Mahdaviyat Chp 7

The Occultation of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.)

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of Occultation?

• We cannot see Imam (atfs)

• We can See him but not recognize him (atfs)

• We can meet Imam (atfs) when we want

• Imam (atfs) is in a different world

Two parts to the Occultation

The occultation of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) is divided into two parts: Minor (صغرى ) and Major (كبرى ).

It is worth noting that even Sunni scholars have narrated traditions concerning occultation in their books.

Tradition on Occultation

Imam Sadeq (a.s.) says,

"There are two occultations for the Qaem. One of them is longer than the other"

Multiple Choice

What was the duration of Ghaibat e Sughra?

• 49 yrs

• 59 yrs

• 69 yrs

• 79 yrs

The Minor Occultation

The duration of the minor occultation was sixty-nine years, i.e. 260 – 329 A.H.

The era thereafter is called as the major occultation which will continue till his reappearance.

Some people consider the beginning of occultation since his birth. They consider the duration of the minor occultation to be seventy-four years.

Peculiarity of the Minor Occultation

The peculiarity of the minor occultation was that there were some special representatives in this period who were a medium between Imam (a.t.f.s.) and the people.

These were four people who became famous as the ‘Four Representatives’ (نواب اربع ).

They used to reside in Baghdad and their graves are found there today

The Four Special Deputies

• Abu Amr Usman b. Saeed al-Amri

• Abu Jafar Mohammad b. Usman b. Saeed al-Amri

• Abul Qasim Husain b. Rauh al-Nawbakhti

• Abul Ali b. Muhammad al-Seymouri

He succeeded his father after the latter’s demise. He too was the representative of Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s.).

Mohammad b. Usman b. Saeed al-Amri (exp 304 or 305 AH)

Prior to Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), he was also the representative of Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.) and Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s.).

​Usman b. Saeed al-Amri (exp 265 AH)

Some details

He was the last special representative. Six days prior to his demise, he received a signed letter from Imam (a.t.f.s.) which prophesied his death

​Ali b. Muhammad al-Seymouri (exp. 15th Shabaan 329 A.H.)

Every year we send our areezas today in his name.

​Husain b. Rauh al-Nawbakhti (exp. 18th Shabaan, 326 A.H.)

Some details

The Major Occultation

The era after 69 AH is called as the major occultation which will continue till the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.).

During this period, Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) has not appointed any individual as his special deputy.

Therefore, nowadays the Maraaje and the great jurists are called as the general representatives (نواب عام ) of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.).

In one of his signed letters (tauqee’), Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) wrote,

Instruction from Imam (a.t.f.s.)

Where is Imam (atfs)?

Now in the period of occultation, people are not aware of the residence of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) and are unable to recognise him. We cannot go directly in his presence.

But by the command of Allah, there are some fortunate people in the major occultation who got the opportunity to meet and visit Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.). There are numerous such incidents mentioned in authentic and reliable books.

From the book Kamaaluddin

• Ghaibat of Hazrat e Idrees (a.s)

  • Among the famous Ghaibat, the first is that of Janabe Idrees (a.s)

  • His Ghaibat was for twenty years and during his Ghaibat the oppressors killed many of his followers and many others were oppressed and made poor

  • Then he appeared and gave the glad tiding that one of his sons - Hazrat e Noah (a.s) - will remove calamities from you

From the book Kamaaluddin

• Ghaibat of Hazrat e Musa (a.s)

  • After Prophet Yusuf (as) told the people that they will be tortured alot and will be relieved through a person from progeny of Laavi bin Yaqub (a.s) will remove them from the calamities, they waited for 400 years for his appearance.

  • Imam e Sadiq (a.s) says : In Qaem (a.s) there is sunnah of Hazrat e Musa (a.s), his birth will be hidden and his being in ghaibat from his nation