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Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a): Difference between revisions
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==Lexical Definition== | ==Lexical Definition== | ||
The word غَيْبَة roots from the Arabic letters غ ـ ی ـ ب through the singular three-lettered infinitive (مصدر ثلاثي مجرد). Its definition is opposite to presence and is used to convey disappearance from sight and camouflage. | The word غَيْبَة roots from the Arabic letters غ ـ ی ـ ب through the singular three-lettered infinitive (مصدر ثلاثي مجرد). Its definition is opposite to presence and is used to convey disappearance from sight and camouflage<ref>Ibn Manzur, Vol.1, P.454; Mustafawi, Vol.3, P.353</ref>. | ||
== The Minor Occultation== | == The Minor Occultation== | ||
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The Major Occultation is the period when [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)]] went into the second phase of his occultation after the death of [['Ali b. Muhammad al-Samuri|his fourth deputy]]. There is no interval between [[Minor Occultation]] and Major Occultation, and the only difference is that contrary to the period of Minor Occultation, in this period, Imam (a) has no specific deputy, and Shi'a people should refer to the scholars for their religious affairs. The [[Occultation]] is devided into two periods to show the lack of connection with Imam al-Mahdi (a) in the second period. | The Major Occultation is the period when [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)]] went into the second phase of his occultation after the death of [['Ali b. Muhammad al-Samuri|his fourth deputy]]. There is no interval between [[Minor Occultation]] and Major Occultation, and the only difference is that contrary to the period of Minor Occultation, in this period, Imam (a) has no specific deputy, and Shi'a people should refer to the scholars for their religious affairs. The [[Occultation]] is devided into two periods to show the lack of connection with Imam al-Mahdi (a) in the second period. | ||
According to [[Shi'a]] belief, although the Imam is in occultation, but the world and those in it all benefit from the blessing of his existence. In other words, the world needs an Imam who has been chosen by God in order to exist. This Imam does not just hold the [[legislative wilaya]] (al-wilaya al-tashri'iyya) of this world, but also has the [[creative wilaya]] (al-wilaya al-takwiniyya) as well. Therefore, some of the dominant Shi'a sources have a chapter on انَّ الْأَئِمَّةَ هُمْ أَرْكَانُ الْأَرْضِ which means, the Imams are the pillars of earth. | According to [[Shi'a]] belief, although the Imam is in occultation, but the world and those in it all benefit from the blessing of his existence. In other words, the world needs an Imam who has been chosen by God in order to exist. This Imam does not just hold the [[legislative wilaya]] (al-wilaya al-tashri'iyya) of this world, but also has the [[creative wilaya]] (al-wilaya al-takwiniyya) as well<ref>al-Kulayni, Vol.1, PP.196-7</ref>. Therefore, some of the dominant Shi'a sources have a chapter on انَّ الْأَئِمَّةَ هُمْ أَرْكَانُ الْأَرْضِ which means, the Imams are the pillars of earth<ref>al-Kulayni, Vol.1, PP.196-7</ref>. | ||
==Representatives at the Age of Occultation== | ==Representatives at the Age of Occultation== | ||
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1. To Test the Faithful | 1. To Test the Faithful | ||
Based on Islamic sources, testing the creation and choosing the righteous ones of them, is one of the constant traditions of God. Life is full of tests for the pious whom use it to nurture their faith, patience and obeying of God's commands and reach perfection by flourishing their talents and abilities. [[Imam al-Mahdi]]'s occultation is a means to test; as the facade falls from the people with instable belief, their doubts and uncertainty shall take over, while those whose belief have rooted into their hearts, shall become more experienced and worthy in faith and reach higher levels of piousness and divine reward, as they bear through the troubles of time, awaiting the Imam. A narration from [[Imam Musa b. Ja'far (a)]] clearly expresses that God tests his creatures, by occultation. The troubles of this test are for two reasons: | Based on Islamic sources, testing the creation and choosing the righteous ones of them, is one of the constant traditions of God. Life is full of tests for the pious whom use it to nurture their faith, patience and obeying of God's commands and reach perfection by flourishing their talents and abilities. [[Imam al-Mahdi]]'s occultation is a means to test; as the facade falls from the people with instable belief, their doubts and uncertainty shall take over, while those whose belief have rooted into their hearts, shall become more experienced and worthy in faith and reach higher levels of piousness and divine reward, as they bear through the troubles of time, awaiting the Imam. A narration from [[Imam Musa b. Ja'far (a)]] clearly expresses that God tests his creatures, by occultation<ref>al-Kulayni, Vol.1, P.337; al-Tusi, P.204</ref>. The narrations declared that testing people in the time of occultation is of the most difficult testings.<ref>al-Tusi, PP.203-7</ref> The troubles of this test are for two reasons: | ||
'''First''': When the period of occultation becomes lengthy, many people will face doubts and uncertainties. Some will doubt his birth, while others question whether he is still alive, but only the honest who have already passed their previous tests and have reached deep understanding will preserve their belief about the Imam. In a long hadith, the Noble [[Prophet (s)]] mentions this issue and says, "Al-Mahdi shall disappear from the sight of the Shi'a and his followers, and no one shall stay stable on their belief, except those who God has put their hearts on the path of faith, and made it worthy." | '''First''': When the period of occultation becomes lengthy, many people will face doubts and uncertainties. Some will doubt his birth, while others question whether he is still alive, but only the honest who have already passed their previous tests and have reached deep understanding will preserve their belief about the Imam. In a long hadith, the Noble [[Prophet (s)]] mentions this issue and says, "Al-Mahdi shall disappear from the sight of the Shi'a and his followers, and no one shall stay stable on their belief, except those who God has put their hearts on the path of faith, and made it worthy."<ref>Fayd Kashani, Chapter.1, Session.8, P.101</ref> | ||
'''Second''': The troubles and pressures of the end of times will change the people to the extent that preserving faith and religion shall be a hard objective to achieve. The faith which the people hold will be seriously in danger. | '''Second''': The troubles and pressures of the end of times will change the people to the extent that preserving faith and religion shall be a hard objective to achieve. The faith which the people hold will be seriously in danger<ref>al-Kulayni, Vol.1, P.337;al-Tusi, P.202</ref>. | ||
2. To Save the Imam's Life | 2. To Save the Imam's Life | ||
A loot into some narrations suggests that God saved the Imam from the danger of being killed, by occultation, for had he appeared from the very beginning of his life, he would have been killed. Based on the same logic, if he appears before the time is right, his life will be in danger and shall fail to fulfill his Godly objectives and the great reformations he was created to make. | A loot into some narrations suggests that God saved the Imam from the danger of being killed, by occultation, for had he appeared from the very beginning of his life, he would have been killed. Based on the same logic, if he appears before the time is right, his life will be in danger and shall fail to fulfill his Godly objectives and the great reformations he was created to make<ref>al-Kulayni, Vol.1, P.337;al-Tusi, P.202</ref>. | ||
3. Being Free from Accepting the Leadership of the Illegitimate Ruler | 3. Being Free from Accepting the Leadership of the Illegitimate Ruler | ||
According to some narrations, the twelfth Imam shall not recognize any oppressive government, even as a dissimulation. He is not obliged to perform [[Taqiyya]] for any leader or king, and shall not live under the flag of any oppressor. He will perform God's rulings with no compromise, concern, or secrecy. In other words, he will be in occultation until he rises and thus be free from allegiance or loyalty to any leader or government. | According to some narrations, the twelfth Imam shall not recognize any oppressive government, even as a dissimulation. He is not obliged to perform [[Taqiyya]] for any leader or king, and shall not live under the flag of any oppressor. He will perform God's rulings with no compromise, concern, or secrecy. In other words, he will be in occultation until he rises and thus be free from allegiance or loyalty to any leader or government.<ref>al-Saduq, Chapter.44, P.480</ref> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||