وقد سألونا في هذه الغيبة، وقالوا: إذا جاز أن يغيب الإمام ثلاثين سنة وما أشبهها، فما تنكرون من رفع عينه عن العالم؟ فيقال لهم: في ارتفاع عينه ارتفاع الحجة من الأرض وسقوط الشرائع إذا لم يكن لها من يحفظها. وأما إذا استتر الإمام للخوف على نفسه بأمر الله عز وجل، وكان له سبب معروف متصل به، وكانت الحجة قائمة إذ كانت عينه موجودة في العالم، وبابه وسببه معروفان، وإنما عدم إفتائه وأمره ونهيه ظاهراً، وليس في ذلك بطلان للحجة.
ولذلك نظائر، فقد أقام النبي صلى الله عليه وآله في الشعب مدة طويلة، وكان يدعو الناس في أول أمره سراً، إلى أن أمن وصارت له فئة، وهو في كل ذلك نبي مبعوث مرسل، فلم يبطل توقيه وتستره من بعض الناس دعوته ونبوته، ولا أدحض ذلك حجته. ثم دخل صلى الله عليه وآله الغار فأقام فيه، فلا يعرف أحد موضعه، ولم يبطل ذلك نبوته، ولو ارتفعت عينه لبطلت نبوته.
وكذلك الإمام، يجوز أن يحبسه السلطان المدة الطويلة ويمنع من لقائه، حتى لا يفتي ولا يعلم ولا يبين، والحجة قائمة ثابتة واجبة وإن لم يفتِ ولم يبيّن، لأنه موجود العين في العالم، ثابت الذات. ولو أن نبياً أو إماماً لم يبيّن ويعلّم ويفتِ، لم تبطل نبوته ولا إمامته ولا حجته، ولو ارتفعت ذاته لبطلت الحجة. وكذلك يجوز أن يستتر الإمام المدة الطويلة إذا خاف، ولا تبطل حجة الله عز وجل.
They have asked us about this occultation and said: If it is possible for the Imam to remain hidden for thirty years or so, then what prevents you from saying that he has been removed entirely from the world? We reply: If he were truly removed, then the divine proof would be removed from the earth, and the religious laws would collapse due to the absence of one who preserves them. But if the Imam is in hiding due to fear for his life by the command of Allah, and there is a known and continuous reason for that, while the proof remains in place because his presence continues in the world, and his access and connection are known—then his lack of issuing rulings, commands, or prohibitions publicly does not invalidate the divine proof.
There are examples of this: the Prophet ﷺ remained in the valley for a long period, secretly calling people to Islam at the beginning, until he found safety and support. Throughout that entire time, he was a divinely appointed prophet and messenger. His caution and concealment from some people did not nullify his prophethood, nor weaken his proof. Then he ﷺ entered the cave and stayed there; no one knew his location—yet that did not invalidate his prophethood. Had his very existence ceased, his prophethood would have ceased as well.
Likewise, the Imam may be imprisoned by the ruler for a long time, prevented from meeting anyone, issuing rulings, or teaching—yet the divine proof remains firm and obligatory, even if he does not give verdicts or clarification, because he still exists in the world and remains present. If a prophet or an Imam does not teach, explain, or give rulings, that does not invalidate their prophethood, Imamate, or authority. But if their very being ceases, then the divine proof is lost. So it is indeed permissible for the Imam to remain in hiding for a long period due to fear, and the divine proof of Allah remains intact.
Commentary #4
وقد سألونا في هذه الغيبة، وقالوا: إذا جاز أن يغيب الإمام ثلاثين سنة وما أشبهها، فما تنكرون من رفع عينه عن العالم؟ فيقال لهم: في ارتفاع عينه ارتفاع الحجة من الأرض وسقوط الشرائع إذا لم يكن لها من يحفظها. وأما إذا استتر الإمام للخوف على نفسه بأمر الله عز وجل، وكان له سبب معروف متصل به، وكانت الحجة قائمة إذ كانت عينه موجودة في العالم، وبابه وسببه معروفان، وإنما عدم إفتائه وأمره ونهيه ظاهراً، وليس في ذلك بطلان للحجة.
ولذلك نظائر، فقد أقام النبي صلى الله عليه وآله في الشعب مدة طويلة، وكان يدعو الناس في أول أمره سراً، إلى أن أمن وصارت له فئة، وهو في كل ذلك نبي مبعوث مرسل، فلم يبطل توقيه وتستره من بعض الناس دعوته ونبوته، ولا أدحض ذلك حجته. ثم دخل صلى الله عليه وآله الغار فأقام فيه، فلا يعرف أحد موضعه، ولم يبطل ذلك نبوته، ولو ارتفعت عينه لبطلت نبوته.
وكذلك الإمام، يجوز أن يحبسه السلطان المدة الطويلة ويمنع من لقائه، حتى لا يفتي ولا يعلم ولا يبين، والحجة قائمة ثابتة واجبة وإن لم يفتِ ولم يبيّن، لأنه موجود العين في العالم، ثابت الذات. ولو أن نبياً أو إماماً لم يبيّن ويعلّم ويفتِ، لم تبطل نبوته ولا إمامته ولا حجته، ولو ارتفعت ذاته لبطلت الحجة. وكذلك يجوز أن يستتر الإمام المدة الطويلة إذا خاف، ولا تبطل حجة الله عز وجل.
They have asked us about this occultation and said: If it is possible for the Imam to remain hidden for thirty years or so, then what prevents you from saying that he has been removed entirely from the world? We reply: If he were truly removed, then the divine proof would be removed from the earth, and the religious laws would collapse due to the absence of one who preserves them. But if the Imam is in hiding due to fear for his life by the command of Allah, and there is a known and continuous reason for that, while the proof remains in place because his presence continues in the world, and his access and connection are known—then his lack of issuing rulings, commands, or prohibitions publicly does not invalidate the divine proof.
There are examples of this: the Prophet ﷺ remained in the valley for a long period, secretly calling people to Islam at the beginning, until he found safety and support. Throughout that entire time, he was a divinely appointed prophet and messenger. His caution and concealment from some people did not nullify his prophethood, nor weaken his proof. Then he ﷺ entered the cave and stayed there; no one knew his location—yet that did not invalidate his prophethood. Had his very existence ceased, his prophethood would have ceased as well.
Likewise, the Imam may be imprisoned by the ruler for a long time, prevented from meeting anyone, issuing rulings, or teaching—yet the divine proof remains firm and obligatory, even if he does not give verdicts or clarification, because he still exists in the world and remains present. If a prophet or an Imam does not teach, explain, or give rulings, that does not invalidate their prophethood, Imamate, or authority. But if their very being ceases, then the divine proof is lost. So it is indeed permissible for the Imam to remain in hiding for a long period due to fear, and the divine proof of Allah remains intact.