THE EXALTED RANK OF THE AWAITED IMAM (may our soul be sacrificed for him) ACCORDING TO AHLULBAYT (peace be upon them).

          Knowing the exalted rank of our master, the leader of the time (peace be upon him) is an influencing way to bring people into path of anticipation.

The narrations that came from Ahlulbayt regarding the greatness and the personality of the Imam, the leader of the time (may our soul be sacrificed for him) are very influential which necessitate astonishment in man.

How the community's heart are not attached with the Imam (peace be upon him) with all this narrations with inward impact! Why do they chooses loneliness and deceit instead of "the chief of the paradise"[1] Why all this negligence?! This gloominess is for what?! Did the scholars and great men in Religion act in a way suitable to him? Did those who ascribe themselves to Imam (peace be upon him) render their service as expected? Did the wealthy ones struggle to assist this fundamental cause of life? Has other people's hidden thought and agenda changed to concentration on the leader of the time (may our soul be sacrificed for him)?

The fact is that every creed has role to play in this aspect but there are still among the scholar and others who had stamp the sign of grief in their heart!

They are living with regret, sorrow and they are serving in this very path.

Here are some narrations from Ahlulbayt to observe how they had expressed the issue of the leader of the time and they had tried to let the people pay attention to him! Observe also how they have taught us how to honour and dignifies him (may our soul be sacrificed for him)!

1-The Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) said: "may my father and mother be sacrifice for him; his name is like mine and he is in my resemblance".

The holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) made this statement to the commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) after he has informed him about what shall happen during the days of occultation of the awaiting Imam (peace be upon him).

Be aware of the following statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family):

... سيكون بعدي فتنة صمّاء صيلم يسقط فيها كلّ و ليجة و بطانة، و ذلك عند فقدان شيعتك الخامس من السابع من ولدك، يحزن لفقده أهل‏

الأرض و السماء، فكم مؤمن و مؤمنة متأسّف متلهّف حيران عند فقده. ثمّ أطرق مليّا ثمّ رفع رأسه و قال:

بأبي و أمّي سميّي و شبيهي و شبيه موسى بن عمران عليه جلابيب النور يتوقّد من شعاع القدس.

"There will be mutilated sedition after me, therein an intimate friends will fell victim, that will be when your followers will lose the fifth from the seventh of  your descendant, the inhabitant of Heaven and Earth will be grief for missing him, how many believing men and women that will be in regret and perplexing when he is missed!

Then he keeps silent for a while and later raises his head and said:

May my father and mother be sacrifice for him, he is my name sake, my resemblance, and the resemblance of Musa son of Imran, he shall be on luminous garment, which shall be kindling from the ray of Al-Quds"[2]

2- The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) said about the hidden Imam (peace be upon him): May my life be sacrifice for him… this statement was transmitted by Allamah Al-Majlisi from the commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) in a collection of poem ascribed to him (peace be upon him) he said:  

فثمّ يقوم القائم الحقّ منكم             و بالحقّ يأتيكم و بالحقّ يعمل‏

سميّ نبيّ اللّه نفسي فداؤه             فلا تخذلوه يا بنيّ و عجّلوا 

Then the Qa'im shall rise up among you with fact;

He shall bring fact to you and act with fact;

Same name with the Prophet may my soul be sacrifice for him;

O' my descendants quickly assist him and don't disappoint him.[3]

i.e. at that time (after the tyrant governments) someone shall rise among you and give life to that fact and he shall act according to that fact, his name is same as that of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) may my soul be sacrifice for him, O' my descendants you should struggle to assist him.

3- The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him): may my father be sacrifice for him, son of the best among the slave girls.[4]

Thus the commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) utter this statements showing his great affection to him after mentioning the bodily attributes of the leader of the time (may our soul be sacrificed for him).

Jabir Al-Ja'afi (one of the honourable and confidant of Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) reported this narration:

The commander of faithful (peace be upon him) it is suffice to mention the beautiful bodily attributes of the Imam (peace be upon him) with out mentioning his spiritual attributes because he is conversing with those who are the causes of destruction in this world.

The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) appeased Umar bn Khatab when the later inquire about the name of Al-Mahdi! He said:

ساير عمر بن الخطّاب امير المؤمنين عليه السّلام فقال: أخبرني عن المهديّ ما اسمه؟ فقال: أمّا اسمه فإنّ حبيبي عهد إليّ أن لا احدّث باسمه حتّى يبعثه اللّه، قال: فأخبرني عن صفته.

قال: هو شابّ مربوع حسن الوجه حسن الشعر، يسيل شعره على منكبيه، و نور وجهه يعلو سواد لحيته و رأسه، بأبي ابن خيرة الإمآء

 I had covenant with the Prophet not to mention his name until Allah delegates him, then inform me of his attributes Umar inquired. He said:

 he is a young man of medium height with handsome face and hair, his hair shall falls on his shoulder the brightness of his face is above his beard and his head, may my father be sacrifice for him, the son of the best creature.[5]

4- Commander of the faithful (peace be upon him): may my father be sacrifice for him, the son of the best among the creatures.

The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) repeated this statement in several occasions and was reported by Harith bn Hamdani.

He expounds in this narration the conclusion of the tyrant's oppression with reprisal sword that is under the control of the leader of the time (may our soul be sacrificed for him), he said:

He shall quench the thirst of the world oppressors with cup of punishment. 

Be attentive to this statement that delighted the heart of the grieved ones.

بأبي ابن خيرة الإماء- يعني القائم من ولده عليه السّلام- يسومهم خسفا، و يسقيهم بكأس مصبرة، و لا يعطيهم إلّا السيف هرجا

May my father be sacrifice for him, son of the best among the creatures (i.e. the riser among his descendant (peace be upon him) he shall impose humiliation to them, and shall quench their thirst of oppression with cup of punishment and shall give them a commotional sword.[6]

Verily that day shall be the end of people of Saqifa's government and those that inherited them and shall quench their thirst of oppression with cup of punishment. 

5- The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him): may my fatherbe sacrifice for him, the son of the best among the creatures.

The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) also repeated this statement in one of his sermon:

فانظروا أهل بيت نبيّكم فإن لبدوا فالبدوا و إن استنصروكم فانصروهم، ليخرجنّ اللّه برجل منّا أهل البيت، بأبي ابن خيرة الإماء لا يعطيهم إلّا السيف هرجا هرجا موضوعا على عاتقه ثمانية

"Look at the Ahlulbayt of your Prophet, adhere to them if they remain, assist them if they seek for your help, Allah will surely delegate a man from us (Ahlulbayt), may my father be sacrifice for him, the son of the best among the creatures, he will not give them except a commotional sword, and he is having eight responsibilities"[7]  

The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) gives glad tiding in this sermon that the world shall be purified and reformed from the cursed ones, and the war against the tyrant shall last for eight months after then love and peace shall prevail.

6- The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him):

Oh' yearning for seeing him.

The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) made this statement when explaining the affliction that shall come and that is after he had expounded the attributes of the leader of the time (may our soul be sacrificed for him):

هاه- و أومأ بيده إلى صدره- شوقا إلى رؤيته

Oh' (he pointed to his chest) yearning for seeing him.[8]

Due to his encompassing knowledge, he knows that the problems cultivated in Saqifa will affect the whole world for a very long time, the world will be oppressed and it will continue till the appearance of (Qa'im) the riser from among the Ahlulbayt (peace be upon him) along with three hundred and thirteen trained and reformed men, whom issue of legacy is firm in their heart and some other believers and shall retaliate for the oppressed ones.

If there are men at the day of Saqifa who has sacrifice their life for the commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) the enemies wouldn't have able to put ablaze the home of revelation and they wouldn't have able to tied rope on the neck of the chief of the existing world hence no one is able to darken the face of the moon!.

The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) in one of his sermon said:

فنظرت فإذا ليس لي معين إلّا أهل بيتي فضننت بهم عن الموت، و أغضيت على القذى، و شربت على الشّجى، و صبرت على أخذ الكظم، و على أمرّ من طعم العلقم‏

I look round I couldn't see any helper except the members of my house, then I conceded with them instead of death, then I kept my eyes closed despite motes in them. I drank despite choking of throat. I exercise patience despite trouble in breathing and despite having to take sour colocynth as food[9]

After the commander of the faithful (the first oppressed one in this existing world) has expounded the oppression done to him and had also caution about the future affliction, he mentioned the name of the lifter of this oppression, he said: Oh', yearning for seeing him!

7- Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: I will retain myself for the leader of the time, if I reach the time.

The statement came from he who knows all knowledge of this existing world who knows the secret behind the creation, whom the previous and present people are like the present existence before him.

He (peace be upon him) after expounding the present and the previous and the events that will occur before the rising of Al-Mahdi (may our souls be sacrifice for him) said:

... أما إنّي لو أدركت ذلك لاستبقيت نفسي لصاحب هذا الأمر

…with regards to me, I will retain myself for the leader of the world if the time reach me.[10]

Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Jawad Khurasani in his book said: What the Imam meant in the narration was the time people will come out to take their rights.

8- From Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): may my father and mother be sacrifice for him, he who is called with my name and his nickname with mine, may my father and mother be sacrifice for him, he who shall fill the Earth with justice and equity as it was filled with oppression and inequity.

This tradition was reported by Abu Hamza Thumali (one of the great companion of Imam Baqir) he said: one day I was with Imam after all the visitors has gone he said to me:

يا أبا حمزة، من المحتوم الّذي حتمه اللّه قيام قائمنا، فمن شكّ فيما أقول لقى اللّه و هو به كافر، ثمّ قال:

بأبي و أمّي المسمّى باسمى و المكنّى بكنيتى، السابع من ولدي، بأبي من يملأ الأرض عدلا و قسطا كما ملئت ظلما و جورا.

يا أبا حمزة، من أدركه فيسلّم له ما سلّم لمحمّد و عليّ فقد وجبت له الجنّة، و من لم يسلّم فقد حرّم اللّه عليه الجنّة و مأواه النار و بئس مثوى الظالمين‏

 O' Aba Hamza among the inevitables Allah has done was the rising of our riser (Qa'im) whoever entertain doubt in my statement will meet Allah as an unbeliever, he then said: may my father and mother be sacrifice for him, he who is called with my name and nickname, the seventh among my descendant, may  my father be sacrifice for him, he who will fill the Earth with justice and equity as it was filled with oppression and inequity.

O' Aba Hamza, who ever meet him and submitted to him what he has submitted to Muhammad and Ali, it is incumbent for him to enter Paradise, and it will be prohibited for him to enter paradise whoever did not hand over to him, hence Hell fire shall be his abode, how wretched the abode of the oppressor.[11]

9- Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: if I meet him I will be at his service throughout my life.

This was the answer of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) when he was asked about the giving birth to Imam Al-Mahdi (may our souls be sacrifice for him) he said:

هل ولد القائم؟

قال: لا، و لو أدركته لخدمته أيّام حياتي‏

No, he is not born; if I meet him I will be at his service through out my life.[12]

10- Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): supplication for the light of Muhammad's family (peace be upon them).

Ibad bn Muhammad Al-Mada'ini said: Verily Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) raises his hands after Zuhr prayer and supplicates. I inquire from him May my soul be sacrifice for you! did you pray for yourself? He replied:

دعوت لنور آل محمّد عليهم السّلام و سائقهم و المنتقم بأمر اللّه من أعدائهم‏

I prayed for the light of Muhammad's family (peace be on them) their leader who will retaliate from their enemies by the command of God.[13]

Indeed, the whole Imams (peace be on them) are lights, their knowledge of luminance is knowing God but according to the statement of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) in this tradition the leader of the time (peace be upon him) is a light among the lights.

11- Imam Al-Kazim (peace be upon him): may my father be sacrifice for him, he who for the course of God would not be blame by those that blame, may my father be sacrifice for him, the riser with the command of Allah.

From Yahya bn Nufali, indeed Musa bn Ja'afar (peace be upon him) raise his hands and supplicates after Asr prayer, I inquire from him saying, to whom did you offer prayer for? He said:

قال: ذلك المهديّ من آل محمّد عليهم السّلام، قال: بأبي المنبدح البطن، المقرون الحاجبين، أحمش الساقين، بعيد مابين المنكبين، أسمر اللون، يعتاده مع سمرته صفرة من سهر الليل، بأبي من ليله يرعى النجوم ساجدا و راكعا، بأبي من لا يأخذه في اللّه لومة لائم، مصباح الدجى، بأبي القائم بأمر اللّه‏

For Al-Mahdi among the family of Muhammad (peace be on them) and said: may my father be sacrifice for him, he is having big stomach, his eyebrow are very close, his legs are very energetic, his shoulder is wide, brown in colour and close to be yellowish, may my father be sacrifice for him, his night shall guard the stars by his bowing down and prostration to Allah, may my father be sacrifice for him, he whom the blames of those that blame shall not affect him before Allah, he is the luminous lamp, may my father be sacrifice for him, he shall rise with the command of Allah.[14]

12- Imam Rida (peace be upon him):

may my father and mother be sacrifice for him, he was named like my grand father (peace be upon him and his progeny) he resemble me and Musa bn Imraan.

Imam Rida (peace be upon him) utters this statement after he has expounded the difficult affliction that would occur during the occultation of the awaiting Imam (may our souls be sacrifice for him). This tense sedition, the good servants shall fell victim even though they manifested their religiousness and faith, their going astray is part of the reason surrounding the necessitation of Imam's loneliness of the awaiting one (may our souls be sacrifice for him) to the extend the inhabitant of the Heaven and Earth and every free independent people shall cry for him.

Be aware of this tradition that was narrated from the eighth Imam (peace be on him):

لا بدّ من فتنة صمّاء صيلم يسقط فيها كلّ بطانة و وليجة و ذلك عند فقدان الشيعة الثالث من ولدي، يبكي عليه أهل السماء و أهل الأرض و كلّ حريّ و حرّان و كلّ حزين و لهفان.

ثمّ قال عليه السّلام: بأبي و أمّي سميّ جدّي صلّى اللّه عليه و اله و سلّم و شبيهي و شبيه موسى بن عمران عليه السّلام، عليه جيوب النور، يتوقّد من شعاع ضياء القدس‏

"There is no doubt for the intense sedition that shall occur where intimate friends shall fell victim, that shall be when the followers lose the third of my descendant, the inhabitant of Heaven and Earth shall lament for him including those that grief.

He later said: may my father and mother be sacrifice for him, he shall be named after my grand father (peace be on him and his holy progeny) he is my resemblance and that of Musa son of Imran (peace be on him) he will be on luminous garment, and kindle from the ray of Al-Quds"[15]

This type narration was also narrated from the Prophet (peace be on him and his holy progeny).

It was narrated from our master Rida (peace be on him) in his seating a Khurasan, he stood up when the word Al-Qa'im was mentioned and rest his hand on his honourable head and said:

أللّهمّ عجّل فرجه و سهّل مخرجه‏

O' Allah! May You hasten his relief and make his coming very easy, he also mentioned some of the significance of his government.

Muhadith Nuri (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in his book "Annajmu Thaqib" what I have translated into Arabic language: this type of dignity when this name is mentioned is usual between the Shi'ah all over the world especially within the Arabs, none Arabs, Turkish, Indians, and others, even it is also common among our Sunni brothers.[16]

Allamah Amini in "Al-Ghadeer" said: it was narrated that when Da'abal read his poems before Imam Rida (peace be on him) and mentioned the Proof (May our souls be sacrifice for him) by his saying:

فلولا الّذي أرجوه في اليوم أو غد             تقطّع نفسي إثرهم حسراتي‏

خروج إمام لا محالة خارج             يقوم على اسم اللّه و البركات‏

If not because of he whom I hope for his coming today or tomorrow;

My soul could have cut off due to sadness;

There is no doubt in the coming out of the Imam;

He shall rise by the name of Allah and His blessings.

Imam Rida (peace be on him) lay his hand on his head and respectfully stood up and pray for his quick relief and reappearance.[17]

We conclude this introduction by what has been narrated in "Tanzihil Khatir", Imam Sadiq (peace be on him) was asked for the reason for standing up when the world "Al-Qa'im" is mention, which is one of the nickname of Imam, the proof peace be on him, he said: because he shall  have long occultation and due to his much kindness to his well-wishers, he looks at whoever remembered him with this nickname, as the symbol of his government and lost for his loneliness, it is among respect to him by standing up in humbleness before him and when the great master looks at him with his honourable sight, he should seek from Allah the Majesty, the quick relief and appearance of Imam.[18]

We ask Allah the Most High to make us among those that anticipates for his reappearance, peace be on him.

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

                      

                       There is no success except from God

MURTADA MUJTAHIDI SISTANI.

 

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