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)

وقبل ذكر من كان سفيرا حال الغيبة نذكر طرفا من أخبار من كان يختص بكل إمام، ويتولى له الامر على وجه من الايجاز، ونذكر من كان ممدوحا منهم حسن الطريقة، ومن كان مذموما سيئ المذهب ليعرف الحال في ذلك.

Before we begin discussion about the Special Deputies of the Imam during the period of occultation, we would mention some reports in brief, which are restricted to each of the Imams and which are related to the management of their affairs. In the same way, we will also mention reports about those who were praised and who followed the right path as well as those who were condemned and who did not follow a right faith, so that we may become conversant with the circumstances of their lives.

294- وقد روي في بعض الاخبار أنهم عليهم السلام قالوا: خدامنا وقوامنا شرار خلق الله.

H 294 - It is narrated in some reports that they said: “Our servants and our caretakers are the most evil of Allah’s creation.”

295- وقد روى محمد بن عبدالله بن جعفر الحميري، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن صالح الهمداني قال: كتبت إلى صاحب الزمان عليه السلام: إن أهل بيتي يؤذوني ويقرعوني بالحديث الذي روي عن آبائك عليهم السلام أنهم قالوا: خدامنا وقوامنا شرار خلق الله. فكتب: ويحكم! أما تقرؤن ما قال الله تعالى: ﴿وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْقُرَى الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا قُرًى ظَاهِرَةً﴾؟ فنحن والله القرى التي بارك (الله) فيها وأنتم القرى الظاهرة.

H 295 - Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Ibn Ja’far Himyari narrates on the authority of his father from Muhammad Ibn Salih Hamadani, saying, I wrote to the Master of the Age (a.s) that my family was abusing and rebuking me with the tradition narrated from your forefathers (a.s), “Our servants and our caretakers are the most evil of Allah’s creation.” The holy Imam wrote back, “Regards to you. Do you not read what Allah, the High, has said? “And We made between them and the towns, which We had blessed (other) towns to be easily seen…” (34:18)

Kitāb al-Ghayba

Book 1, Chapter 40