Allahumma Shalli 'alaa Sayyidinaa Muhammad wa 'alaa Aali Sayyidinaa Muhammad saww منطقة سيدينا اللهم، '' محمد شالي وا ' سوو "العالي سيدينا محمد" علاء
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION ABOUT H.MAHDI A.S.
Imam Mahdi(A.S)
Name - Muhammad
Title - Al-Mahdi, Sahib-ul-Asr, Al-Hujjat, Al-Qa'im
Kunyat - Abul Qasim
Born - Friday 15th of Shaban 255 A.H., at Samarra
Father's Name - Imam Hasan-al-Askari
Mother's Name - Nargis Khatoon
Still living but in hiding and will appear before the Day of Judgement to establish justice on earth
The Signs of the Reappearance (Qiyam) of the (Imam) who undertakes the Office (al-Qa'im), Peace be on him, the Period of Time of his Appearance, an Explanation of his Life and an Extract of what is revealed about his State.Traditions have been reported mentioning the signs for the time of the appearance of the Imam who will arise (qa'im), peace be on him, and the events which will take place before his appearance, together with the indications and features of it.
Among them are:
- The Sufyani will come out in revolt;- the Hasanid will be killed;
- the Abbasids will dispute over worldly kingdom;
- there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan;
- there will be an eclipse of the moon at the end of that month in contrast to ordinary happenings;
- the land will be swallowed up at al-Bayda'; it will be swallowed in the east-it will be swallowed up in the west;
- the sun will stay still from the time of its decline to the middle of the time for the afternoon prayer;
- it will rise from the west;
- a pure soul (nafs zakiyya) will be killed in the outskirts of Kufa with seventy righteous men;
- a Hashimite will be slaughtered between the corner (of the Ka'ba) and the station of Abraham);
- the wall of the mosque of Kufa will be destroyed; - black standards will advance from Khurasan;
- al-Yamani will come out in revolt;
- al-Maghribi will appear in Egypt and take possession of it from Syria; - the Turk will occupy the region of al-Jazira;
- the Byzantines will occupy Ramla;
- the star will appear in the east giving light just like the moon gives light;
- then (the new moon) will bend until its two tips almost meet;
- a colour will appear in the sky and spread to its horizons;
- a fire will appear for a long time in the east remaining in the air for three or seven days;
- the Arabs will throw off the reins and take possession of their land, throwing out the foreign authority;
- the people of Egypt will kill their ruler and destroy Syria; and three standards will dispute over it (Syria);
- the standards of Qays and the Arabs will come among the people of Egypt; - the standards of Kinda (will go) to Khurasan;
- horses will come from the west until they are stabled in al-Hira; - the black standards will advance towards them from the east; the Euphrates will flood so that the water comes into the alleys of Kufa;
- sixty liars will come forward, all of them claiming prophethood, and twelve will come forward from the family of Abu Talib, all of them claiming the Imamate; a man of important rank of the supporters of the 'Abbasids will be burnt between Jalula' and Khaniqin;
- the bridge next to Karkh in the city of Baghdad will be established;
- a black wind will raise it at the beginning of the day and then an earthquake will occur so that much of it will be swallowed up;
- fear will cover the people of Iraq and Baghdad; swift death (will occur) there and there will be a loss of property, lives and harvests;
- locusts will appear at their usual times and at times not usual so that they attack agricultural land and crops and there will be little harvest for what the people planted; - two kinds of foreigners will dispute and much blood will be shed in their quarrel;
- slaves will rebel against obedience to their masters and kill their masters (mawali);
- a group of heretics (ahl al-bida) will be transformed until they become monkeys and pigs;
- slaves will conquer the land of their masters; a cry (will come) from the sky (in such a way) that all the people will hear it in their own languages;
- a face and a chest will appear in the sky before the people in the centre of the sun;
- the dead will arise from their graves so that they will return to the world and they will recognize one another and visit one another;
- that will come to an end with twenty-four continous rainstorms and the land will be revived by them after being dead and it will recognize its blessings;
- after that every disease will be taken away from those of the Shia of the Mahdi, peace be on him, who believe in the truth;
at that time they will know of his appearance in Mecca and they will go to him to support him.
(These signs) are as the reports have mentioned. Among the total of these events are some which are bound (to happen) and other which are conditional.
God knows best what will take place. We have only mentioned them on the basis of what is recounted in basic sources of tradition (usul) because of their inclusion in traditions which have been handed down. From God we seek help and Him do we ask for success.I (i.e. Sayf b. 'Umayra) was with Abu Jafar al-Mansur and he said to me of his own accord: "There will certainly be a voice calling from the sky the name of a man from the descendants of Abu Talib."
"May I be your ransom, Commander of the faithful," I said, "do you relate that?"
"Indeed, by Him in Whose hands is my life," he replied, "because my own ears have heard it."
"Commander of the faithful," I said, "this tradition which you have heard is before my time."
"Sayf, it is the truth," he told me. "When it happens, we will be the first to answer it. Indeed the call will be for a man from the descendants of our uncle."
"A man from the descendants of Fatima, peace be on her?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied. "Sayf, if it was not for the fact that I have heard from Abu Jafar Muhammad b. Ali (al-Baqir), who told me about it, even though all the people of the earth have told me about it, I would not accept it from them. However it was Muhammad b. Ali (al-Baqir), peace be on them, (who told me)."
[Yahya b. Abi Talib reported on the authority of Ali b.
The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, said: "The hour (of the end of the world) will not arise until the Mahdi from my descendants comes forth. The Mahdi will not come forth until sixty liars come forward, all of them declaring: 'I am a prophet.' "
[al-Fadl b. Shadhan reported on the authority of one who reported it on the authority of Abu Hamza al-Thumali, who said:]
I (i.e. Abu Hamza al-Thumali) asked Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "Is the revolt of the Sufyani one of the things which must happen?"
"Yes," he replied. "The call is one of the things which must happen as is the rising of the sun from the west one of the things which must happen.
"How will the call be?" I asked.
"There will be a call from the sky at the beginning of the dayù indeed the truth is with Ali; and his Shia,'' he said. "Then at the end of the day, Satan will call from the earth - indeed the truth is with Uthman and his supporters.
[al-Hasan b. Ali al-Washsha' (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. A'idh, on the authority of Abu Khadija, on the authority of Abu Abd Allah (Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be on him:]
(Jafar al-Sadiq) said: "The one who will arise (al-qa'im) will not come forth until twelve of the Banu Hashim come forth before him, all of them summoning men to themselves."
[Muhammad b. Abi al-Bilad (reported) on the authority of Ali b. Muhammad al-Azdi, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, who said:]
The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, said: "Before the one who will arise (al-qa'im), there will be red death and white death; there will be locusts at their usual time and at their unusual time like the colours of blood. As for red death that is (from) the sword,while white death is (from) plague."
(Al-Baqir) said: "Stay close to the ground. Don't move an arm or a leg until you see the signs which I will mention to youùI don't think that you will live until that time. The Abbasids will dispute; a voice will call from the sky; one of the villages of Syria called al-Jabiyya will be swallowed up; the Turks will occupy the region of al-Jazira; the Byzantines will attack al-Ramla; at that time there will be much conflict throughout the land until Syria is destroyed. The cause of its destruction will be the meeting of three standards there: the standard of the Red, the standard of the Spotted and the standard of the Sufyam."
Concerning the words of Him, the Mighty and High: We will show them our signs on the horizons and in themselves so that it will become clear to them that it is the truth [XLI 53], (Musa) said: "(There will be) a disturbance on the horizons and the enemies of truth will be changed in form."
I (i.e. Abu Basir) heard Abu Jafar (al-Baqir) speak concerning the words of Him, the Exalted: If We wish, We will send down on them signs from the sky, and their necks will remain bent submissively to them (XXVI 4). He said: "God will do that to them."
"Who are they?" I asked.
"The Umayyads and their supporters," he answered.
"What is the sign?" I asked.
"Between the decline of the sun (at noon) and the time of the afternoon prayer, the sun will remain still," he said. "The chest and face of man will appear in the centre of the sun, who will be recognized by his standing and genealogy. That will occur in the time of the Sufyani. At that moment his destruction will occur and the destruction of his people."
(Sa'id b. Jubayr) said: "In the year in which the Mahdl will rise, twenty rain storms will rain on the earth. You will see their effects and benefits."
Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, said: "Two signs will come before the one who will arise (al-qa'im), peace be on him: there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan and an eclipse of the moon at the end of it."
"Son of the Apostle of God," I said, "usually the eclipse of the sun occurs at the end of the month and the eclipse of the moon occurs in the middle of it?"
"I know what I have said," replied Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him. "They are signs which have not occurred since Adam came down."
I (i.e. Salih b. Maytham) heard Abu Jafar (al-Baqir), peace be on him, say: "There is no longer than fifteen nights between the appearance of the one who will rise (al-qa'im), peace be on him, and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya)."
I (i.e. Jabir al-Jufi) said to Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "When will this event occur?"
"Jabir, that will occur at a time when the killing between al-Hira and Kufa is considerable," he replied.
(Ja'far al-Sadiq) said: "When the wall of the mosque of Kufa, which adjoins the house of Abd Allah b. Masud is destroyed, then at that time the ruler of the people will disappear.
(Jafar al-Sadiq) said: "There will be three appearances in one year, one month and one dayùthe Sufyani, the Khurasani and the Yamam. The standard of guidance will not be among them, except the standard of the Yamani, because he will summon (people) to the truth."
(Al-Rida) said: "What you stretch your necks for will not occur until you are able to discern and to be tested. Only a few of you will remain."
Then he recited: Alif Lam.
(Al-Rida) said: "(It is as if I see) standards, dyed green, coming from Egypt until they come to the Syrian (standards).
(Jafar al-Sadiq) said: "The kingdom of these men will not disappear until they slaughter people in Kufa on Friday.
A man asked Abu al-Hasan (Musa), peace be on him, about the relief. He asked: "Do you want most of it or shall I give you a summary?"
"Would you give me a summary?" he said.
"(It will be) when the standards of Qays are carried in Egypt and the standards of Kinda in Khurasan," he replied.
(Jafar al-Sadiq) said: "Because of the sons of so-and-so there will be a battle at your mosqueùmeaning the mosque of Kufa.
[Ali b. Abi Hamza (reported) on the authority of Abu Basir, on the authority of Abu 'Abd Allah (Jafar al-Sadiq), peace be on him:]
(Jafar al-Sadiq) said: "Before (the coming of) the one who will rise (al-qa'im), peace be on him, there will be a year of abundant rain in which the fruits and the dates on the palms will be destroyed. But don't complain of that."
[Ibrahim b. Muhammad (reported) on the authority of Ja'far b. Sad, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abu Abd Allah (Jafar al-Sadiq), peace be on him:]
(Jafar al-Sadiq) said: "In the year of the Conquest (by the Mahdi) the Euphrates will flood so that the water goes into the alleys of Kufa."
[It is reported in the account (hadith) of Muhammad b. Muslim, who said:]
I (i.e. Muhammad b. Muslim) heard Abu Abd Allah (Jafar al-Sadiq), peace be on him, say: "Before (the coming) of the one who will rise (al-qaim) there will be a trial from God."
"May I be your ransom, what is that?" I asked him.
He recited: Let Us test you with fear, with hunger, and with lack of money, of lives and of harvests. Good news will come to those who are steadfast [II 55]. Then he said: "The fear will be from the kings of the Banu so-and-so; the hunger will be as a result of exorbitant prices; the lack of money will be due to the failure of trade and the scarcity of surplus (goods) in it; the lack of lives will be because of swift death; the lack of harvest will be due to the great rains and the little benefit they bring to the crops." Then he continued: "The good news for those who are steadfast is that the one who will rise (al-qa'im) will soon come forth."
[Al-Husayn b. Sa'id (reported) on the authority of Mundhir al-Jawzi, on the authority of Abu Abd Allah (Jafar al-Sadiq), peace be on him:]
(Mundhir al-Jawzi) said: I heard (Ja'far al-Sadiq) say: "Before the coming of the one who will rise (al-qa'im), peace be on him, the people will be chided for their acts of disobedience by a fire which will appear in the sky and a redness which will cover the sky. It will swallow up Baghdad, it will swallow up Kufa. There blood will be shed and houses destroyed. Death (fana) will occur amid their people and a fear will come over the people of Iraq from which they shall have no rest."
Al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali al-'Askari (Peace be Upon him)
Name: al-Hasan
Title: al-'Askari
Agnomen: Abu Muhammad
Father's name: 'Ali- al - Hadi ( an- Naqi )
Mother's name: Hadithah (or Susan)
Birth: In Medina, on Friday, 8th Rabi'u 'th-thani 232 AH.
Death: Died at the age of 28, in Samarra', on Friday, 8th Rabl'u 'l-awwal 260 AH; poisoned by al-Mu'tamid, the Abbasid ruler; buried in Samarra' (Iraq)
The Holy Imam Hasan al-'Askari spent twenty-two years of his life under the patronage of his father, Imam 'Al; al-Had; (an-Naqi) after whose martyrdom he became his divinely commissioned Imam. Imam Hasan ibn 'Ali al-'Askari, the son of the Tenth Imam, was born in 232/845 and according to some Shl'ite sources was poisoned and killed in 260/872 through the instigation of the 'Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tamid.
Title: al-'Askari
Agnomen: Abu Muhammad
Father's name: 'Ali- al - Hadi ( an- Naqi )
Mother's name: Hadithah (or Susan)
Birth: In Medina, on Friday, 8th Rabi'u 'th-thani 232 AH.
Death: Died at the age of 28, in Samarra', on Friday, 8th Rabl'u 'l-awwal 260 AH; poisoned by al-Mu'tamid, the Abbasid ruler; buried in Samarra' (Iraq)
The Holy Imam Hasan al-'Askari spent twenty-two years of his life under the patronage of his father, Imam 'Al; al-Had; (an-Naqi) after whose martyrdom he became his divinely commissioned Imam. Imam Hasan ibn 'Ali al-'Askari, the son of the Tenth Imam, was born in 232/845 and according to some Shl'ite sources was poisoned and killed in 260/872 through the instigation of the 'Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tamid.
The Eleventh Imam gained the Imamate, after the death of his noble father, through Divine Command and through the decree of the previous Imams. During the seven years of his Imamate, due to untold restrictions placed upon him by the caliphate, he lived in hiding and dissimulation (taqiyyah) He did not have any social contact with even the common people among the Shi'ite population. Only the elite of the Shi'ah were able to see him. Even so, he spent most of his time in prison. There was extreme repression at that time because the Shi'ite population had reached a considerable level in both numbers and power. Everyone knew that the Shi'ah believed in the Imamate, and the identity of the Shi'ite Imams was also known.
Therefore, the caliphate kept the Imams under its close supervision more than ever before. It tried through every possible means and through secret plans to remove and destroy them. Also, the caliphate had come to know that the elite among the Shi'ah believed that the Eleventh Imam, according to traditions cited by him as well as his forefathers, would have a son who was the promised Mahdi. The coming of the Mahdi had been foretold in authenticated hadith of the Prophet in both Sunni and Shi'ite sources. For this reason the Eleventh Imam, more than other Imams, was kept under close watch by the caliphate.
The caliph of the time had decided definitely to put an end to the Imamate in Shi'ism through every possible means and to close the door to the Imamate once and for all. Therefore, as soon as the news of the illness of the Eleventh Imam reached al-Mu'tamid, he sent a physician and a few of his trusted agents and judges to the house of the Imam to be with him and observe his condition and the situation within his house at all times. After the death of the Imam, they had the house investigated and all his female slaves examined by the midwife. For two years the secret agents of the caliph searched for the successor of the Imam until they lost all hope.
The Eleventh Imam was buried in his house in Samarra' next to his noble father. Here it should be remembered that during their life time the Imams trained many hundreds of scholars of religion and hadith, and it is these scholars who have transmitted to us information about the Imams. In order not to prolong the matter, the list of their names and works and their biographies have not been included here.
al-Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari, peace be Upon him, said:
Generosity has a limit, which when crossed becomes extravagance; caution has a limit which when crossed becomes cowardice; thriftiness has a limit, which when crossed becomes miserliness; courage has a limit, which when crossed becomes fool-hardiness. Let this moral lesson suffice: refrain from doing anything which you would disapprove of if done by someone else.
(A Brief History of The Fourteen Infallibles p. 155-157)
IMAM HASSAN ASKARI - A BRIEF LOOK AT HIS LIFE
Name: Hassan.
Title: Al-Askery.
Kuniyya: Abu Muhammad.
Birth: 10th Rabi-ul Aakher 232 a.h. in Madina.
Mother: Bibi Sulail (or Hudaitha).
Father: Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.)
Death: 8th Rabi-ul Awwal 260 a.h. in Saamarra
Buried: In Saamarra.
Title: Al-Askery.
Kuniyya: Abu Muhammad.
Birth: 10th Rabi-ul Aakher 232 a.h. in Madina.
Mother: Bibi Sulail (or Hudaitha).
Father: Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.)
Death: 8th Rabi-ul Awwal 260 a.h. in Saamarra
Buried: In Saamarra.
Birth & Childhood
When he was born his father said that it was an order from the prophet s.a.w. that he should be named Hasan. It was so well known that the last Imams father would be called Hasan that people had previously looked for the 12th Imam amongst the sons of Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a.s.)
His mother was Sulail (or Hudaitha) who was a slave of the 10th Imam whom he had freed and subsequently married. The 10th Imam said of her that she was one who was free from all vice and pollution and that she was one of the righteous ones. After the 11th Imam's martyrdom he left all the "orders" of Imamate with her (his mother).
Once when Imam Hasan Al-Askery (A.S.) was a young child he fell into a well near their house. His father Imam Ali An-Naqi (A.S.) was praying and didn't even notice the commotion around him of the ladies crying. When he finished praying and asked what had happened, he was told. He went towards the well. The water rose and all saw the 11th Imam sitting peacefully on the water and playing.
Bahlool once saw the young Imam crying in the street where all the other children were busy playing with their toys. He asked whether Imam was crying because he had no toys to play with. Imam replied: "We have not been created to play!"
Bahlool asked where he had learnt his from and the Imam said :
"Have you not read the Qur'an where it says - "Do you think we have created you in vain and that you will not be returned to us".
When Bahlool heard this he asked Imam for some advice. Imam talked about death, barzakh and qiyama and cried so much, he fainted. When he came to, Bahlool asked him why he was so fearful as he was not even baligh yet. Imam said:
"I have watched my mother light a fire; she uses the little twigs to get the big pieces of wood to burn; I fear that on qiyama Allah too will use little ones to light the big ones.
Title: Al-Askery
The 10th and 11th Imamayn were both called Al-Askery as they lived in an area of Samarra called Askery.
Another reason that the 11th Imam was called Askery is said to be that once Mutawakkil wanted to show the Imam the strength of his army of 90,000 men and so he asked his men to fill their sacks with sand and pile all the sacks up. He then showed Imam this mountain of sacks. Imam asked Mutawakkil, to look through his (Imam's) two fingers, where he saw a an army of armed Angels. Imam told him that they were at his disposal but he would not use them. (An army is called Askery).
Life & Works Ahmed Bin Ishaq relates that when he heard of the death of the 10th Imam he went to Samarra and asked for the whereabouts of the 11th Imam. He was told that Imam had been imprisoned by Mo'taz Billah. After bribing the guards he was able to visit Imam one night. He described the prison as a tunnel under the Khalifa's home where there was no space to stretch ones legs nor room to be able to stand. Ahmed says he cried when he saw Imams condition. Food was only one glass of water and a piece of dry bread a day.
He was imprisoned because all the rulers knew of the justice that was promised to come with the coming of the 12th Imam and they wished to prevent anyone being born of the 11th Imam.
Whilst in prison he told his companions to accumulate all the masails of Fiqh and he completed the masails on the chapters that were found missing. He introduced the institution of "Taqleed" advising people to follow those who were learned, "Muttaqi", and just, as he was in prison and it was extremely difficult for people to meet him. Khums was collected through his representative and masails too asked to him, Abu-Ja'fer Uthman bin Saeed, who was later to become the representative of the 12th Imam.
There was once a severe drought in Samarra and a Christian priest came who whenever he raised his hands caused rain to fall from the heavens. The Muslims faith started wavering and the Khalifa Mo'taz Billah got worried for if they left Islam he would have none to rule over.
He went to the 11th Imam saying that Imam's grandfathers religion was in trouble. Imam asked him to call all the people outside Samarra with the Christian priest. He asked the Christian priest to pray for rain. When he raised his hands to pray it started to rain. Imam asked for whatever was in this hands to be taken away and then asked him to pray for rain again. There was no rain this time. Imam showed that what the priest had in this hand was the bone of a Prophet which whenever placed under the open sky caused it to rain.
Imam then prayed for rain and it rained. Mo'taz could not re imprison Imam for some time for when the people saw the miracle they all wanted to visit Imam and asked where they might find him. Imam pointed to the Khalifa and asked them to ask him. Mo'taz told them that Imam was staying at the house where the 10th Imam used to reside.
Bibi Nargis was there and it was in that year that the 12th Imam was born. Imam was allowed out of prison for 13 months after which he was rearrested.
Martyrdom In the six years of his Imamate several attempts were made on his life. On the 1st of Rabi-ul Awwal 260 a.h. Mo'tamad arranged for Imam to be poisoned in prison and then sent him home. Imam was in great pain and difficulty for 8 days. On the 8th of Rabi-ul Awwal he asked his son, the 12th Imam, to bring him some water and then leave him. He died that day and was given ghusl & kafan by his son, the 12th Imam.
Burial The funeral prayers were led by the 12th Imam and it was then that a lot of Shia's saw him for the first time. A large number of people attended the funeral and he is buried in Samarra.
Additional Notes The 11th Imam was once asked of the signs of a mo'min (believer).He listed the following signs.
He is one prays 51 rakaats of salaa daily.
He prostates on Khake Shafaa.
He wears rings on his right hand.
He repeats the verses of Azhan & Ikama.
He recites "Bismillah" loudly in Salaa.
He prays his Fajr Salaa before the stars disappear and his Dhuhr prayers before the sun starts to decline.
He recite Qunoot in Salaa.
He dyes his hair and beard.
He recites 5 takbirs in Salatul Mayyit.
He prostates on Khake Shafaa.
He wears rings on his right hand.
He repeats the verses of Azhan & Ikama.
He recites "Bismillah" loudly in Salaa.
He prays his Fajr Salaa before the stars disappear and his Dhuhr prayers before the sun starts to decline.
He recite Qunoot in Salaa.
He dyes his hair and beard.
He recites 5 takbirs in Salatul Mayyit.
An-Naqi and Al-Hadi as
Name - Ali
Kunyat - Abul Hasan
Born - Friday 15th of Zilhajj 212 A.H., at Surba
Father's Name - Muhammad ibn Ali
Mother's Name - Summana Khatoon
Died - At the age of 42 years, at Samarra , on Monday, 26th Jamadi-ul-Akhar 254 AH. Poisoned by Mu'taz the Abbaside Caliph
Buried - at Samarra, Baghdad.
Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.)'s mother was a very pious lady who spent her whole life fasting. The 10th Imam has said that his mother was one of the ladies of paradise and one of those from 'Ahlul Haqq' (people of truth).
Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.) became an Imam at the age of 8 years. The khalifa wrote to the governor of Medina asking him to send the young Imam to a person called Junaydi for tutorage (the governor of Madina was threatened that if he did not do this than the people of Madina would be annihilated). Junaydi was a well known poet of that time and 'anti - Ahlulbayt' and was 80 years old. The Khalifa felt that if this was done than anything that the Imam did or said could be attributed to Junaydi i.e. it was taught to Imam by Junaydi. When Junaydi was once asked about the progress of his student he said :
- "I am the student and he is the teacher. I now know what knowledge is. What I say is because of what I have been taught by Imam".
The Khalifa's plan had failed yet again.
For a while the Khalifa left Imam in peace and freedom as they were engrossed in sorting out their own affairs (Removing the Iranians from power; adding the Turks and establishing power in Samarra). Imam used the time to open Madrasas and the atmosphere in the mosque of the Prophet was once again like in the time of the 6th Imam Jafer As Sadiq (A.S.).
Imamate - His Life & Works
Imam Ali un Naqi (as) served the longest period of Imamate (besides the 12th Imam) - 34 years which can be divided into two parts - 17 years of freedom and 17 years under arrest.
In 234 a.h. came one of the most tyrannical rulers of the Abbasid Khilafate - Mutawakkil. He ruled with tyranny, killing, looting and terrorising especially those who were the followers of Ahlulbayt. Mutawakkil is also the one who ordered the desecration of the grave of Imam Husayn (a.s.) wanting to remove Imam's body and burn it (He did not succeed). He tried running water over the grave so no traces of the grave would remain but was unsuccessful. He ordered that all those wanting to visit Kerbala would have their fingers cut off, then hand and feet cut then only be able to go if one other from the family was killed. Imam still asked Shias to visit Kerbala. When Mutawakkil saw that all had failed and it did not discourage the visits than he banned all visits to Kerbala completely.
Mutawakkil called Imam to Samarra. Imam was called under the pretext of respect and love towards him. Imam was aware of Mutawakkil's intentions but went knowing that this would be an opportunity to show the Turks too what true Islam was. On arriving in Samarra the Turkish spies sent with Imam were amazed at Imam's knowledge of the Turkish language when he had never visited the Turks before.
It was an opportunity for Imam to prepare the Mu'mineen in Samarra for ghaibat. Imam was put up in an Inn which was meant for beggars, destitute and criminals. From this Inn he was removed and put into the custody of an evil man called Zarraqui (who changed to be an avid supporter of Imam) and then a man called Seyyid.
Mutawakkil knew of the progress Imam had made in Madina in 14 years of spreading knowledge. In fact he himself had to ask Imam when the Caesar of Rome wrote to him (Mutawakkil) to ask him:
- "I have heard that there is a chapter of a divinely revealed book which does not contain the letters ( t d k S X ) and if this chapter is recited it grants the reciter paradise! I would like to know which chapter and in which book and why these letters are not present".
Mutawakkil's 'Ulema' were confused and eventually Mutawakkil turned to Imam. Imam told him that the chapter wasSuratul Fatiha in the Qur'an and the above letters were not present because it was a chapter of mercy and each of the above letters represented words of Adhab (punishment) or Ghadhab (anger of Allah).
e.g.*- jaheem (hell), *- khusr (loss), *- zaqqum (fruit of Jahannam)
e.g.*- jaheem (hell), *- khusr (loss), *- zaqqum (fruit of Jahannam)
Mutawakkil seeing that he could not humiliate Imam in any was he announced his arrival in Samarra as Ibnur Ridha (son of 8th Imam) and subjected him to things such as handing him a glass of wine in his hands in his court, asking him to sing, making him run in front of his (Mutawakkil's) carriage..etc. Imam Hasan Al-Askery (a.s.) was placed under separate house arrest than his father at the young age of 5 years as Mutawakkil did not want the birth of the 12th Imam.
Whilst under house arrest Imam Ali An-Naqi (a.s.) arranged for the coming of Bibi Nargis to Samarra and for her to be well versed in Fiqh by his learned sister Bibi Hakima.
Imam spent his life making the imminent ghaibat of the 12th Imam easier. Soon after Mutawakkil was killed by his own son who could not withstand the behaviour of his father.
After Mutawakkil's death his son Muntasir was the successor and he lifted the restrictions of visiting Kerbala. His rule was unlike his father's tyranny but remained in power for only 6 months and died at the age of 25 years. Then came Mustan Billah (Ahmed bin Mo'tasam) followed by Mo'taz Billah who continued his tyranny on Imam and his followers.
Mo'taz arranged for the poisoning of Imam through an ambassador and Imam was martyred on Monday 3rd Rajab 254 a.h. nobody except Imam Hasan Askery (a.s.) was present at the time of his death. he gave his father ghusl and kafan and wept bitterly.
Children of Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.)
It is reported that Imam had 5 children
- Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.) the Eleventh Imam.
- Husayn.
- Muhammad (known as Syed Muhammad - Tomb near tomb of Balad).
- Ja'fer.
- Aaliya.
Imam Mohammad Taqi (as)
Name: Muhammad bin Ali.
Titles: At-Taqi, Al-Jawad.
Kuniyya: Abu Ja'fer.
Birth: 10th Rajab 195 a.h. Madina.
Mother: Sabika (also known as Khaizarun).
Father: Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.)
Death: 29th Dhulqa'da 220 a.h. Baghdad.
Buried: Kadhmain.
Titles: At-Taqi, Al-Jawad.
Kuniyya: Abu Ja'fer.
Birth: 10th Rajab 195 a.h. Madina.
Mother: Sabika (also known as Khaizarun).
Father: Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.)
Death: 29th Dhulqa'da 220 a.h. Baghdad.
Buried: Kadhmain.
His Parents & Birth
He was the only son of Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) The Prophet (S.A.W.) had said:
"My father be sacrificed on the mother of the 9th Imam who will be a pure and pious Nubian."
Imam Musa Kadhim (A.S.) had told one of his companions that his daughter-in-law (Sabika) would be one of the most pious of women and to give her his salaams. She came from the same tribe as the Prophet's wife - Mary Copt who bore the Prophet his son Ibrahim (who died in infancy).
Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s.) was born when his father was 45 years old. Till then Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) had constantly been taunted that he had no children. When the 9th Imam was born, a brother of Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) was angry because he would lose out in inheriting the Imam's property and in his jealousy spread a rumour that Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) was not the father. He was eventually proved wrong by a person who could tell parentage.
Childhood
The 9th Imam was 5 years old when his father was called to Baghdad by Mamun Rashid to be his 'heir apparent'. When Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) was leaving he saw his son putting sand in his hair. He asked why and the young Imam replied that this was what an orphan did.
His titles, life & works
He became an Imam at the age of 9. Mamun Rashid thought that as all the rulers before him had oppressed the Imams and their schemes had backfired that he would try to bribe the Imams. He tried to make the 8th Imam his heir apparent and give him power and wealth but that also backfired.
He now tried to use power and wealth with the 9th Imam again but from a much younger age thinking that he would be able to influence him. His main purpose was also to make sure that the 12th Imam (whom he knew would bring justice to the world) would be from his progeny and therefore intended to give his daughter Ummul Fadhl to the Imam for a wife. Mamun still continued oppressing the family and followers of the Ahlul-bayt (a.s.).
Mamun called the young Imam (a.s.) to Baghdad from Madina and offered his daughter. This infuriated his family (Banu Abbas). To prove to them the excellence of Imam even at a young age he arranged a meeting between Imam and the most learned of men at that time - Yahya bin Athkam.
It was a grand occasion with some 900 other scholars present. Imam (a.s.) was first asked by Yahya:
What is the compensation (kaffara) for a person in Ehraam who hunted and killed his prey?"
Imam replied that there were many more details required before he could answer the question:
- Did the Muhrim (one in Ehraam) hunt in the haram or outside?
- Did the Muhrim know Sharia or not?
- Did he hunt intentionally or not?
- Did he hunt for the first time or was this one of many times?
- Was he free or a slave?
- Was his prey a bird or an animal?
- Was it big or small?
- Had he hunted by day or by night?
- Was he baligh or not?
- Was he repentant or not?
- Was his ehraam for Hajj or Umra?
- Yahya was stunned. He looked down and started sweating.
* These duas are found in Mafatihul Jinaan (pg 447 - In margin)
Imam lived for a year in Baghdad with Ummul Fadhl. She was very disobedient to Imam. When she found out that Imam had another wife (from the progeny of Ammar-e-Yasir) and that there was also children she was jealous and angry realizing that her father's plan had failed. She complained to her father who also realized that his plan, to keep the 12th Imam in his progeny, had failed. He was enraged and in his rage he drank heavily and went to the 9th Imam's house and attacked Imam with a sword. Both Ummul Fadhl and a servant saw the attack and believed Imam was dead. Mamun on waking next morning realized the consequences of his attack and was thinking of arranging the disposal of Imam's body when he saw Imam well without a scratch on him. He was confused and asked Imam who showed him an amulet which is called Hirze Jawad Imam told him it was from his grand mother Bibi Fatima Zahra (a.s.) and kept the wearer safe from all except the angel of death. Mamun asked Imam for it and Imam gave him one.
Now Mamun was scared and tried a new tactic. He tried to deviate Imam by sending him beautiful girls and musicians. When he realised nothing was working he let Imam return to Madina.
Imam used this time to prepare the masails of Taqleed and Ijtihaad in preparation for the 12th Imam knowing that both the 10th and the 11th Imam would spend most of their lives in prison. He also prepared the people of Madina teaching true Islam knowing that this would be the last time they would be able to receive guidance directly from an Imam for a long time.
Ummul Fadhl continuously complained of Imam to her father who sent her letters back.
Mamun died in 218 a.h. and was succeeded by his brother Mo'tasam Billah. He openly announced that all Shias were not Muslims. He said it was required for people to kill and prosecute Shias, and to destroy property belonging to Shias.
Ummul Fadhl now started complaining to her uncle who was sympathetic to her. Mo'tasam called Imam to Baghdad. He asked Imam to pass judgement of how to punish a thief. Imam said only fingers could be cut as the palms were for Allah (as in Qur'an - it is one of the wajib parts to touch the ground during sajda). As this decision was contrary to the decision of the other 'Ulema' it strengthened the position of the Shias. The other 'Ulema' complained to Mo'tasam.
Death & Burial
With instigation from both the 'Ulema' and Ummul Fadhl, Mo'tasam sent poison which Ummul Fadhl put in Imam's drink and gave it to him. Imam died on 29th Dhulqa'ada at the age of 25 years and is buried near his grandfather in Kadhmain. His son the 10th Imam, Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.) gave him ghusl and kafan.
Summary of Imam's Work
It is he who prepared and wrote books for the masails of Ijtihaad and Taqleed which were essential to prepare believers for the ghaibat of the 12th Imam.
Additional Notes
Once when the young Imam was on his way to Baghdad he came across Mamun's party returning from a hunting trip. All the other children on the street ran but the Imam did not.
Mamun asked the young Imam, "Why did you not run away?"
Imam said the road was wide enough for all of them and neither had he committed a sin. Mamun then asked him his identity.
After finding out, he asked Imam what he (Mamun) had in his hands. Imam replied "Allah has created tiny fish in the river. These fish are hunted by the Hawks of the kings and the descendants of the Prophets reveal the secrets".
Imam Jawad (A.S)
Name - Muhammad
Title - At-Taqi and Al-Jawad
Kunyat - Abu Ja'far
Born - Friday 10th of Rajab 195 A.H. , at Medina
Father's Name - Ali ibn Musa
Mother's Name - Khaizuran
Died - At the age of 25 years, at Kazmain , on Wednesday, 29th Zilqad 220 AH. Poisoned by Mu'tasin the Abbaside Caliph
Buried - in Kazmain, Bagdad.
His Parents & Birth
He was the only son of Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) The Prophet (S.A.W.) had said:
"My father be sacrificed on the mother of the 9th Imam who will be a pure and pious Nubian."
Imam Musa Kadhim (A.S.) had told one of his companions that his daughter-in-law (Sabika) would be one of the most pious of women and to give her his salaams. She came from the same tribe as the Prophet's wife - Mary Copt who bore the Prophet his son Ibrahim (who died in infancy).
Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s.) was born when his father was 45 years old. Till then Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) had constantly been taunted that he had no children. When the 9th Imam was born, a brother of Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) was angry because he would lose out in inheriting the Imam's property and in his jealousy spread a rumour that Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) was not the father. He was eventually proved wrong by a person who could tell parentage.
The 9th Imam was 5 years old when his father was called to Baghdad by Mamun Rashid to be his 'heir apparent'. When Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) was leaving he saw his son putting sand in his hair. He asked why and the young Imam replied that this was what an orphan did.
He became an Imam at the age of 9. Mamun Rashid thought that as all the rulers before him had oppressed the Imams and their schemes had backfired that he would try to bribe the Imams. He tried to make the 8th Imam his heir apparent and give him power and wealth but that also backfired.
He now tried to use power and wealth with the 9th Imam again but from a much younger age thinking that he would be able to influence him. His main purpose was also to make sure that the 12th Imam (whom he knew would bring justice to the world) would be from his progeny and therefore intended to give his daughter Ummul Fadhl to the Imam for a wife. Mamun still continued oppressing the family and followers of the Ahlul-bayt (a.s.).
Mamun called the young Imam (a.s.) to Baghdad from Madina and offered his daughter. This infuriated his family (Banu Abbas). To prove to them the excellence of Imam even at a young age he arranged a meeting between Imam and the most learned of men at that time - Yahya bin Athkam.
It was a grand occasion with some 900 other scholars present. Imam (a.s.) was first asked by Yahya:
What is the compensation (kaffara) for a person in Ehraam who hunted and killed his prey?"
Imam replied that there were many more details required before he could answer the question:
- Did the Muhrim (one in Ehraam) hunt in the haram or outside?
- Did the Muhrim know Sharia or not?
- Did he hunt intentionally or not?
- Did he hunt for the first time or was this one of many times?
- Was he free or a slave?
- Was his prey a bird or an animal?
- Was it big or small?
- Had he hunted by day or by night?
- Was he baligh or not?
- Was he repentant or not?
- Was his ehraam for Hajj or Umra?
Yahya was stunned. He looked down and started sweating.
Mamun asked the young Imam to answer the question, which he did, and then Imam asked Yayha a question which he could not answer. The Banu Abbas admitted defeat and Mamun took the opportunity to offer his daughter in marraige to Imam. Imam (a.s.) read his own Nika (the khutba of which is used today) with the Mehr of 500 dirhams. Imam wrote a letter to Mamun that he would also give Ummul Fadhl Mehr from the wealth of Aakhira. This was in the form of 10 duas which were for fulfilling any hajaat (desires) [Chain of narrators upto Prophet - Jibrail - Allah]* . Thus his title Al-Jawad (the generous one).
* These duas are found in Mafatihul Jinaan (pg 447 - In margin)
Imam lived for a year in Baghdad with Ummul Fadhl. She was very disobedient to Imam. When she found out that Imam had another wife (from the progeny of Ammar-e-Yasir) and that there was also children she was jealous and angry realizing that her father's plan had failed. She complained to her father who also realized that his plan, to keep the 12th Imam in his progeny, had failed. He was enraged and in his rage he drank heavily and went to the 9th Imam's house and attacked Imam with a sword. Both Ummul Fadhl and a servant saw the attack and believed Imam was dead. Mamun on waking next morning realized the consequences of his attack and was thinking of arranging the disposal of Imam's body when he saw Imam well without a scratch on him. He was confused and asked Imam who showed him an amulet which is called Hirze Jawad Imam told him it was from his grand mother Bibi Fatima Zahra (a.s.) and kept the wearer safe from all except the angel of death. Mamun asked Imam for it and Imam gave him one.
Now Mamun was scared and tried a new tactic. He tried to deviate Imam by sending him beautiful girls and musicians. When he realised nothing was working he let Imam return to Madina.
Imam used this time to prepare the masails of Taqleed and Ijtihaad in preparation for the 12th Imam knowing that both the 10th and the 11th Imam would spend most of their lives in prison. He also prepared the people of Madina teaching true Islam knowing that this would be the last time they would be able to receive guidance directly from an Imam for a long time.
Ummul Fadhl continuously complained of Imam to her father who sent her letters back.
Mamun died in 218 a.h. and was succeeded by his brother Mo'tasam Billah. He openly announced that all Shias were not Muslims. He said it was required for people to kill and prosecute Shias, and to destroy property belonging to Shias.
Ummul Fadhl now started complaining to her uncle who was sympathetic to her. Mo'tasam called Imam to Baghdad. He asked Imam to pass judgement of how to punish a thief. Imam said only fingers could be cut as the palms were for Allah (as in Qur'an - it is one of the wajib parts to touch the ground during sajda). As this decision was contrary to the decision of the other 'Ulema' it strengthened the position of the Shias. The other 'Ulema' complained to Mo'tasam.
With instigation from both the 'Ulema' and Ummul Fadhl, Mo'tasam sent poison which Ummul Fadhl put in Imam's drink and gave it to him. Imam died on 29th Dhulqa'ada at the age of 25 years and is buried near his grandfather in Kadhmain. His son the 10th Imam, Imam Ali Naqi (A.S.) gave him ghusl and kafan.
It is he who prepared and wrote books for the masails of Ijtihaad and Taqleed which were essential to prepare believers for the ghaibat of the 12th Imam.
Once when the young Imam was on his way to Baghdad he came across Mamun's party returning from a hunting trip. All the other children on the street ran but the Imam did not.
Mamun asked the young Imam, "Why did you not run away?"
Imam said the road was wide enough for all of them and neither had he committed a sin. Mamun then asked him his identity.
After finding out, he asked Imam what he (Mamun) had in his hands. Imam replied "Allah has created tiny fish in the river. These fish are hunted by the Hawks of the kings and the descendants of the Prophets reveal the secrets".
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