REMEMBERING IMAM (A.S.) AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY

Our
responsibilities during the major occultation (Ghaibat) of Imam Mahdi
(a.t.f.s.) have been dealt with in great detail in the book, 'Mikyalul Makarem Fi Favaidid Dua lil Qaem' (a.t.f.s.)
by Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Musawi Isfahani (r.a.).
He has highlighted the responsibilities in the second volume of the
book.

Just by looking at the responsibilities outlined in the book it
should be clear to the reader that fulfilling these duties is beneficial to us
and forsaking them is detrimental to our interests. We realise that executing
these responsibilities is proof of our love and attachment for Imam
(a.t.f.s.). Performance of action is an important indication of strength of
faith. Moreover, it makes one successful in this world and the hereafter.
Inshallah, we will discuss another important responsibility, which is fairly
easy to observe and very beneficial. The duty is remembering Imam (a.t.f.s.)
and reminding others about him (a.t.f.s.). This responsibility can be
accomplished individually as well as socially.

The first step in fulfilling
this duty is to increase our love towards Ahle Bait (a.s.). Books are laden
with traditions regarding the love of Ahle Bait (a.s.).

Here, we will outline
three traditions dealing with the topic.

(1) Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.)
says:

'Surely for
every act of worship, there is another superior to it and the love of us -
Ahle Bait - is the most superior act of worship.'

(Beharul Anwaar, vol. 27, pg. 91, trad. 148)

We
are thankful to Allah that we were born in a family where the love of Ahle
Bait (a.s.) was continuously infused in our hearts, just as food and water was
constantly fed into our bodies.

(2) The standard
for perfect faith and glad tidings on the Day of Judgement is the love of Imam
Zamana (a.t.f.s.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) declared:

'(If one
wishes) to have perfect faith and desires that his Islam is best, then he
should love Hujjat - Sahebuz Zamana Al Muntazar (Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.)).
Whoever loves them (Imams (a.s.)) and accepts their mastership, then I take
guarantee from Allah, the High, for Paradise.'

(Beharul Anwar, vol. 36, pg. 296)

The only way to
increase the , love of Ahle Bait (a.s.) is their remembrance. An important
benefit of this remembrance is that we will be safe from the assaults of
Shaitan. A great scholar used to explain to his students that Shaitan is
smarter than we are. He has promised Allah that he will deviate the progeny of
Adam (a.s.). To achieve his aim he employs various tactics to deviate us. The
easiest and the most successful way to save ourselves from his deceit is put
the shield of remembrance of Ahle Bait (a.s.) between ourselves and Shaitan.
We find a similar concept in traditions as explained by the scholar to his
students. Shaitan stays away from those who are busy in the remembrance of
Ahle Bait (a.s.).

(3) Imam Sadiq
(a.s.) said to his famous companion, Dawood bin Sarhan:

'O Dawood, give
my salutations to my Shias and convey my message to them that when two persons
meet and discuss our traditions then Allah's mercy is on both of them. The
third between them is an angel who seeks forgiveness for them. No two persons
meet and discuss about us but Allah prides Himself on this fact among His
angels. (I order you) whenever you meet keep yourself busy in our remembrance.
This remembrance enlivens our affairs. The best people after us are those who
narrate our traditions andinvite people towards them.'

(Beharul Anwaar, vol. 1, pg. 200)

Imam (a.s.) in
this brief tradition, has conveyed some important points:

1) Whenever two
persons discuss the traditions of the Holy Infallibles (a.s.), the third
entity among them is an angel and not Shaitan.

2) The angel seeks
forgiveness for all persons participating in the discussion. It is quite

possible that our repentance is not accepted by Allah, but the
supplications of angels is

always accepted.

3) The holy Infallible Imam
(a.s.) is constantly praying for Allah's mercy for all these persons who
discuss the traditions.

4) Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) has ordered us to gather
and discuss traditions of the Ahle Bait (a.s.).

5) When their traditions
are discussed, the affairs of the holy Infallibles (a.s.) are
enlivened.

6) Allah, the Almighty, prides over such gatherings.

7) Such people will be
enumerated among thebestpeople.

An Arab poet who
was intensely attached to Imam Zamana (a.t.f.s.) has recited the following
couplet:

'Allah
knows that I don't remember (you) How do I remember you when I don't forget
you.' (Mikyalul Makarem Fi Favaidid Dua Lil Qaem,
vol.2,pg.308)

The above
couplets are an example of the tradition of Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.) when a

person asked him whether the twelfth Imam (a.s.)will be unseen?
Imam (a.s.)
replied:

'Yes,
physically he will be unseen but his remembrance will not be absent from the
hearts of the believers and he is the twelfth one from us.'

(Kamaluddin WaTamamun Nemah, chap. 34, trad. No.
6)

May our lives be
sacrificed for Babul Hawaij -Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.). Most of his life was
spent in worshipping Allah in the dreadful and uncomfortable prison of the
Abbasides. In the above tradition, he emphasises the importance of remembering
our last Imam (a.t.f.s.) at all times.

In another
incident we leam the significance of remembering Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.). Once
an old person
from Syria came to Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.). He saluted Imam (a.s.), kissed his
hand and started crying. Imam (a.s.) consoled him and asked him the reason for
crying. He said: O Master! After the incident of Karbala, every day I have
been anticipating that maybe today or tomorrow, this week or the next week,
this month

or the next month, this year or the next year, an individual
from the progeny of Imam Husain (a.s.) will rise and avenge his blood. But I
do not see any sign of this (rising) in you.'

After hearing this, Imam
(a.s.) cried even more than the old man and said:

"O old man, I am not
that individual (who is to rise) but he is the last from us, Hujjat b. Hasan
Askari (a.t.f.s.). As you have his love in your heart and you await him, even
if you die before his reappearance he will raise you from your grave."

(Muntahul Aamaal, Shaykh Abbas-e-Qummi (r.a.))

O lovers of the
oppressed Imam (a.s.)! Oaggrieved ones for Imam Husain (a.s.) - the

beloved of the Holy Prophet's (s.a.w.a.) daughter (s.a.)! Is it possible
that we be negligent of Imam Husain's (a.s.) heir and abandon his remembrance
from our hearts and gatherings?

Remember, if we
are the true lovers of Imam (a.t.f.s.), then we should remember the avenger of
Imam Husain's (a.s.) blood just like that old Syrian who came in Imam Sadiq's
(a.s.) presence. Like him we must also cry and beseech Allah for Imam's
(a.t.f.s.) earliest reappearance. We should know that the one who is fully
aware of the incident of Karbala and of the oppression inflicted upon Janabe
Zahra (s.a.) remembers his Shias by saying:

'Surely we are
never negligent of your affairs nor do we forget your
remembrance.'

After witnessing
such affection on Imam's (a.t.f.s.) part, does it behove us that we remember
him (a.t.f.s.) only on 15th Shabaan? According to reliable
traditions, our deeds are presented to Imam (a.t.f.s.) twice a week. When he
(a.t.f.s.) glances at our bad deeds he (a.t.f.s.) cries intensely and
supplicates to Allah that their (Shias) hearts are filled with the love of my
ancestors (a.s.), therefore forgive their sins.

Dear readers, let
us resolve that from today, we will perform certain recommended acts to
remember Imam (a.t.f.s.) and through it, we will save ourselves from the
attacks of Shaitan. With this we will include ourselves amongst those people
for whom the angels seek forgiveness and Allah prides over them. In this
manner we will be under Allah's perpetual mercy and will be included among the
true lovers of Imam Husain (a.s.) and

not be the cause of Imam's
(a.t.f.s.) sorrow and grief.

1) To recite
Dua-e-Ahad after every morning prayer. It is narrated
from Imam Jafer Sadiq (a.s.) that one who recites Dua-e-Ahad for forty
mornings, then Inshallah, he will be included among the companions and helpers
of Imam (a.t.f.s.) at the time of his (a.t.f.s.) reappearance. If he dies
before Imam's (a.t.f.s.) reappearance, he (a.t.f.s.) will raise him from his
grave. We remember Imam (a.t.f.s.) in this Dua with these beautiful
words:

They (enemies)
perceive your reappearance as distant but we consider it as
near.'

'O my Allah, if
death comes between me and him (Imam (a.t.f.s.)), which you have decreed as a
certainty for your servants, then raise me from my grave, enshrouded, my sword
uncovered, wielding a naked spear answering to the call of the caller in
cities as well as deserts!'

This supplication can be
found in Mafateehul Jinaan, Beharul Anwaar, vol. 102, pg.
112

2) Every Friday morning to organise an assembly for
Dua-e-Nudba in the house and/or in the locality. Nudba means intense wailing.
In this Dua, the lovers of Imam Husain (a.s.) in the condition of waiting asks
:

'Where is the
one who will take the revenge of the blood of the martyrs
of

Karbala ?'

I wish I had
known where you are living!'

'May my life
be sacrificed for you, you are the desire of every believing man and woman who
has remembered you and sympathised with you.'

This supplication can
also be found in Mafateehul Jinaan

3) To organise
gatherings and assemblies (majaalis) wherein Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) is
remembered. Enliven the hearts of your children and believers. It is narrated
in traditions that hearts are enlivened with the remembrance of Imam
(a.t.f.s.) and sins are forgiven. The hearts will remain alive on that Day
when all other hearts will be dead. For more details, refer Beharul Anwaar, vol. 1, pg. 200.

4) Read and
narrate the incidents of people who have met Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) so that
the desire and love of meeting Imam (a.t.f.s.) is revived in the hearts. A
lover of Imam (a.t.f.s.) has stated beautifully:

'We desire to see you
but this journey is not possible. If we are unable to reach you, then you only
come to us.'

5) As it is
commanded in the last verse of Surah Aal-e-Imran,
(varabetu) 'And be in contact'.

Imam Jafar Sadiq
(a.s.) says

'Be in contact
with your Imam, the Awaited One'. Day and night whenever you get the time be
in contact with your Imam (a.t.f.s.).

Rabetu in occultation means to always remember Imam
(a.t.f.s.), to seek mediation (tawaasul) through him (a.t.f.s.) and to seek
solution of all our problems through him (a.t.f.s.) only.

6) Shaikh Abu Amr has narrated 'Dua-e-Ghaibat' from Imam (a.s.). This supplication
should be recited on Friday. Shaykh Abbas-e-Qummi
(r.a.) has narrated in his book, 'Muntahal Aamaal'
that even if no recommended action is performed on Friday then at least
one should read this supplication and should never abandon it as it is prayed
to have perfect belief in Imam (a.t.f.s.) in the period of occultation. This
supplication can be found in Mafateehul Jinaan.

7) Before
performing any action we must think whether Imam (a.t.f.s.) will be pleased
with it or not?

"O Allah, by the right of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.) fill our
hearts with the love of Imam (a.t.f.s.) and give us the taufeeq to remember
him (a.t.f.s.) and make others remember him (a.t.f.s.)."

8) In the month
of Muharram or even otherwise, whenever we cry for the martyrs of Karbala and
the prisoners of Ahle Bait (a.s.), we should offer our condolences to the one
who will avenge the blood of Imam Husain (a.s.) and we should pray for his
earliest reappearance.

9) We must
celebrate the birthday of Imam (a.t.f.s.) on 15th Shabaan in such a way that
people inquire about the occasion. Apart from reciting verses in praise of
Imam (a.t.f.s.), we should organise other programmes so that people can
increase their recognition (ma'refat) of Imam (a.t.f.s.) and attain proximity
towards him (a.t.f.s.).