Writings on the Occultation
Writings on the Occultation refers to books in which hadiths related to the Occultation of the Twelfth Imam (a) of the Shi'a, as well as some topics regarding him, have been collected and circulated as independent books within the Shi'a community. Writing such books has been a common practice among Shi'a hadith scholars. It is reported that Shi'a scholars, both before and after the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a), collected and published hadiths related to his Occultation. It is also said that monographs authored on the subject of Imam al-Mahdī (aj) and his Occultation indicate that the belief in Mahdism and the Occultation of the Twelfth Imam, contrary to the view of some Orientalists, is not a phenomenon fabricated in later periods.
According to what is found in bibliographical books (Fihrist), most of these works were known by the title Kitab al-Ghayba (The Book of Occultation). Shi'a scholars began writing books on the subject of Occultation in Shi'a thought from the 2nd/8th century, and this trend continued among scholars even after the Minor Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a). Based on written bibliographical sources, some of the Waqifids also authored monographs on the subject of occultation due to their belief in the occultation of Imam Musa al-Kazim (a).
Definition and Importance
It is said that Writings on the Occultation consists of collecting a portion of narrations centered on the Imam of the Time (a) and surrounding topics such as the Occultation of the Imam of the Age, the number of occultations, the reason for the occultation, the cause of the prolongation of the occultation, the signs before the Reappearance, and so on.[1]
Some Orientalists such as Ignác Goldziher (1850–1921) and David Samuel Margoliouth (1858–1940), the English historian, have critiqued the belief in Imam al-Mahdi (a) and his Occultation.[2] According to Mahdi Ghulamali, a researcher in the field of beliefs, by researching and studying the field of Writings on the Occultation in the early centuries, the claim of Orientalists regarding the existence of Imam al-Mahdi (a) and his Occultation faces a challenge.[3]
Based on written sources, most writings on the Occultation have been titled al-Ghayba; however, a number of authors in this field have used other titles such as Akhbar al-Qa'im (Reports of the Riser), Dala'il khuruj al-Qa'im (Proofs of the Rising of the Riser), Mawlid al-Qa'im (Birth of the Riser), Akhbār al-Mahdi (Reports of the Mahdi), Kitab Sahib al-Zaman, Ithbat al-Ghayba wa Kashf al-Hayra, and al-Fitan wa l-Malahim.[4]
History among the Shi'a
Some believe that writing on the Occultation has been prevalent among Shi'a scholars since the 2nd/8th century,[5] and more than 50 Shi'a authors had books on the Occultation up to the 5th/11th century.[6] It is also reported that Sayyid Ibn Tawus possessed a vast library, and interestingly, he tells his son that the writing date of many books written about the Occultation was before the birth of the Imam of the Time (a).[7]
The Waqifids, in order to justify their disobedience to the leaders after the Seventh Imam, believed in his occultation and, alongside the Imamiyya, proceeded to write books on the subject of occultation.[8] According to research conducted, the statistics of writings on the Occultation among the Imamiyya Shi'as are several times higher than those of the Waqifids during the era of the Minor Occultation and before it.[9]
Works in Shi'a History
Shi'a scholars wrote independent books on the Occultation both before and after the occultation of Imam al-Mahdī (a), which are as follows:
During the Era of the Imams' Presence
Some of the writings on the Occultation that were penned during the time of the presence of the Imams are as follows:
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Abbas b. Hisham al-Nashiri al-Asadi, one of the companions of Imam al-Rida (a).[10]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Fadl b. Shadhan al-Nishaburi, one of the companions of Imam al-Jawad (a) and Imam al-Hadi (a).[11]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Ibrahim b. Salih al-Anmati, one of the companions of Imam Musa al-Kazim (a).[12]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Ali b. al-Hasan b. Faddal, one of the companions of Imam al-Hadi (a) and Imam al-Hasan al-Askari (a).[13]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Abd Allah b. Ja'far al-Himyari, one of the companions of Imam al-Rida (a), Imam al-Hadi (a), and Imam al-Askari (a).[14]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Ibrahim b. Ishaq al-Ahmari al-Nahawandi, a muhaddith of the 3rd century AH.[15]
- Kitab al-Qa'im wa l-malahim, authored by Ali b. Mahziyar al-Ahwazi, a companion of Imam al-Jawad (a) and Imam al-Hadi (a).[16]
- Kitab al-Qa'im, authored by Fadl b. Shadhan al-Nishaburi, a companion of Imam al-Jawad (a) and Imam al-Hadi (a).[17]
- Kitab al-Fatra wa l-hayra, authored by Abd Allah b. Ja'far al-Himyari. He was a companion of Imam al-Rida (a), Imam al-Hadi (a), and Imam al-Askari (a).[18]
- Kitab Sahib al-Zaman wa waqt khuruj al-Qa'im, authored by Muhammad b. Jumhur al-Ammi, a companion of Imam al-Rida (a).[19]
- Kitab Sirat al-Qa'im, authored by Mu'alla b. Muhammad al-Basri. He was a companion of Imam al-Jawad (a).[20]
- Kitab al-Malahim, authored by Fadl b. Shadhan al-Nishaburi, a companion of Imam al-Jawad (a) and Imam al-Hadi (a).[21]
- Kitab al-Malahim, authored by Ali b. al-Hasan b. Faddal, a companion of Imam al-Hadi (a) and Imam al-Askari (a).[22]
After the Era of Presence
Some of the writings on the Occultation after the era of the Imams' presence are as follows:
- Kitab al-Ghayba wa Kashf al-Hayra, written by Salama b. Muhammad b. Isma'il (d. 339/950-1), a student of Ibn Babawayh al-Qummi.[23]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Muhammad b. Ali b. Abi Azafir, known as "al-Shalmaghani".[24]
- Kitab al-Ghayba and Kitab al-Malahim wa l-raj'a, authored by Muhammad b. Mas'ud al-Ayyashi.[25]
- Kitab al-Faraj fi l-Ghayba, authored by Muhammad b. Ali b. Fadl, known as Ibn Tammam.[26]
- Kitab Akhbar al-Qa'im, authored by Ali b. Muhammad b. Ibrahim al-Razi, known as "Allan al-Kulayni".[27]
- Kitab al-Imama wa l-tabsira wa kashf al-hayra, authored by Ali b. al-Husayn b. Musa (d. 329/940-1), known as "Ibn Babawayh al-Qummi".[28]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Muhammad b. Ibrahim b. Ja'far, known as al-Numani.[29]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Imran, known as Ibn al-Jundi.[30]
- Kitab al-Ghayba wa dhikr al-Qa'im, authored by Hasan b. Muhammad b. Yahya, known as Ibn Akhi Tahir.[31]
- Kitab fi l-Ghayba and Kitab al-Ashfiya fi ma'ani l-ghayba, authored by Hasan b. Hamza al-Alawi al-Tabari al-Mar'ashi.[32]
- Kitab al-Muqni' fi l-ghayba and Kitab Risala fi ghaybat al-Hujja, authored by Sayyid Murtada Alam al-Huda.[33]
- Kitab Izalat al-ran 'an qulub al-ikhwan fi ma'na l-ghayba, by Muhammad b. Ahmad b. Junayd, known as Ibn Junayd al-Iskafi.[34]
- Kitab al-Ghayba wa Kashf al-Hayra, by Muhammad b. Ahmad b. Abd Allah b. Quda'a, known as Abu Abd Allah al-Safwani.[35]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by al-Shaykh al-Tusi.[36]
Writings of the Waqifiyya Sect
Some of the books written by the Waqifis in the field of occultation writing are as follows:
- Al-Sifa fi l-Ghayba 'ala madhahib al-Waqifa, authored by Abd Allah b. Jabala b. Abjar al-Kinani.[37]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, authored by Ali b. Hasan al-Jarmi.[38]
- Kitab al-Ghayba and Kitab al-Qa'im al-Saghir, authored by Hasan b. Ali b. Abi Hamza al-Bataini.[39]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, written by Hasan b. Muhammad b. Sama'a.[40]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, written by Ali b. Muhammad b. Ali b. Umar b. Riyah.[41]
- Kitab al-Ghayba, written by Ali b. Umar al-A'raj al-Waqifi.[42]
Notes
- ↑ Ghulāmalī. "Darāmadī bar ghaybat-negārī". p. 102.
- ↑ Goldziher. Al-ʿAqīda wa l-sharīʿa fī l-Islām. p. 218; Mūsawī Gīlānī. Sharq-shināsī wa Mahdawiyyat. p. 164.
- ↑ "ʿIllat-i ghaybat, shubhe-hā-yi mustashriqān wa āgāhī-yi bozorgān-i firaq-i inḥirāfī az wujūd-i Mahdī (aj)", Hawzah News Agency.
- ↑ Ghulāmalī. "Darāmadī bar ghaybat-negārī". p. 102.
- ↑ Ghulāmalī. "Darāmadī bar ghaybat-negārī". p. 99.
- ↑ "ʿIllat-i ghaybat, shubhe-hā-yi mustashriqān wa āgāhī-yi bozorgān-i firaq-i inḥirāfī az wujūd-i Mahdī (a)", Hawzah News Agency.
- ↑ "ʿIllat-i ghaybat, shubhe-hā-yi mustashriqān wa āgāhī-yi bozorgān-i firaq-i inḥirāfī az wujūd-i Mahdī (a)", Hawzah News Agency.
- ↑ Ghulāmalī. "Darāmadī bar ghaybat-negārī". p. 99.
- ↑ Ghulāmalī. "Darāmadī bar ghaybat-negārī". p. 99.
- ↑ Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 362; Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 280.
- ↑ Agha Buzurg al-Tihrani. Al-Dhari'a. Vol. 16, p. 78; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 390.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 15.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 270; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 389.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 147; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 389; Barqi. Rijal al-Barqi. p. 60.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 19; Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 16.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 253.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 297; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. pp. 390, 401.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 147; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 389; Barqi. Rijal al-Barqi. p. 60.
- ↑ Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 223.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 381.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 807; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. pp. 390, 401.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 270; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 389.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 192; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 427.
- ↑ Tusi. Kitab al-Ghayba. p. 359.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 350; Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 396.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 385; Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 446; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 443.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 257; Majlisi. Mir'at al-uqul. Vol. 1, p. 396.
- ↑ Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 273; Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 261.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 383.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 206.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 64.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 64; Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 135.
- ↑ Agha Buzurg al-Tihrani. Al-Dhari'a. Vol. 16, p. 82.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 385; Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 392.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 393.
- ↑ Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 447.
- ↑ Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 33; Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 247.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 259; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 341; Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 272.
- ↑ Tusi. Ikhtiyar ma'rifat al-rijal. pp. 443, 552; Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 167.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 57; Tusi. Al-Fihrist. p. 103; Ibn Shahrashub. Ma'alim al-ulama. p. 72.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 256; Tusi. Rijal al-Tusi. p. 434.
- ↑ Najashi. Rijal al-Najashi. p. 256.
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