The
False
Claimants Of
Deputyship of
Imam Mahdi (A.S.)

Hitherto we
have read about the false claim­ants of'
Mahdaviyat in various articles and more or less we are aware of their
lives and times. In the history of Islam some men were such who claimed the
'Special Deputyship' of Imam-e-Zamana (A. S.) but the divine chastisement descended on them
in such a way that their names disappeared into the
oblivion. But history has neatly
preserved their names in its indelible annals, only to expose their mischief for
the common masses, so that they may become aware, learn a lesson and may not
commit the formidable mistake of claiming the deputyship for themselves.

In Islamic
par­lance deputyship means 'representation' and deputy means 'representative and plenipotenti­ary' . Hence the
deputy of Imam (A. S.) means that he is an
intermediary between the people and Imam (A.S.). This implies that he conveys the message
of Imam (A. S.) to the people, refers the questions and problems of the people
to Imam (A.S.) and in turn delivers the replies and solu­tions given by Imam
(A.S.) to the people. He is known as 'the
Deputy of Imam (A.S.)

The
Types Of Deputyship:

There are two
types of Deputyship:

(1) Special
Deputyship and

(2) General Deputyship.

Special Deputyship purports
that some person is appointed as a deputy of Imam (A.S.), directly by
Imam (A.S.) himself with his name. Then this person is the special deputy
of Imam (A.S.). He is given the right to
contact Imam (A. S.) directly whenever he deems fit or whenever they were faced
with an unsolvable problem or some
calam­ity befell them. The series of special deputyship continued upto 329 A.H.

This era, where special deputies met Imam-e-Zamana (A.S.) directly is
known as Minor Occultation (Ghaibat-e-Sughra). The period since 329 A.H. upto
this date and uptill the reappearance of
Imam Mahdi (A.S.) is called The Major
Occultation (Ghaibat-e-Kubra). Those
scholars who are executing their tasks as deputies of
Imam-e-Zamana (A.S.).

in this era,
are known as 'General Deputies' of
lmam (A.S.). Particularly those
highly learned jurists (Marjae-Taqleed) are
'General Deputies' of lmam (A.S.) then
whosoever claims special deputyship in Ghaibat-e-Kubra is a blatant liar.
Although the special deputyship was assigned by Imam (A. S.), but of course it was approved by Allah and
since this status was regarded as very sublime and high and hence some wayward, greedy, wanton, power-crazy and
naive persons who wanted to enjoy the privileges of this position claimed
special deputyship.

Allah disgraced and defamed them by unmasking their
true faces. In this article we shall briefly
mention the life-sketch of such imposters,
who mendaciously claimed the special
deputyship and were declared as apostates forever. As the list of false
claimants of Mahdaviyat is long in history,
so is the list of false claimants of special deputyship.

The
Special Deputies and Intermediaries:

Since the
special deputies were an interme­diary between the common populace and Imam
(A.S.) and conveyed the messages and solutions to the problems from Imam (A. S.)
to the people. Hence even these false claimants also claimed to be
intermediaries and consequently a whole lot of naive people rallied around them.
Shaikh Mufid (A.R.) and Shaikh Tusi (A.R.) in
their respective books 'Al-Ghaibat', Saved
Mohsin Jabal Aameli in his book 'Ayanush Shia'
and Allama Majlisi in his book 'Beharul Anwar' have recorded the life-history of some of
the false claimants of special deputyship. A few of those imposters are
men­tioned over here:-

l - Abu Mohammed Hasan Shariee.

He was the first person
to claim the special deputyship. He was regarded as the com­panion oflmam
Ali Naqi
(A.S.) and Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.) during
their respective times. Though he claimed the most coveted post but was not
benefitted to the least because he desired
for such a position which was already decided by Allah andHis Prophet. This infamy and ignominy
became his lot.
Imam (A.S.) cursed him in his Epistle and
Shias were told to keep aloof from him thus
his infidelity was disclosed and his fate
was sealed. (Ayanush-Shia, Persian
Translation Vol. 4 pg. 59, Beharul-Anwar Vol. 5 pg. 367)

There is also a sect named after
Shariee by the name of Shuraiyye. They are considered as Ghulaat (extremists) and Hululiye (believers in incarnation).

(Khandaane-Nauhakhti by Abhas Iqhal pg. 235)

2 - Mohammed
bin Naseer Numairi:

He claimed deputyship in the tenure of the second special
deputy Mohammed bin Usman, In short, he
claimed for the position of Janab Mohammed
bin Usman Amri but because of his apostasy
and paganistic claim Allah the Almighty
disgraced . him. Mohammed bin Usman Amri
also cursed him. When he learnt of this he went to the house of Amri for apology
but was not allowed to enter the house. He not only claimed the deputyship but
also claimed for prophet hood. He was also
one of the extremists, was convinced of the divinity of Imam Hadi (A.S.) and posed as a Prophet sent by him.
Unfortunately some persons gathered around him too and a new sect came into
existence by the name of
'Numairiyyah.

He opined that marriage was permitted with 'Mahram' (those ladies with whom Islam has
forbidden the marriage viz. mother, sister, daughter, grandmother,
grand­daughters, nieces, aunts, etc.) also considered homosexuality as
permissible. Mohammed bin Musa Hasan bin Furaat promoted his religion. When he grew old,
his tongue was literally tied and hardly he could speak anything. When people
inquired of him about his successor. He grum­bled: "Ahmed", Nobody could understand any­thing and
as a result his followers were divided into three groups. A group followed his
son Ahmed, while another went after Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Musa Hasan bin Faraat and the third group made Ahmed bin Abil Husain
bin Bashr their leader.

(Ayaniish Shia, Persian
translation, pg. 959-60, Behar, vol. 51, pg. 267)

3 - Abu Tahir Mohammed bin Ali bin Hilal:

Abu Tahir was enumerated among the compan­ions of
Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.). But he denied the deputyship of Mohammed bin
Usman Amri and claimed the same for himself. It is reported that he was having
some 'Sahme Imam' with himself which
he did not give to Mohammed bin Usman Amri and claimed the deputyship for
himself. The Shias rebuked and lambasted him and later an Epistle came
foreboding his fate of destruction. (Al
Ghaibat-Tusi, pg. 260)

4 - Husain
bin Mansure Hallaj:

He was a Bezai Sufi and
wanted to preach his ideals in the centers of Shias like Qum and Baghdad, which were prominent in the time
of Ghaibate-Sughra. Thus to achieve his end
he extensively traveled in Shia cities and made some followers. When he reached
Qum and while during the course of meeting
with Shia Scholars he introduced himself as a special deputy, he was
condemned severely and had to flee from Qum.

Infact Hallaj harboured animosity towards the clan
of Naubakhti and when in the year 305 A.H., Janab
Abul Qasim
Husain bin Rauh Naubakhti became the
third special deputy then in order to give vent to his enmity he claimed the
deputyship of Imam (A.S.). Hallaj was very
cunning and crafty. He planned to win over Abu Sahl Ismaile-Naubakhti who was himself an honored
elder, a pragmatic scholar and an influential statesman. He wielded a
tre­mendous clout among the masses and in the court. Hallaj knew that if he
would convert then a big chunk of people will come under his command.

Thus he wrote to Abu Sahl: "I am a deputy of Sahebuz Zaman (A. S.) and am instructed by his honored self to write
to you and whatever Imam (A.S.) has decided. I should aid and assist you so that
you may believe in him and may not grope into doubt and skepticism." Abu Sahl
was intel­ligent enough to read between the lines. Hence he gave a quixotic
reply. "I have heard a lot about your miraculous abilities and hence I seek a
solution from you for a minor problem of mine.

I am in love with my maid
and many of her clan-men are under my influence. But the problem is that I
cannot express my love to her because on any Friday if I miss to dye my mane
then perchance my old age will be revealed and she will dump me for good. This
is the only problem which is constantly harassing me, I wish if I could get rid
of this problem. If you could turn my grey hair into black then I will accept
your invitation wholeheartedly. I will be convinced of your beliefs and moreover
I will preach your ideology." When Hallaj read this shrewd reply of Abu Sahl, he
understood that he could not achieve his aim and thus was disappointed from
Abu Sahl. Abu Sahl scoffed at his apostasy and disbelief and
castigated him to an immeasurable extent.

(Khandane-Nauhakhfi hy Ahbas Iqbal, pg. Ill
to 114 quoted from Ghaihat, pg. 261 &
262, Shaikh Tnsi and Fehriste Tusi.pg. 233)

5 - Abu
Jafar Mohammad bin Ali Shalmaghani: He was popularly known as
Ibn Abil Azaqir. He was very much revered among Bani Bastaam for
Husain bin Rauh Naubakhti, the third deputy himself has accorded honor to him, because initially Shalmaghani was a
genuine be­liever and had written a lot many books based on Shia beliefs. The books were accumulated and
approved by Hussain bin Rauh Naubakhti. He was astrayed from the right path when Hussain bin Rauh
Naubakhti went in reclusion for awhile. In
this period Hussain bin Rauh made him his deputy so that he may serve as a link
between the masses and Hussain bin Ruh. His
aberrations began inZilhajj of 312 A.H. and in the same year an Epistle was received from Imam (A.S.) cursing him to the core. (Khandane-Naubakhti pg. 418)

Whatever paganistic ideas and falsehood he was spreading
among Bani Bastaan he was ascribing the same
towards Hussain bin Ruh. When Hussain bin Rauh got this intelligence, he
immediately wrote to Bani Bastaan to curse Shalmaghani and drive him off. But
Bani Bastaan did not react because somehow Shalmaghani convinced them that
because he had exposed Hussain bin Rauh hence he has written such a letter
against me.

He also added that it is such a closely-guarded secret that
its truth will not be grasped except by the Ulul-Azm Prophets or Great Angels or those
believers whose faith has been tested. When Hussain bin Ruh learnt of such
mendacious state­ments of Shalmaghani he again wrote to Bani Bastaan to
curse him and remain aloof from him. When Bani Bastaan showed this letter to
Shalmaghani, he started weeping and wailing and said, "The meaning of Hussain
bin Ruh's words are profound the depth of
which could not be understood. As he had written curse (La'nat) upon mewhich implies'distancing from thewrath of Allah' and not from mercy of Allah. Nowlhave recognized my actual position." But when
this crocodi Ie tears could not affect Bani
Bastaan then he started dabbing his face with sand and started expressing
remorse over himself in these words:

"Alas! If only
you would have kept this secret.' When the
people did not trust him anymore. He maintained a stiff silence for a while and
then declared that the spirit of Holy Prophet (S.A.) had incarnated into Mohammad bin Usman Amri, the spirit of Hazrat Ali (A.S.) has entered into Hussain bin
Ruhand the spirit of Fatema Zahra(S.A.)has incarnated into Umme Kulsum,
the daughter of Mohammad bin Usman Amri.
When Hussain bin Ruh heard of this he remarked that: "All such talks of
Shalmaghani arepure infidelity and apos­tasy. He wants to attract the
people towards himself so that next he can claim of Divinity and say that Allah,
he Almighty has entered into his body." The Epistle which was received from
Imam-e-Zamana (A.S.) in 312 A.H. stated that:

"May Allah
bestow on you recognition of goodness, prolong your life, make you aware of all
goodnesses. May you end be on righteousness and your intentions be sincere. May
Allah provide your all brethren with desire of doing good. Well, Mohammad bin
Ali known as Shalmaghani has turned apostate and deserted Islam. He is a heretic
who ascribed falsehood to Allah. He has committed a major sin of calumny." (Ghaibat, Shaikh Tusi,pg. 253 and
BeharulAnwar.Vol.51/ 380) No sooner this Epistle was received the
Imamiyyah Scholars of Baghdad dumped
Shalmaghani. He was cursed and condemned in every gathering. When he saw this,
he approached some Shia veteran scholars and implored them from arranging a
meeting with Hussain bin Ruh. He proposed that it fire descended from the skies and it does not
engulf Hussain bin Ruh in itself then he is on the right path otherwise my claim
is genuine. When the Abbaside Caliph Razi Billah
heard this proposition he passed the orders for slaying Shalmaghani. Thus
in 323 A.H. he met his end.

(Ayanush Shia (Persian),
Kifab al ImamMahdi al
Muntazar, pg. 63)

6 - Abu
Bakr Mohammad bin Ahmad bin Usman Baghdad!:

He was a nephew of Mohammad bin Usman Amri, the
second deputy of Imam (A.S.). He claimed the
special deputyship and was consequently
cursed by Imam (A.S.) through his Epistle.

7 - Ahmed bin Helal Karkhi: He was enu­merated amongst the
companions of Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.). He rejected the deputyship of Mohammad bin Usman. Imam (A.S.) has cursed him in his
Epistle.

The Conclusion:
When the lives of these false claimants are observed closely then it can be
inferred thatthe majority of these imposters were once among the companions if Imam
(A.S.) but at the last moments of their life they were deprived of the love of
Ahlebait(A.S.).

But Why? Only
because they yearned for power, and position and their craziness so in­creased that they turned away
from the righteous representatives of Imam-e-Zamana (A.S.) and claimed the special
deputyship for themselves. It was here that their intellect deserted them and
their yearning for position sealed their fates eter­nally