THE LAST
LUMINARY
At dawn,
on the 15th Sha'ban 255 AH., the rays of the
illuminating world shone with a powerful shaft of light
into a human form which became the source of existence
for the universe.
Yes,
finally, the Divine Promise was fulfilled and Imam
al-Mahdi (a.s.) was born in spite of the efforts of
those who denied him.
It is one
of history's miracles that the Umayyids, 'Abbasides and
other opponents of this Holy Imam attempted to
extinguish this divine light but met with complete
failure.
The cruel
and tyrannical caliphs of the Bani 'Abbas had heard that
the Twelfth Imam of the Shi'ites would establish a just
Government and would rule over the east and west of the
world, and would destroy the foundations of injustice.
Therefore, to counter this event, they tortured and shed
the blood of the Shi'ites as much as they could. The
conditions of the martyred Shi'ites can be referred in
the books on this subject. (16)
In the
year 235 A. H., Mutawakkil, the 'Abbasid caliph, ordered
the Tenth Imam Muhammad al-Hadi (a.s.) and his family to
be shifted from Medina to Samarra, his seat of
government, so that he could keep a close watch on the
Imam of the Shi'ites. (17)
Similarly, Mu'tamjd, the 'Abbasid caliph, the Pharaoh of
the time, was afraid of the son of Imam Hasan al-'Askari
(as.). He formed a group of detectives and midwives who
had the mission of frequently searching through the
houses of the 'Alawiyyin, and especially the house of
Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.), so that if a newly-born
child were found, he could be killed immediately.(18)
The
search to find and kill Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) was
intensified when Imam Hasan al'Askar[ (a.s.) left this
world for the eternal one. This is because everyone knew
that on that day the command of Divine Leadership
(Imamate) was to be entrusted to the Twelth Imam, and
the universe would come under his authority.
Shaykh
Saduq, the eminent scholar of the Shi'ite world, writes
in Kamalu'ddin:
"When the
holy body of Imam Hasan al'Askari (a.s.) was buried and
the people went away, the caliph and his comrades
started their efforts to search for his growing son and
inspected the houses carefully. " (19)
Shaykh
Mufid, a distinguished Shi'ite scholar, also wrote in
Irshad:
"When
Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.) passed away, the caliph of
that time, pursued his son because the Shiite
Imamiyyah's belief was famous and was spread about that
the Shi'ites were awaiting His Eminence. (20)
Mu' tad
id, one of the tyrant 'Abbisid 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-'Ask.an (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." (21)
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. (Quran, 9:32)
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, A'-mighty 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 Quran.
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 (Moses - 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. (28:7-13).(22)
(24)
At the
time of his son's birth, the Eleventh Imam told some of
his companions:
"Oppressors were plotting to kill me so that my son
would not be born, but now see how great is the power of
the All-powerful." (25)
Imam
Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.), ordered ten thousand pounds
(lO.OOOlbs.) of bread and meat to be distributed among
the Banu Hashim to mark the happy and auspicious
birthday. 'Uthman ibn Sa'id was charged with this
important work which he undertook in the best way. (26)
From the
very beginning, Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.) hide his
son from strangers.
Read
carefully these words of Shaykh Mufid, part of which was
quoted above.
"Imam
Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.) 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 that they were
waiting for His Eminence. Hence, Imam Hasan al-'Askari
(a.s.) did not show his son, and, therefore, the enemies
could not recognize Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) after the
demise of His Eminence (father)." (27)
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
handwriting, 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." (28)
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 - a.s.) showed me his
son (the Twelfth Imam) and told me, 'This is your Master
(sahib).' (29)
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.
Mu'awiyah
ibn Hakim, Muhammad ibn Ayyub and Muhammad ibn 'Uthman
'Umari have narrated that:
"We were
forty persons who gathered at the house of Imam Hasan,
then His Eminence showed us his son and said to us,
'This is your Imam and my successor. You should obey him
after me and should not oppose him lest you perish."(30)
Anyhow,
from the time of the birth of the Twelfth "moon" till
his Imamate, the Shi'ites used to go to the Eleventh
Imam and congratulate him.
Hasan ibn
Hasan al-'Alawi said:
"I went
to see Imam Hasan (al-'Askari) in Samarra' and
congratulated him on the birth of his son." (31)
And
'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas al-'Alawi also said:
"I
visited Imam al-'Askari (a.s.) in Samarra' and
congratulate him on the birth of his son. " (32)
Yes, in
this manner was the Imam of the Age (Imam-e Zaman) bom
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 (Sanibu 'l-Amr). |