Know About Your Imam of the Time (Yusuf E Zahra A.T.F.S)

After submitting ourselves to Allah and believing in the messengership of Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace), our first duty is to know the Imam of our time. 

One of the most important responsibilities for a Shi’a is to acquire ma’rifah (a detailed and profound understanding) of the Imam of the time, and the testimony to this can be seen in both the logical and narrated proofs (ahadith). It is clear from the traditions that we must know the characteristics and specific traits of the Imam (as) whom we are all obliged to follow. This must be done so that we do not mistake him for someone who claims his status. In addition, there are also numerous traditions that oblige us to have a ma’rifah of our Imam (as).

Short Note On Imam Mahdi (ATFS)

Name: Muhammad
Title: al-Mahdi; al-Hujjat , al-Muntadhar,Sahib al-Zaman,al-Qa’im,Baqiyat Allah,Yusuf-e-Zahra.
Kunya: Abu Salih (The Most Pious One)
Father: Hassan ibn Ali (al-Askari), peace be upon them
Mother: Narjis Khatun
Born: 15th Sha’ban, 255 AH/869 CE in Samarra, Iraq
Occultation: Al-ghaybah as-Sughrah(260AH-329AH) Al-ghaybah al-Kubra (329 AH- Continues)
Period of Imamate: (260AH-Continuous)

At the time of Al-ghaybah as-Sughrah .There were four representative.These four representatives were: ‘Uthman ibn Sa‘id al-‘Amri, from 260/875-6 to 265/879; Muhammad ibn ‘Uthman al-‘Amri, from his father’s death until his own in 305/917; al-Husayn ibn Rawh an-Nawbakhti, from then until 326/937-8; and finally ‘Ali bin Muhammad as-Samari, until his death in 329/940-1 .

Does it is all about the Imam of the time? What does this mean? Does it mean only to know that; Our Imam was born on the 15th of Sha‘ban, 255 A.H.; there were four representatives of the Imam during the lesser occultation (al-ghaybahaṣ-Ṣughrah).the greater occultation (al-ghaybah al-kubra) began in 329 A.H./940 A.D.?

Does our duty about knowing the Imam of our time end at these historical informations? Surely not; the reality of the knowledge of the Imam is not just the knowing of these historical facts. Even the non-Shi‘ahs are aware of these facts.

So what is the knowledge of the Imam? 

To fulfill our responsibility in regard to the knowledge of the Present Imam, we have to study the following matters:

1. The evidence of the birth of our twelfth Imam.
2. The need for an Imam and a “proof” (hujjah) of God.
3. The proofs that the Present Imam is the son of Imam Hasan al-‘Askari.
4. The important events of the lesser occultation.
5. The causes of occultation.
6. Is it possible for a man to live for over thousand years?
7. The teachings and message of the Present Imam for his Shi‘ahs.
8.  The signs which are to appear before the appearance of Imam Mahdi.
9. Is the Imam aware of, and in connect with, his people?
10. Studing the ahadith describing the appearance of Imam Mahdi.
11.  The proofs of the imamat of our twelfth Imam.
12. Is it possible for an Imam to guide his community while he is in occultation?

These are some important topics which must studied by Shias

We are Going to Cover Some of the Topics in this Post Inshallah we will cover remaining topics soon

Is it mandatory to know the Imam of the time?

It is mandatory to know the Imam of the time, that people are not helpless in the matter of discarding the obedience of the true Imam, that the one who dies without knowing the Imam of his time will die a death of Kufr and Nifaq (Disbelief and Hypocrisy).

How a five year old boy can become the Imam of mankind?

The Qur’an strikes a number of examples which are worthy of mentioning:

We have the example of Jesus (as) who became prophet and spoke to people when he was a baby in the cradle:

“But she pointed to the baby. They said: ‘How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?’ He said: ‘I am indeed a servant of Allah. He has given me Scripture and assigned me a prophet, and He has made me blessed wherever I be, and has enjoined on me Prayer and Zakat as long as I live.’“(Qur’an 19:29-31)

Thus Jesus ( Prophet Isa as) became prophet and received revelation and Book while he was less than two years old!

Furthermore, in few verses before, Qur’an mentions the case of Prophet Yahya (John), to whom Allah (SWT) said:

“‘O Yahya! Take hold of the Book with might,’ And We gave him the appointment (of prophethood) in his childhood.”(Qur’an 19:12)

So if a two-year old boy can become a prophet and receives revelation and Scripture, then why cannot a five-year old boy become an Imam?

When Imam Mahdi Will Appear?

Imam al-Mahdi (as) will come when he has 313 top virtuous helpers become available. Imam al-Mahdi can not govern the world with no helper, minister, etc. The communities should generate these top individuals. In fact, non of our other 11 Imams had such number of high rank followers.

Let me give you some example ,

Before his demise, Prophet Muhammad (S) instructed Imam ‘Ali (as) that if the number of his followers loyal to him (after the demise of the Prophet) exceeds 40 men, he should use force to restore his right and take the power, otherwise he should keep silent since the only remaining pious people would be killed without being able to help Islam. Unfortunately, the number of people who remained loyal to Imam ‘Ali (as) did not reach to this amount, at that crucial moment.

What is Ghaybat?

The word Ghaybat literally means to be absent from a place. For example, if a student is absent from class, we would say that he is “ghayab.” With regards to Imam Mahdi (as), it refers to his special concealment from the people.

Ghaybat means that Imam Mahdi (as) is on this earth. He lives in our midst and not in heaven as Hazrat Isa (as). We see him (as), but do not recognise him. Ameerul Momeneen Ali Ibne Abi Talib (as) while explaining Ghaybat of Imam Mahdi (as) says that “people will see him, but will not recognise him.”

For example the story of Hazrat Yusuf (as). The Hoy Quran describes their first meeting in many years as follows – “And the brothers of Yusuf came [seeking food], and they entered upon him; and he recognized them, but he was to them unknown.” (Surah Yusuf, verse 58)

Which means that Hazrat Yusuf (as) recognised his brothers. They saw him, but did not recognise him. They did not recognise that this is the same Yusuf who we grew up with, played with and even tried to kill. But despite all of this, they failed to recognise him. 

In the same way, we see Imam Mahdi (as). Ghaybat means that the apparent signs of Imamate are hidden from us when we see the Imam (as) till such time that the Imam himself intends that we recognise him.Traditions inform us that he visits our gatherings and in present in our markets. After reappearance, when the veils of Ghaybat are lifted from our eyes, many will see the Imam (as), recognise him and say that I know him. I have met him, he helped me at so and so place…

Thank You !

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