THE LAST LUMINARY [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

THE
LAST LUMINARY

THE
GOOD NEWS

THE
BIRTH

THE
MINOR

OCCULTATION

THE
MAJOR

OCCULTATION

THE
SHI'ITE DURING

THE IMAM'S OCCULTATION

NOTES

THE
MINOR OCCULTATION

When
Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.) died, the office of Divine Leadership (Imamate)
was transferred to the Last Luminous Pearl of the Household of the Holy Prophet,
Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.). Although His Eminence did not appear amongst the people,
some persons in whom he had trust and confidence were allowed to visit him and
present him the problems and questions of the Shi'ites. And they communicated
to the people the guidance and commands of the Divine Luminous Light.

From the point of view
faith, confidence and virtue, these were distinguished persons among the Muslims
who were mediators between the Imam and the people. And in due time they conveyed
the guidance of His Eminence to the people.

By studying the degree
of the character and perception of the belief and piety of these individuals,
not only does the greatness of their personalities become clear to us, but we
become more familiar with the Imam of the Age, because, among the sayings of
these distinguished, trustworthy and reliable companions of the Holy Imams,
one finds the signs of the greatness of His Eminence (Imam al-Mahdi - a.s.).

Among the companions of
Imam-e Zaman, four became his most famous and confidential deputies who
acted as mediators between the Imam and the people, and they are known as the
Nawwab al-arba 'ah (the four deputies).

In order to know more
about the dignity and greatness of their positions, we give below a brief description
of each one of them:

1)
'Uthman ibn Sa'id 'Umari:

This honorable figure was not only a deputy (na 'ib) of Imam-e
Zaman but he was also a representative (wakil) of Imam Hasan al-'Askari
(a.s.) and Imam 'Ali an-Naqi (a.s.). He settled and organized many affairs
of the Shi'ites. The Tenth Imam (al-Hadi -a.s.) said to his followers regarding
him.

"This Abu 'Umari
is a reliable and trustworthy person. Whatever he says to you he says so on
my behalf, and whatever he does he does on my behalf.34

This representation continued
till 254 A.H. when Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) died. Then, the Eleventh Imam is reported
to have praised the character of Abu 'Umari as having his high esteem in his
address to his Shi'ites, saying:

"This Abu 'Umari
is a reliable and trustworthy person. He had the confidence of the preceding
Imam, and has also my confidence in my lifetime and after my death. Whatever
he says to you he says so on my behalf, and whatever he does he does on my
behalf." 35

Likewise, with this certificate
of admiration, he became the deputy (Na'ibu 'l-Imam) of the Twelfth
Imam after the demise of Imam Hasan ai-'Askari (a.s.).On the death of Abu 'Umari,
the Lord of the Age (Sahibu 'z-Zaman) himself sent condolences to his
son, Muhammad ibn 'Uthman saying:

"Verily, we belong
to Allah and verily to Him shall we return. We submit to His command and are
pleased with His decree. Your father has lived in good fortune and has died
with dignity. May Allah's mercy be upon him, he has joined his friends and
masters. He was always endeavoring to search for whatever would bring him
near to Allah and His friends. May Allah make strengthen his countenance.
36

2) Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn 'Uthman:

This man was the second special deputy of Imam-e Zaman. He was also
a deputy of the Eleventh Imam, about whom the latter said:

"The greatness of
his dignity and the exaltation of his status among the Shi'ites is so famous
that there is no need to explain or dispute it 37

Regarding him and his
father, Uthman ibn Said, Imam
Hasan Al Askari (a.s.)

said to one of his companions:

Umar and his son are both trustworthy. Whatever they
do they do on my behalf, and whatever they say to you, they say so on my behalf.
Therefore, listen to their words and obey them, because both of them are reliable
and trustworthy to us 38

And
Imam-e Zaman
himself said about him:

"He is my confidant, and his letter is of the same status as mine.39

3)
Abul-Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh Nawbakhti:

Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn 'Uthman, the third deputy of Imam-e Zaman,
said about him:

This Husayn ibn Ruh ibn
Abu Bahr Nawbakhti is my successor. He is a reliable and trustworthy envoy
and deputy between you and the Sahibul-Amr (the Master of the Authority).
Therefore, in your affairs and important tasks refer to him and trust him.
I was given this task; and I have announced it.40

Shaykh Tusi ( may Allah's
mercy be upon him) said about him:

"Abu'l-Qasim Husayn
ibn Ruh was regarded by his friends and opponents as the most learned man
among the people. 41

The integrity of Husayn
ibn Ruh's deputyship was acknowledged by his opponents too. Shalmaghani, who
was one of the pseudo-claimants to the deputy ship, had to confess his falsity
when Imam-e Zaman ordered Husayn ibn Ruh to expose him. He (Shalmaghani)
said:

"It is not right
between me and Allah to say anything in the affair of Husayn ibn Ruh other
than the truth. Although his crime towards me is a big one, yet this man was
appointed by Imam-e Zaman for the task. The Shi'ites should not turn
away from him.42

4)
Abul-Hasan 'Ali ibn Muhammad Simmari :

This honourable figure was the last special deputy (Na'ibu 'l-khass)
of the Holy Imam-e Zaman. His death, coincided with the 15th of Sha'ban
329 A.H. Husayn ibn Ruh introduced him as the deputy of the Imam. The last
letter of Imam-e Zaman (the Lord of the Age) to the four special deputies
was addressed to this honorable man. In this order the Imam announced the
death of 'Ali ibn Muhammad and the end of the deputation:

"In the name of Allah,
the Benefecient, the Merciful. You are going to die in six days, may Allah
grant patience to your brothers in faith on your departure. So, be prepared,
but appoint no one in your place, because from the day of your death the period
of my major occultation (ghaybat-e-kubra) will begin. Henceforth, no one will
see me, unless and until Allah makes me appear. My reappearnce will take place
after a very long time when people will have grown tired of waiting and those
who are weak in their faith will say: 'What! Is he still alive?' When men
will become cruel and inconsiderate, and the world will be full of injustice
and violence. Very soon some men will claim to have seen me. Beware! Anyone
who makes such a claim before the coming out of Sufyani and the sound from
heaven announcing my reappearance, is a liar and an impostor. There is no
might nor strength except in Allah, the Magnificent." 43

As can be seen from this,
it is the last order, in which the door of special deputation is closed by
the death of 'All ibn Muhammad; hence, anyone who claims to be a mediator,
or claims that the Imam can be seen, is a liar. In the period of the major
occultation no one has made the claim that he has been in the presence of
the Holy Imam-e Zaman.

The people would not accept
the deputation of the four special deputies unless they had been shown the
miracles of the Sahibul-Amr to verify their truthfulness and accuracy,
although they acknowledged them as reliable and trustworthy and had not the
smallest doubt in their piety, faith and knowledge.44

The special deputies presented
to Imam-e Zaman the problems and questions of the Shi'ite scholars,
and he answered the ones that were necessary in letter format and delivered
them through the same deputies.

In these letters, the
most important and difficult problems on different subjects of Shi'ite beliefs
were cleared up.

One of these problems
was a question as to what would be the responsibility of the Shi'ites who
would be faced with new events during the period of occultation, and what
should they do to face them?

In the letter issued by
Imam - e Zaman to the celebrated and distinguished Shi'ite Is'haq ibn
Ya'qub he recounted duties, methods and guidance for the Shi'ites in the period
of occultation. This direction was carried out for many centuries, and it
is one of the proofs of the comprehensiveness and eternity of Islamic rule.

In one of the letters
to Imam-e Zaman which he sent through the second special deputy of
the Imam, Is'haq ibn Ya'qub asked him some different questions, among which
was a question which is the subject of our discussion. The Imam said
that in those affairs one must refer to those this period of test, till by the order of Almighty who really understands
their (Imams') sayings and have truly related them:

"But as for the problems
which will occur in the future, you should refer to the narrators of our traditions for their verdicts as
they are my proofs to you, and I am Allah's Proof (Hujjatu'llah) to
them. 45

Other letters of His Eminence
(Imam al-Mahdi - a.s.) were issued during the minor occultation (ghaybatu
's-sughra), each one of them solved difficulties and gave instruction
in the boundless sea of wisdom. All these letters were conveyed through the
Holy Imam's special deputy to the desirous seekers.

Yes, the four deputies,
who were at the highest level of faith and confidence for many years, were
the blessed mediators between the Imam and the people till in the year 329
A. H.. When this deputation was closed, and on the basis of the Divine Will
the major occultation of Imarn-e Zaman commenced. This was the very
occultation which was prophesied a long time previously by the Holy Prophet
and the Shiite Imams; and Muslims keep patient in this period of test, till
by the order of Almighty Allah, the Awaited Imam will reappear and the Divine
Aim will reach its fulfilment.