The Secrets of Imām Zamān’s (mgehr) [Major] Occultation

Introduction:

In the major occultation discussion, these questions may come up. [For instance] what is the reason for an Imām or a prophet to go into occultation? Did the occultation happen before, or Imām Zaman (mgehr)’s occultation is the first?

The possibility of occultation:

One of the ways to prove the possibility of a phenomenon, is to see if it has happened in the past.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh&h) stated:

My Ummah will follow Israelites traditions, and will follow in their footsteps and will behave like them; as such that if they (Israelites) had crawled into a hole, these (Muslim) will crawl too.”  (Al-Iḥtijāj, Vol 2, P. 86)

In the Holy Qurʾān, God has devoted many verses to telling the story of the Israelites, so that Muslims may learn from it.

Among Israelites, there were two viewpoints about Christ (The savior [pbuh]). Later, the same viewpoints arose among Ishmaelites. All Jews have looked forward to the emergence of His Majesty Christ (Messiah, son of David [ Dāwūd] (pbuh)).

With His Majesty Christ (pbuh)’s [religion], some people believed in him and turned into Christianity. But some denied him and remained Jewish.

The Christian believe that, the savior is the very [prophet] Jesus, the son of Mary (pbuh).  But we [previous Christians] didn’t know his worth, so God took him away from us. On the other hand, the Jew believe that the savior hasn’t been born yet!

And Muslims don’t doubt about the existence of His Excellency Mahdī (mgehr).

[Specifically,] the Shiite believe that His Excellency Mahdī (mgehr) is the son of Haṣan ibn ‘Ali (pbuh). But we [previous Shiites] didn’t know his worth, so God took him away from us.

The Sunni believe that Mahdī [mgehr] hasn’t been born yet.

Anyway, according to the verses of Quran His Excellency Jesus (pbuh) has gone into the occultation, but he is alive. One day, he will return to the world.

Therefore, Occultation happened in the past. And it can happen again

Moreover, as His Excellency Jesus [pbuh] was Mab’uth at birth [ became a prophet], it is possible for a five- year old child to be an Imām.

Scope of human science

Before observing the secrets of the occultation, one should consider whether human science is capable of realizing the secrets of the occultation, or not?

Human’s ignorance has always been more than his knowledge; The more human progressed towards knowing, the more he realized the extent of his unknowns and ignorance.

In Sermon109 of Nahj al Bilaqah, Amir al Muʾminīn (pbuh) stated:

O, Lord! Glory to you! Great is what we see of your creation! And how small it is; compared with the extent of your power, which is hidden from us.

The knowledge of human is very limited about: The world of existence (Laws governing the world such as gravity) and The world of spirituality (religion and the knowledge of it).  But the wisdom rules to accept the reasons and religions; since, the truth and honesty of religion has been proved for us.

The secrets of Occultation are out of human’s knowledge. But not knowing about a subject, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Also, one cannot prove not existence of anything, on this bases.

Some matters are secret and mystery, and we are not allowed to know them. Yet, we will not know their reasons, when they occur.

In the book “Ikmāl al-din”, Shaykh Sadūq narrated from Abdullah ibn Fazl Hāshimī, as:

I heard Imām Sādiq (pbuh) stated, ‘In fact, Sahib al-Amr [ Imām Mahdī(mgehr)] will be necessarily in an occultation. Well, whoever is a false- seeker, will doubt about it.’

I wondered, ‘May God scarify me for you! How come?! He stated, ‘We are not allowed to clear the reason up.’ I asked, ‘So, what is the reason of the Occultation?’ He stated, ‘What are the reasons of other God’s Hujjahs before him [Imām Mahdī (mgehr)]? In fact, the reason will not be clear unless he emerges. Likewise, the reasons of His Excellency Khidhr actions as: piercing the ship, killing the slave and building the wall, wouldn’t become clear for His Excellency Musa [Moses (pbuh)], unless they departed from each other.

O, Fazl’s son! This is of God’s Occult Sciences. And now that we know God is hakim, we confirm the matter. His words are all according to the wisdom, though the reason isn’t obvious.

The reasons and benefits of the occultation

What we know about the secrets of Imām Zamān (mgehr)’s occultation, is mostly related to its benefits and effects. Yet, its main reason is unknown for us.

 

 There is no risk of being murdered.

This matter is based on the verses of Qurʾān. In Surah Al-Qasas, verse 7, it reads,

So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses: “Suckle (thy child), but when thou hast fears about him, cast him into the river, but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him to thee, and We shall make him one of Our messengers.”

Also, in Surah Ash-Shu’ara, verse 21, it reads, “So I fled from you (all) when I feared you; but my Lord has (since) invested me with judgment (and wisdom) and appointed me as one of the messengers.”

Until it is possible to save the life of the infallible Imām through terrestrial means, there is no need for a miracle. But based on the verses, when it is not practicable to save the life of the Infallible Imām by terrestrial means, the occultation takes place.

In the book Usūl al-Kāfī, al-Kulaynī narrated it from Zurarah that:

I heard from His Majesty Sadīq (pbuh) that he stated, “Qa`em (mgehr)is occulted, before he rises”. I asked, ‘What is that for?’. He stated, “Because, he is in danger of being murdered”’.

Therefore, Shiites must turn into a world power, in The Last Era. In that way, we can defend the life of our Imām (mgehr)’s against the enemies. So, they need to have advanced weapons. To have the arms, they need to have an army. And it will be impossible to have any army, without forming a government.

Thus, before the emergence, the Shiites need to form the government and deliver it to Sāhib al- Zamān (mgehr).

* Our slogan, in the early revolution time was: *

O, Lord! Protect the movement by Khomeini, till the rise of [Imām]                      

Mahdī (mgehr)

There is no need for him to commit any allegiance.

One of Imām Mahdī (mgehr)’s characteristics is that, he hasn’t ever committed any allegiance with any one or any occupying and oppressive government. Of His Excellency Mahdī (mgehr) are; Ġhālib1, Sultān2, and Manṣūr3. So The Excellency will not Taqīyyah, while other Imāms (pbu th) would [necessarily4] committee allegiance with the caliphs of their time, through Taqīyyah.

Therefore, one of the reasons and benefits of the Occultation is, Imām [Mahdī (mgehr)] will not necessarily commit allegiance with the caliphs of his time. Hence, when he emerges, he will not be responsible for committing any allegiance. Also, he will not have admitted any government_ whether skin- deeply or through Taqīyyah_ but God’s one.

In the book Kamāl al-dīn, chapter 48, it reads:

Imām Sadīq (pbuh) stated: “Qa`em (mgehr) will rise, while he has not committed allegiance with anyone.”

Also, once someone asked Imām Rīḍa (pbuh) about the reason of [The Excellency Mahdī (mgehr)]’s occultation. Then, His Majesty returned, “It is for the reason that, he would not have to commit allegiance with anyone; because he will rise with a sword [Military Force]”.

To achieve purity, and the divine test [for people]

Another reason and benefit of the occultation is to achieve purity for the Shiite, and also a divine test for their beliefs. This test is one of the hardest, for some reasons:

When the occultation [era] is prolonged, some people usually doubt of the truth of his birth, and some are not sure that he is alive. [Yet] except for the knowing, no one will be steadfast in their faith and belief in his Imamate. Mind that, God has passably responded to that religious skepticism in Qurʾān,

Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh&h) stated:

He is the one who will be occulted from his followers and friends. During his occultation, no one stays consistent in the way of his Imamate, except the one whom God has tested his heart with believes.”  (Muntakhab al-Athar, chapter 1, section 8, Ḥadīth 4)

·       The unfortunate intensities and events will increase, strange changes and variations will happen in the Occultation Era, that turn people upside down. It is in a way that, it will be very difficult for them to maintain faith and perseverance.

That is why, they say that being faithful to God in the Last Era, is like holding the fire in your hand [persevere in a very difficult situation]!

·       During the Occultation Era, the world shows off more and more, and the facilitators of sins will be prepared and available than ever.

They narrated from Imām Sādiq (pbuh), that he stated, “This event will not happen, till the people lose their hope. No! By God, he will not come, till you (both faithful and hypocrite) will be separated.” (Kamāl al- Dīn, Volume 2, Chapter34, Page1)

[Moreover], Imām Huṣayn (pbuh) stated:

All of us, 12 people are [in fact] Mahdī.  The first is ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn ‘Abitalib, and the last one is my ninth offspring; he is Imām Qā’im (mgehr).  God will verily revive the earth after its death, by him [by his emergence], and God will clarify and overcome the religion to any other religions, by him. It’s whether the polytheists like it or not. He will be occulted so that, crowds of people have become renegaded and alienated with religion. The others who are steadfast in their religion will be bothered [by the first crowd].

They will be asked, “If you are right, [answer], when is this deadline?! will these promises be fulfilled (when will the Qā’im (mgehr) rise).

Be aware, the ones who look forward to the emergence patiently in the Occultation Era, and endure mistreat, is like someone who fights with a sword as the leading one, in the army of the Prophet of God (pbuh&h). (Kamāl al- Dīn, Volume 1, Chapter, 3, Page 434)

Preparing the world situation

One of the causes and benefits of the occultation is preparing the world situation. In the last era, the entire ideologies will be tried and proven to be inefficient; in order for the people of the world to understand, the only way of salvation is the emergence of Allah’s Hujjat [proof of God who is Imām Mahdī (mgehr)].

 

Born faithful, of infidels generation

It is stated in Aḥādīth, that God has let many believers be born of the generation of the infidels. Since the infidels will be destroyed by the uprising of the Imām Zamān [Imām Mahdī (mgehr)], these believers must be born before his reappearance.

No one expected to find a man like Huṣayn ibn Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥajjāj, known as Ibn al-Ḥajjāj, who was a famous Shiite poet, orator, and lover of the prophetship family, from the generation of the wicked bloodthirsty Ḥajjāj, who was exemplary of wickedness amongst the enemies of the Ahl ul Bayt (pbu th).

 

Therefore, the issue of creating the seeds of believers from the generation of infidels is an important issue, which should not be hindered by emergence. As in Quran, when narrating the story of Noah, God states the time of the fulfillment of the divine promise follows,

“For, if Thou dost leave (any of) them, they will but mislead Thy devotees, and they will breed none but wicked ungrateful ones.” (71:27)

Now that the causes and benefits of occultation have been identified, we need to see where we can play a role and bring the emergence forward. Shiites play a very important role in providing the conditions for the emergence; To the extent that according to the narrations, the key to the emergence is in the hands of the Shiites.

Imām al-Ṣādiq (pbuh) states, “If our Shiites moan⁵, God will bring the emergence forward.” [Biḥār al-Anwār, Vol. 4, P. 118]

 

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1-     Ġhālib means, he will overcome all the oppressed ones.

2-     Sultān means, he is the caliph of God [a king who is chosen by God]

3-      It means when he emerges, he will win not only with the help of the companions but with the help of angles and other invisible creatures.

4-     Taqīyyah, in Islam, the practice of concealing one’s belief and foregoing ordinary religious duties when under threat of death or injury.

5-     Moaning here is because of, their need to the savior Imām Mahdī (mgehr)]