· 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
to another period of time is further evidence that he is the son of Imam Al-Askari (PBUH) and no one else.
· The occurrence of ‘the Minor Conceal’ and the Ambassadors taking the place of the Imam Al-Mahdi (AHHR) for seventy years cannot be falsified for many considerations.
· The infallible Imam Al-Askari (PBUH) had informed his companions about his birth as they had also seen him later.
· Many religious scholars and virtuous people have seen him during his ‘Major Conceal’; this does not only proves his birth but also his existence to this day.
There is also other evidence referring to this fact.
Anwar:If the Imam exists, why doesn’t he reveal himself in order to undertake his responsibilities?
Hasan:The Imam (AHHR) is concealed; he is on a place on earth. This is for the greater good of Islam. Do you still suspect his existence despite all the evidence presented?
Anwar:No. This is a question that may come to the
mind of every single person and I wanted to know the answer.
Hasan:Dear Sir, before I illustrate why the Imam does not reveal himself, let me clarify what ‘the Conceal’ is.
Anwar:Excellent. I am very eager to know.
Hasan:Imam Al-Mahdi (AHHR) has had two Conceals: ‘the Minor Conceal’ and ‘the Major Conceal’. The minor Conceal took place between the years 260 AH to 329 AH – that’s almost seventy years). The major Conceal started in the year 329 AH and it will continue until that pursued day. This Conceal was reported in the Hadith from Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his purified offspring (PBUT).
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:“Al-Mahdi is one of my offspring; he will be concealed and confusion will lead the nations astray. He is to come with the Holy relic of the Prophets so he will fill the earth with equity and justice after it is filled with inequity and injustice”.
The Prophet (PBUH) also said:“Blessed be who comes to know the Qa’em (the Revealed) from my Ahl Al-Bait
(PBUT) , who considers him his Imam before his revelation, who follows the practices of his people in charge and who renounces his enemies; such a person is among my companions, my close people and the noblest in the Judgment Day”.
Amir Al-Mu’menin (PBUH) said:“The Qa’em has a Conceal that will last long. During his Conceal, his followers will wander about like livestock, hopelessly searching for pastures. However, duration of the Conceal of Imam will not harden the heart of who clings to his religion, as he will be of my status in the Judgment Day”.
Imam Hasan (PBUH) said:“The ninth of the children of my brother, Al-Husain, is revealed after a long concealed life in a form of a young man under the age of forty; this is to be aware that Allah is capable of all things”.
Imam Husain (PBUH) said:“The Qa’em of this nation is the ninth child among my offspring; he is the one concealed as he is the one dividing his inheritance while he is still alive”.