The Beloved 12th (aj)

by Hasnain Asharia

We are proud to call ourselves Shia Ithna Asheris yet some of us doubt the presence & reasoning behind the occultation of the Awaited Imam (as)

Common queries:

1.What is the benefit from the occultation of the Imam (as)?

Even though His Emininece is concealed from public view, his existence is the cause of security for Earth’s inhabitants. Here are some particular narrations: The Prophet has said: “My Ahlul Bayt are security for the inhabitants of the earth. If my Ahlul Bayt are not there, the inhabitants of the earth shall be destroyed.” He (saw) also said: “This religion shall always be upright till there are twelve chiefs from Quraish. When they pass away, the earth shall swallow all its inhabitants.”

The occultation of the Imam is so because the people do not deserve him and also because of prevailing evils among the people. It is useless that we read the dua for a hasty return like parrots when in our hearts, we are not reforming. Were we all righteous and deserving and has not deviated from the path of truth, His Eminence would have appeared.

The Imam mentioned a benefit of his occultation and said: “Taking benefit from me during my occultation is like getting benefit from the sun while it is hidden from the view.” This echoes the words of Imam Sadiq (as) who said: “just as they benefits from the sun when a cloud comes over it.”

Allama Majlisi (ra) explains these narrations: “Just as people gain benefit from the sun hidden behind clouds and wait for the cloud to move away so that they could gain more benefits, in the same way the real awaiter and the sincere Shias wait for His Eminence during the occultation every moment that when His Eminence reappears there may be greater benefit from him.”

It is ordinarily not possible to see the sun directly when it is not behind a cloud. It can lead to blindness if one sees the sun with the naked eye. In the same way the sun of the existence of His Eminence may cause the incapable people to be blinded of truth. Moreover, sometimes the sun comes out from behind the clouds and some people see it. In the same way, during the period of occultation some people see His Eminence and are honoured to be in his service. His Eminence, like the sun, gives benefit to all, although one who is blind is not able to take benefit from him. Allah says in the Quran (17:72): “And whoever is blind in this, he shall be blind in the hereafter, and more erring from the way.”

The above ayaat is explained in this way. Just as the rays of the sun enter the house according to the space of slits and windows and by it gives light and energy, in the same way are the hearts of the people. As much as they remove the curtains of sensuality and physical attachments and open up the slits and windows of the heart for the recognition of Allah, the same proportion of the light of guidance of those great personages would benefit them. In the same way they must remove from them the obstacles and curtains like one who stands below the shining sun and the rays of the sun surround him. By this, eight doors of Paradise of spirituality are opened up for him and the rays of guidance and Wilaya cover him...” (Muntakhabul Athar, pp271-272)

Imam Sadiq (as) explains the wisdom behind occultation beautifully: “The cause of the wisdom shall be known after the reappearance just like the wisdom behind the actions of P.Khidr regarding the damaged boat, the killing of the boy and repairing the wall. It was not clear to P.Musa until they were about to part ways. This is an affair of Allah and the secret and mystery of the occultation is from the secrets and mysteries of Allah. Just as we have faith Allah is the wisest, we must have patience.”

2. Longevity of the Imam. How can He live for so long and how have natural affects not affected him?

Just as the Quran says that Prophet Nuh lived among the people for 950 years, if Allah wills, he can apply the same to our Imam. How do we accept that long age of Nuh but not accept the long age of Imam even though both of them were appointed for the reformation of humanity? Just as Allah says in Surah Yaseen 36:82: “Verily, his command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be!’ And it is!” Just as he split the sea for Musa, allowed Isa to walk on water, cooled the fire for Ibrahim, hence He can also protect and shield His Wali from natural disasters and ageing factors.

3. Why does the Imam of the age not reappear?

The reappearance of His Eminence is not in the control of man and the will of humanity. It is in the hands of the Almighty Allah. The Almighty Allah raised the great Prophet of Islam after five centuries of ignorance and he was raised only when the conditions were suitable for his advent had been fulfilled. Similarly, the same applies for our Imam. Till the world and all the conditions of the world are not eligible for reformation and the atmosphere is not conducive for his reappearance, his reappearance will not occur. When time would mature and the worldly systems would not be able to lead humanity, such is the time when His Eminence would arise and install the system of divine religion in human society, which is presently incapable of guiding the people.

4. How would the Imam of the Time reform the world?

How can one man reform the whole world and introduce equality and justice once more. How can He rid of oppression, deprivation and poverty while protecting the rights of all human beings, to whichever religion they may belong. Well, the greatest systems and events that changed the world were caused at the hands of a single individual and not by a group of people. For example, the Prophet of Islam was a single individual who had such influence that he destroyed the systems of the period of ignorance and replaced it by a heavenly and illuminated system. The same was the cause of Prophet Musa and Prophet Isa, each fluffing their message to establish a divine system without the help of others. The Awaited Imam would arise like his holy great grandfather to establish peace, justice, truth and prosperity and save humanity from all difficulties and evils and spread love and brotherhood and unity of mankind. The time of his reappearance is not in control of anyone except that it is at the discretion of the wise will of the Almighty Lord.