (232-260)
· Abu Al-Qasim Bin Al-Hasan (Al-Mahdi), (256- )
Known also as Al-Hojja (God’s Proof) – Allah hasten his revelation and ease his exit, he is concealed from people’s sight and he will one day be revealed again in order to fill the earth with equity and justice after it is filled with inequity and injustice.
Anwar:I cannot thank you enough. I will leave my questions about the twelfth Imam, Al-Mahdi (AHHR), for next time.
Hasan:Thank you, Anwar. We will discuss that later, Inshallah.
Symposium 56
Is it Requisite to Believe in the Existence of
Imam Al-Mahdi (AHHR)?
Anwar:Salam ‘Alaykom!
Hasan:Alaykom As-Salam, my dear Brother!
Anwar:We agreed to discuss the issues related to the twelfth Imam, Al-Mahdi (AHHR). I will begin with my first question. Is it requisite to believe in his existence?
Hasan:Yes, it is requisite and essential too, and not believing in his existence (AHHR) means not believing in Imamate and the Imams (PBUT). The faith in his existence (AHHR) comes from the fact that there must be an infallible Imam in any period of time,
consequently we believe in his existence (AHHR) in all times including ours.
Anwar:Will you please explain this a bit more?
Hasan:Of course. If there were not an Imam on earth, this would cancel the purpose which the Prophet (PBUH) came for in the first place, namely guiding people onto the right path. In addition to that, the earth will be lacking God’s Proof to debate people through; this way the earth would sink with the people on it, especially after we learned about the concealed roles and responsibilities of the Imams (PBUT).
Anwar:Please, elaborate more!
Hasan:Due to the fact that the Imam is God’s witness, it is required for him to exist in order to be able to witness on people in the Judgment Day. It is also required for the Imam to exist because he provides safety and protection for the people of earth and he is a means with which people can approach the Most Gracious Allah through his guidance and leadership and people’s obedience to him.
Anwar:Excellent!