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)

311- فروى علي بن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن أبيه قال: كنت عند أبي جعفر الثاني عليه السلام إذ دخل عليه صالح بن محمد بن سهل الهمداني- وكان يتولى له- فقال له: جعلت فداك اجعلني من عشرة آلاف درهم في حل فإني أنفقتها، فقال له أبوجعفر: أنت في حل. فلما خرج صالح من عنده قال أبو جعفر عليه السلام: أحدهم يثب على (أموال حق) آل محمد وفقرائهم ومساكينهم وأبناء سبيلهم، فيأخذه ثم يقول: إجعلني في حل، أتراه ظن (بي) أني أقول له لا أفعل؟ والله ليسألنهم الله يوم القيامة عن ذلك سؤالا حثيثا.

H 311 - Ali bin Ibrahim bin Hashim has narrated from his father that he said: I was in the presence of Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s) when Salih bin Muhammad bin Sahal Hamadani, who was the trustee of the affairs of Imam (a.s) entered and asked the Holy Imam (a.s): May I be sacrificed on you, I have spent ten thousand dirhams [from the monies I should have brought to you]. Will you make them lawful for me? Imam (a.s) said: It is lawful. When he went away Imam Jawad (a.s) said: One of you misappropriates and spends the money, from the share of Aale Muhammad (a.s), the poor, deprived and the stranded travelers; he disputes about it and spends from it then asks me: Please make it lawful for me! Do you or he think that I would say ‘No’? By God, on Judgment Day Allah would ask them very difficult questions.

ومنهم علي بن أبي حمزة البطائني وزياد بن مروان القندي وعثمان بن عيسى الرواسي،  كلهم كانوا وكلاء لابي الحسن موسى عليه السلام، وكان عندهم أموال جزيلة، فلما مضى أبوالحسن موسى عليه السلام وقفوا طمعا في الاموال، ودفعوا إمامة الرضا عليه السلام وجحدوه. وقد ذكرنا ذلك فيما مضى فلا نطول بإعادته.

Among them Ali bin Abi Hamza Bataini, Ziyad bin Marwan Qandi and Uthman Rawasi These three were representatives of Abul Hasan Musa bin Ja’far (a.s) and were having a large amount of the Imam’s funds in their possession. When Imam Kadhim (a.s) passed away, they, in greed of the Imam’s funds did not accept that he is martyred and did not believe in the Imamate of Imam Ridha (a.s) as we mentioned previously and its repetition again would prolong the book unduly.

ومنهم فارس بن حاتم بن ماهويه القزويني:

And among them Faras bin Hatim bin Mahuya Qazwini:

312- على ما رواه عبدالله بن جعفر الحميري قال:كتب أبوالحسن العسكري عليه السلام إلى علي بن عمرو القزويني بخطه: إعتقد فيما تدين الله تعالى به أن الباطن عندي حسب ما أظهرت لك فيمن استنبأت عنه، وهو فارس لعنه الله فإنه ليس يسعك إلا الاجتهاد في لعنه، وقصده ومعاداته، والمبالغة في ذلك بأكثر ما تجد السبيل إليه. ما كنت آمر أن يدان الله بأمر غير صحيح، فجد وشد في لعنه وهتكه، وقطع أسبابه، وصد أصحابنا عنه، وإبطال أمره وأبلغهم ذلك مني، واحكه لهم عني، وإني سائلكم بين يدي الله عن هذا الامر المؤكد، فويل للعاصي وللجاحد. وكتبت بخطي ليلة الثلاثاء لتسع ليال من شهر ربيع الاول سنة خمسين ومائتين، وأنا أتوكل على الله وأحمده كثيرا.

H 312 - Abdullah bin Ja’far Himyari said: Imam Hadi (a.s) wrote the following letter in his own handwriting addressed to Ali bin Umar Qazwini: “Have certitude in that through which you worship the Almighty Allah, whose inward is with me. With regard to one about whom you asked and that is Faras; may Allah curse him. Concentrate your efforts to curse and be inimical to him and put in this matter more effort than is possible. I am not saying that you worship Almighty Allah through incorrect issues and I don’t order you an incorrect belief. Thus try more to curse and to be inimical and to oppose him. Keep my companions away from him and refute his orders and dogmas and announce to the Shia on my behalf that I am indeed going to ask you about it in the court of the Almighty Allah. Thus woe be on one who is disobedient and is a denier of mastership (Wilayat). I have written this letter in my own handwriting on Tuesday eve, eve of the 9th Rabiul Awwal, 250 A.H. I have relied on Almighty Allah and am extremely thankful to Him.”

ومنهم أحمد بن هلال العبرتائي:

313- روى محمد بن يعقوب قال:خرج إلى العمري في توقيع طويل إختصرناه: ونحن نبرأ إلى الله تعالى من ابن هلال لا رحمه الله، وممن لا يبرأ منه، فأعلم الاسحاقي وأهل بلده مما أعلمناك من حال هذا الفاجر، وجميع ما كان سألك ويسألك عنه.

H 313 - Muhammad bin Yaqub Kulaini said: An epistle was issued from Imam Mahdi (a.s) to Amari, which is quite lengthy and we have shortened it. It is mentioned in that epistle as follows: “We are aloof from Ibn Hilal, to whom Almighty Allah may never have mercy on and we are aloof from all those who don’t express their disdain about him. Thus inform Ishaqi and his townspeople and all those from you who have asked about him or who ask about the following matter, which I am informing you of.”

ومنهم أبو طاهر محمد بن علي بن بلال وغيرهم مما لا نطول بذكرهم، لأن ذلك مشهور موجود في الكتب.

There are many people like Abu Tahir Muhammad bin Ali bin Bilal and others by whose mention we would not prolong the book since they are famous and well known and they are mentioned in other books as well.

Kitāb al-Ghayba

Book 1, Chapter 42