Raj'a: Difference between revisions

'''Rajʿa''' (Arabic:رجعة), the belief that a group of people will return to the Earth after death, is a belief particular to the [[Shi'a]]s. The period of this incident will begin shortly after the [[reappearance]] of the [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)|twelfth Shia Imam, Al-Mahdi (a)]], and end before his [[martyrdom]] and the final [[resurrection]]. A number of evildoers will be resurrected so that they may taste the punishment of their actions in this world, whilst a group of righteous people will be brought back to life so that they may witness this act of justice.

The vast majority of Shia scholars consider Raj’a to be among the necessary components of belief in religion.

=Raj’a in linguistics=

The word Raj’a is extracted from the root words ‘ra ja ‘a’ in Arabic, and linguistically means ‘to return’ .

[[Qur'an|The holy Qur'an]] and [[Hadith|narrations]] from the [[Imams (a)]] have used different terms to express this religious belief; Karrah, Raddah, Hashr, however, Raj’a is the most popular term employed to refer to this idea.

This form of Arabic infinitive (Masdar al-Marrah) for Rajah translates to ‘returning once, or to return once’ . Fiumi says, “Raj’a with the fath (short vowel demonstrated in English with and ‘a’) of its last (root) letter, ‘Ayn, means ‘returning’, and whoever believes in Raj’a, believes in returning to this world. ”

=Raj’a in technical terms=

As a technical term used in Islamic discourse and science, Raj’a has been coined to represent the belief that at the time of Imam al-Mahdi’s reappearance, God will bring back to life a number of his Shias who departed from the world before his reappearance. The purpose of this returning to life is for the Shias to aid and help the Imam (a) in his mission and for them to witness the establishment of his righteous government. Similarly, God will also bring back to life a number of the Imam’s enemies so that they may taste the punishment of this world and witness, much to their regret, the glory and power of Imam al-Mahdi’s government .

=Raj’a in the Shia belief system =

Raj’a is considered one of the necessary components of the Shia belief system. [[Al-Sharif al-Murtada|Sayyid Murtada]], a Shia scholar and [[theologian]], says, ‘The [[Twelver Shia]]s are of the belief that at the time of Imam al-Mahdi’s reappearance, God will bring back to a life a group among the believers, so that they may benefit from the righteous government of al-Mahdi (a), and gain the rewards of helping him and aiding him in establishing this government. A group from among the enemies will also be brought back to life, so that revenge can be taken on them.”

=The history of Raj’a in Shia denominations=

Similar beliefs developed in different Shia denominations after the death or martyrdoms of personalities like Muhammad b. Hanafiyya , [[Imam al-Kazim (a)]] , and [[Imam Hasan al-Askari (a)]].

The concept of Raj’a can be found in the Old Testament. The Book of Ezekiel for instance, points towards the coming back to life of the Israelites and the rule of [[Dawud (a)]] in the end of times . In the book of Daniel, it is reported that ‘In the end of times, many of those who are asleep within the earth will be awoken’ .

The New Testament also speaks about the returning to life of the righteous people and the establishment of the [[Messiah]]’s rule in the first resurrection, before the coming of the second resurrection .

In his ''[[Bihar al-Anwar]]'' , [[Allama Majlisi]] mentions over one-hundred and sixty verses and narrations on the topic of Raj’a, after quoting these, he says, ‘For those who have faith in the words of the Imams (a), no room for doubt remains that Raj’a is a truthful concept. The reason being, that the reports that have been collated from the [[Imams (a)]] on this matter are at the level of tawatur (widely reported to the extent that no doubt can remain regarding the authenticity of the said matter). Almost two-hundred narrations have been reported that speak clearly about this issue and more than forty great and reputable Shia scholars and narrators have spoken about or mentioned this matter in more than fifty reliable books’. He then goes on to name them individually. He mentions scholars such as [[al-Saduq]], [[al-Kulayni]], [[al-Mufid]], [[al-Karajaki]], [[al-Tusi]], [[Al-Sharif al-Radi|Alam al-Huda]], [[al-Najashi]], [[al-Kashi]], [[al-Ayyashi]], [[Ali b. Ibrahim al-Qummi|al-Qummi]], [[al-Nu’mani]], [[Saffar Qummi]], [[Ibn Qulawayh]], [[Ibn Tawus]], [[al-Tabarsi]], [[Ibn Shahr Ashub]], and [[Sa'id b. Hibat Allah Rawandi|al-Rawandi]]. He then names the books written on this topic.

The author of the Quranic exegesis ''Al-Mizan'', Allma Tabataba’i, believes that these reports have reached a level of tawatur in meaning. So much so that even if a few of these reports were to be problematic or unclear, it would not affect the tawatur of the reports .

Furthermore, the idea of Raj’a appears in many of the recorded salutations ([[Ziyarah|Ziyarat]]) and supplications, including the [[Ziyara Jami’a Kabira]], [[Ziyara Warith]], [[Ziyara Arba'in]], [[Ziyara Al Yasin]], and [[Ziyara Rajabiyya]], also the supplications of Wida’ and [[Supplication of Ahd|Ahd]].

Note: While Shias believe in Raj’a, they do not consider the rejecters of Raj’a as non-Muslim ([[Kafir]]), since Raj’a is a necessary belief to be Shia, not Muslim, meaning the rejecter will still be in the fold of Islam. It is understood from a number of reports that belief in Raj’a is a condition for perfect faith and true Islam.

=Those who will experience Raj’a=

Some reports have specifically mentioned those that will experience Raj’a. From among the Prophets (a), those mentioned are; Daniel (Danyal (a)), Joshua (Yusha' (a)), Jesus ([['Isa (a)]]), [[Khidr (a)]], the [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. The holy [[Imams (a)]] and a number of their companions such as; [[Salman Al Farsi|Salman]], [[Miqdad b. 'Amr]], [[Jabir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansari]], [[Malik al-Ashtar al-Nakha'i|Malik al-Ashtar]], [[Mufaddal b. Umar]], Hamran b. A’yan and Muyassir b. Abd al-Aziz will also return through Raj’a, alongside the companions of the cave ([[Ashab al-Kahf]]) .

=Evidence and proofs for Raj’a from the Qur'an=

According to Shia theologians and Quranic commentators, there are [[verse]]s in the holy [[Qur'an]] that speak about Raj’a. These verses are categorised in to two groups based on their ability to establish Raj’a.

'''Group one:''' Verses that clearly and directly point towards Raj’a. These verses were employed by the [[Infallible Imams (a)]] to prove Raj’a , they are as follows:

* They will say, ‘Our Lord! Twice did You make us die, and twice did You give us life. We admit our sins. Is there any way out [from this plight]?’ (Qur'an, 40:11)

'''Group two:''' Verses that point towards the possibility of Raj’a. These verses speak about people who have died coming back to life in this world; these verses are also proofs for [[resurrection]] too . These verses are:

* Or him who came upon a township as it lay fallen on its trellises... So Allah made him die for a hundred years, then He resurrected him...And now look at its bones, how We raise them up and clothe them with flesh!’ (Qur'an, 2:259)

* And when Abraham said, ‘My Lord! Show me how You revive the dead,’ He said, ‘Do you not believe?’ He said, ‘Yes indeed, but in order that my heart may be at rest.’ He said, ‘Catch four of the birds. Then cut them into pieces, and place a part of them on every mountain, then call them; they will come to you hastening. And know that Allah is all-mighty and all-wise.’ (Qur'an, 2:260)

* And when you killed a soul, and accused one another about it—and Allah was to expose what you were concealing— We said, ‘Strike him with a piece of it:’ thus does Allah revive the dead, and He shows you His signs so that you may exercise your reason. (Qur'an, 2:72-73)

* Have you not regarded those who left their homes in thousands, apprehensive of death, whereupon Allah said to them, ‘Die,’ then He revived them? Indeed Allah is gracious to mankind, but most people do not give thanks. (Qur'an, 2:243)

* And [he will be] an apostle to the Children of Israel, [and he will declare,] “I have certainly brought you a sign from your Lord: I will create for you the form of a bird out of clay, then I will breathe into it, and it will become a bird by Allah’s leave... (Qur'an, 3:49)

=Evidence and proofs for Raj’a from the narrations=

Many narrations speak about the issue of Raj’a. There is a narration from the Prophet (s) with the following message: {{centered pull quote|I swear by God, who holds my life in His hands, you Muslims will face the events that the previous nations (referring to the Israelites) faced. What the previous nations faced, will be repeated in its entirety for you.}}

According to this report, everything that took place for previous nations, will also take place for this nation, and one of those issues is Raj’a and the returning to life of the dead, as is stated in the verses mentioned, hence it must also happen to our nation.

In one narration, [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] has counted Raj’a as one of the conditions of faith . Similarly, [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] and Imam Sadiq (a) have both said in commentary of ‘the days of Allah’ that, ‘the ‘days of Allah’ are the day of the promised [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)|Mahdi]]’s uprising, the day of Raj’a and the [[Qiyama|Day of Judgement]]’ .

[[Imam al-Rida (a)]] comments that belief in Raj’a is an important and affective factor of faith. He places it alongside belief in [[Tawhid]], [[Prophet-hood]], [[Imamate]], [[Mi’raj]] (the night journey of the Prophet (s)), and the [[questioning of the grave]].

As per one report, [[Ma’mun]] Abbasi asked Imam Rida (a), ‘O Abu l-Hasan, what do you say about Raj’a?’ The Imam (a) replied: {{centered pull quote|Raj’a is the truth and it existed in previous nations. The Qur'an has also spoken about it and the Prophet (s) has said, ‘After me will come a nation that will face all that was faced by nations before them, without anything extra or less. The Prophet (s) also said, ‘When the Mahdi from among my sons reappears, ‘Isa will descend from the skies and pray behind the Mahdi.’}} Ma’mun asked what the final result of this would be. The Imam (a) answered: {{centered pull quote|The Right (Haq) will return to its rightful owners.}}

=Works about Raj’a=

Due to the great importance of Raj’a in the Shiite theological belief system, Shia scholars and [[narrator]]s have written numerous books and treatises on the topic. Unfortunately, many of these works are no longer available to us, and have been lost. Now, only their names remain in the books of [[Rijal]] (books regarding the status of narrators, and at times their works) and Fihrist (encyclopaedias of authors and their works). [[Aqa Buzurg Tihrani]] introduces thirty works written on this topic. Some of the most important ones that have been published are as follows:

# ''Al-Raj’a'' , Mīrza Muhammad Mu’min b. Dust Muhammad Husayni Astarabadi (annotated by Faris Hassun Karim and published by Anwar al-Huda Publications, [[1417]]/1996). Mirza Muhammad Mu’min was [[martyr]]ed in [[Mecca]] in the year [[1088]]/1677). In this work after a short introduction regarding the necessity of turning to the [[Infallible Imams (a)]] in all affairs, and submitting to their words, Mirza Muhammad presents more than a hundred narrations on the topic of Raj’a.

# ''Al-Iqaz min al-hij’a bi l-burhan `ala l-raj’a'' , Shaykh Muhammad b. Hasan Hurr al-'Amili (d. [[1104]]/1693). This book was authored in [[1075]]/1665; it contains over one-hundred and seventy narrations, including tens of verses and other proofs to establish the concept of Raj’a.

# ''Raj’at'' , [[Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi]] (d. [[1111]]/1699). This book was written in the Persian language. It contains fourteen narrations pertaining to the [[reappearance]] of the [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)|Twelfth Imam]], al-Mahdi (a), and the topic of Raj’a. It is worth noting that Allama Majlisi has addressed in detail the issue of Raj’a within his other famous work ''[[Bihar al-anwar]]''. He presents approximately two-hundred narrations that have been reported on this topic .

# ''Al-Shia wa al-raj’a'' , Muhammad Rida Tabasi Najafi (d. [[1405]]/1985). This book was published in the year [[1378]]/1959 by Al-Matba’a al-Haydariyya publishers. The book consists of theoretical, historical, linguistical, and ethical discussions, with research and analysis. In this book, the status of Raj’a as per the [[Qur'an]], reported supplications, reported salutations ([[Ziyara]]), the consensus of the scholars and the view of reputable figures, has been analyzed and reviewed. In the first chapter of this book, one-hundred and seventy-four verses of the Qur'an that have been interpreted as referring to Raj’a according to the narrations, have been mentioned alongside the relevant narrations.