رد إشكال فكان من الزيادة لخصومنا أن قالوا ما أنكرتم إذ قد ثبت لكم ما ادعيتم من الغيبة كغيبة موسى عليه السلام و من حل محله من الأئمة الذين وقعت بهم الغيبة أن تكون حجة موسى لم تلزم أحدا إلا من بعد أن أظهر دعوته و دل على نفسه و كذلك لا تلزم حجة إمامكم هذا لخفاء مكانه و شخصه حتى يظهر دعوته و يدل على نفسه كذلك فحينئذ تلزم حجته و تجب طاعته و ما بقي في الغيبة فلا تلزم حجته و لا تجب طاعته.
فأقول و بالله أستعين إن خصومنا غفلوا عما يلزم من حجة حجج الله في ظهورهم و استتارهم و قد ألزمهم الله تعالى الحجة البالغة في كتابه و لم يتركهم سدى في جهلهم و تخبطهم و لكنهم كما قال الله عز و جل أَ فَلا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفالُها إن الله عز و جل قد أخبرنا في قصة موسى عليه السلام أنه كان له شيعة و هم بأمره عارفون و بولايته متمسكون و لدعوته منتظرون قبل إظهار دعوته و من قبل دلالته على نفسه حيث يقول وَ دَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلى حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِنْ أَهْلِها فَوَجَدَ فِيها رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلانِ هذا مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ وَ هذا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ فَاسْتَغاثَهُ الَّذِي مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ و قال عز و جل حكاية عن شيعته قالُوا أُوذِينا مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنا وَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ما جِئْتَنا الآية فأعلمنا الله عز و جل في كتابه أنه قد كان لموسى عليه السلام شيعة من قبل أن يظهر من نفسه نبوة و قبل أن يظهر له دعوة يعرفونه و يعرفهم بموالاة موسى صاحب الدعوة و لم يكونوا يعرفون أن ذلك الشخص هو موسى بعينه و ذلك أن نبوة موسى إنما ظهرت من بعد رجوعه من عند شعيب حين سار بأهله من بعد السنين التي رعى فيها لشعيب حتى استوجب بها أهله فكان دخوله المدينة حين وجد فيها الرجلين قبل مسيره إلى شعيب
و كذلك وجدنا مثل نبينا محمد ص قد عرف أقوام أمره قبل ولادته و بعد ولادته و عرفوا مكان خروجه و دار هجرته من قبل أن يظهر من نفسه نبوة و من قبل ظهور دعوته و ذلك مثل سلمان الفارسي رحمه الله و مثل قس بن ساعدة الإيادي و مثل تبع الملك و مثل عبد المطلب و أبي طالب و مثل سيف بن ذي يزن و مثل بحيرى الراهب و مثل كبير الرهبان في طريق الشام و مثل أبي مويهب الراهب و مثل سطيح الكاهن و مثل يوسف اليهودي و مثل ابن حواش الحبر المقبل من الشام و مثل زيد بن عمرو بن نفيل و مثل هؤلاء كثير ممن قد عرف النبي ص بصفته و نعته و اسمه و نسبه قبل مولده و بعد مولده و الأخبار في ذلك موجودة عند الخاص و العام و قد أخرجتها مسندة في هذا الكتاب في مواضعها فليس من حجة الله عز و جل نبي و لا وصي إلا و قد حفظ المؤمنون وقت كونه و ولادته و عرفوا أبويه و نسبه في كل عصر و زمان حتى لم يشتبه عليهم شيء من أمر حجج الله عز و جل في ظهورهم و حين استتارهم و أغفل ذلك أهل الجحود و الضلال و الكنود فلم يكن عندهم علم شيء من أمرهم و كذلك سبيل صاحب زماننا عليه السلام حفظ أولياؤه المؤمنون من أهل المعرفة و العلم وقته و زمانه و عرفوا علاماته و شواهد أيامه و كونه و وقت ولادته و نسبه فهم على يقين من أمره في حين غيبته و مشهده و أغفل ذلك أهل الجحود و الإنكار و العنود
Another objection raised by our rivals is: You cannot deny that the occultation of Prophet Musa is similar to that of your Imam. The obedience of Prophet Musa was not incumbent at that time. He had not expressed himself and had not invited people towards himself at the time of his occultation. Similarly, it is not obligatory to obey your Imam till the time he is hidden and does not invite people towards him and makes people recognize him. If he does so then his obedience will become obligatory and it is not obligatory to obey him during his occultation.
I would reply this objection through the help of Allah. Our rivals are unaware of how the proofs of Allah can be apparent or hidden. The Almighty Allah has completed his argument in His book and left them on their own. They are as said by Allah: «Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Nay, on the hearts there are locks» (47:24) The Almighty Allah informs us that some of the Shias of Prophet Musa were aware of his orders and had faith in him even before Prophet Musa’s birth. They awaited the arrival of Prophet Musa even before he had declared his prophethood. Allah says: «And he went into the city at a time of unvigilance on the part of its people, so he found therein two men fighting, one being of his party and the other of his foes» (28:15) The Almighty Allah has mentioned the words of the followers of Musa in the verse: «They said: We have been persecuted before you came to us and since you have come to us» (7:129) Thus the Almighty Allah has proved that there were followers of Prophet Musa even before He declared his prophethood. The people knew Musa and vice versa even before he declared his prophethood. They waited for a Musa who would invite people towards himself but were unaware that he was the same person. Prophet Musa’s prophethood was declared openly when he returned from Prophet Shuaib along with his family after a number of years. He used to take care of the cattle of Prophet Shuaib during that period in lieu of the Dower (mahr) of his wife. The incident of entering the city and finding two persons fighting occurred after his return only.
Similarly, we will find that many communities were aware of Holy Prophet and had faith in him before and after his birth. They were also aware of the place of his birth and the place of his migration. All these were even before the Holy Prophet had declared his prophethood. People like Salman Farsi, Qais bin Saada Ayyadi, Taba al-Mulk, Abdul Muttalib, Abu Talib, Saif bin Dhiyazn, Rahib Bahiri, Abi Muyahb Rahib who met Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when he was traveling to Syria, Sateeh Kaahan, Yusuf the Jew, Abu Hawaash al-Habr who had come from Syria, Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail and others knew Holy Prophet’s attributes, name and lineage even before he was born and recognized him after his birth. There are numerous general and particular traditions in this regard. I have mentioned them in this book along with their chains of narrators at appropriate places. Thus no proof of Allah is such that believers have forgotten his birth. They have known their parents and lineage in every age so that people do not doubt the proof of Allah whether it is apparent or hidden. Now the deviated people left it and they had no knowledge about these commandments. Similarly, the friends of Imam Zaman remembered him, recognized his signs and became aware of his existence and lineage. Thus these people have faith on Imam regardless of whether he is in occultation or apparent and the deniers have left him.
Commentary #3
رد إشكال فكان من الزيادة لخصومنا أن قالوا ما أنكرتم إذ قد ثبت لكم ما ادعيتم من الغيبة كغيبة موسى عليه السلام و من حل محله من الأئمة الذين وقعت بهم الغيبة أن تكون حجة موسى لم تلزم أحدا إلا من بعد أن أظهر دعوته و دل على نفسه و كذلك لا تلزم حجة إمامكم هذا لخفاء مكانه و شخصه حتى يظهر دعوته و يدل على نفسه كذلك فحينئذ تلزم حجته و تجب طاعته و ما بقي في الغيبة فلا تلزم حجته و لا تجب طاعته.
فأقول و بالله أستعين إن خصومنا غفلوا عما يلزم من حجة حجج الله في ظهورهم و استتارهم و قد ألزمهم الله تعالى الحجة البالغة في كتابه و لم يتركهم سدى في جهلهم و تخبطهم و لكنهم كما قال الله عز و جل أَ فَلا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفالُها إن الله عز و جل قد أخبرنا في قصة موسى عليه السلام أنه كان له شيعة و هم بأمره عارفون و بولايته متمسكون و لدعوته منتظرون قبل إظهار دعوته و من قبل دلالته على نفسه حيث يقول وَ دَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلى حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِنْ أَهْلِها فَوَجَدَ فِيها رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلانِ هذا مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ وَ هذا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ فَاسْتَغاثَهُ الَّذِي مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ و قال عز و جل حكاية عن شيعته قالُوا أُوذِينا مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنا وَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ما جِئْتَنا الآية فأعلمنا الله عز و جل في كتابه أنه قد كان لموسى عليه السلام شيعة من قبل أن يظهر من نفسه نبوة و قبل أن يظهر له دعوة يعرفونه و يعرفهم بموالاة موسى صاحب الدعوة و لم يكونوا يعرفون أن ذلك الشخص هو موسى بعينه و ذلك أن نبوة موسى إنما ظهرت من بعد رجوعه من عند شعيب حين سار بأهله من بعد السنين التي رعى فيها لشعيب حتى استوجب بها أهله فكان دخوله المدينة حين وجد فيها الرجلين قبل مسيره إلى شعيب
و كذلك وجدنا مثل نبينا محمد ص قد عرف أقوام أمره قبل ولادته و بعد ولادته و عرفوا مكان خروجه و دار هجرته من قبل أن يظهر من نفسه نبوة و من قبل ظهور دعوته و ذلك مثل سلمان الفارسي رحمه الله و مثل قس بن ساعدة الإيادي و مثل تبع الملك و مثل عبد المطلب و أبي طالب و مثل سيف بن ذي يزن و مثل بحيرى الراهب و مثل كبير الرهبان في طريق الشام و مثل أبي مويهب الراهب و مثل سطيح الكاهن و مثل يوسف اليهودي و مثل ابن حواش الحبر المقبل من الشام و مثل زيد بن عمرو بن نفيل و مثل هؤلاء كثير ممن قد عرف النبي ص بصفته و نعته و اسمه و نسبه قبل مولده و بعد مولده و الأخبار في ذلك موجودة عند الخاص و العام و قد أخرجتها مسندة في هذا الكتاب في مواضعها فليس من حجة الله عز و جل نبي و لا وصي إلا و قد حفظ المؤمنون وقت كونه و ولادته و عرفوا أبويه و نسبه في كل عصر و زمان حتى لم يشتبه عليهم شيء من أمر حجج الله عز و جل في ظهورهم و حين استتارهم و أغفل ذلك أهل الجحود و الضلال و الكنود فلم يكن عندهم علم شيء من أمرهم و كذلك سبيل صاحب زماننا عليه السلام حفظ أولياؤه المؤمنون من أهل المعرفة و العلم وقته و زمانه و عرفوا علاماته و شواهد أيامه و كونه و وقت ولادته و نسبه فهم على يقين من أمره في حين غيبته و مشهده و أغفل ذلك أهل الجحود و الإنكار و العنود
Another objection raised by our rivals is: You cannot deny that the occultation of Prophet Musa is similar to that of your Imam. The obedience of Prophet Musa was not incumbent at that time. He had not expressed himself and had not invited people towards himself at the time of his occultation. Similarly, it is not obligatory to obey your Imam till the time he is hidden and does not invite people towards him and makes people recognize him. If he does so then his obedience will become obligatory and it is not obligatory to obey him during his occultation.
I would reply this objection through the help of Allah. Our rivals are unaware of how the proofs of Allah can be apparent or hidden. The Almighty Allah has completed his argument in His book and left them on their own. They are as said by Allah: «Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Nay, on the hearts there are locks» (47:24) The Almighty Allah informs us that some of the Shias of Prophet Musa were aware of his orders and had faith in him even before Prophet Musa’s birth. They awaited the arrival of Prophet Musa even before he had declared his prophethood. Allah says: «And he went into the city at a time of unvigilance on the part of its people, so he found therein two men fighting, one being of his party and the other of his foes» (28:15) The Almighty Allah has mentioned the words of the followers of Musa in the verse: «They said: We have been persecuted before you came to us and since you have come to us» (7:129) Thus the Almighty Allah has proved that there were followers of Prophet Musa even before He declared his prophethood. The people knew Musa and vice versa even before he declared his prophethood. They waited for a Musa who would invite people towards himself but were unaware that he was the same person. Prophet Musa’s prophethood was declared openly when he returned from Prophet Shuaib along with his family after a number of years. He used to take care of the cattle of Prophet Shuaib during that period in lieu of the Dower (mahr) of his wife. The incident of entering the city and finding two persons fighting occurred after his return only.
Similarly, we will find that many communities were aware of Holy Prophet and had faith in him before and after his birth. They were also aware of the place of his birth and the place of his migration. All these were even before the Holy Prophet had declared his prophethood. People like Salman Farsi, Qais bin Saada Ayyadi, Taba al-Mulk, Abdul Muttalib, Abu Talib, Saif bin Dhiyazn, Rahib Bahiri, Abi Muyahb Rahib who met Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when he was traveling to Syria, Sateeh Kaahan, Yusuf the Jew, Abu Hawaash al-Habr who had come from Syria, Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail and others knew Holy Prophet’s attributes, name and lineage even before he was born and recognized him after his birth. There are numerous general and particular traditions in this regard. I have mentioned them in this book along with their chains of narrators at appropriate places. Thus no proof of Allah is such that believers have forgotten his birth. They have known their parents and lineage in every age so that people do not doubt the proof of Allah whether it is apparent or hidden. Now the deviated people left it and they had no knowledge about these commandments. Similarly, the friends of Imam Zaman remembered him, recognized his signs and became aware of his existence and lineage. Thus these people have faith on Imam regardless of whether he is in occultation or apparent and the deniers have left him.