We should know that Raj’ah, رجعة, is from the consensual points of the Shi’a school. In fact, Raj’ah is a fundamental principle of the community of truth and the delivered sect. That is, before Qiyamah, during the tenure of His Eminence, the Qa’im, some very righteous people and some extremely vile individuals would be raised alive.

The righteous will be returned, in order to see the kingdom of their Imams, so that they may be elated and rewarded in this world for some of their good deeds. The return of the vile people is for punishment in this world and also that the kingdom that was usurped from the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), thousands of times more than that, is now theirs, and the religious Shi’as may take revenge from those evil people brought back to life.

The remaining people will remain in their graves; till they are raised in Qiyamah; as mentioned in many traditions that none will return during Raj’ah, except one, who has perfect faith or the complete disbeliever; however, the remaining people will be left to their devices.

Most Imamiyyah scholars, like Muhammad Ibn Babawayh has stated in The Shiite Creed and Shaykh al-Mufid, Sayyid Murtada, Shaykh Tabarsi and Sayyid Ibn Tawus etc. have declared that Raj’ah is truth and in the past, there was dispute between Shi’a scholars and opponents in this matter. Many traditionists and Shi’a scholars wrote books on this subject, which are chronicled by scholars of Rijal (science of narrators).

Shaykh Ibn Babawayh has, in the book of Man Laa Yahdharah al-Faqih, narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said: That one is not from us, who does not have faith in our Raj’ah and who does not consider Mut’ah lawful. I have, in the book of Bihar al-Anwar, mentioned more than two hundred traditions - in addition to Shi’a traditions - narrated by more than forty people from fifty primary sources. One, who has doubt in it, may refer to this book. Also, verses which are interpreted to be about Raj’ah are too many:

First Verse

The first verse is that the Almighty Allah says:

وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ فَوْجًا مِمَّنْ يُكَذِّبُ بِآيَاتِنَا فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ

“And on the day when We will gather from every nation a party from among those who rejected Our signs, then they shall be formed into groups.” (27:83)

In many traditions, it is narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that this verse is regarding Raj’ah that the Almighty Allah will raise a group from every nation and the verse of Qiyamah is that He says:

وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا

“And We will gather them and leave not any one of them behind.” (18:47)

The Imam also said: Signs imply His Eminence, Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) and the Holy Imams (‘a).

Second Verse

In the second verse, the Almighty Allah says:

وَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَابَّةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ

“And when the word shall come to pass against them, We shall bring forth for them a creature from the earth that shall talk to them, because people did not believe in Our signs.” (27: 82)

It is mentioned in many traditions that the Dabba implies Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), who will appear just before Qiyamah with the Staff of Prophet Musa (‘a) and the seal ring of Prophet Sulaiman (‘a). He will hit the staff on the forehead of every believer, and it will be imprinted that he is a believer. Indeed, he will hit the seal ring on the forehead of each unbeliever and it will be imprinted that he is an unbeliever. Ahl al-Sunnah have also recorded similar traditions in their books from Ammar and Ibn Abbas.

The author of Kashaf has narrated that the Dabba will appear from Safa and will have the Staff of Prophet Musa (‘a) and the seal ring of Prophet Sulaiman (‘a). He will hit the Staff on the forehead of the believers. A white spot will appear which will illuminate his face like a brilliant star. It will be imprinted on his forehead that he is a believer. He will hit the seal ring on the nose of the disbeliever, and it will turn black making his whole face black. Or that it will be imprinted on his forehead that he is an unbeliever. He says: In some recitations, the Arabic word of Tukallimahum is without Tashdeed; implying that he will injure them.

It is widely mentioned in Ahl al-Sunnah and Shi’a traditions that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), many a times said in his sermons: I am the owner of the Staff and Misam, an instrument for branding. Sunnis have narrated from Abu Huraira, Ibn Abbas and Asbagh Ibn Nubatah etc. that Dabbat al-Ardh implies Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a).

Ibn Mahiyar has, in the book of Ma Nazala Min al-Qur’an fil Aaimma, narrated from Asbagh Ibn Nubatah that he said: Muawiyah said: You Shi’a people think that Dabbat al-Ardh is ‘Ali? I replied: We are not alone in this; Jews also consider the same. Muawiyah summoned a great Jew scholar and inquired from him whether Dabbat al-Ardh is mentioned in their books. He replied: Yes. Muawiyah asked: What does it denote? He replied: It is a person. Muawiyah asked: Do you know what its name is? He replied: Aeliya. How similar it is to ‘Ali! Muawiyah remarked.

Third Verse

In the third verse, the Almighty Allah says:

إِنَّ الَّذِي فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لَرَادُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ قُلْ رَبِّي أَعْلَمُ مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَمَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ

“Most surely, He Who has made the Qur’an binding on you will bring you back to the destination. Say: My Lord knows best him who has brought the guidance and him who is in manifest error” (28:85).

It is mentioned in many traditions that this verse implies the return of the Messenger of Allah (S) in the world.

Fourth Verse

In the fourth verse, the Almighty Allah says:

وَلَئِنْ قُتِلْتُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ مُتُّمْ لَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ

“And if you are slain in the way of Allah or you die, certainly forgiveness from Allah and mercy is better than what they amass” (3:157).

وَلَئِنْ مُتُّمْ أَوْ قُتِلْتُمْ لَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

“And if indeed you die or you are slain, certainly to Allah shall you be gathered together” (3:158).

It is narrated through several channels that this verse is regarding Raj’ah, and the way of Allah is the way of the Wilayat of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) and his progeny. For one, who has faith in this verse is a killing and a death. Thus, if he is killed in their way in the world, he will return once more in their Raj’ah to die a natural death, and if he dies a natural death, he returns in Raj’ah to be killed in their way.

Moreover, in the exegesis of this verse, He says:

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ

“Every soul shall taste of death” (3:185).

That is one, who is killed, has not tasted death and he will definitely return during Raj’ah to taste death.

Fifth Verse

The fifth verse is that the Almighty Allah says:

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنْصُرُنَّهُ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

“And when Allah made a covenant through the prophets: Certainly, what I have given you of Book and wisdom - then an apostle comes to you verifying what is with you, you must believe in him, and you must aid him. He said: Do you affirm and accept My compact in this (matter)? They said: We do affirm. He said: Then bear witness, and I (too) am of the bearers of witness with you” (3:81).

It is mentioned in many reliable traditions that this help and support will be there during Raj’ah. As Sa’ad Ibn Abdullah has narrated in Basa’ir al-Darajat from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that: They will believe in the Holy Prophet (S) and help Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) during Raj’ah. Then he said: Whichever prophet the Almighty Allah raised; that is Prophet Adam and all who came after him; will be brought into the world once more to fight at the side of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a).

Shaykh Hasan Ibn Sulaiman has in the book of Muntakhab al-Basair, narrated from Kitab al-Wahida from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: Indeed, the Almighty Allah is one and incomparable; He was unique in his oneness and there was no one with him. Thus, He spoke a word and made it effulgence; and then He created His Eminence, Muhammad from that effulgence. He created me and my progeny also from that effulgence.

Then He spoke a second word and through it, was created a spirit. He inserted that spirit into that effulgence and inserted that effulgence into our bodies. Thus, we are chosen spirit of the Almighty Allah and the words of Allah, which the Qur’an has mentioned and completed His proof on the creatures, through us. We were located under a roof of a green light, before the creation of everything else, when there was neither Sun nor moon, neither day nor night and neither was there any eye to see it. We were engrossed in the worship of Allah, and we glorified and exalted Him; and this was before Almighty Allah created the creatures.

After that He created the souls of prophets and took the covenant from them to believe in and obey us. Then Imam (‘a) recited the same verse and said: Believe in His Eminence, Muhammad (S) and help his successor. Thus, all the prophets will help him.

Indeed, the Almighty Allah has taken a covenant from me and from His Eminence, Muhammad (S) that we two will help each other. Without any doubt, I helped His Eminence, Muhammad and fought Jihad by his side; I slain his enemies and fulfilled the covenant that Allah had taken from me, but the prophets and messengers did not render any help to me, because Almighty Allah had captured their souls earlier. But they will help me in future and my kingdom will stretch from east to the west.

From Prophet Adam (‘a) to Prophet Muhammad (S), they will be brought alive again by the Almighty Allah and they will be sent back to the world and fight with the sword.

O surprise! And how should I not be astonished about the people, whom Allah would bring back alive, group by group, reciting: ‘Here I am’ and harkening to the call of the Divine caller they would roam the lanes of Kufa to strike off the heads of infidels and oppressors from the first and the last. So much so, that the Almighty Allah will fulfil the promise He made in the verse:

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا…

“Allah has promised to those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly make them rulers in the earth as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most certainly establish for them their religion, which He has chosen for them, and that He will most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange; they shall serve Me, not associating aught with Me…” (24:55).

That is, they should worship God without fearing anyone. During that time Taqiyyah will not be needed. For Him, there is one ‘turning’ after another and one Raj’ah after another and He is the master of the ‘turning’ and Raj’ah. He is the master of the awe and the one with power; I am the one, who will take revenge again and again. I am the owner of a strange ruler and I am the horn of iron, and I am the servant of Allah and the brother of His Messenger.

I am the trusted one of Allah and His treasurer. I am the owner of divine secrets. I am His curtain. I am the face of Allah.

I am the path of Allah. I am the Balance of God. I am the gatherer of the creatures. I am that word of Allah, through which He will gather what is dispersed and disperse what is gathered.

I am the beautiful name of Allah and its supreme example. I am the great sign of Allah. I am the distributor of Paradise and Hell. I will admit the inmates of Paradise to Paradise. I will perform the marriage of the folks of Paradise and subject the inmates of Hell to chastisement. All the creatures will come back to us. I am the centre, to which everything will revert. I will perform the accounting of all the creatures. I am the possessor of many faces. I am the Muezzin of A’raaf. I am the one, who is visible in the sun. I am Dabbat al-Ardh. I am the distributor of hellfire and Paradise. I am the owner of A’raaf.

I am the chief of believers, leader of the pious and sign of the foremost, tongue of the truth tellers; seal of the successors and heir of prophets, Caliph of the Lord of the worlds. I am the straight path of my Lord. I am the decisive proof of Allah for all who are in the earth and sky and whatever is between them.

I am the one, through whom the Almighty Allah exhausted His proof on you in the initial stage of your creation. On Judgment Day, I am the witness upon you. I am the one, who is bestowed with complete knowledge of future happenings and lineages. I possess the heritage of all the prophets.

I am the owner of the staff and Misam.1 I am one, in whose control are given clouds, lightning and thunder, darkness and light, wind and mountains, sea and stars, sun and moon. I am the horn of iron. I am the discriminator (Faruq) of this Ummah. I am the guide. Knowledge of the Almighty Allah is bestowed to me and all the secrets and mysteries that Almighty Allah has delegated to Prophet Muhammad (S) are bestowed to me. I am aware of the count of everything. I am the one, whom my Lord has taught His name, His word, His wisdom, His knowledge, and His understanding.

O people, ask me whatever you like, before you are deprived of me. O Allah, I make You my witness on these people, and there is no power, except what is bestowed by Allah and all praise is for Allah.”

Sixth Verse

In the sixth verse, the Almighty Allah says:

وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُمْ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

“And most certainly We will make them taste of the nearer chastisement before the greater chastisement that haply they may turn” (32:21).

The Imam said: ‘Nearer chastisement’ means punishment with the sword during Raj’ah and words of the Almighty Allah ‘haply they may turn’ denote that during Raj’ah, they will be sent back in order to be punished.

Seventh Verse

In the seventh verse, the Almighty Allah says:

قَالُوا رَبَّنَا أَمَتَّنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ فَاعْتَرَفْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا فَهَلْ إِلَىٰ خُرُوجٍ مِنْ سَبِيلٍ

“They shall say: Our Lord! Twice didst Thou make us subject to death, and twice hast Thou given us life, so we do confess our faults; is there then a way to get out?” (40:11).

It is mentioned in traditions that the first instance of bringing to life is during Raj’ah while another is in Qiyamah; and one death is in the world, while the other in Raj’ah.

Eighth Verse

In the eighth verse, the Almighty Allah says:

إِنَّا لَنَنْصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ

“Most surely We help Our apostles, and those who believe, in this world’s life and on the day when the witnesses shall stand up” (40:51).

That is: Help during the life in the world will be there for you and also during Raj’ah. Do you not know that many divine prophets were not helped, and they were slain and the Holy Imams (‘a) were also killed and they were not helped; all of them will be helped during Raj’ah.

There are many verses, which are interpreted to be about Raj’ah, but in this treatise, we are content only with these and the other verses will be mentioned, God willing, under the explanation of traditions.

Sa’ad Ibn Abdullah has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) in Basair that the accursed Satan begged Almighty Allah for respite till Judgment Day, when all the people would be made alive again. The Almighty Allah refused, and He said: I give you respite till the known hour. When that day comes, the accursed Satan will appear with all his followers; that is from the day of the creation of Adam till that day. Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) will come back to the world and this is the last coming of the Imam in this world.

The narrator asked: Would there be many returns (Raj’ah) for Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a)? Imam (‘a) replied: Yes, and the righteous and evil people of every period come back to the world, so that Allah may make the believers victorious over the disbelievers and that the believers may take their revenge.

When the appointed time will arrive, Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) will march forward with his companions and Iblis will come with his companions and this battle will be fought at Rauha near Kufa, situated on the banks of Euphrates and it will be such a severe fight that since the creation of the earth, no such battle has taken place.

As if I can see that the companions of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) will be forced to move back a hundred steps and I can also see that some companions will retreat till they enter the Euphrates.

The most powerful God will send armies of angels from the clouds and the command of Allah will reach to completion. The Messenger of Allah (S) will be at the front carrying a spear of effulgence. When Iblis sees him, he will turn and flee. Seeing him flee, his army men will ask: Why are you running away, you are about to gain victory?

He will reply: You don’t see what I see! I am scared of Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

The Messenger of Allah (S) will step forward and spear his back, killing him. Then all his supporters will also perish. Only the monotheists will remain and there will be no sign of polytheism.

Then Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) will rule for forty-four thousand years. During that time each Shi’a of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) will get a thousand sons. At that time ‘Jannatan’ and ‘Madhamatan’, two luxurious gardens will appear near Kufa Masjid and its surroundings.

Moreover, it is narrated from the Imam that he said: “Before Judgment Day, Imam al-Husayn (‘a) will perform the accounting of people; on Judgment Day the only thing remaining will be the sending of people to Paradise or Hell.”

It is narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) through many channels that he said: “The first to come in Raj’ah will be Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and he will rule for such along time that his brows will sag upon his eyes.”

It is narrated from Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (‘a) that he said: “Some of those, who have passed away from the world, will come back to the world and seek revenge for themselves and all who have been harassed, will take revenge and whoever is killed will take revenge from his killer. And for this purpose, his enemies will be brought into the world, so that revenge might be taken from them. After this retribution, they will live for thirty months and after that all of them will die on a single night having achieved satisfaction, whereas their enemies will be subjected to the worst punishment of Hell. After that they will obtain their rights from the court of the Almighty Allah.”

Moreover, it is narrated that people asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) about the interpretation of the following verse:

…إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنْبِيَاءَ وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُلُوكًا…

“…when He raised prophets among you and made you kings…” (5:20).

The Imam (‘a) said: Prophets means the Messenger of Allah (S), Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Isma’il and his descendants; and kings imply the Holy Imams (‘a).

The narrator says: I asked: But what kingdom do you possess?

He replied: Rulership of Paradise and kingdom of Raj’ah.

‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim has in his Tafsir, narrated from Shahar Ibn Haushab that Hajjaj told me: There is a verse of Qur’an, whose interpretation I have failed to understand, and it is as follows:

وَإِنْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ…

“And there is not one of the followers of the Book, but most certainly believes in this before his death…” (4:159).

By Allah, I command the slaying of Jews and Christians just to see how they bring faith; but I don’t see any movement on their lips.

I said: “May the Almighty Allah bless the chief. This is not the interpretation of this verse.” “Then what is it?” he asked. I said: His Eminence, ‘Isa (‘a) will come back to the earth, before Qiyamah and all the people of the book, whether Jews or non-Jews, will start believing in him and he will pray behind Imam al-Mahdi (‘a).

Hajjaj said: “Woe upon you, how do you interpret it in this way?” I said: “This interpretation was explained to me by Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a).” He said: “By Allah, you brought this water from a clear and potable spring.”

Moreover, he and others have also, in the interpretation of this verse, narrated that:

بَلْ كَذَّبُوا بِمَا لَمْ يُحِيطُوا بِعِلْمِهِ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِهِمْ تَأْوِيلُهُ…

“Nay, they reject that, of which they have no comprehensive knowledge, and the final sequel of it has not yet come to them…” (10:39).

That is mentioned in this verse that they have received its esoteric interpretation.

…كَذَٰلِكَ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ…

“…even thus did those before them reject (the truth) …” (10:39).

The Imam said: This verse was revealed about Raj’ah, which the people deny. Then he said:

وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُفْسِدِينَ

“And of them is he who believes in it, and of them is he who does not believe in it, and your Lord best knows the mischief-makers” (10:40).

It is also narrated through authentic channels that during the period of Raj’ah, the diet of the enemies of Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) would be human faeces, as the Almighty Allah says:

…فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا…

“…his shall be a straitened life…” (20:124).

Also, ‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq and Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that the people, whom the Almighty Allah destroyed through chastisement will not come back in Raj’ah, as the Almighty Allah has said:

وَحَرَامٌ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ

“And it is binding on a town, which We destroy that they shall not return” (21:95).

In authentic traditions, it is mentioned in the interpretation of this verse:

وَنُرِيدُ أَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ

“And We desired to bestow a favour upon those who were deemed weak in the land, and to make them the Imams, and to make them the heirs” (28:5).

وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ

“And to grant them power in the land, and to make Fir’awn and Haman and their hosts see from them what they feared” (28:6).

It is a simile that the Almighty Allah has mentioned for the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) of Prophet, so that it may be an assurance for the Prophet, because Fir’awn, Haman and Qarun oppressed the Bani Isra’il and killed their children. Their counterparts in this Ummah were Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and Uthman and their followers, who strived to eliminate the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) of the Prophet.

Thus, the Almighty Allah promised His Prophet that just as He kept secret the birth of Prophet Musa (‘a) and after concealing him from Fir’awn made him reappear again, and made him victorious over his followers; and killed all of them at the hands of Prophet Musa (‘a), in the same way, He will conceal the birth of the Qa’im and by concealing him from the Fir’awns, and make him victorious over his enemies, so that they may exact revenge on their enemies.

Thus, the interpretation of this verse is that: We desired to make those who are deemed weak in the earth…that is Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) of Prophet, and to make them as Imams as inheritors of the earth, so that the kingdom of the whole earth is established for them, and We may settle them in the earth in such a way that they man destroy falsehood and make the truth apparent.

Also, that We may prove to their disciples that Fir’awn and Haman – Abu Bakr and ‘Umar – usurped the rights of Aali Muhammad (‘a) and that, from which feared – that is killing and chastisement. In the same way, He will bring back to life Imam al-Husayn (‘a), his companions and their killers, so that they may exact revenge on them.

As Qutub Rawandi etc. have narrated from Jabir Ansari that he said: Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) said: Imam al-Husayn (‘a) said: The Holy Prophet (S) said: Son, you will be taken to that land in Iraq, where prophets and their successors have met each other or they will do so; that land is known as Amwar; you will be martyred there and a group of your companions will also be martyred with you, but the pain of iron weapons will not reach them just as the Almighty Allah made the fire cool and safe for Ibrahim (‘a).

So, glad tidings to you that: I am going to our prophet. We will remain in that condition till the time, which Allah desires; that is a long time. After that the first, for whom the earth will split is me, and my advent will be contemporary with the emergence of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) and our Qa’im. Thus, that group will descend from the heaven, which has never before descended and along with that group will be Jibra’il, Mika’il, Israfil and armies of angels.

Then Prophet Muhammad (S) and Imam ‘Ali (‘a) will come down and I and my brother and all those whom Allah has blessed; like the prophets and successors; all will be mounted on piebald horses of Allah; created from effulgence and no one has mounted them before. The Prophet will take up his standard and wave it and give his sword to our Qa’im. After that we will live in the earth as long as Allah likes; that is for a long time.

Then Almighty Allah will cause to flow from Masjid Kufa (three) springs of oil, water, and milk. Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) will give me the sword of the Messenger of Allah (S) and send me to the west and the east, and all enemies of Allah who come before me, will be eliminated and I will burn any idol that I come across; till I reach India and conquer it.

Prophet Danial and Yusha Ibn Nun will come to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) and say: Allah and His Prophet said the truth. Almighty Allah will send them to Basra along with seventy men and they will slay the enemies and send an army to Rome. The Almighty Allah will give him victory over the Romans.

After that we will kill all the animals, whose flesh Allah has prohibited, till no animal will remain on the earth, except the lawful ones. I will call all communities, along with Jews and Christians, to either accept Islam or they shall be eliminated. I will favour those who accept Islam and the Almighty Allah will slay those who refuse.

Almighty Allah will send an angel to Shi’a man, who will clean dust from his face and show him his wife and abode in Paradise. Every blind, cripple and afflicted will be cured through us.

So many blessings will descend on the earth that the Almighty Allah will create any fruit from any tree and there will be so many fruits that summer fruits will be enjoyed in winter and winter fruits in summer. Thus, the Almighty Allah says:

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِنْ كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

“And if the people of the towns had believed and guarded (against evil) We would certainly have opened up for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they rejected, so We seized them for what they had earned” (7:96).

Then Allah will favour our supporters in such a way that no treasure of the earth will remain concealed from them; so much so that if a man wants to know how his family members are at that specific time, he will be able to know that.

Ibn Babawayh has narrated through authentic chains of narrators from Hasan Ibn Jaham that he said: Ma’moon asked Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a): “O Abul Hasan what do you say about Raj’ah?”

Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) said: “Raj’ah is a fact. It was there in the past nations also. Regarding that the Almighty Allah says, and the Messenger of Allah (S) has also said that the same will come to pass whatever occurred in the past nations.” He also said: “Mahdi will appear from my progeny. His Eminence, ‘Isa Ibn Maryam (‘a) will descend from the heavens and pray behind Imam al-Mahdi (‘a).”

Abbasi has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that: The tyrant Caliphs call themselves ‘chief of believers’ and have adopted a title that is only for ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a), and so far the interpretation of that name has not become clear. The narrator asked: When will its interpretation become apparent? He replied: When the Almighty Allah will gather all prophets and believers, so that they may help him. As he has said:

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنْصُرُنَّهُ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

“And when Allah made a covenant through the prophets: Certainly, what I have given you of Book and wisdom – then an apostle comes to you verifying what is with you, you must believe in him, and you must aid him. He said: Do you affirm and accept My compact in this (matter)? They said: We do affirm. He said: Then bear witness, and I (too) am of the bearers of witness with you” (3:81).

As mentioned before, on that day, the Messenger of Allah (S) will hand over his standard to ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) and he will be the chief of all the creatures and all the creatures will be under the shade of his flag. That is the time of its realization.

It is quoted from the book of Sulaym Ibn Qais Hilali, from Aban Ibn Ayyash, which was read in the presence of the companions including Abu Tufayl and Imam Zayn al-’Abidin (‘a) from the beginning to the end, he said that it was his authentic saying.

Aban says: After that I met Abu Tufayl at his place and he narrated some traditions about Raj’ah, which he had heard from companions, Salman, Miqdad and Ubayy Ibn Kaab.

Abu Tufayl said: “I presented all traditions I had heard to Imam ‘Ali (‘a) and he said: It is that special knowledge, which this ignorant nation cannot bear. Then he testified to the veracity of all traditions. Apart from that he also recited many verses and provided such a complete interpretation that I began to believe in Raj’ah even more than Qiyamah.”

I had also asked Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a): “Where would the Hauz of the Holy Prophet (S) be situated; in this world or the hereafter?” He replied: “No, it will be there in the world.” “Then who will drive away people from it?” He replied: “I will convey my followers to that Pool and drive away my enemies.” I asked: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), the Almighty Allah has said:

وَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَابَّةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ

“And when the word shall come to pass against them, We shall bring forth for them a creature from the earth that shall talk to them, because people did not believe in Our signs” (27:82).

“What is the meaning of Dabba in this verse?” He replied: “O Abu Tufayl, leave it; don’t ask me about it.” I asked: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), may I be sacrificed on you, you must tell me about it.” He replied: “It is the Dabba that eats, moves in the markets and enters into matrimony.”

I asked: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), who is it?” He replied: “He would be the pivot of the earth, through whom the earth is stable.” I asked: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), who is it?” He replied: “He will be the Siddiq and Faruq of this Ummah and will be its Dabbat al-Ardh and Dhul Qarnayn.” I asked: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), who is that great personality.” He replied:

…وَيَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِنْهُ…

“…and a witness from Him recites it…” (11:17).

…وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ

“…and whoever has knowledge of the Book” (13:43).

وَالَّذِي جَاءَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ

“And he who brings the truth and (he who) accepts it as the truth - these are they that guard (against evil).” (39:33).

لَهُمْ مَا يَشَاءُونَ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ ذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

“They shall have with their Lord what they please; that is the reward of the doers of good.” (39:34).

Then he said: “Other than him, all will be unbelievers.”

I asked: “Please mention his name.” He replied: “O Abu Tufayl, I have told you his name.” Then he said: “But by Allah, common Shi’a, with whom I am waging a war and who address me as Amir al-Mu’minin, and who consider Jihad against my opponents as lawful, if I mention the points mentioned in the book that Jibra’il had revealed to Muhammad (S), they would all desert me and only a few will remain in the party of truth. And among the group of my Shi’a there will be people like you.”

The narrator says: I began to tremble at this, and I said: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), I and some people like me; would we leave your company or remain steadfast with you?” He replied: “No, you will remain steadfast and those like you also.”

After that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) glanced at me and said: “See, our matter is very difficult and complex and none can bear it, except the messenger, prophets, the proximate angels or the believer, whose heart Allah has tested for faith.

O Abu Tufayl, as soon as the Messenger of Allah (S) passed away, due to their ignorance and deviation, people became disunited and deviated, except those whom the Almighty Allah kept secure through the blessings of us Ahl al-Bayt (‘a).”

It is narrated in Muntakhab al- Basair from Sa’ad Ibn Abdullah, who in turn narrates from Jabir Ju’fi from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said: “Once again Imam ‘Ali (‘a) will return to this world waving his flag with his son, Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and exact revenge on Bani Umayyah, Muawiyah, his followers and forces.

Then the Almighty Allah will send him back with his helpers and this time there will 30,000 from people of Kufa and 70,000 from others and he will fight in Siffin once again and eliminate his enemies. Not one of them will survive, who can inform others what befall them. Then the Almighty Allah will revive his enemies for the second time and involve them in severe chastisement with Fir’awn and his people.

Then His Eminence will arrive for the last time with the Messenger of Allah (S) and he will be the ruler of the whole earth and other Imams will be his deputies. Almighty Allah will send him openly and Allah will be openly worshipped on the earth just as before it was done in a secret manner.

Then he said: By Allah, there will be many times worship after that and He will give power to His Prophet on all the people, who are born since the earth is created till Judgment Day, till the promise that Allah has made in His Book, is fulfilled:

…لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

“…that He might cause it to prevail over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse” (9:33).

It is narrated in Tafsir Ayyashi from Rifaa Ibn Musa that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: “Indeed the first to be revived and sent to the world will be Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and his companions, and Yazid, the accursed and his men; and like they had killed them, they (Imam al-Husayn) will now slay them in the same way.

After that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) recited:

…وَأَمْدَدْنَاكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا

“…and aided you with wealth and children and made you a numerous band” (17:6).

Shaykh Kishi and Shaykh al-Mufid have narrated in Kitab Majalis and Kitab al-Irshad respectively, through many chains of narrators from Abaya Asadi and Asbagh Ibn Nubatah that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“I am the chief of the aged; I have a Sunnah of Prophet Ayyub (‘a). By Allah, the Almighty Allah will gather for me my Ahl al-Bayt, like He gathered for Prophet Yaqub (‘a).”

Moreover, Shaykh Kishi has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said: “I prayed that may Allah keep Isma’il alive after me, but the Almighty Allah did not accept. Instead, He gave me the excellence that Isma’il will be from the ten, who will be raised from the graves, and Abdullah Ibn Sharik Amiri will (only) be one of them and he will be the standard bearer.”

It is narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said: “As if I can see that Abdullah Ibn Sharik Amiri wearing a black turban and having long hair, climbing a mountain and along with the Qa’im is a 4,000 strong army, marching forward with slogans of ‘God is the Greatest’.”

Shaykh Kishi has narrated that Dawood Raqqi said that he told Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he has become very old. “My bones have thinned. But I think that my end should be in your path. He said: “This will indeed happen; if not sooner, later (in Raj’ah).”

Shaykh Hasan Ibn Sulaiman has narrated a lengthy sermon of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) from the book of Sermons of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) in which the Imam said:

Doubtlessly, our matter is difficult; on the contrary, most difficult. No one can bear it except the proximate angel, a messenger prophet or one, whose heart, Allah has tested for faith. Our traditions do not protect, except hearts like strong forts or breasts that are absolutely trustworthy, or intellects that are dignified; ‘It is a matter of great surprise; between Jamadi and Rajab.’

A man from Shartul Khamis asked: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), what is surprising about it?”

“Strange events will take place between the months of Jamadi and Rajab.” A man from the audience asked: “O Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a). What are those strange events?”

He replied: “May your mother mourn you! What will be stranger than that the dead emerge from graves and kill the enemies of Almighty Allah, the Messenger of Allah (S) and Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet and the following verse will be realized:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَوَلَّوْا قَوْمًا غَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ قَدْ يَئِسُوا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ كَمَا يَئِسَ الْكُفَّارُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْقُبُورِ

“O you who believe! do not make friends with a people with whom Allah is wroth; indeed, they despair of the hereafter as the unbelievers despair of those in tombs. (60:13).

Ibn Babawayh has narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) in Ilal ash-Shara’i that when our Qa’im appears, he will raise A’isha, in order to award the legal punishment on her and exact revenge for Lady Fatimah az-Zahra’ (‘a). In Kitab al-Irshad, Shaykh al-Mufid has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that:

“At the time of his reappearance in the month of Jumadi Thani and ten days of Rajab, there would be heavy rainfall, as people have not seen before. Through it, the Almighty Allah would expose the flesh and bodies of the believers in their graves. As if I could see them coming from Jahina shaking off dust from their hair.”

Moreover, it is narrated from the Imam that: “When the Qa’im of Aali Muhammad (‘a) reappears, he will bring back to life twenty-seven people from the back of the Ka’ba, and raise from graves, twenty-five people from the community of Prophet Musa (‘a), who judged equitably, seven people from the folks of the cave, Yusha Ibn Nun, legatee of Prophet Musa (‘a), believer of the nation of Fir’awn, Salman Farsi, Abu Dujana Ansari and Malik Ibn Ashtar.”

Ayyashi has also narrated this tradition. Nomani has narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said: “When the Qa’im of Muhammad’s family appears, Allah will support him with His angels. Jibra’il will be in front of him, Mika’il on the right and Israfil on the left. Awe will precede him about a month’s travel before him, behind him, on the right side and on the left side. The proximate angels will be beside him. The first to follow him will be Muhammad (S) and the second will be ‘Ali (‘a).”

Shaykh Tusi and Nomani have narrated from Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) that he said: Among the signs of the reappearance of the Qa’im is that a naked form will be seen before the sun and a caller will call out: This is Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) and he has returned to slay the oppressors.

Moreover, the Shaykh has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said: When our Qa’im stages an uprising, an angel will come to the grave of every believer and call out: O so and so, your master and Imam has appeared; if you want to join him you may do so, but if you want to remain in the blessings of Allah, you may continue where you are. Thus, some will come out and some will continue to lie in divine comforts.

Raj’ah is mentioned in Ziyarat Jamia and other popular Ziyarats, especially in Ziyarat of Imam al-Husayn (‘a). In the books of Misbahul Mutahajjid and Misbahuz Zair and in all books it is narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that one, who recites Dua Ahad for forty days every morning, will be included among the companions of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) and if he dies before the reappearance of the Qa’im, Allah will raise him from the grave at the time of reappearance.

It is mentioned in that Du’a: O Allah, if death becomes an obstacle between me and the Imam, which You have made incumbent for Your servants; then raise me from my grave while the shroud is tied around me, and I am holding my naked sword and spear and that I should harken at his call; who will call all the creatures to help the Imam.

In Misbah, Shaykh has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) a Ziyarat of the Messenger of Allah (S) and the Holy Imams (‘a) for recitation from a remote place, in which it is mentioned: I believe in your excellence, and I admit to your Raj’ah; I do not deny anything with regard to the Almighty Allah, and I do not admit, except what Allah has desired.

The author of Kamil az-Ziyarat has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) a Ziyarat of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and in that it is mentioned: My help is ready for you; till the Almighty Allah issues the command and makes you alive again. Thus, I will be riding alongside you and not with your enemies. I am from those having faith in your Raj’ah. I do not deny any power of Allah and do not falsify any exigency of the Almighty Allah. I don’t say that whatever the Almighty Allah wants is not possible.

Moreover, through authentic chains of narrators, another Ziyarat of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and all the Holy Imams (‘a) is narrated, in which it is mentioned: O Allah, raise the Imam on the best of the places, so that through him, You may exact revenge of Your religion and through him, You may slay Your enemies; doubtlessly You have promised him and You are that Lord, who never goes back on His word.

Al-Kulayni (r.a.) has, in the description of the capturing of the soul, has narrated in a lengthy tradition of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said: Thus, the soul of the believer sees the Aali Muhammad (‘a) in gardens of pleasure, partakes their food, drinks their water, and speaks to them in their gatherings, till the Qa’im of Aali Muhammad (‘a) reappears. At that time the Almighty Allah revives those believers and they come in hordes raising slogans of: Labbaik2 Thus, the followers of falsehood and the opponents fall into doubt and weaken. That was the reason why the Holy Prophet (S) told Imam ‘Ali (‘a): Our rendezvous is the Valley of Peace; that is Najaf Ashraf.

It is mentioned in the supplication of Sardab: O Lord, give me Tawfiq to stage an uprising in the obedience of His Eminence, Qa’im. That I should remain in his service and avoid disobedience to him; and if You take me away from the world before that, then O my Lord, include me among those who will return during his Raj’ah, rule during his kingdom and live during his tenure; those who stay under the shade of his standard and are included in his group; whose eyes lit up on seeing the Imam.

It is mentioned in Misbah and Iqbal that an epistle came from the Imam to Abul Qasim Ibn Alaa that this supplication is to be recited on 3rd Shaban, birthday of Imam al-Husayn (‘a). Then he mentioned that Du’a up to: He is the chief of the tribe, and he will be helped during his second coming. It is a recompense for his martyrdom that Imams are from his progeny; there is cure in the dust of his grave and that people would be victorious in the second coming of his successors after His Eminence, the Qa’im and his occultation. He will demand retribution for himself and his companions and please the Powerful Lord. At the end, he says: We seek refuge at his tomb and wait for his second coming.

Al-Kulayni, Ayyashi, Shaykh al-Mufid and Sayyid Ibn Tawus have, through their own chains of narrators, narrated from Abu Basir that he said: I asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) about the interpretation of the following verse:

وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لَا يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَمُوتُ..

“And they swear by Allah with the most energetic of their oaths: Allah will not raise up him who dies…” (16:38).

Imam (‘a) asked: Abu Basir, what is your opinion about this verse? I replied: The polytheists thought so, and they swore to the Prophet that Almighty Allah would definitely not revive the dead.

Imam (‘a): Pity for the one, who believes this. Ask him whether the idol worshippers swore by Allah, or by Laat and Uzza? I said: You only tell us.

Imam (‘a) said: Abu Basir, when our Qa’im reappears, the Almighty Allah will revive a group of Shi’as and send to him, holding swords ready to strike. This information will reach those Shi’as, who would be alive at that time, and not dead. So and so, so and so, and so and so have emerged from their graves and are in the company of Imam al-Qa’im. And when this news reaches our enemies, they will say: O Shi’a people, you are great liars. This is only your rule in that also you lie? By Allah, no; they will not become alive till Judgment Day.

The Almighty Allah has quoted these people in this verse:

وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لَا يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَمُوتُ..

“And they swear by Allah with the most energetic of their oaths: Allah will not raise up him who dies…” (16:38).

Moreover, Al-Kulayni has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) regarding the interpretation of the following verse:

وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي الْكِتَابِ لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ..

“And We had made known to the children of Isra’il in the Book: Most certainly you will make mischief in the land twice…” (17:4)

That is, you will slay ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) and martyr Imam al-Husayn (‘a).

…وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا

“…and most certainly you will behave insolently with great insolence” (17:4).

That is, you will slay Imam al-Husayn (‘a).

فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ أُولَاهُمَا…

“So, when the promise for the first of the two came…” (17:5)

That is, the killing of al-Husayn (‘a); when it will be time for the revenge of the killing of al-Husayn (‘a).

…بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَنَا أُولِي بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ فَجَاسُوا خِلَالَ الدِّيَارِ …

“…We sent over you Our servants, of mighty prowess, so they went to and fro among the houses…” (17:5).

This is the community, which the Almighty Allah will send before the rising of the Qa’im and they will not leave anyone from the enemies of Aali Muhammad (‘a).

وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَفْعُولًا

“…and it was a promise to be accomplished.” (17:5)

That is the promise of the rising of the Qa’im.

ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ الْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ…

“Then We gave you back the turn to prevail against them…” (17:6)

That is Imam al-Husayn (‘a) will rise with seventy companions wearing gold helmets and they will tell the people that this is Imam al-Husayn (‘a), who brough back in Raj’ah and the believers will have no doubt about it, and that he is neither Dajjal nor Shaitan. The Hujjat Qa’im will be before them. When all believers have firm certainty that he is really Imam al-Husayn (‘a), His Eminence, Hujjat (‘a) will die and Imam al-Husayn (‘a) will bathe, shroud, anoint and bury him in his own grave, because only another Wasi can perform the last rites of a Wasi.

The author says: If one says: Who will give the funeral bath to Imam al-Husayn (‘a); we reply: Since the Imam died by martyrdom, there is no need not give him the funeral bath. Or the Imams, who will return to the world after Imam al-Husayn (‘a) they will give him the funeral bath and recite prayers for him till this ends at the blowing of the horn.

These verses, as per their apparent meaning are revealed with regard to Bani Isra’il, but since whatever has occurred in the past nations, its simile will come to pass in this nation as well; that is why the Almighty Allah has narrated these incidents in order to warn the people of this nation; thus, all of them hint to the incidents, which will occur in this nation.

Shaykh al-Mufid and Shaykh Tusi have narrated through reliable chains of narrators from Jabir al-Ansari, and he has narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he said: “By Allah, after

the death of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a), a person from us Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) will rule for 309 years.”

I asked: “When will this be?” He replied: “After the passing away of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a).” I asked: “For how many years will Imam al-Qa’im rule the earth, after reappearance?” He replied: “Nineteen years, from his reappearance to his death.” I asked: “Then will there be a great confusion after that?” He replied: “Yes, for fifty years. Then Muntasir will do Raj’ah and he would kill his enemies and imprison them till people begin to say that if he had been a descendant of prophets, he would not have shed so much blood. People of the world will unite and attack him, and he will seek refuge in Ka’ba. He will have to face severe calamities and will be killed in this process. After his killing, Saffah will rise up in fury and eliminate all our enemies.

O Jabir, do you know who Muntasir and Saffah are? Muntasir implies al-Husayn Ibn ‘Ali (‘a) and Saffah means ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a).”

Al-Kulayni and Saffar have narrated through numerous chains of narrators from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said:

“I was given these six things: Knowledge about death, what happens to people, commands and decisive speech, and I am the possessor of returns, and the overcoming of (all) overcoming, and I am the possessor of the staff and the one, who marks and the one, who moves, who speaks to the people.”

It is narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) in Tahdhib and Al-Kafi that days and nights will not end till the Almighty Allah revive the dead alive and bring death to the living dead, and turns truth to its rightful people and establishes the religion He has chosen.

Al-Kulayni and ‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim have narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that the Almighty Allah gave glad tiding of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) to the Messenger of Allah (S) before Fatimah was pregnant with him and also mentioned that Imamate will remain in his progeny till Judgment Day. He also informed what calamities would befall them. Then in recompense of that He said that Imamate is fixed in his progeny and that he will be slain. Then he will come back again in the world and will be helped, so that he may eliminate his enemies and become the master of the whole world. Thus, the Almighty Allah says:

وَنُرِيدُ أَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ…

“And We desired to bestow a favour upon those who were deemed weak in the land…” (28:5).

And it was said:

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ…

“And certainly, We wrote in the Zabur…” (21:105).

So, the Almighty Allah gave glad tidings to His Prophet that his Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) will be masters of the whole world. They will come back in Raj’ah and eliminate their enemies and then the Holy Prophet (S) conveyed the news of the slaying of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) to Lady Fatimah (‘a), Hence, she detested the pregnancy.

Sayyid ‘Ali Ibn Abdul Hamid has narrated in Anwarun Maziya that people asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) whether Raj’ah was a fact. “Yes, (it is true).” Then it was asked: “Who will be the first to come back in Raj’ah?” He replied: “Imam al-Husayn (‘a); he will be first to return in Raj’ah after the reappearance of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a).”

I (the narrator) asked: “Would all the people return in Raj’ah with him?” He replied: “No, but as the Almighty Allah has said:

يَوْمَ يُنْفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ فَتَأْتُونَ أَفْوَاجًا

“The day, on which the trumpet shall be blown, so you shall come forth in hosts” (78:18).

That is one community will return in Raj’ah after another.

It is related from the same Imam that Imam al-Husayn (‘a) will come back in Raj’ah with his companions, who were martyred with him; and seventy prophets will also be raised with him like they were sent with Musa Ibn Imran (‘a). Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) will hand over the ring to Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and finally the latter will perform Ghusl al-Mayyit3 to Imam al-Qa’im (‘a), shroud, anoint and bury him.

It is narrated from the book of Fazl Ibn Shazan from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that at that time when the Qa’im reappears and enters Kufa, the Almighty Allah would send seventy thousand Siddiqeen (who have testified him) and they shall join the ranks of his companions and helpers.

In Kamil az-Ziyarat, it is narrated through reliable chains of narrator from Buraid Ajali that he said: I asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) whether the Isma’il mentioned in Qur’an as one true to his promise; is Isma’il, the son of Ibrahim (‘a)? He replied: No, it is Isma’il Ibn Hizqil, who was a prophet. The Almighty Allah sent him to his nation, but the people falsified him and skinned his head and face. So, Allah’s wrath fell on them. Allah sent Satatail, the angel of chastisement, to him.

He said: “O Isma’il! I am Satatail, the Angel of Chastisement. The Exalted Lord has sent me to you to punish your people with various chastisements, if you wish.” “I don’t need this,” Isma’il replied. “Isma’il, what do you want?” Allah revealed to him.

Isma’il (‘a) replied: O Lord! You have taken the covenant for the people to accept You as the Lord, Muhammad (S) as the Prophet, and his successors (‘a) as Divine Authorities. And You informed the Prophet about what his Ummah would do to al-Husayn Ibn ‘Ali (‘a) after him; and promised Imam al-Husayn (‘a) that You would bring him back in this world to exact revenge from those who martyred him. My Lord! I wish that You bring me back to life like al-Husayn (‘a), so that I may exact revenge from those who did this to me. Allah promised him this and he will return to life with al-Husayn (‘a).”

Moreover, it is narrated from Jarir that he said: I said to Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a): “May I be sacrificed for you! How short your lives are, O Ahl al-Bayt! And how close your deaths are to one another, while the entire creation needs you?”

Imam (‘a) replied: There is a scroll for each of us containing everything that we need to do during our time. Once every order on that scroll has been carried out, we know that our death is imminent. Allah’s Messenger (S) comes to us and informs us that our death has come, and he informs us of the rewards Allah has prepared for us.

Indeed al-Husayn (‘a) read the sheet entrusted to him and knew what would happen and what was yet to come was explained to him. There were a few things left on al-Husayn’s sheet, which had not been fulfilled, when he rose to fight. Among those things was that the angels asked Allah for permission to help al-Husayn (‘a), and Allah granted it to them. While the angels descended to the earth, they found that al-Husayn’s time had passed, and he had been martyred. Hence, they said (to Allah):

“O Lord! You gave us permission to descend to earth to support al-Husayn, but when we arrived, You had already captured his soul?”

The Almighty Allah revealed to them, ‘Stay besides his grave until you see him rise again and then support him. Cry over him and over losing the opportunity to support him. Indeed, you have been chosen to support him and to weep for him.’ The angels were aggrieved; they weeped and lamented over losing the opportunity to support al-Husayn (‘a). And when he rises, they will be among his supporters.

It is mentioned in Tafsir Muhammad Ibn Abbas Ibn Mahiyar, Tafsir Furat Ibn Ibrahim and Manaqib Shazan Ibn Jibra’il, in the interpretation of the following verse:

يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ الرَّاجِفَةُ

“The day, on which, the quaking one shall quake” (79:6).

تَتْبَعُهَا الرَّادِفَةُ

“What must happen afterwards shall follow it” (79:7).

Indeed, He will help His prophets and those who believe in the life of the world and the day, on which witnesses will be raised. That day excuses of the unjust will not avail them and there will be curse for them and an evil abode and ‘quake’ means Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and what follows it, is ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a). First of all, Imam al-Husayn (‘a) will emerge from his grave dusting his head accompanied by 75,000 companions.

Thus, the Almighty Allah says:

إِنَّا لَنَنْصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ

“Most surely We help Our apostles, and those who believe, in this world’s life and on the day when the witnesses shall stand up” (40:51).

يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ الظَّالِمِينَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ وَلَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ

“The day, on which their excuse shall not benefit the unjust, and for them is curse and for them is the evil abode” (40:52).

Hasan Ibn Sulaiman has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) in Kitab Tanzil that:

كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

“Nay! You shall soon know” (102:3).

Imam (‘a) said: That is in Raj’ah.

ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

“Nay! Nay! You shall soon know” (102:4).

That is on Judgment Day.

Muhammad Ibn Abbas has narrated through authentic chains of reporters from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that he mentioned in the interpretation of the following verse:

إِنْ نَشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ آيَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَاقُهُمْ لَهَا خَاضِعِينَ

“If We please, We should send down upon them a sign from the heaven so that their necks should stoop to it” (26:4).

This verse was revealed about us and Bani Umayyah. We will rule over them and after griefs and difficulties, they will submit to us.

“Bani Umayyah will submit to us in defeat and it will be at the time of sunset, at the appearance of a sign and that sign is Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) and people will recognize him with full lineage.

Then he said: A person from Bani Umayyah will go and hide behind a tree and that tree will call out: A person of Bani Umayyah is hiding here, kill him.”

Shaykh Hasan Ibn Sulaiman has narrated from the book of Ibn Mahiyar, a great Shi’a tradition scholar; that Abu Marwan said: I asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) about the verse:

إِنَّ الَّذِي فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لَرَادُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ

“Most surely He Who has made the Qur’an binding on you will bring you back to the destination” (28:85).

He said: By Allah, as long as the Holy Prophet (S) and Imam ‘Ali (‘a) do not gather at Thawiya (in Kufa) and do not make a Masjid having 12,000 doors, till that time the world will not come to an end.

Moreover, it is narrated from the book of Basharat of ‘Ali Ibn Tawus that Imran said: “The tenure of the world is a hundred thousand years, from which 20,000 years are for all the people and 80,000 years are reserved for Aali Muhammad (‘a).”

Sayyid Raziuddin (r.a.) says: I remember seeing this report in more detail in the book of Zahir Ibn Abdullah.

It is narrated from Mufaddal in Kamil az-Ziyarat from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that he said: “As if I can see a throne of light, which has been laid. A dome of red ruby decorated with gems is placed on it and ninety thousand green domes surround it. As if I can see Imam al-Husayn (‘a) sitting on his throne and believers going for his Ziyarat and saluting him.

The Almighty Allah will say, “My friends! Ask Me anything, because you were hurt, humiliated, and oppressed for a long time, but today you will not ask Me for anything related this life or Hereafter, but that I will grant it.”

Imam (‘a) added: Their foods and drinks are in Paradise, by Allah, this is the unending honour, and its greatness cannot be gauged.”

The author says: The word of needs of the world in this tradition shows that it is with regard to the world (Raj’ah), because there is no question of asking for needs in Hereafter.

It is narrated in Ihtijaaj that an epistle came from Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) to Abdullah Ibn Ja’far Himyari, in which was mentioned a Ziyarat containing the following statements:

“I testify that you are the decisive proof of Allah; you are the first and you are the last and your Raj’ah is a fact and there is no doubt that it is the day on which,

…لَا يَنْفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ آمَنَتْ مِنْ قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمَانِهَا خَيْرًا…

“…its faith shall not profit a soul, which did not believe before, or earn good through its faith…” (6:158).

Ibn Babawayh has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) in Sifat ash-Shi’a that: “One, who believes in the oneness of Allah…” and further on he said: “…and believes in Raj’ah, the two Mut’ahs, Mi’raj, interrogation in grave, the Hauz, intercession, creation of Paradise and Hell, Sirat, Mizan, raising and scattering and recompense and accounting…is in fact, a believer and is among the Shi’a of us Ahl al-Bayt (‘a).”

There are many other traditions regarding this, from which we have mentioned a large number in Bihar al-Anwar and there is no doubt that Raj’ah is widely related to be a definite fact. And one that doubts in it apparently will be a denier of the gathering on Judgment Day and Qiyamah; it is a matter proved from widely related texts; to deny it only based on doubt, is against religion. If something cannot be believed in - due to some qualities - it should also not be denied right away. which are mentioned in some texts,

As for the distinctive features of those Raj’ahs; it is not known whether they will occur during the period of Imam az-Zaman (‘a), before it, or after it. But it is known from some traditions that it will be contemporary to the reappearance of Imam az-Zaman (‘a).

Shaykh Hasan Ibn Sulaiman believes that each Imam has a period of Imamate and a period of being the Mahdi. However, the Sahib al-’Amr will appear first. It is the period of his Imamate. And the Imam will return in Raj’ah after the Raja’t of his holy ancestors. This has been deemed to be the interpretation of the tradition that: There are twelve Imams and twelve Mahdis from us, Ahl al-Bayt (‘a). Although it is a nice statement and there is all likelihood in it, it is necessary only to accept these issues in brief and leave their details to those personalities; it is best by way of precaution.

Ibn Babawayh has mentioned in the book of Shiite Creed that: Our belief concerning Raj’ah is that it is a fact. Verily Allah, the Mighty and Sublime said in His Mighty Book:

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَهُمْ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ اللَّهُ مُوتُوا ثُمَّ أَحْيَاهُمْ…

“Have you not considered those who went forth from their homes, for fear of death, and they were thousands, then Allah said to them: Die; again He gave them life…” (2:243).

These people were the residents of 70,000 houses, and they were visited by the plague each year. The rich used to go out on account of their opulence, while the poor would remain because their poverty. So, the plague attacked lightly those that went; while it raged severely among those that remained.

Those that remained would say: If only we had departed, surely the plague would not have come upon us. And those that went would say: Had we stayed, it would have attacked us, even as it attacked them. So, they all agreed to depart from their houses collectively when the time of the plague was nigh. Then they all went out and camped on the banks (of a river).

When they had put down their belongings, Allah cried to them: Die, and they perished, one and all. And the passers-by swept them off from the road, and they remained in that condition as long as Allah willed. One of the prophets of Isra’il named Jeremiah passed by from there. He said: If You will, O my Lord, You could revive them, so that they may inhabit Your cities, and beget Your slaves, and worship You with those who worship You. Allah asked him through revelation: Do you wish that for your sake, I should bring them back to life? The Prophet said: Yes, O my Lord. So, Allah revived them for his sake and sent them with him.

Now these people died and returned to the world and (again) they died at their appointed times. Allah says:

أَوْ كَالَّذِي مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْيِي هَٰذِهِ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا فَأَمَاتَهُ اللَّهُ مِائَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالَ بَلْ لَبِثْتَ مِائَةَ عَامٍ فَانْظُرْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ وَانْظُرْ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ آيَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَانْظُرْ إِلَى الْعِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنْشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًا فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ قَالَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

“Or the like of him (Uzair) who passed by a town, and it had fallen upon its roofs; he said: When will Allah give it life after its death? So, Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him to life. He said: How long have you tarried? He said: I have tarried a day, or a part of a day. Said He: Nay! you have tarried a hundred years; then look at your food and drink- years have not passed over it; and look at your ass; and that We may make you a sign to men, and look at the bones, how We set them together, then clothed them with flesh; so when it became clear to him, he said: I know that Allah has power over all things” (2:259).

So, their prophet remained dead for a hundred years, then he returned to the world and remained therein, and then died at his appointed term. He was Ezra, but according to some traditions, he was Jeremiah.

And the Almighty Allah says in the story of those that were selected among the Bani Isra’il of the community of Musa (‘a) for the appointed term:

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

“Then We raised you up after your death that you may give thanks” (2:56).

It was, because when they heard the Word of Allah, they said: We shall not believe in its truth, until we see Allah clearly. So, on account of their wrongdoing, a thunderbolt fell on them, and they perished. Musa (‘a) pleaded: O my Lord, what shall I say to Bani Isra’il, when I return? So, Allah revived them, and they returned to the world; led a normal life and died at their appointed times.

Allah said unto ‘Isa Ibn Maryam (‘a): (Remember the time) when you caused the dead to live by My command, and all the dead, who were revived by ‘Isa by the command of Allah returned to the world and lived therein so long as they lived, and then they died at their appointed times.

As for the people of the Cave, “they tarried in their cave for three hundred years and nine years over”. Then the Almighty Allah revived them, and they returned to the world to question one another; and their story is well-known.

And if a questioner were to ask: Verily the Almighty Allah says:

وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ

“And you might think them awake while they were asleep…” (18:18).

(Then how can there be resurrection of those that slumber?) To him it may be answered: Verily they were dead; for the Almighty Allah has said:

قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا مَنْ بَعَثَنَا مِنْ مَرْقَدِنَا هَٰذَا مَا وَعَدَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَصَدَقَ الْمُرْسَلُونَ

“They shall say: O woe to us! Who has raised us up from our sleeping-place? This is what the Beneficent God promised, and the apostles told the truth” (36:52).

If they (the unbelievers) say: If this refers to the resurrection of the dead, verily the people of the Cave were also dead. There are many examples of this kind. Thus, it is established that resurrection did take place in the past. For the Prophet, on whom be peace, has said: There will occur among these people (the like of) what has occurred among previous people, even as one horseshoe resembles another, or as one arrow feather follows another. Wherefore, according to this premise, it is necessary to believe that resurrection will take place in this community as well.

Our opponents (the Sunnis) have related that when the Mahdi, on whom be peace, will appear, ‘Isa Ibn Maryam (‘a) will descend upon the earth and pray behind him. Now, the descent of ‘Isa (‘a) to the earth is his return to the world after death, because the Almighty Allah says:

…إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ…

“…I will cause you to die and take you up to Myself…” (3:55).

After that Ibn Babawayh has mentioned some verses, which were mentioned before and which prove Raj’ah and whatever Ibn Babawayh has said - relating to the death of Prophet ‘Isa (‘a) and the people of the cave - is in my view worth consideration, and investigation of this matter is mentioned in Bihar al-Anwar and Hayat al-Qulub.

I end this discussion with the famous tradition of Mufaddal: Shaykh Hasan Ibn Sulaiman has narrated in Muntakhab al-Basair through authentic chains of narrators from Mufaddal Ibn ‘Umar that he said:

I asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a): “So no time is fixed for his reappearance?” He replied: O Mufaddal, I don’t fix any time, and neither is any time fixed for it. One, who fixes a time for our Mahdi, considers himself to be a partner of Allah in His knowledge and no divine secret is disclosed to people, who have deviated from the right path and are ignorant. Only Allah inspires the divine saints, so that proof is completed for them.

Mufaddal says: I asked: My master, how will the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) occur and how he would be accepted by the people?

He replied: “O Mufaddal, initially people will be in doubt, and then gradually his remembrance will be exalted. His name, agnomen (Kuniyah) and lineage will be announced from heavens, and this will be talked about extensively by all: the good and the evil and the supporters and opponents; so that it may serve as decisive proof for them. We have mentioned his conditions, signs, name, and lineage, and declared that the great grandfather of the Mahdi, the Messenger of Allah (S) had named him and mentioned his Kuniyah, so that no one can say that he was unaware of his name, Kuniyah and lineage.

By Allah, his name, Kuniyah and lineage will be talked of by all, and each will mention it to others; and that will be the great decisive proof on them. After that the Almighty Allah will make him appear according to the promise of his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S). Thus, the Almighty Allah Himself says:

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

“He it is Who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse” (9:33).

In another verse, He says:

وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِ…

“And fight them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah…” (8:39).

By Allah, at that time all the differences of sects and religions will disappear and all will have the same faith, as the Almighty Allah says:

إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ

“Surely the (true) religion with Allah is Islam…” (3:19).

He also says:

وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

“And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter, he shall be one of the losers” (3:85).

Mufaddal said: My master, with whom will he interact during this period?

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: “Angels and believers from the Jinns and his trustees (reliable scholars) will convey his commands and prohibitions to his governors and representatives. His sentry on the day of the occultation will be Muhammad Ibn Nasir Numairi in Sabar. After that he will appear in Mecca.

By Allah, O Mufaddal, as if I see with my own eyes; that he has entered Mecca with the robe of the Messenger of Allah (S) on his shoulders, a yellow turban on the head and wearing sandals of the Prophet, having stitches. He will be holding the staff of the Prophet. Some thin goats will be ambling ahead of him, and he will be herding them. He will reach the Holy Ka’ba in such glory, but no one will recognize him, and he will be youthful at the time of the reappearance.

“O Mufaddal, he will reappear alone and come up to the Holy Ka’ba alone. He will enter the Ka’ba alone. He will remain alone there for the night. When it is late and all go to sleep, His Eminence, Jibra’il and Mika’il will descend with rows of angels and Jibra’il will step forward and say: O chief and leader! Your prayer has been accepted, now, the kingdom shall be yours.

The Imam will pass his hand over his face and say:

وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ وَأَوْرَثَنَا الْأَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَاءُ فَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ

“(All) praise is due to Allah, Who has made good to us His promise, and He has made us inherit the land; we may abide in the garden where we please; so goodly is the reward of the workers” (39:74).

Then he will stand between Rukn and Maqam and call out aloud: My deputies! My special helpers, whom the Almighty Allah had kept alive on the earth since before my reappearance to help me. Come to me at once! They will hear him from the east and the west wherever they might be, whether busy in worship or sleeping on their beds. His voice will reach everyone, and they would all reach Mecca in an instant and join him between Rukn and Maqam.

Then Almighty Allah will command the ‘Noor’ and a pillar of light will be established from the earth to heavens, through which all believers of the earth receive light. The light of this effulgence will even enter their homes, by which believers shall be extremely happy.” But they will not know that our Qa’im has appeared.

After that they will stand before Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) till the morning and their number will be equal to the companions of Badr, that is 313.

O Mufaddal, the Qa’im will lean on the Ka’ba and stretch his hand. Effulgence will emit from his palm. And he will say: This is the hand of Allah, from Allah and the Almighty Allah commands you to pledge allegiance. Then he will recite the following verse:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ…

“Surely those who swear allegiance to you do, but swear allegiance to Allah; the hand of Allah is above their hands. Therefore, whoever breaks (his faith), he breaks it only to the injury of his own soul…” (48:10).

Thus, the first to pledge allegiance to him will be Jibra’il; after that angels and nobles from Jinns and after that nobles will pledge allegiance for him. There will be a clamour among the Meccans. They will say: Who is this man at the side of the Ka’ba and who are in his company? What are these signs and portents that we witnessed last night? We never saw them before. Then they will say to one another. It is the same shepherd. Try to recognize someone from his companions. They will say: No, we don’t recognize anyone, except four from Mecca and four from Medina and that is so and so.

All these will occur at sunrise. And when the sun is up, a caller will call out from the horizon, which will be heard by all in the earth and heavens: O creatures, he is the Mahdi of Aali Muhammad (‘a), whose name is same as that of his respected grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S) and his Kuniyah, Abul Qasim is also same. His lineage reaches through his father, Imam Hasan al-’Askari (‘a) to Imam al-Husayn Ibn ‘Ali (‘a). All of you pledge allegiance to him and you will be guided. Do not act contrary to his orders, or you will deviate.

After that announcement, the first to shake hands with him will be the angels, then Jinns and then nobles and they will say: We heard the call from the heaven and we submit to him. All creatures will hear that call. They will discuss among themselves, whether they be on land or at sea, in habitations or in wilderness.

When the sun is about to set, a caller will call out from west: O creatures, your Lord has appeared in Palestine in the valley of Yabis. He is from the lineage of Uthman Ibn Ambasa Amawi Yazid Ibn Muawiyah. Follow him and you will be guided and do not oppose him, or you shall deviate. And the angels, Jinns and nobles will refute and reject him.

They will say: We heard you, but we will not follow your advice. At that time there will be no doubting infidel or hypocrite, who will not be deviated on hearing that last call.

Our master, Imam al-Qa’im (‘a) would be standing with his back resting on the Ka’ba. He will say: People, whoever wants to see Adam and Sheeth, should know that I am Adam and Sheeth. And whoever wants to see Nuh and his son, Saam, should know that I am that same Nuh and Saam. And whoever wants to see Ibrahim and Isma’il, should know that I am that same Ibrahim and Isma’il. And whoever wants to see Musa and Yusha, should know that I am that same Musa and Yusha. And whoever wants to see ‘Isa and Shamoun, should know that I am that same ‘Isa and Shamoun.

And whoever wants to see Muhammad (S) and Amir al-Mu’minin, should know that I am that same Muhammad and Amir al-Mu’minin. And whoever wants to see Al-Hasan and al-Husayn, should know that I am that same Al-Hasan and al-Husayn. And whoever wants to see the Imams from the progeny of al-Husayn, should know that I am those same purified Imams. Accept my call and join me as I would inform you about all that has been said and all that has not been said.”

Those of you who have read the heavenly books and divine scriptures should hear this: After that he would begin reciting those scriptures revealed on Prophet Adam and Prophet Sheeth and the community of Prophet Adam and Prophet Sheeth would listen to it and say: By Allah, these are the complete scriptures that he showed us, which even we were unaware of and whatever was concealed from them, whatever was cancelled from them and what was interpolated and changed in them. After that he will recite the scriptures of Prophet Nuh and Ibrahim (‘a); and the Taurat, Injeel and Zabur.

The people of Taurat, Injeel and Zabur will say: Indeed, these are the scriptures of Prophet Nuh and Ibrahim and from which omissions and interpolations are made. By Allah, this is the complete Taurat, Injeel and Zabur, and it is better than whatever we used to recite so far.

Then he will recite the Holy Qur’an and Muslims will exclaim: By Allah, this is in fact is the Qur’an that the Almighty Allah revealed on Prophet Muhammad (S) and some verses had been cancelled from it and interpolations had been done in it.

After that a walking creature (Dabba) will appear between Rukn and Maqam and he will write on the forehead of the believer that he is a believer and mark the forehead of an infidel that he is an infidel.

Then a man will come to Imam al-Qa’im (‘a), whose face will be turned to his back, and he will say: My Chief and master, I am Bashir and an angel has ordered me to present myself in your

service and deliver to you the good news of the sinking of the army of Sufyani in Baidha. The Imam will ask him to narrate the incident about himself and his brother.

Bashir will say: I and my brother were in the army of Sufyani. We set out from Damascus, reached Zora and plundered it. Then we moved forward and destroyed Kufa. From there we set out for Medina and destroyed it. Finally, we demolished the pulpit of the Prophet and tied our horses in the Masjid of the Prophet and desecrated the place.

Then we thirteen thousand people set out from there to raze the Ka’ba and eliminate the Meccans. When we reached Baidha and camped there, a caller announced from the sky: O Baidha, destroy these unjust people. So, the ground sank within itself, swallowing all the men, except me and my brother and not even a tether remained intact.

Meanwhile, an angel slapped both of us causing our faces to be turned backwards as you can see and they told my brother: O warner, go to Damascus and inform the Sufyani about the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (‘a), and told me: O Bashir, go to Mecca and meet Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) and convey to him the good news of the destruction of the unjust and repent for your past deeds in his presence. He will accept your repentance.

On hearing this Imam (‘a) will pass his hand over his face and it will return to its normal condition and Bashir will pledge allegiance at his hands and remain in his company.

Mufaddal asked: My master, would the angels and jinns become visible to humans during that period. He replied: Yes, by Allah, O Mufaddal, they will converse with the angels and jinns, like they talk to their companions and family members. I said: O Master, would they go with them? He replied: Yes, by Allah, O Mufaddal, they will camp on the land of Hijrat between Kufa and Najaf. At that time there will be 46,000 angels in his army and 6,000 jinns.4 The Almighty Allah will grant him victory through them.

Mufaddal asked: My master, how will they deal with the Meccans? He replied: He will call them through wisdom and a goodly exhortation, and they will obey him. After that he will appoint a person from his Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) as his representative and set out for Medina.

Mufaddal asked: My master, how will they deal with the Ka’ba? He replied: He will raze the Ka’ba and rebuild it on the foundations laid during the period of Prophet Adam (‘a) and on which Prophet Ibrahim and Isma’il raised the walls. And no one has rebuilt it on those foundations. He would also destroy all the monuments built by the oppressors, in Mecca, Medina and in all countries. In the same way, he will raze the Kufa Masjid and rebuild it on its original foundations. Then he will also demolish the Atiq Castle because its founders had been accursed.

Mufaddal asked: My master, would Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) continue to camp in Mecca? He replied: No, Mufaddal, he will appoint a representative from his Ahl al-Bayt and set out from there. But as soon as he sets out from there, the Meccans will attack and assassinate his representative. On getting this news, Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) will return to Mecca and the Meccans will come to him weeping and wailing in regret and say: O Mahdi of Aali Muhammad (‘a) we repent! We repent! He will dispense good counsel to them and again appoint another representative and set out from there.

As soon as he leaves, again they will attack his representative and assassinate him. So, the Imam will send some jinns and nobles from his army with instructions not to leave anyone alive, who does not bring faith. “If the mercy of your Lord had not encompassed everything; and I am that mercy, I would also have accompanied you. They have not left any excuse between the Almighty Allah and me.” Thus, by Allah, the helper jinns will come to Mecca and will not leave one in a hundred or even, one in a thousand.

Mufaddal asked: My master, please tell us about the location of the holy house of Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) and the place of the gathering of believers? Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: Kufa will be his capital and his proclamations will be issued from Kufa Jame Masjid and Masjid Sahla will be the Public Treasury and centre for distribution of funds.

Mufaddal asked: My master, would all believers reside in Kufa at that time? He replied: Yes, by Allah, every believer will reside there or its outskirts. The price for land enough to accommodate a horse will reach up to 2,000 dirhams, and most people will be willing to buy a span of land in Saba in exchange of a span of gold. Saba is an area of Hamadan.

At that time the population of Kufa will spread to a radius of fifty-four miles and its borders will touch the borders of Karbala and the Almighty Allah will exalt the status of Karbala so much that it will be frequented by angels and believers all the time. It will have a strange glory and so many blessings will come down there, such that if a believer stands there and calls his Lord, the Almighty Allah, in exchange of his single prayer He would give him wealth equivalent to a thousand times the rulership of the world.

Then Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) sighed and said: O Mufaddal, once the different parts of land boasted among themselves. Ka’ba prided itself over Karbala. The Almighty Allah revealed: O Ka’ba, keep quiet, don’t be arrogant to Karbala. It is that blessed land where Musa (‘a) was called by the blessed tree. It is the place where Maryam and Masih (‘a) took refuge. There is the shore where the head of al-Husayn was washed. Maryam had performed the Ghusl of birth on ‘Isa (‘a) at this place and also performed the Ghusl herself. This is the best land from where the Holy Prophet (S) had gone to Mi’raj, and in this land there is good for our Shi’a till the reappearance of the Qa’im (‘a).

Mufaddal said: My master, where will Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) go after this? He replied: After that, he will proceed to Medina and camp there and believers will experience a strange joy and the infidels will be sorrowful in a strange way.

Mufaddal said: My master, what will be the cause of that joy and sorrow? Imam said: He will come to the grave of the Holy Prophet (S) and call out: O people, is this the grave of my grandfather? People would reply: Mahdi of Aali Muhammad (‘a), yes, this is the tomb of your grandfather. He would ask: Who are buried with him?

They will say: Two of his companions, though he knows them better than anyone else. Yet people would pay attention to what he is saying. He would ask: Who are they and how did only these two from all the people were buried with my grandfather? Perhaps others are also buried here. People would say: O Mahdi of the progeny of Aali Muhammad (‘a), no one other than these two are buried here, because they were caliphs and fathers-in-law of the Prophet. Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) would repeat this question thrice and then order them to be taken out from their graves. When they remove the two corpses, they would come out fresh and un-decayed.

Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) would ask: Does anyone of you recognize them? People would reply: Yes, we recognize them through their qualities; they were companions of your grandfather. He would ask: Is there anyone among you having another opinion or having any doubt in it? People would say: No. Then Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) would delay their removal for three days and this news would spread among the people.

After that, Mahdi will come to their graves and order his men: Open their graves and search for them. They would put their hands inside the grave and pull them out as fresh as they were three days ago. Then he will order them to be hung from a dried-up tree; but as soon as they hang the corpses on it, it would become green and fresh.

Seeing this, their followers would remark: This is the true dignity they possessed, and we would also benefit by our devotion to them. Anyone, who has even a little devotion to them should come and witness this spectacle.

Meanwhile the caller of the Imam would call out: All those who are devoted to the two companions of the Prophet, should move to one side. People would divide into two groups: a group friendly to them and a group inimical to them. Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) would ask the group friendly to them to recant their loyalty.

They would say: O Mahdi of the progeny of the Messenger of Allah (S), since at that time, we were not aware of your status and the position that the Almighty Allah has given you, we did not become aloof from them. How can we become aloof from them now, in spite of seeing their bodies so fresh and how the leafless tree became green due to them?

By Allah we disassociate from you and those who have faith in you and from those who don’t bring faith on them, and those who have hung the two on the tree and dug them out of the grave and dealt with them in this manner. Thus, Mahdi (‘a) will order the black wind to blow on them and they will fall dead like dry date palms.

Then Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) would order them to be brought down and they would become alive by the command of Allah and all the people would be ordered to gather. Then he would mention all the crimes in every period of time and attribute them to those two, beginning with the killing of Habil, son of Adam (‘a), then stoking of the fire for Prophet Ibrahim (‘a), throwing of Prophet Yusuf (‘a) into the well, captivity of Prophet Yunus (‘a) in the belly of the whale, killing of Prophet Yahya, persecution of ‘Isa (‘a), torture of Prophets Jirjees and Daniyal (‘a), beating of Salman Farsi, arson of the house of Amir al-Mu’minin, Lady Fatimah, Al-Hasan and al-Husayn (‘a), lashing the side of Lady Fatimah (‘a), miscarriage of Mohsin, poisoning of Imam al-Hasan (‘a), killing of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and his children, cousins and friends and taking captive of the descendants of the Prophet and shedding blood of Aali Muhammad (‘a), and every blood that is shed unrightfully and every lady who is molested, and every fraud and evil act, and sin and oppression committed by human beings from the time of Adam (‘a) till the occasion of the reappearance of Imam al-Qa’im (‘a), he would make the two of them responsible and they would also confess being responsible for these.

Then he would announce that whoever has suffered any injustice at their hand should take retaliation from them and they will do that. Then he would have them hung from the tree again and then issue a command, by which a fire would emerge from the ground and burn them along with the tree, on which they are impaled. After that he would order the wind to blow their ashes to the seas.

Mufaddal asked: Master, is it the last chastisement they would suffer? The Imam replied: No, no, O Mufaddal, by Allah, tomorrow on Judgment Day every believer and infidel would be present in the mass gathering, and also the Holy Prophet (S), Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), Lady Fatimah (‘a), Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn (‘a), and the Holy Imams (‘a) and all would exact retribution from those two. So much so that they would be killed a thousand times every day, and every time revived by the command of Allah, so that they may be punished again.”

After that Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) will set out for Kufa and halt between Kufa and Najaf. At that time there will 4,6000 angels, 6,000 jinns and nobles and 313 special companions with him.

Mufaddal said: My master, what will be the condition of the abode of the sinners at that time? He replied: Curse will be descending on it, and it will be involved in divine chastisement. Many will destroy it completely. Yellow flag and different flags of the west, invaders from the peninsula; also, all the flags from far and near will wreak havoc on it and its inhabitants.

By Allah, from the beginning of the time till the end, all the chastisements that have befallen the accursed and rebellious people will befall it. On the contrary, such chastisement will befall it that no eye has ever seen, and no ear has ever heard.

There will be a storm of swords. Woe on its inhabitants! Whoever continues to reside there is really very unfortunate; and one that leaves that place, is bestowed with mercy by the Almighty Allah.

By Allah, its residents will live in such a way that all will say that it is the world. Their houses will be like castles of Paradise and their girls will be like Hoories of Paradise and their boys will be like boys of Paradise. They will be thinking that the sustenance that Allah has created for people is only for them. They will be bent on opposition to Allah and the Holy Prophet (S). Their judgments will be taken without the Holy Qur’an. False testimonies, wine and sinfulness, unlawful income, murder, and killings will be widespread in the entire world.

Then the Almighty Allah through those mischiefs and different flags, destroy it in such a way that anyone passing from there will remark: Once Zora was based at this spot.

“Hasani is that elegant youth, who will emerge from Dailam with an eloquent power of speech with which he shall plead: ‘O Progeny of Muhammad! Please harken to call of the distressed ones.’ And this call will be issued from the Zari (perhaps the reference is to the Ka’ba). Then divine treasures hidden in Taliqaan will harken to his call. These will not be treasures of gold and silver; they will be strong men mounted on crimson horses and carrying weapons and slaying the oppressors they will reach Kufa. By this time most areas will be cleaned up and it will be a place of refuge for them.

Then the news of the reappearance of Mahdi (‘a) will reach Sayyid Hasani and his companions. His companions shall ask: O son of the Prophet, who is this gentleman that has entered our boundaries? He will reply: “Come, let us go and see who it is”, while by Allah, Sayyid Hasani would know that it is Mahdi, and he shall say that only that they may recognize the companions of His Eminence.

Then Hasani shall reach the Mahdi (‘a) and say: If you are the Mahdi of Aali Muhammad, where is the staff of your grandfather, the Prophet, his finger ring, his dress, and coat of armour (Fazil)? Where is (Sahaab) his turban, Yarbu (his horse), Ghazba (his camel), Duldul his horse, Yafoor his donkey and the original horse of the Messenger of Allah (S), Buraq and the Mushaf (scroll) of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a)?

His Eminence will show him all these things. He would take up the staff of the Prophet and hit it upon a hard stone, it would instantly produce sparks. His aim by this is to show the greatness and excellence of Mahdi (‘a) to his companions that they pledge allegiance to him.

Then Sayyid Hasani would remark, “God is the Greatest (Allahu Akbar), O son of the Prophet, give me your hand that I may pledge allegiance to you. Mahdi (‘a) will stretch out his hand. Sayyid Hasani and his companions will pay allegiance to him, but 40,000 people having the scroll, who will be known as Zaidiyyah, will not pay allegiance, saying: This is great magic.

The armies shall confront each other. Mahdi (‘a) will come out towards the deviated group and dispense good counsel to them, inviting them towards himself, but they would persist in their disbelief (kufr) and rebellion. His Eminence will order that they all be killed, and they shall be put to the sword.

Then Mahdi (‘a) will say to his companions: Do not take their Qur’ans, leave it as it will cause them despair just as they have changed and tampered it and they have not acted according to it.”

Mufaddal said: My master, what will Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) do after that? Imam (‘a) said: After that he will send an army to Damascus, which on reaching its destination, will apprehend Sufyani and slaughter him at Saqra.

Then Imam al-Husayn (‘a) will return in Raj’ah and arise with 12,000 Siddiqeen and seventy-two companions, who were martyred with him. What an age of glory it would be!

Then the Siddiq Akbar, Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) will appear and a dome will be fixed for him at Najaf, one of whose pillars will be in Najaf Ashraf and another in Hijr, one in Sana and one in Tayyaba. As if I can see that the lamps of this dome is emitting light like that of the sun and the moon and the mysteries will be investigated.

يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَىٰ وَمَا هُمْ بِسُكَارَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ

“On the day when you shall see every woman giving suck shall quit in confusion what she suckled, and every pregnant woman shall lay down her burden, and you shall see men intoxicated, and they shall not be intoxicated, but the chastisement of Allah will be severe” (22:2).

Then the great Sayyid, Prophet Muhammad (S), along with his Ansar and Muhajirin, and those who had faith in him, and those who testified for him and ones who were martyred in the battles in his company; all would come back into the world (Raj’ah). Those who had falsified him and doubted his prophethood; disobeyed him and continued to say: He is a sorcerer, soothsayer and insane; he speaks according to his personal whims will also be presented. Also will be presented are those who fought against him, and they will be made to compensate fully for all this. From the advent of the Prophet till the advent of the Mahdi, all acts committed by them will be scrutinized and the interpretation of the following verse will be realized:

وَنُرِيدُ أَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ

“And We desired to bestow a favour upon those who were deemed weak in the land, and to make them the Imams, and to make them the heirs” (28:5).

وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ

“And to grant them power in the land, and to make Fir’awn and Haman and their hosts see from them what they feared” (28:6).

Mufaddal said: My master, who are the Fir’awn and Haman? He replied: So and so. Mufaddal said: My master; would the Holy Prophet (S) and Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) accompany Imam al-Mahdi (‘a)?

He replied: It is inevitable that the two of them will travel to the face of the earth till they reach to the cave of Qaf and in the depths of darkness in the oceans. Thus, no place will remain where they don’t step.

O Mufaddal, I can see that we Imams are standing before the Holy Prophet (S) complaining about the atrocities wreaked upon us by the Ummah, how it rejected our statements, abused and cursed us, and threatened us with death, and in presence of the Ummah the tyrant rulers forced us out of our homes and took us to their capitals; killed, poisoned and imprisoned us.

The Messenger of Allah (S) would weep and then say: O sons, all these calamities had previously befallen your grandfather also.

First of all, Lady Fatimah (‘a) will initiate her complaints and narrate all the harassments on her by Abu Bakr and ‘Umar; that is usurpation of Fadak, her protestations for restoration of her rights in the crowd of Muhajirin and Ansar and their usurpation of Fadak on the pretext that neither the prophets inherit nor are they inherited; and her arguments through the examples of Prophet Zakariya and Yahya, and Prophet Dawood and Sulaiman.

After that Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) will complain about all the calamities forced on him after the passing away of the Prophet. Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) will say to the Messenger of Allah (S): I had to face the same situation that was faced by Harun (‘a) against Bani Isra’il. And he will also say what Harun (‘a) said to Prophet Musa (‘a):

…ابْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ اسْتَضْعَفُونِي وَكَادُوا يَقْتُلُونَنِي فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِيَ الْأَعْدَاءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِي مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

“…Son of my mother! Surely the people reckoned me weak and had well-nigh slain me, therefore, make not the enemies to rejoice over me and count me not among the unjust people” (7:150).

Thus, O Messenger of Allah (S), I also observed patience and restraint; and remained satisfied with divine decree, although I had exhausted the proof on them, and they had broken the pledge that you had taken from them.

O Messenger of Allah (S), I have borne so much that no one from the successors of the prophets had, till I was assassinated by Abdur Rahman Ibn Muljim, and how they broke the allegiance they had pledged to me as the Almighty Allah is the one, who sees everything.

How Talha and Zubair went to Mecca with A’isha under the pretext of Hajj and their going to Basra from there; and finally, I had to pursue them.

O Messenger of Allah (S), I adjured to them in the name of Allah, the Holy Qur’an and you. Despite that, they did not desist. As a result of which, the Almighty Allah gave me victory over them. Twenty thousand Muslims were killed in that battle and seventy hands were severed on the reins of the camel.

O Messenger of Allah (S), it was a severe day, which was not seen in your battles or even after that. It was the most difficult battle I had to fight. It was a terrible situation that I faced, and it was an important contest, but I observed patience, since you had ordered me patience and the Almighty Allah (also) commanded patience.

فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُولُو الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ…

“Therefore, bear up patiently as did the apostles endowed with constancy bear up with patience…” (46:35).

And He said:

وَاصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ…

“And be patient and your patience is not, but by (the assistance of) Allah…” (16:127).

In fact, O Messenger of Allah (S), the interpretation of this verse that the Almighty Allah had revealed was realized after your passing away.

وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ

“And Muhammad is no more than an apostle; the apostles have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least; and Allah will reward the grateful” (3:144).

O Mufaddal, after that Imam al-Hasan (‘a) will rise up before his respected grandfather and say: Dear grandfather, I was with Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) in the abode of migration, Kufa, when he was assassinated by the accursed Abdur Rahman Ibn Muljim, and he made to me the bequest you had made to him. And when the news of my father’s martyrdom reached Muawiyah, he sent Ziyad with a 150,000 strong army and ordered him to apprehend me, my brothers and all supporters and take allegiance for Muawiyah. And if anyone refused, his head should be cut off and sent to Muawiyah.

When I got this information, I went to Kufa Masjid, prayed there and then went to the pulpit. People gathered to listen to my sermon. After divine praise and glorification, I said:

O people, (You can see that) the country is being destroyed and all divine signs are being erased. How much patience can one have? The acts of these satans and rule of the usurpers is unbearable. Now, the divine proof is complete, and the signs have become clear; and the interpretation of the following verse is realized fully:

وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ

“And Muhammad is no more than an apostle; the apostles have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least; and Allah will reward the grateful” (3:144).

By Allah, my grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S) has passed away and my respected father is martyred. Satanic doubts have begun to haunt the people. Crows of mischief have begun to crow. You opposed the practice of the Prophet and what a pity, how blind and deaf this mischief is; that it does not give an ear to anyone and does not harken to any call. Hypocrisy is everywhere. Opponents are roaming about with their flags. Armies of rebels are marching from Iraq and Shaam. So, may Allah have mercy on you. Hasten to clear light, beneficial knowledge, ever-lighted lamps, and the ever-evident truth.

O people, wake up from the sleep of unawareness. By the one, who split the seed and germinated it. Even if one of your groups is with sincere intention, unblemished by hypocrisy, I will fight them at every step and hinder their approach. May Allah have mercy on you. What do you say?

But no one harkened to me as if all were under the rein of silence. Only twenty men arose and said: Son of the Messenger, we have control over our own selves. We agree to obey you. You may issue any command to us.

I looked left and right and could not see anyone besides the twenty. I said to myself that I should act on the practice of my respected grandfather, because in the initial stages, although there were thirty-nine people with him and when their figure reached forty, he declared his prophethood. In the same way, when I also have as many supporters, I will do Jihad in the way of Allah as it deserves.

Then I raised my head to the sky and said: My Lord, (You saw that) I invited them to the truth, warned them and enjoined good to them and forbid evil, but they were not prepared to harken to my call; they ignored the duty of rendering help to me; on the contrary, they assisted my enemy. O Allah, send such a chastisement on them that does not spare them. Saying this I descended from the pulpit.

After that, I left Kufa for Medina. Now, they came to me and said: Muawiyah’s army came to Anbar and Kufa, plundered the Muslims, and also slew those, who did not oppose them; putting the ladies and children to the sword.

I said: You are disloyal, but despite that I sent some men and a unit of the army; but they also broke their allegiance to me and joined Muawiyah. And what I had predicted, came to pass.

After that Imam al-Husayn (‘a) will arise smeared in blood in the company of those, who were slain with him. When the Holy Prophet (S) sees him in that condition, he will weep profusely, and all the folks of the sky and earth will weep upon seeing him weeping; and Lady Fatimah (‘a), on seeing her son in that condition will scream in such way that the earth and its inhabitants will tremble.

Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) will be on his right, along with Imam al-Hasan (‘a) and Lady Fatimah (‘a) will be to his right. In this way, Imam al-Husayn (‘a) will proceed and the Holy Prophet (S) will embrace him and say: O al-Husayn, may I be sacrificed on you. May Allah make you happy. His Eminence, Hamza, lion of Allah will be on the right of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and Ja’far Tayyar will be to his left. Lady Khadija Bint Khuwaylid and Lady Fatimah Bint Asad will come with Mohsin. They would be weeping in profusion and Mohsin’s mother, Lady Fatimah (‘a) will say:

…هَٰذَا يَوْمُكُمُ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ

“…This is your day, which you were promised” (21:103).

يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُحْضَرًا وَمَا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ سُوءٍ تَوَدُّ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُ أَمَدًا بَعِيدًا…

“On the day that every soul shall find present what it has done of good and what it has done of evil, it shall wish that between it and that (evil) there was a long duration of time…” (3:30).

After narrating this, Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) wept so much that his beard became wet in his tears. Then he said: May Allah never show happiness to the eye that does not shed tears on this mention.

Mufaddal also continued to lament for quite a long time. Then he asked: My master, what is the recompense of these tears? He said: Unlimited; if they fall from the eye of one, who can discern the truth. Mufaddal asked: What is your opinion about the following verse:

وَإِذَا الْمَوْءُودَةُ سُئِلَتْ

“And when the female infant buried alive is asked” (81:8).

بِأَيِّ ذَنْبٍ قُتِلَتْ

“For what sin she was killed” (81:9).

The Imam said: O Mufaddal, by Allah, ‘Mawaddat’ means Muhsin, and you must regard anyone who says to the contrary is a liar

Mufaddal asked: My master, what will happen after that? Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) replied: After that Lady Fatimah (‘a) will say: O Allah, fulfil Your promise and decide between me and those who oppressed me, usurped by rights, and forced to me to lament each of my child.

Upon these words, all those who inhabit the seven heavens, the carriers of ‘Arsh and all who reside in space and the inhabitants of the earth and below the surface of the earth all will lament and wail to the Almighty Allah.

After that those, who had persecuted and killed us and those, who were pleased with this oppression, will on that day be killed a thousand times. On the contrary, those, who were killed in the way of Allah; there will no death for them. As the Almighty Allah has said:

وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ

“And reckon not those who are killed in Allah’s way as dead; nay, they are alive (and) are provided sustenance from their Lord” (3:169).

فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“Rejoicing in what Allah has given them out of His grace and they rejoice for the sake of those who, (being left) behind them, have not yet joined them, that they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve” (3:170).

Mufaddal asked: My master, but some of your Shi’as do not believe in the Raj’ah of you all? He replied: Even though they have heard my grandfather and all the Imams about this:

وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُمْ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَكْبَرِ…

“And most certainly We will make them taste of the nearer chastisement before the greater chastisement…” (32:21).

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: In the following verse, the nearer chastisement implies the chastisement during Raj’ah. And the greater chastisement is the chastisement, in which the earth and the heavens will change.

يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ الْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ الْأَرْضِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ وَبَرَزُوا لِلَّهِ الْوَاحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ

“On the day, when the earth shall be changed into a different earth; and the heavens (as well): and they shall come forth before Allah, the One, the Supreme” (14:48).

Mufaddal asked: My master, we know that you Imams are the chosen servants of the Almighty Allah according to the following verses:

…نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَنْ نَشَاءُ…

“…We exalt in dignity who We please…” (6:83).

…اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ…

“…Allah best knows where He places His message…” (6:124).

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ

“Surely, Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the descendants of Ibrahim; and the descendants of Imran above the nations” (3:33).

ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“Offspring, one of the other; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing” (3:34).

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: O Mufaddal, where is the mention about us in this Qur’an? Mufaddal said: By Allah, this is clear from the following verse:

إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَٰذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“Most surely the nearest of people to Ibrahim are those who followed him and this Prophet and those who believe, and Allah is the guardian of the believers” (3:68).

…مِلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ…

“…the faith of your father Ibrahim; He named you Muslims…” (22:78).

…وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ

“…and save me and my sons from worshipping idols” (14:35).

And we know that the Messenger of Allah (S) did not worship idols, not even for a second, neither did he indulge in polytheism. Also, the Almighty Allah has said:

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ

“And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely, I will make you an Imam of men. Ibrahim said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust, said He” (2:124).

In this verse, ‘covenant’ means Imamate, which will not be given to any oppressor.

Then he said: O Mufaddal, how do you know that the oppressor will not get the post of Imamate? Mufaddal says: My lord and master, don’t put me to test, I am incapable of it. Please don’t test my knowledge because we have received all of it only from you Imams. We have benefited from you Imams alone.

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: You are right O Mufaddal. The bounty that the Almighty Allah has bestowed on you regarding this, if you had not admitted it, you would not have been like this. Then he said: O Mufaddal, tell me where in the Holy Qur’an it is mentioned that infidels are oppressors?

Mufaddal said: The Almighty Allah says:

…وَالْكَافِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

“...and the unbelievers - they are the unjust” (2:254).

And it is derived from the verse of Surah Maidah that the unbelievers

…فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

“…they are the sinners.” (5:47)

The Almighty Allah will not appoint as Imam, anyone, who has sinned and transgressed.

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: O Mufaddal, you have made a nice statement. Now, tell me in what type of our Raj’ah do you believe? While some of our miserly Shi’a consider that Almighty Allah will give material rule and wealth, and make Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) as the ruler, but woe unto them, when was our kingdom usurped that it would be restored to us?

Mufaddal said: Your kingdom has never been usurped from you, because it is in fact prophethood, messengership, Imamate and successorship.

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: O Mufaddal, if our Shi’a had pondered on the Holy Qur’an, they would never have doubted in our excellence. Have they not heard the following saying of the Almighty Allah?

وَنُرِيدُ أَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ

“And We desired to bestow a favour upon those who were deemed weak in the land, and to make them the Imams, and to make them the heirs” (28:5).

وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ

“And to grant them power in the land, and to make Fir’awn and Haman and their hosts see from them what they feared” (28:6).

By Allah, O Mufaddal, although the above-mentioned verses were revealed concerning Bani Isra’il, its interpretation is realized through us; and Fir’awn and Haman are from Bani Taym and Adi.5

Mufaddal asked: My master, what do you say regarding Mut’ah? He replied: Mut’ah is lawful and it is proved by the following saying of the Almighty Allah:

وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ النِّسَاءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنْتُمْ فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَٰكِنْ لَا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّا أَنْ تَقُولُوا قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا…

“And there is no blame on you respecting what you speak indirectly in the asking of (such) women in marriage or keep (the proposal) concealed within your minds; Allah knows that you will mention them, but do not give them a promise in secret unless you speak in a honourable manner…” (2:235).

Imam (‘a) said: Mut’ah is lawful, and its evidence is present in the Holy Qur’an. The Almighty Allah has made it lawful in His book, and the Messenger of Allah (S) made it lawful for all Muslims on behalf of Almighty Allah. Thus, it is mentioned:

وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ مَا وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْهُنَّ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا تَرَاضَيْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْفَرِيضَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمً

“And all married women except those whom your right hands possess (this is) Allah’s ordinance to you, and lawful for you are (all women) besides those, provided that you seek (them) with your property, taking (them) in marriage not committing fornication. Then as to those whom you profit by, give them their dowries as appointed; and there is no blame on you about what you mutually agree after what is appointed; surely Allah is Knowing, Wise” (4:24).

The difference between the lady who enters Nikah and one, who enters Mut’ah, is that dower is prescribed for the former, whereas for the latter, it is known as payment.

So, all Muslims continued to practice Mut’ah during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (S) on the occasions of Hajj etc., during the whole tenure of Abu Bakr and the first four years of ‘Umar’s reign. But one day, when ‘Umar came to Afra, he found her suckling an infant. He was highly infuriated, and he took the child from her and brought it to the Masjid and mounted the pulpit. He told them to announce the public prayers, even though it was not a time for prayers, so all understood that ‘Umar has summoned them for something important. People gathered immediately and ‘Umar said:

“O Muhajirin and Ansar, and progeny of Qahtan! Who from among you would like that your sisters and daughters should give birth to and suckle children, even though being without husband?”

Some people said: “No, we don’t like such a situation.” ‘Umar said: “Don’t you know that my sister, who is the daughter of my mother Khaithama and father, Khattab is also without a husband?”

People said: “Yes, we know that.” He said: “I had just been to her place, and I found this child in her arms. I adjured her and asked from where she got the child? She said: I had done Mut’ah.”

“Now all of you should know that the Mut’ah, which was lawful during the time of the Prophet; I prohibit it and I will lash one, who denies its unlawfulness.” So, dreading his lashes, all accepted the verdict, and no one dared to oppose it. And neither did anyone say that no prophet or book has come after the Messenger of Allah (S) and the Holy Qur’an, which may abrogate its command. Therefore, we don’t accept your command in opposition to the Holy Prophet (S) and the Holy Qur’an. On the contrary, all of them accepted it without any objection.

Mufaddal asked: My master, what are the requirements for Mut’ah? He replied: There are seventy conditions for it. Anyone, who goes against even one of those conditions, has wrought oppression on himself.

After that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: Then my grandfather, ‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn (‘a) and my father Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) will arise and complain to their respected grandfather for the oppression they had to suffer at the hands of his Ummah.

Then I will stand up and complain to my grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S) about the oppressions wrought on me by Mansur Dawaniqi.

Then my son, Musa (‘a) will stand up and complain to his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S) about the oppressions wrought on him by Harun Rashid.

Then ‘Ali Ibn Musa (‘a) will stand up and complain to his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S) about the oppressions wrought on him by Mamoon Rashid.

Then Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali (‘a) will come forward and complain to his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S) about the oppressions wrought on him by Ma’moon Rashid.

Then ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad (‘a) will come forward and complain to his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S) about the oppressions wrought on him by Mutawakkil.

Then Imam Hasan al-’Askari (‘a) will come forward and complain to his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S) about the oppressions wrought on him by Motizbillah.

Then Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) will come forward, whose name will be same as that of my respected grandfather’s, and he would be wearing the shirt of the Prophet, having stains of blood from his injuries the in Battle of Uhud. Angels will be to his left and he will approach and stand before the Holy Prophet (S) and say:

O respected grandfather, you informed your Ummah about my distinctive qualities and guided people about me. You told them about my name and lineage and even declared what my Kuniyah will be, but despite that your Ummah refused to believe in me, and they were bent on rebellion, claiming that he is not even born yet. Where he was previously and where he is at present? Where he will be and if even if he had been there previously, he must have died by now; and today he does not even have any descendants. If he had been a fact, why the Almighty Allah delayed his reappearance? I continued to observe patience even after hearing this, but now, the Almighty Allah has commanded me to reappear. O respected grandfather!

The Messenger of Allah (S) will say: Praise be to Allah, who made true His promise and made us inherit the complete earth; and we shall reside wherever we may choose in Paradise and how good is the reward for the doers of good. Then he will say:

إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ

“When there comes the help of Allah and the victory” (110:1).

And this statement of the Almighty Allah is true:

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

“He it is Who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse” (9:33; 61:9).

Then he would recite the following verse:

إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِينًا

“Surely We have given to you a clear victory” (48:1).

لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطًا مُسْتَقِيمًا

“That Allah may forgive your community their past faults and those to follow and complete His favour to you and keep you on a right way” (48:2).

وَيَنْصُرَكَ اللَّهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا

“And that Allah might help you with a mighty help” (48:3).

Mufaddal asked: My master, what sin of the Prophet is mentioned in this verse, which the Almighty Allah forgave?

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) replied: O Mufaddal, the Messenger of Allah (S) prayed: O Allah, please transfer the burden of the sins of the former and latter Shi’a of my brother and descendant successors, but do not make me ashamed before the prophets and messengers. So, the Almighty Allah transferred the burden to him and then He forgave all the sins.

Mufaddal said: I continued to weep for a long while and then said: My master, the Almighty Allah has bestowed this mercy to us for the sake of you, Ahl al-Bayt (‘a).

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: O Mufaddal, you and people like you are those Shi’as; but don’t narrate this tradition to less righteous Shi’as, or they would leave good deeds and then no one will be able to save them from divine chastisement, because we are only as the Almighty Allah has said:

…وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ وَهُمْ مِنْ خَشْيَتِهِ مُشْفِقُونَ

“…and they do not intercede except for him whom He approves, and for fear of Him they tremble” (21:28).

Mufaddal said: My master, the Almighty Allah says:

…لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ…

“…that He might cause it to prevail over all religions…” (9:33).

But the Messenger of Allah (S) was not able to prevail over all religions?

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: O Mufaddal, if the Messenger of Allah (S) had prevailed over all religions, there would not have remained on the earth, any Jew, Majusi, Sabean or Christian; neither these sects would have remained nor any opponent or doubter, polytheist or idol worshipper; worshippers of Laat and Uzza or devotees of Sun, Moon and stars. No fire or idol worshipper. On the contrary, what the Almighty Allah has said is:

…لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ…

“…that He might cause it to prevail over all religions…” (9:33).

He said regarding the reappearance of the Mahdi that it will be the time of Raj’ah and it was in connection with that time that the Almighty Allah said:

وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِ…

“And fight them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah…” (8:39).

Mufaddal said: I testify that your knowledge is derived from the knowledge of Almighty Allah, and you possess the kingdom given to you by Allah; you speak with His permission and act according to His commands.

After that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: “Then Mahdi will return to Kufa, and the sky would rain golden locusts – just as the Almighty Allah rained them on Prophet Ayyub (‘a) in Bani Isra’il - and on his companions, treasures of the earth from gold and jewels and … he would distribute it.

Mufaddal asked: My master, please tell me what the fate of one of your Shi’as will be, if he dies indebted? Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) replied: “The first thing on the agenda of Mahdi (‘a) is to announce: Attention, if from among our Shi’as, anyone owes anything, he must inform us so that it may be repaid. Thus, even if a piece of garlic or a grain of mustard is owed by a Shi’a, it would be repaid. All debts shall be repaid even if they constitute huge amounts of gold and silver or some other wealth.”

This tradition is longer still, but we have just quoted it to the extent relevant to our discussion.

• 1. One who marks the infidels.
• 2. Meaning ‘Here we are!’.
• 3. The ritual funeral bath [note by al-Islam]
• 4. According to another report 46,000 jinns.
• 5. Referring to Abu Bakr and Umar.