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!
Hasan:I would also like to add that the existence of the Imam and his being is a fact taken for granted by most of the Muslims due to what is reported from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and the Pure offspring (PBUT):“Whoever dies without knowing the Imam of his time, he dies in a state of ignorance”.
It is also reported from Om Salamah that the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said:“When I was carried to the heaven, I looked and it was written on the Throne: ‘There is no God but Allah, Mohammad is the Messenger of Allah, I supported him through Ali and I grant him victory through Ali’, as I saw the lights of Ali, Fatimah, Al-Hasan, Al-Husain, and the lights of Ali Bin Al-Husain, Mohammad Bin Ali, Ja’far Bin Ali, Mosa Bin Ja’far, Ali Bin Mosa, Mohammad Bin Ali, Ali Bin Mohammad, Al-Hasan Bin Ali, and I saw the light of Al-Hojja shining among them as if it were a glittering star. So, I asked my Lord what it was. I was told ‘O Mohammad! These are the lights of Ali, Fatimah, and your grandsons’ lights Al-Hasan and Al-Husain, and these are the lights of the Imams after you, the purified and infallible offspring of Al-Husain, as this is the light of Al-Hojja who will fill the earth with equity
and justice’”.
There are more Hadith in regard to his existence and his being amidst us.
Anwar:Now that you answered the first question, let me please ask you my second question. Is Imam Al-Mahdi (AHHR) the son of Imam Al-Hasan Al-Askari (PBUH) or is he going to be born later?
Hasan:We have just been discussing the importance of his existence and his being among us as we also learned earlier that he was born in the year 256 AH and that he is still alive. To answer the first part of your question on whether Imam Al-Mahdi (AHHR) the son of Imam Al-Hasan Al-Askari (PBUH), I have to say:
· There are Hadith on his personal life referring to the fact that he is the twelfth Imam and the ninth among the offspring of Imam Husain (PBUH) and that the earth cannot be existing without him as God’s Proof. All is evidence that he is the son of Imam Al-Hasan Al-Askari (PBUH).
· Recurrence of reports on his birth and his conceal in addition to the fact that Imamate never stops or shifts