History Books

Imam Abul Qasim Muhammad al-Mahdi was born in 255 A.H. on the fifteenth of Sha'ban. The name of his mother was Umm Walad Narjis Khatoon. When he was five years old, his father passed away. He had two occultations, the first called Ghaibat-e-Sughra (Lesser occultation) and another Ghaibat-e- Kubra (Greater occultation). The Imam (a.s.) is still living and shall reappear to fill the earth with justice and equity, as and when Allah so desires. Since the reappearance of the Imam (a.s.) is a fact on which the entire Ummah has agreed, we need not explain its arguments in this book. As a token we quote here a part of a long article written by a great Sufi Shaykh Muhiyuddin Arabi about this Imam-e-Hujjat (a.t.f.s.):

"Imam Mahdi Qaem Muntazar will appear and he is the Hujjat (proof) and caliph of Allah. He is to appear in Makkah between Rukn and Maqam. Most lucky are the people of Kufa because of their relation with him. He will distribute wealth judiciously, will decide disputes, and enact justice and fair play among people. He will rebel when religion will be discarded. Whoever will defy him will be killed and whoever will compete with him will be vanquished. Those who will pay allegiance to him will be those who know Allah. His associates will spread his message and assist him and they will be his ministers who will take up important responsibilities. Their number will in one day reach to 313 and all of them will be non-Arabs yet they will be speaking only Arabic." He says in some couplets:

"He is the Caliph, who converses with animals. And men and jinn will see his justice very soon." He also said, Do not equate any creature with Ahle Bayt. Ahle Bayt are people of testimony. Hatred against them is a great loss. And love for them is worship.

Yet another Sufi poet Shaykh Abdul Karim al Yamani has written these Arabic couplets about the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.): "In the bounty of that peace whose creatures are blessed Till the time they see the advent of the light of guidance With the M of Majid from the progeny of Haider And from the purified and lofty status of Aale Ahmad He is that Mahdi with truth manifest He would rule on the sunnat of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) for the first time"

Shaykh Abdur Rahman al-Bustami, in his book Dairatul Maa'rif, writes about Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.): "And M will emerge of Majd of Aale Ahmad And Justice will be established for men for the first time As we have seen in the time Ali Ar Reza It has become known in the knowledge of the alphabets When he will appear after the Sheen of Shar (mischief?) From Makkah near Ka'ba and by help he will reach to great heights This is the true Mahdi who has appeared with truth Who will come from the Beneficent for establishing truth, And fill the whole earth with justice by becoming a mercy for all And destroy the darkness of polytheism and tyranny first of all His authority for this rule is from Allah He is the Caliph of the best of the Prophets from the high heavens Sadruddin Qoonavi in his book Mashaaikhe Sufi writes about the holy Imam thus:

He will rise by the order of Allah openly In spite of the presence of Shaitan he will destroy infidelity. He will support the Shariat of Mustafa at that time. And he would be the last of the person from their family. He is coming from meem and he knows fully about the Ahkam of Shariat.

If we intend to write in detail about Imam Mahdi (a.s.), many more books will be required besides this but we do not want to narrate all the accounts of the holy family. Our aim is to put to scrutiny what has been written in history books about this holy family and to call for the judgement of reason and intellect. There is no disagreement among the Muslims regarding the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) and hence it requires no explanation. There is a tradition of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.),

"One who dies without recognising the Imam of his age dies the death of ignorance." All the Shia and Sunni Ulama accept this tradition. Hence there is no Muslim who does not believe in the existence of Mahdi (a.s.) We believe that Imam Mahdi (a.s.), the Master of the age and time, is alive and that ever since his father's demise in Saamarra, Imamat has reached him. And that by divine will, his Imamat will safely continue till the day of judgement because it is essential that after the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), there should be twelve Imams (a.s.) and that the number can neither increase nor decrease as authentically recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, "After me there are twelve caliphs and all of them are from Bani Hashim."

That is why God has kept Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) secretly safe from the treacheries of enemies. His absence (occultation) is of two kinds: first, short occultation wherein he had contacts with his close dependents and followers and second, the long occultation, which will extend till his re-appearance. Even in this absence some persons have been able to approach him and will still approach in the future. Currently he has his general viziers and naqeebs. When their number will reach 313 the time of his Zuhoor or reappearance will arrive. He will appear in Mecca at a place between Rukn and Muqaam. He will fill the world with truth and justice, as it is replete with untruth and injustice. He will invite the entire world to truth and righteousness and will hear the voice of 'LABBAIK' (we accept) from all corners of the world. In his finger will be the seal of Sulaiman (a.s.) and he will be holding the staff of Moosa (a.s.) in his hand. He will move from Mecca toward Madinah. He will remove all the innovations, which were introduced in Islam after the demise of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Then he will arrive in Kufa and build the Masjid of Kufa. Prophet Isa (a.s.) will come on earth and will pray behind him, and then he will fill the whole world with the light of guidance.

Yes, we suffice with this much explanation and pray to God Almighty that He may raise us along with those about whom the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had said to Amirul Momineen, "O Ali! From the viewpoint of Faith and trust the highest are those who will arrive in the world in the last period and from whom the arguments and proofs will be hidden. Those very persons will, by the Grace of Allah, will believe only through pen and paper (i.e. by reading the books)." Yes, we are earnestly waiting the appearance of the Qaem Aale Muhammad (a.t.f.s.). I conclude this book here and submit it as an insignificant and humble presentation at his holy feet. We hope our defective deeds and perfect sincerity will be acceptable to the holy Imam.

Adapted from: Analysis of the History of Aale Muhammad (pbuh)" by: "Qadi Bohlool Afandi"