The
Secret Birth of Hadhrat Mahdi (a.s.)
Shaykh
Mufid, a distinguished Shi'ite scholar, also wrote in al
Irshad: "When Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.), passed away,
the caliph of that time, pursued his son because the
Shi'ite Imamiyyah's belief was famous and was spread
about that the Shi'ites were awaiting His Eminence."
Mu'tadid,
one of the tyrant 'Abbasid caliphs who ruled from 279 to
289 A.H., decided all at once to destroy the entire
family of al 'Askari when he heard that more than twenty
years had passed since the birth of the son of Imam
Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.), and that he was still living in
spite of the attempts of the preceding caliph to kill
him. One of Mu'tadid's officers said: "Mu'tadid has
ordered me and two other persons, each of us to mount a
horse and to proceed to Samarra' in full speed without
even stopping for prayer. He gave us the address of
(Imam) al-'Askari and instructed us to enter his house
without his permission and to bring him the head of
whoever we find there." As a matter of fact, they were
unaware that the same power which had protected the Imam
from the former caliphs would give him protection from
his evil, because:
"Allah
disdains (nothing) save that He shall perfect His light,
however much the disbelievers are averse" (IX 32).
Indeed
what an immature thought and foolish act it was! If the
Divine Will bears on some matter, can a person revolt
against it and combat it? Is it possible that definite
Divine Promises may not be compiled with? Or is it
possible that the reins of oppressive imposters who
fight against the Divine decree will not cut? Is it not
more amazing that Peerless, Almighty Allah has shown His
power many times before, so that after that all men
should know that if He wishes to give His chosen servant
government and sovereignty and to destroy infidelity and
irreligiousness through him, then there is no one who
can disrupt His rule? Fortunately, this sensational
story is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.
Pharaoh,
the great emperor of Egypt, who had great power and
pride, claimed the divinity for himself. He determined
to Kill all the youths and boy children of Bani Isra'il
as a result of what he had heard about a son being born
who would destroy his empire and divinity. He shed the
blood of innocents, and banished many persons to unknown
regions; but see how Almighty Allah restored His Prophet
and how the Divine Will worked to protect the life of
Musa(a.s.), and destroy Pharaoh:
"And We
revealed to the mother of Musa, saying, "Give him suck;
and if you fear for him, launch him on the river; and
fear not, nor grieve; for We will return him to you and
make him one of the Messengers." And took him up
Pharaoh's people, that he might be to them an enemy and
a (cause of their) grief, (for) verily Pharaoh and Haman
and their hosts were sinners ...So We did restore him to
his mother that her age might be refreshed and that she
might not grieve, and that she might know that the
promise of Allah is (always) true, but most of them know
not". (XXVIII 7-13)
Yes,
Allah will protect His Proof (Hujjah) and will fulfil
His promises and glad tidings because His decision is
based on its execution, although most people do not know
it. Would Allah wish to save the life of Prophet Musa
(a.s.), who was only a messenger to a certain nation and
tribe, and yield the Imam of the Age (Imam-e-Zamana)
into the hands of Mu'tamid and Mu'tadid?
Would
Allah protect the life of Musa (a.s.) while he was in
the middle of the roaring waves of a river, and give no
security to the Imam of the Age who was in the house of
his father, Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.)? Would the
Sustaining Allah of the Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.),protect
Ibrahim (a.s.), in the middle of the flaming fire, but
allow the Last Pearl of the Prophet's progeny to be a
victim of the lust and anger of the 'Abbaside caliphs?
At dawn,
on the middle day of Sha'ban in the year 255 A.H., Imam
Hasan al Askari (a.s.), beheld the heavenly, shinning
face of his son who was to fulfil all Divine promises
and glad tidings. Not more than three days had passed
after his birth when the Eleventh Imam took the holy
child to his companions and told them: "After me this
will be your master of authority and my successor, and
he is the 'Support ' (al-Qa'im) for whose appearance all
people will wait; when the earth is full of injustice
and tyranny, he will fill it with peace and justice."
Read
carefully these words of Shaykh Mufid,
"Imam
Hasan al-'Askari, peace be on him, prepared a true
Government for his fruitful son. He kept secret the
birth of his son and other related matters, because His
Eminence was living in a difficult time when the caliphs
were intensively searching for his son and were keeping
a close eye on the affairs of Imam al-'Askari. This is
because the Shi'ite Imamiyyah belief about the Imam al
Mahdi (a.s.), had become so current they were waiting
for His Eminence. Hence, Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.),
did not show his, and, therefore, the enemies could not
recognize Imam al-Mahdi, (a.s.), after the demise of His
Eminence (father).
Although
the affairs of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.), were unknown to his
enemies and opponents, the sincere Shi'ites gathered the
news of this important event. Some of them were informed
by Imam al-'Askari (a.s.), through a letter. One of the
sincere Shi'ites, Ahmad ibn Is'haq, received a letter
from the Imam written in his own hand writing, saying:
"A son is born to me. Therefore, keep secret the news of
it from people and inform only his near relatives and
particular friends." Some of the Shi'ites used to pay
private visits to Imam al-'Askari (a.s.), who would take
them into the presence of the Twelfth Imam al-Mahdi
(a.s.), who would guide them. Abu 'Umari and Ahwazi
reported: "Abu Muhammad (Imam Hasan al-'Askari) showed
me his son (the Twelfth Imam) and told me, 'This is your
Master (Sahib)." Some other Shi'ites used to visit Imam
al-'Askari(a.s.), in a group, and if the Imam trusted in
them that they would faithfully keep their visit secret,
he would show them his beloved son.
Yes, in
this manner was the Imam of the Age (Imam-e- Zamana)
born and kept hidden from the reach of strangers. On
some occasions only were virtuous Shi'ites allowed to
see him, until the year 260 A.H, when the Eleventh Imam
expired, and by Divine decree the office of Divine
Leadership (Imamate) was vested in the Master of the
Authority (Sahibu'l-Amr). |