The Almighty Allah
gave glad tidings of the birth of Ismail (a) and He says: "So We gave him the good news of a boy,
possessing forbearance."[1] The Almighty Allah
has also prophesied the birth and advent of Qaim (a). And in the same way the
Holy Prophet (s) and the Infallible Imams (a) have also given glad tidings about
them. That which additionally proves this matter is that which is mentioned in
the books Tabsiratul Wali and Biharul Anwar from Ismail bin Ali Naubakhti
(r.a.) that he said:
When Imam Hasan
Askari (a) was in his fatal illness I was present with him. He summoned his
servant, Aqeed, who was a Nubian black. Prior to this he was in the employ of
Imam Ali Naqi (a). It was he that had brought up Imam Hasan Askari (a). Imam
(a) told him: "O Aqeed, boil for me some mastic water." Aqeed obeyed
and after the water was procured, Saiqal, the mother of Imam-e-Zamana (aj)
brought it to His Eminence.
His Eminence took hold of the vessel but his
hands shook so much that the bowl clattered against his teeth. The Imam let go
of the vessel and said to Aqeed: "Go inside the house where you will find
a boy in prostration. Bring him to me."
Abu Sahl says: Aqeed said: When I went inside
to bring that boy I saw that the boy was in a prostration and he had raised his
index finger to the sky. I saluted him. He shortened his Prayer. I said respectfully:
"The master has called you." At that moment his mother arrived and taking
his hand brought him to his father. Abu Sahl says: When the boy came to His Eminence, he saluted
him. I saw that his face was glowing like a pearl, he had short hair and wide
teeth. When the eyes of Imam Hasan Askari (a) fell upon him he wept and said: "O
master of my family, give me this water so that I may proceed to my Lord."
The young master complied and taking up the bowl of mastic water brought it to
the lips of his father so that he may drink it. Then Imam Hasan Askari (a)
said: "Prepare me for the ritual prayer." That child kept a towel
before the Imam and made ablution for him by washing his face and hands in
turn. Then he did Masah of his head and both feet. The Imam said: "O my
son, I give you glad tidings that you are the Master of the Time and the Proof
of Allah on the face of the earth. You are my son and successor. You are born from
me and you are M-H-M-D the son of Hasan son of Ali son of Muhammad son of Ali son
of Moosa son of Ja'far son of Muhammad son of Ali son of Husain son of Ali Ibne
Abi Talib (a) and you are from the progeny of the Holy Prophet (s) and the last
of the Purified Imams (a). And the Messenger of Allah (s) gave glad tidings about
you and informed about your name and patronymic. This was told me by my father
from his purified forefathers - blessings of Allah be on Ahle Bayt. Indeed our Lord
alone is worthy of praise and glorification."
Imam Hasan bin Ali Askari (a) spoke these
sentences and passed away at that very moment.[2] I say: His Eminence passed away due to the
effect of poison on the 8th of Rabi I, year 260 A.H. and at that time his age
was barely 28 years, may Allah bless him.
Ismail (a) - the
spring of Zam Zam burst forth for him. For Qaim (a) also a spring of water
would burst forth from a hard stone - as would be explained in the discussion
of resemblance to Prophet Moosa (a) - and water also had sprung manytimes for that
respected personality, as mentioned in Biharul Anwar quoting from the book of
Tanbiyatul Khaatir that Sayyid Ajal Ali son of Ibrahim Areezi Alawi Husaini
reports from Ali son of Ali son of Numa that he said:
Hasan bin Ali bin Hamza Aqsasi related this incident
in the house of Shareef Ali bin Ja'far bin Ali Madaini Alawi that there was a short-stature
Shaykh in Kufa who was well known for his piety, he liked sight-seeing, was an
ardent worshipper and preferred seclusion. And he was always in pursuit of
historical information and traditional reports.
One day it so
happened that I was in the gathering of my father when this gentleman arrived
and began to converse with my father and the latter was listening to him
intently.
The senior
gentleman said: One night I was in Masjid Jofa, which is an ancient Masjid on
the outskirts of Kufa. Half the night had passed and I was engrossed in secluded
prayers when suddenly three persons entered the Masjid. When they reached the
center of the courtyard, one of them squatted and began to move the soil to the
right and the left. A spring of water appeared and water gushed out of it.
He performed the ritual ablution with this
water and gestured to the other two persons and they also performed the
ablution. Then he stood in the front and the other two stood behind him to
pray. I also went and stood at the back and recited the prayers with them.
Since I was
astonished at the erupting of the spring, when the prayer was concluded I asked
the man to my right: Who is that gentleman? He told me: He is the Master of the
Affair, son of Imam Hasan Askari (a). So I went forward and kissed the blessed
hands of His Eminence and asked very respectfully: O son of Allah's Messenger (s),
what is your opinion about Shareef Umar, son of Hamza? Is he on the right
religion? He replied: No, but it is possible he may come to the right path.
However it is sure that he would not die without seeing me.
The narrator says: We wrote down this
interesting tradition, and some time passed after this incident till Shareef
Umar bin Hamza expired and it was not heard that he had seen Imam-e-Zamana (a).
One day I met that old gentleman at a place and reminded him about that
incident and asked: Did you not say that Shareef would see Imam-e-Zamana (a)
before his death? The aged gentleman replied: How do you know that he did not
meet His Eminence? After that, one day I met Shareef Abul Manaqib son of
Shareef Umar son of Hamza and discussed about his father with him.
Shareef Abul
Manaqib said: One night I was with my father when he was in his terminal
illness. It was the last part of the night. The physical strength of my father
was sapped and his voice had become feeble. All the doors of the house were
shut when suddenly a man came to us and I was overwhelmed by his awe. We were
so astonished that we didn't even ask him how he managed to enter the house
when all the doors were closed and what the purpose of his visit was. That gentleman
sat besides my father spoke softly to him and my father wept. Then he arose and
went away. And when he went out of our sight my father shook terribly and asked
me to make him sit up. I helped him to sit up. He opened his eyes and asked:
Where is that gentleman who was sitting near me? I replied that he had left. He
said: Go after him. I went after him but could not find him again as all the doors
were closed. I returned to my father and related the matter to him. Then I asked
him who that gentleman was. He said: He is the Master of the Affair (a). After
that his illness intensified again and he became unconscious.[3]
Ismail (a) used to
graze sheep. Qaim (a) also would have the same program. In the tradition of Mufaddal
it is narrated from Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a) that he said:
"And by Allah,
O Mufaddal, as if I can see him entering Mecca wearing the dress of the Holy
Prophet (s) and donning a yellow turban and shoes of Prophet, holding the staff
of His Eminence, driving some emaciated goats; and he would walk in this manner
till he reaches the Holy Kaaba. At that time there would be no one who could
recognize him, he shall appear as a young man."[4]
Ismail (a) was submissive to the command of
the Almighty. He said:"He said: O my
father! do what you are commanded; if Allah please, you will find me of the
patient ones.[5] Qaim (a) is also submissive to Divine orders.
1. Surah Saffat 37:101
2. Biharul Anwar; Vol. 52, Pg. 16
3. Biharul Anwar; Vol. 52, Pg. 55
4. Biharul Anwar; Vol. 6, Pg. 53
5. Surah Saffat 37:102
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