And in the time of Shaykh Baha’i, this issue became a topic again. And the scholars discussed it, until it [finally] was added in individual books, like:
“Shar’at al-Tasmīyeh” by ‘Mohaghegh Dāmād’,
“Tahrim al-Tasmīyeh” by ‘Shaykh Soleymān Mahoozī’,
“Kashf al-Ta’mīyeh” by ‘Shaykh Al-Hurr al-Amili (May God be pleased with him), and some others.
The details are available in “Al-Najm al-Thāqib”.
The eighth is Mahdī (mgehr): The most famous name and title of his Excellency among all Islamic sects.
Ninth is Munṫadhār: It means, the one whom people are looking forward to his emergence. As, all creatures are looking forward to his blessed emergence.
Tenth is Mā’in Ma`īnin[1]: It means the running water on the ground.
It has been narrated in “Kamāl al-dīn” and “al-Ghayba by al-Shaykh al-Tusi”, that his majesty Imam Baqīr (pbuh) has stated:
In the Holy verse [2] : “قُلْ اَرَايَتُمْ اِنْ اَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُم غَوْرا فَمَنْ يَاءْتیكم بِماءٍ مَعینٍ”
(It means, Have you [even] thought: If [all] your water were to disappear into the earth, who then could bring you running water?).
then he stated, ‘This verse has not been interpreted yet. It may be interpreted [afterward]. There are more narrations which have similar notions, too.
The interpretation exists in “Al- Ghaybah” by Nu’māni, and “Taweel al Ayat” by Ḥusayni Istar Abadi.
Anyhow, the similarity between His Excellency and water is not just superficial; water gives life to every creature, [but it is deep]. The worthy water which is of such a high, perfect, strong rank and a stable position that brings to the life even the very water!
In Kamāl al-Dīn, about the blessing verse:
“اِعْلَمُوا اَنَّ اللّه يُحْیِى الاَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِھا”
Know ye [all] that Allah giveth life to the earth after its death! already
have We shown the Signs plainly to you, that ye may learn wisdom.
, it was narrated from Imām Bāqir (pbuh) that he stated, ‘Know that in the honor of Qā’im (mgehr), The Almighty God will resurrect the Earth, which has died because of [many] inhabitants’ disbelief.’
According to the narration by Shaykh Tūsī about the preceding verse, God will reform the Earth via Qā’im al- Muḥammad (mgehr), after it dies. That is, after the inhabitants’ injustice.
It should be mentioned that The Excellency have been called Mā’in Ma`īnin, as the people of The Emergence Era use this source of divine grace, in the easy and effortless way. Also, they are similar to a thirsty one who is close to a flowing and refreshing river, and just feels lucky to be in the awaited situation.
Therefore, they interpreted his Excellency as “Running Water”. That’s because, in the era of the Major Occultation, the special grace of God has been taken away from people, as their misconduct. Hence to obtain grace, be granted by, and learn the knowledge from his Excellency, they have to suffer, beseech, overwork, and supplicate.
It is like a thirsty person who has to quench his thirst, by drawing up water from a deep well; using the tools and equipment that are obtained with difficulty. That’s why his Excellency has been interpreted as “The Abandoned well”. Anyhow, it can’t be explained here more.
To Be Continued…
1. Imam Riḍā (pbuh) was asked about this verse. He stated [something that the meaning is this], ‘If any of these doors of divine mercy are closed, the source of man’s spiritual life will be closed.’ Imām Muḥammad Bāqir (pbuh) also discusses in the interpretation of the verse:
This verse was revealed about Imam Qā’im (mgehr). If your Imām is occulted and you do not know where he is, who will send you an Imām to bring you the news of God on earth and in the sky, about the lawful and unlawful?’ Then he said, ‘I swear by God, the interpretation of this verse has not come and it will come to an end.’
2. Holy Quran, Surah Al-Mulk, Verse 30.
3- It means, go beyond the measure. It is an Islamic terminology denoting a focus of worship other than God. In traditional theology, the term often connotes idols or demons drawn to blood of pagan sacrifices. In modern times, the term is also applied to earthly tyrannical power, as implied in surah Nisa verse 60. The modern Islamic philosopher Abul A’la Maududi defines Taghut in his Qur’anic commentary as a creature who not only rebels against God but transgresses his will.