The proofs of Allah from Adam till Prophet Ibrahim were appointed either openly or hidden form. Prophet Ibrahim was kept hidden by Allah and he was born secretly because there was no possibility of making the proof open during that time. Prophet Ibrahim did not disclose his mission or his personality during the rule of Nimrod. Nimrod used to kill the newborn children of his kingdom because he feared the arrival of a Divine Proof. Later on Prophet Ibrahim revealed his personality and his mission when his occultation came to an end. It had become incumbent on him to reveal his mission to the people so that the will of Allah regarding sending of His proof and completion of religion is executed. Prophet Ibrahim had many successors after him who were Divine Proofs on the earth. Some of them were apparent and some hidden.

This process continued till the time of Prophet Musa. Before the birth of Prophet Musa, Firon started killing the newborn children of Bani Israel in order to eliminate Musa. This story became very famous and the news reached everywhere. Thus, Allah kept his birth hidden and his mother left him to sail in the river as mentioned in the verse: And Firon’s family took him up… (28:8) Prophet Musa grew up near Firon and the latter did not recognize him. He went on killing the children of Bani Israel. Later on Prophet Musa revealed his personality and invited people towards Allah. Prophet Musa also had a number of successors after him who were Divine Proofs. Some of them were apparent and some hidden.

This process continued till the time of Prophet Isa. Prophet Isa expressed his personality at his birth itself. He did not keep himself hidden because there was no harm in expressing himself at that time. He also had some successors. Some of them were apparent and others were hidden till the arrival of the Holy Prophet. The Almighty Allah addresses His Prophet in this verse: Naught is said to you but what was said indeed to the apostles before you. (41:43) The Almighty Allah also says. «This is Our course with regard to those of Our apostles whom We sent before you»(17:77)

All doctrines of the previous prophets are included in the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and one of them is appointing a successor. Hence, the Holy Prophet appointed his successors and also informed that Imam Mahdi is the last among them and that he would fill the earth with justice as much as it would have been filled with injustice. This narration is recorded by the entire Ummah. He will reappear and Prophet Isa will offer Prayer behind him. Thus the birth places of all the successors was secured till the Master of the Time who is being awaited to establish justice and equity just as divine wisdom and exigency demanded occultations for Divine Proofs that we have mentioned.

Muslim are well-aware of the fact that the rulers during the time of Imam Hasan al-Askari kept close watch on him till his martyrdom. After his martyrdom, his relatives were under strict vigil and most of them were arrested. His newborn son (Imam Zaman) was searched for everywhere. One of the vigilantes was the uncle of Imam Zaman, Ja’far Kazzab (the liar), who was the brother of Imam Hasan bin Ali al-Askari and claimed Imamate for himself. Hence, the Sunnah of occultation was repeated as mentioned in case of many prophets. The hidden wisdom in the occultation of Imam is the same as that in case of above mentioned prophets.