Introduction

Discussion on occultation of Imam Mahdi(a.s)

First Principle: Necessity of Imamate

Second Principle: Infallibility of Imam

Third Principle: Truth will never leave the Islamic Ummah

Invalidity of Kaisaniyya creed

Refutation of Nawusiyya belief

Refutation of Waqifiya belief

Traditional reports about the martyrdom of Imam Kadhim

Clear declaration of Imam Kadhim about the Imamate of Imam Ridha

Evidence of the Imamate of Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s) and refutation of Waqifiya

Factors of appearance of Waqifi sect

Traditional reports in condemnation of Waqifites

Some miracles of Imam Ali Ibn Musa Ridha

Objections of the opponents with regard to the birth of Imam Mahdi (a.s)

Refutation of all sects, which believed in Imamate of someone other than Master of the Age (a.s)

Philosophy and wisdom of Occultation

What is the difference between a hidden Imam and an Imam who does not exist or one that exists in the heavens?

Application of Divine Penalties during the Occultation of Imam Mahdi (a.s)

Discerning truth during occultation of the Imam

Statement of Sayyid Murtadha (r.a)

Reason of occultation of the Imam from his followers

Concealed Birth of the Imam of the Time (a.s) was not an extraordinary event

Stories of people with long lifespans from Arabs and non-Arabs are famous and chronicled in books and history.

Reports of Ahle Sunnat that Imams are twelve in number

Shia traditional reports on the topic that Imams are twelve in number

Traditions of the Holy Imams on the occultation of Imam Mahdi

Traditional reports that confirm the uprising of Imam Mahdi

Mahdi is from the progeny of Ali and Fatima (a.s)

Mahdi is from the progeny of Imam Husain (a.s)

Refutation of Kaisaniya belief and account of the demise of Muhammad bin Hanfiyyah

Refutation of those who stopped at the Imamate of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s) and said that he is the Promised Mahdi

Imamate of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s)

Evidence of the Birth of the Master of the Age

Reports of those who saw the Imam of the Time (a.s)

Miracles of the Master of the time during his Occultation

Epistles issued from Imam Mahdi (a.s)

Causes of delay in reappearance of the Master of the Affair

Test of Shia during the period of occultation of the Imam

Reports of the Emissaries of Imam (a.s) during the period of occultation

Approved Emissaries

Emissaries condemned by the Imam

Special Emissaries of the Imam during the Occultation

Questions of Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Ja’far Himyari

Excellence of Husain bin Rauh continued

Abul Hasan Ali bin Muhammad Saymoori

False claimants of deputyship of Imam who are also clearly condemned by the Imams

Appointees of the four special deputies of the Imam

Long lifespan of the Imam (a.s)

Time of reappearance of the Imam (a.s)

Signs preceding the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s)

Some Qualities, practices and manners of the Master of the Age (a.s)

8- فمن ذلك ما رواه محمد بن يعقوب الكليني، عن محمد بن الحسن، عن سهل بن زياد، عن محمد بن علي وعبيد الله بن المرزبان، عن ابن سنان قال:دخلت على أبي الحسن موسى عليه السلام-من قبل أن يقدم العراق بسنة-وعلي إبنه جالس بين يديه، فنظر إلي وقال: يا محمد (أما إنه) سيكون في هذه السنة حركة فلا تجزع لذلك. قال: قلت: وما يكون جعلني الله فداك فقد أقلقتني؟ قال: أصير إلى هذه الطاغية أما إنه لا يبدأني منه سوء ومن الذي يكون بعده. قال: قلت: وما يكون جعلني الله فداك؟ قال: يضل الله الظالمين ويفعل الله ما يشاء. قال قلت: وما ذلك جعلني الله فداك؟ قال: من ظلم ابني هذا حقه وجحده إمامته من بعدي كان كمن ظلم علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام إمامته و جحده حقه بعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. قال:قلت:والله لئن مد الله لي في العمر لاسلمن له حقه ولا قرن بإمامته. قال: صدقت يا محمد يمد الله في عمرك وتسلم له حقه عليه السلام وتقر له بإمامته وإمامة من يكون بعده. قال: قلت: ومن ذاك؟ قال: ابنه محمد. قال: قلت: له الرضا والتسليم.

H 8 - Among the reports narrated by Muhammad bin Yaqub Kulaini from Muhammad bin Hasan from Sahal bin Ziyad from Muhammad bin Ali and Ubaidullah bin Marzaban from Muhammad bin Sinan is that he said: I visited Abul Hasan Musa (a.s) the year before he went to Iraq. Ali, his son, was sitting in front of him. He looked at me and said: Muhammad, this year there will be some disturbance, but do not be worried by that. “May God make me your ransom, what will that be?” I asked him, for he had filled me with anxiety. “I will go to this despot,”  he answered, “but he will not receive any evil from me nor from the one who will be after me.” “May God make me your ransom, what will happen?” I said. “Whoever wrongs this son of mine and denies his Imamate after me is like those who wronged Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s) and denied his right after the Messenger of Allah (s),” he replied. “If God supports me in my life, may I submit to his right and declare my belief in his Imamate?” I asked. “True, Muhammad,” he said, “God will support you during your life and you will submit to his right and declare your belief in his Imamate, and the Imamate of the one who will be (Imam) after him.” “Who will that be?” I asked. “His son, Muhammad,” he answered. I said: “I give consent and submit to him.”

9- عنه، عن أحمد بن مهران، عن محمد بن علي، عن محمد بن سنان وإسماعيل بن عباد القصري جميعا، عن داود الرقي قال:قلت لابي إبراهيم عليه السلام:جعلت فداك إني قد كبر سني فخذ بيدي(وانقذني)من النار،(من صاحبنا بعدك)؟ فأشار إلى إبنه أبي الحسن عليه السلام فقال:هذا صاحبكم من بعدي.

H 9 - It is narrated from Ahmad bin Mehran from Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Sinan and Ismail bin Ibad Qasri; all of whom narrate from Dawood Ibn Kathir Raqqi that he said: I said to Abu Ibrahim (Imam Kadhim): May I be your ransom, I have grown old. So take my hand and save me from Hell-fire. Who is our leader after you? Imam (a.s) pointed to his son, Abul Hasan (Imam Ridha) and said: This is your leader after me.

10- عنه، عن الحسين بن محمد، عن معلى بن محمد، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عبدالله، عن الحسن، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن محمد بن إسحاق بن عمار قال:قلت لابي الحسن الاول عليه السلام:ألا تدلني على من آخذ منه ديني؟ فقال:هذا ابني علي. إن أبي أخذ بيدي فأدخلني إلى قبر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم وقال:يا بني إن الله قال:﴿إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً﴾. وإن الله عز وجل إذا قال قولا وفى به.

H 10 - It is narrated from Husain bin Muhammad bin Mualla bin Muhammad from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abdullah from Hasan from Ibn Ubayy Umair from Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Ammar that he said: I said to Abul Hasan the first (Imam Kadhim a.s.): Show me from whom I will take (instruction in) my religion.” This son of mine, Ali, he said. My father took my hand and took me to the tomb of the Messenger of Allah (s). He said to me that God, may His name be exalted, said: I make you a Caliph on earth, and that when God, the Exalted, says anything, He carries it out.

11- عنه، عن محمد بن يحيى، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن الحسين بن نعيم الصحاف قال: كنت أنا وهشام بن الحكم وعلي بن يقطين ببغداد، فقال علي بن يقطين:كنت عند العبد الصالح عليه السلام (جالسا فدخل عليه إبنه علي) فقال لي: يا علي بن يقطين هذا علي سيد ولدي، أما إني (قد) نحلته كنيتي. فضرب هشام براحته جبهته، ثم قال:ويحك كيف قلت؟ فقال علي بن يقطين:سمعته والله منه كما قلت.فقال هشام: إن الأمر (والله) فيه من بعده.

H 11 - It is narrated from Muhammad bin Yahya from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa from Hasan bin Mahbub from Husain bin Naeem Sahaf that he said: I, Hisham bin Hakam and Ali bin Yaqtin were in Baghdad, when Ali bin Yaqtin said: I was with Abdus Salih [Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s)] when his son, Ali entered. Imam (a.s) said: O Ali bin Yaqtin, this Ali, is the chief of my children and I have given to him my agnomen (both were called Abul Hasan). [In another narration:] Hisham struck his face with the palm of his hand and said: Shame on you, how can you say that? ‘By God, I heard it from him, just as I said it,’ replied Ali bin Yaqtin. ‘Then, by God, the authority is for him after (Musa),’ said Hisham.

12- عنه، عن عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن معاوية بن حكيم، عن نعيم القابوسي، عن أبي الحسن موسى عليه السلام (أنه) قال:ابني علي أكبر ولدي وآثرهم عندي وأحبهم إلي وهو ينظر معي في الجفر ولم ينظر فيه إلا نبي أو وصي نبي.

H 12 - It is narrated from a group of our scholars from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa from Muawiyah bin Hakim Naeem Qabusi from Abul Hasan, Musa (a.s) that he said: My son, Ali, the eldest of my children, is the one most preferred by me and the one most loved by me. He examined the leather case (Jafr)  with me. Only a prophet or the testamentary trustee (Wasi) of a prophet can examine it.

13- عنه، عن أحمد بن مهران، عن محمد بن علي، عن محمد بن سنان وعلي بن الحكم جميعا، عن الحسين بن المختار قال: خرجت إلينا ألواح من أبي الحسن عليه السلام- وهو في الحبس-:عهدي إلى أكبر ولدي أن يفعل كذا وأن يفعل كذا، وفلان لا تنله شيئا حتى ألقاك أو يقضي الله علي الموت.

H 13 - It is narrated from Ahmad bin Mehran from Muhammad bin Ali from Muhammad bin Sinan and Ali bin Hakam; together they narrate from Husain bin Mukhtar that he said: The ordinances (alwah) came to us from Abul Hasan Musa (a.s) while he was in prison: My testament (ahd) to the eldest of my sons is that he should do such-and-such. As far as so-and-so is concerned, do not give him anything until you meet me or God decrees death for me.

14- عنه، عن أحمد بن مهران، عن محمد بن علي، عن زياد بن مروان القندي- (وكان من الواقفة) قال: دخلت على أبي إبراهيم عليه السلام وعنده أبو الحسن إبنه فقال لي:يا زياد هذا إبنى علي، أن كتابه كتابي، وكلامه كلامي، ورسوله رسولي، وما قال فالقول قوله.

H 14 - It is narrated from Ahmad bin Mehran from Muhammad bin Ali from Ziyad bin Marwan Qandi, who was from the Waqifiya sect that he said: I visited Abu Ibrahim [Imam Kadhim (a.s)]. With him was Abul Hasan [Ali Ridha (a.s)], his son. Imam (a.s) said: Ziyad, this is my son, Ali. His writing is my writing, his words are my words, his messenger is my messenger, and whatever he says, (the truth) is what he says.

15- عنه، عن أحمد بن مهران، عن محمد بن علي، عن محمد بن الفضل، عن المخزومي- وكانت أمه من ولد جعفر بن أبي طالب- قال بعث إلينا أبوالحسن موسى عليه السلام فجمعنا ثم قال(لنا):أتدرون لم جمعتكم؟ فقلنا: لا. قال: اشهدوا أن ابني هذا وصيي والقيم بأمري وخليفتي من بعدي. من كان له عندي دين فليأخذه من ابني هذا، ومن كانت له عندي عدة فليتنجزه منه،ومن لم يكن له بد من لقائي فلا يلقني إلا بكتابه.

H 15 - It is narrated from Ahmad bin Mehran from Muhammad bin Ali from Muhammad bin Afzal from Makhzumi, whose mother was a descendant of Ja’far bin Abu Talib, that: Abul Hasan Musa (a.s) summoned us and we gathered. Then he said: Do you know why I have summoned you? No, we answered. Witness that this son of mine is my testamentary trustee (Wasi) and one who will superintend my affair as my successor after me. Whoever has a debt (to be collected) from me, let him collect it from this son of mine. Whoever I have made a promise to; let him get its fulfillment from him. Whoever has to meet me, will only do so through his correspondence.

16- عنه، عن أحمد بن مهران، عن محمد بن علي، عن أبي علي الخزاز، عن داود بن سليمان قال:قلت لابي إبراهيم عليه السلام: إني أخاف أن يحدث حدث ولا ألقاك فأخبرني عن الامام بعدك؟ فقال:ابني فلان -يعني أبا الحسن عليه السلام.

H 16 - It is narrated from Ahmad bin Mehran from Muhammad bin Ali from Abi Ali Khazzaz from Dawood bin Sulaiman that he said: I said to Abu Ibrahim [Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s)]: I am afraid that something may happen and I will not be able to meet you. So tell me who the Imam is after you? Imam (a.s) replied: My son, so-and-so, meaning Abul Hasan [Imam Ali Ridha].

17- وبهذا الاسناد، عن ابن مهران، عن محمد بن علي، عن سعيد بن أبي الجهم عن نصر بن قابوس قال:قلت لابي إبراهيم عليه السلام:إني سألت أباك عليه السلام من الذي يكون بعدك؟ فأخبرني أنك أنت هو، فلما توفي أبو عبدالله عليه السلام ذهب الناس يمينا وشمالا وقلت بك أنا وأصحابي. فأخبرني من الذي يكون من بعدك من ولدك؟ قال: إبني فلان.

H 17 - It is narrated from Ahmad bin Mehran from Muhammad bin Ali from Saeed bin Abil Jaham from Nasr bin Qabus  that he said: I said to Abu Ibrahim [Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s)]: I asked your father who would be the Imam after him and he told me that you would be. Therefore, when Abu Abdullah [Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s)] passed away, the people went to right and left, while I and my companions declared (our support) for you. Therefore, tell me which of your children will be (the Imam) after You? My son, so-and-so [Imam Ali Ridha (a.s)], he said.

18- عنه، عن أحمد، عن محمد بن علي، عن الضحاك بن الاشعث، عن داود بن زربي قال:جئت إلى أبي إبراهيم عليه السلام بمال (قال): فأخذ بعضه وترك بعضه، فقلت:أصلحك الله لأي شيء تركته عندي؟ فقال: إن صاحب هذا الأمر يطلبه منك. فلما جاء نعيه بعث إليّأبو الحسن الرضا عليه السلام، فسألني ذلك المال، فدفعته إليه.

H 18 - It is narrated from Ahmad bin Mehran from Muhammad bin Ali from Zahak bin Ashath from Dawood bin Zarbi  that he said: I brought some money to Abu Ibrahim [Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s)]. He took some of it and left some of it. “May God set you right,” I said, “Why have you left it with me?” “The one who will be in charge of the authority will ask you for it,”  he told. When the news of his death came, Abul Hasan, Ridha (a.s) summoned me and asked me for that money and I paid it to him.

19- عنه، عن أحمد بن مهران، عن محمد بن علي، عن علي بن الحكم، عن عبد الله بن إبراهيم بن علي بن عبد الله بن جعفر بن أبي طالب، عن يزيد بن سليط في حديث طويل عن أبي إبراهيم عليه السلام أنه قال في السنة التي قبض عليه السلام فيها: إني أؤخذ في هذه السنة، والأمر (هو) إلى إبني علي سمي علي. فأما علي الاول فعلي بن أبي طالب وأما (علي) الآخر فعلي بن الحسين عليهما السلام، أعطي فهم الاول وحلمه ونصره ووده وذمته (ومحنته) ومحنة الآخر، وصبره على ما يكره…تمام الخبر.

H 19 - It is narrated from Ahmad bin Mehran from Muhammad bin Ali from Ali bin Hakam from Abdullah bin Ibrahim bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Ja’far bin Abu Talib from Yazid bin Sulait in a long tradition on the authority of Abu Ibrahim, Musa (a.s) that he said in the year in which he died: I will be taken in this year and the authority (Amr) will belong to son, Ali, who is named after two Alis. The first Ali is Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s) and the second Ali is Ali bin Husain, the blessings of God be on them. He (i.e. Ali Ridha) is given understanding, forbearance, knowledge, help, love, piety and religion of the first and tribulation and endurance in the face of adversity of the second.

20- وروى، أبو الحسين محمد بن جعفر الاسدي، عن سعد بن عبد الله، عن جماعة من أصحابنا منهم محمد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطاب والحسن بن موسى الخشاب ومحمد بن عيسى بن عبيد، عن محمد بن سنان عن الحسن بن الحسن-في حديث له- قال: قلت لأبي الحسن موسى عليه السلام: أسألك؟ فقال: سل إمامك. فقلت:من تعني؟ فإني لا أعرف إماما غيرك. قال: هو علي إبني قد نحلته كنيتي. قلت: سيدي أنقذني من النار، فإن أبا عبد الله عليه السلام قال:إنك أنت القائم بهذا الأمر! قال: أو لم أكن قائما؟ ثم قال: يا حسن، ما من إمام يكون قائما في أمة إلا وهو قائمهم، فإذا مضى عنهم فالذي يليه هو القائم. الحجة حتى يغيب عنهم، فكلنا قائم. فاصرف جميع ما كنت تعاملني به إلى إبني علي. (والله) والله ما أنا فعلت ذاك به، بل الله فعل به ذاك.

H 20 - It is narrated from Abul Hasan Muhammad bin Ja’far Asadi from Saad bin Abdullah from some of our scholars, from Muhammad bin Husain bin Abil Khattab and Hasan bin Musa Khashshab and Muhammad bin Isa bin Ubaid from Muhammad bin Sinan from Hasan bin Hasan that he said: I said to Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s): Please permit me to ask you a question. Imam (a.s) said: Ask about Imamate. I asked: Who is your successor; because I don’t know any other Imam? Imam (a.s) replied: Ali, my son, whom I have given my agnomen (of Abul Hasan). I asked: My master, save me from Hell-fire and purify me, since Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s) said that you are the Qaim on the matter of Imamate. Imam (a.s) replied: But I am not the Qaim in this matter. Then he said: O Hasan, every Imam who is the leader of the Ummah and the appointed one on the matter of Mastership (Wilayat) is his Qaim. And when he passes away, the one who is after him is the one raised up by the command of Allah and the Divine Proof (Hujjat) till the time the Qaim and Hujjat is concealed from the people. Hence, all of us are Qaim. Thus, just as you behave with us [and accept our Mastership (Wilayat)] same was done with my son, Ali. By Allah, I have not acted thus on my own [appointing the Imam after me] on the contrary, the Almighty Allah has done it according to His will.

21- وروى أحمد بن إدريس، عن علي بن محمد بن قتيبة، عن الفضل بن شاذان النيشابوري، عن محمد بن سنان وصفوان بن يحيى وعثمان بن عيسى، عن موسى بن بكر قال:كنت عند أبي إبراهيم عليه السلام فقال لي:إن جعفرا عليه السلام كان يقول: سعد امرؤ لم يمت حتى يرى خلفه من نفسه، ثم أومأ بيده إلى إبنه علي فقال:هذا وقد أراني الله خلفي من نفسي.

H 21 - It is narrated from Ahmad bin Idris from Ali bin Muhammad bin Qutaibah from Fadhl bin Shazan Nishapur from Muhammad bin Sinan and Safwan bin Yahya and Uthman bin Isa from Musa bin Bakar that he said: I was in the company of Abu Ibrahim, Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s). The Imam said: Indeed, Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s) said: A man is fortunate, who before his death sees his successor from his progeny. After that the Imam pointed out to his son, Ali and said: Almighty Allah has pointed out this son, who is from my life, as my successor.

22- عنه، عن سعد بن عبد الله، عن محمد بن عيسى بن عبيد، عن علي بن الحكم وعلي بن الحسن بن نافع، عن هارون بن خارجة قال: قال لي هارون بن سعد العجلي: قد مات إسماعيل الذي كنتم تمدون إليه أعناقكم، وجعفر شيخ كبير يموت غدا أو بعد غد فتبقون بلا إمام. فلم أدر ما أقول، فأخبرت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام بمقالته فقال: هيهات هيهات! أبى الله، والله،أن ينقطع هذا الأمر حتى ينقطع الليل والنهار. فإذا رأيته فقل له: هذا موسى بن جعفر يكبر ونزوجه، ويولد له فيكون خلفا إن شاء الله تعالى.

H 22 - It is narrated from Saad bin Abdullah from Muhammad bin Isa bin Ubaid from Ali bin Hakam and Ali bin Hasan Nafe from Harun bin Kharja that he said: Harun bin Saad Ajali said to me: Ismail, to whom you are inclined [and in whose Imamate you hope], has died. Ja’far [Imam Sadiq] is also aged and would pass away these days and you would remain without an Imam. I did not know what to reply. I mentioned this to Imam Sadiq (a.s). Imam (a.s) said: Never, by Allah! The Almighty Allah would never discontinue the matter of Imamate as long as the days and nights endure. When you meet him, tell him: This Musa bin Ja’far is growing up and we will get him married and he would get a son, who would be his Caliph and successor, if Allah wills.

23- وفي خبر آخر قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام في حديث طويل: يظهر صاحبنا وهو من صلب هذا، وأومأ بيده إلى موسى بن جعفر عليه السلام، فيملأها عدلا كما ملئت جورا وظلما وتصفو له الدنيا.

H 23 - In another report, Abu Abdullah (a.s) said in a lengthy tradition: Our master will appear from his loins; and he pointed to Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s). Thus, he would fill up the earth with justice and oppression as it would have been filled with injustice and tyranny; and the world would be cleaned and prepared for him.

24- وروى أيوب بن نوح عن الحسن بن علي بن فضال قال سمعت علي بن جعفر يقول: كنت عند أخي موسى بن جعفر عليه السلام، كان والله حجة الله في الأرض بعد أبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم، إذ طلع ابنه علي فقال لي: يا علي، هذا صاحبك، وهو مني بمنزلتي من أبي. فثبتك الله على دينه. فبكيت وقلت في نفسي: نعى والله إلى نفسه. فقـال: يا علي، لا بد من أن تمضي مقادير الله في، ولي برسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم أسوة وبأمير المؤمنين وفاطمة والحسن والحسين عليه السلام. وكان هذا قبل أن يحمله هارون الرشيد في المرة الثانية بثلاثة أيام تمام الخبر. والأخبار في هذا المعنى أكثر من أن تحصى وهي موجودة في كتب الإمامية معروفة ومشهورة من أرادها وقف عليها من هناك وفي هذا القدر هاهنا كفاية إن شاء الله تعالى.

H 24 - It is narrated from Ayyub bin Nuh from Hasan bin Ali bin Faddal that he said: I heard from Ali bin Ja’far that he said: I was with my brother, Musa Ibn Ja’far (a.s), who by Allah, was the Divine Proof on the earth after my father; just then his son, Ali arrived. Imam (a.s) said: O Ali, this is your master and Imam and his position with relation to me is like my position with my father. Thus, may Almighty Allah keep you firm on His religion. After that I wept and said to myself: The Imam wanted to convey the information of his death to me as he had said: Ali dear, there is no option, except that divine destiny should be issued about me and that I emulate the Messenger of Allah, Amirul Momineen, Fatima, Hasan and Husain (a.s). This incident occurred three days before Harun arrested the Imam for the second time. There are so many traditions and reports about this that they cannot be computed; and they are mentioned in well known books of the Imamites and anyone who wishes, may refer to them, but those we mentioned so far, would be sufficient, if Allah wills.

Kitāb al-Ghayba

Book 1, Chapter 10