Raj'a: Difference between revisions

'''Rajʿa''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|الرَّجعَة}}), 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 Shi'a Imam, al-Mahdi (a)]]. The [[Holy Qur'an]] has mentioned the story of some people who have been resurrected after death. Based on some [[hadith]]s, a number of perfect believers as well as a number of complete infidels will return to this world. The return of Imam Ali (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a) has been especially emphasized. Since there are [[mutawatir]] hadiths about Raj'a, it is a certain fact. However, details about Raj'a are not as certain.

==Literal Meaning==

The word raj'a is extracted from the root of 'ra ja 'a' ({{ia|ر ج ع}}) in Arabic, and literally means 'to return'.

In the [[Holy Qur'an]] and [[Hadith|narrations]] different terms have been used to refer to this doctrinal principle such as raj'a, karra, radd, hashr. However, raj'a is the most popular term.

This form of Arabic infinitive (Masdar al-Marra) for raj'a translates into 'returning once, or to return once'.

==Evidence and Proofs for Raj'a from the Holy Qur'an==

According to Shi'a theologians and Quranic commentators, there are [[verse]]s in the holy [[Qur'an]] that speak about raj'a. These verses are categorized 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:

:* On that day We shall resurrect from every nation a group of those who denied Our signs, and they will be held in check. (Qur'an, 27:83)

:* 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)

:* They remained in the Cave for three hundred years, and added nine more [to that number]. (Qur'an, 18:25)

:* 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)

:* When Allah will say, O Jesus son of Mary, remember My blessing upon you and upon your mother, when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so you would speak to the people in the cradle and in adulthood, and when I taught you the Book and wisdom, the Torah and the Evangel, and when you would create from clay the form of a bird, with My leave, and you would breathe into it and it would become a bird, with My leave... (Qur'an, 5:110)

Many narrations speak about the issue of raj'a. There is a narration from the [[Holy Prophet (s)]] with the following message:

:::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 takes 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 al-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]], [[Prophethood]], [[Imamate]], [[Mi'raj]] (the night journey of the Prophet (s)), and the [[questioning of the grave]].

 

==Those Who Will Experience Raj'a==

==The History of Raj'a in Shi'a Denominations==

==Raj'a in Other Religions==

==The Authenticity of the Raj'a Narrations==

In his ''[[Bihar al-Anwar]]'', [[al-'Allama al-Majlisi]] mentions over one-hundred and sixty [[verses]] and narrations on the topic of raj'a. After quoting these hadiths, he says, "For those who have faith in the words of the Imams (a), no room for doubt remains that raj'a is a true 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).The author of the Quranic exegesis ''Al-Mizan'', [['Allama 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.

 

 

==Works about Raj'a==

[[fr:Raj'a]]

[[id:Raj'ah]]