Salih went into
occultation from his people. After that when he returned to them, a majority of
them denied him as mentioned in the book of Kamaluddin in the tradition of His
Eminence, Abu Abdillah Sadiq (a) that he said:
"Salih (a) remained in occultation from his
community for a period of time: The day he disappeared from them he was of middle
age, wide belly, elegant body, thick beard, fair complexioned and medium
height. When he returned to his people, they did not recognize him from his
face.
And he found them divided
into three groups: A group had denied him and they were not prepared to retract
their denial. Another group was of those who had doubts about him. The third
group was firm in its faith. So he addressed the group of doubters and said: 'I
am Salih.' They denied and chided him and snubbed him saying: 'May Allah become
aloof from you, Salih was indeed
having a different appearance.' The Imam says: Then Salih went to the deniers
and they paid no heed to his words and expressed a deep hatred for him. After
that he went to the third group which was a group of faithful believers and
told them that he was Salih. They said: 'Please tell us something through which
we may not have any doubt about you. We have no doubt that Allah, the Mighty and
the High, Who is the Creator can change the appearance of anyone He wants. We
had been informed about it and we have researched and studied the signs and portents
regarding the reappearance of the Qaim. And it would be correct when he brings
the news from the heavens. Salih said: I am that same Salih who brought the
she-camel by miracle. They said: You are right. It is the same point we argued
on. But tell us what its sign was? Salih said: An alternate day was reserved
for this she-camel to drink from the stream and alternate for you. We have
brought faith on Allah and also believed on whatever you have brought. At that
time Allah, the Mighty and the High said:
"Do you know that Salih is sent by his Lord?"[1]
And the believers and
people of faith said:
"Surely we are believers in what he has
been sent with."[2]
And the arrogant ones - those who doubted him -
said:
"Surely we are
deniers of what you believe in."[3]
The narrator asked:
Was there among them a scholar and who knew
Salih? Imam replied: The Almighty Allah is more equitable that He should leave
the earth without a scholar that guides the people to Allah. This community
passed seven days in this manner after the reappearance and advent of Salih as
they had no recognition of a leader or Imam for themselves. But in spite of
this they has something from divine religion and they had remained firm on
that. Their beliefs were same. And when Salih reappeared they gathered around
him. And there is no doubt that the simile of Qaim (a) is like that of Salih."[4]
Yes, Qaim (a) would
also be like Salih. Whatever occurred on Salih would in the same way, letter to
letter, exactly happen for him also. In spite of the fact that he would reappear
in the form of a young man of less than forty years while he is of advanced
age.
The people would also be divided into three groups:
People of firm belief, the doubters and the deniers. He would invite the
deniers and they would deny him and he would eliminate them, and the people of faith
would ask him for signs and he would show them and they would pledge allegiance
to him.
1. Surah Araaf 7:75
2. Surah Araaf 7:75
3. Surah Araaf 7:76
4. Kamaluddin, Vol.
1, Pg. 136
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