Imam al-Mahdi

163514

Was Imam Zaman's (as) mother Nargis, the daughter of a Roman king, or a maid from the region of Sudan? Are there different opinions abut this matter and which scholars subscribe to each?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 2 years ago

Both views are narrated. The story that she was the daughter of a Roman (Byzantine) king tends to be more popular, possibly because it is a more developed and engaging story.

This book offers a good discussion of the question. As you can see, it argues against the idea that she was a Roman princess on historical grounds.

https://www.al-islam.org/occultation-twelfth-imam-historical-background-...

Allah knows best.

155512

Qibla . Sunni-Shi'a . Conversion to Islam . Imam al-Mahdi

As a Shia revert, I have noticed that during gatherings at the Hussainia, people often put their hand on their heads when mentioning Imam Mahdi (as) and face the Qibla. What is the significance of this practice?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 2 years ago

It is an act of showing respect to our present Imam; Al-Mahdi (AS). We have in our books that Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (AS) used to do the same when mentioning Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) who is his great grand son and was not born then.When mention our Imam Al-Mahdi (AS), we put our hands on our head out of respect to him being the divine leader of our time.

Wassalam.

151582

Polar Regions . Signs of Zuhur . Imam al-Mahdi

When is the anticipated occurrence of the sign of the sun rising from the west in the timeline of the events before the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a)? Can a polar shift fulfill this sign?

This is one of the signs which will happen before the reappearance of Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). Our Sunni brothers have in their books that it will definitely happen before the Day of Resurrection.

Allah (SWT) Knows when and how it will happen, whether it will happen through a polar shift or any other way. We believe that it will happen, and can not suggest any details or reasons. Allah (SWT) Knows and we don’t know how.

Wassalam.

94556

Ring . Imam al-Mahdi . Prophet Solomon

Will Imam Mahdi (as) have the ring of Suleiman (as) and the Ark of Covenant? What other artifacts will he have?

Yes. Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) will have all sacred inheritance of the Prophets (AS)مواريث الأنبياء

Every sacred item on this earth will be under the pan government of Imam Al-Mahdi (AS).

Wassalam.

143413

Dajjal . Imam al-Mahdi . Prophet Jesus . Raj'a

Will we get to live during the arrival of Imam Mahdi, Prophet Isa (as), and the Dajjal? Will we be resurrected to witness such events, or would only people who live on earth at those times get to experience them?

Raj’at or Raj’ah الرَجعَة means the return to this life after death. This return will be during the government of Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) over the whole world. Allah will bring back to this world the best believers to witness the victory of Ahlul Bayt (AS). Allah will also bring back to this world the worst enemies of Islam to see that and get some of the results of their evil deeds.

Raj’ah is mentioned in Quran (Sura Ghaafir, verse 11).

Wassalam.

141798

Qur'anic Exegesis (Tafsir) . Qiyama . Imam al-Mahdi . Surat al-Nahl

I want to ask about the commentary of Surah An-Nahl verse 84. Does it refer to the days of the arrival of Imam Mahdi (as) rather than the Day of Judgment since it says that Allah will raise (only) one witness from every nation to bear witness upon people?

Exegetes, Sunni and Shi'i, typically understand this verse to refer to the Day of Judgment.

Yawm, when used in this way in the Qur'an, typically refers to the Day of Judgment, as does the verb nab'ath (to resurrect from the dead).

The verses immediately before and after this one also appear to speak about the Day of Judgment; for instance, they speak of the Day when people submit directly to Allah (not a secondary agent, such as the Mahdi), and will see punishment directly from Allah (rather than through a secondary means, such as warfare, which is predicted to occur at the end times).

In this section, it also says that those who associated partners with Allah will see those partners, but this usually does not happen in this world, especially if those partners are non-physical beings such as angels or demigods, or intangible things like digital currency. However, after death, everything is made visible.

So the most likely interpretation is that the verse refers to the Day of Judgment.

Furthermore, to my recollection, narrations about the time of the Mahdi (A) on earth do not speak of witnesses coming from nations and presenting themselves for judgment. Instead, at that time, nations will split up: people will differ individually; some will follow him and some will not.

Rather, the Mahdi will be the witness over everyone since he will ultimately have rule over the planet, and (at least according to Shia belief) he has divinely granted knowledge about everyone.

As for why one witness is mentioned - Possibly, one witness is mentioned for each nation because a single witness will be able to bear witness to the nation as a whole. (On the topic of nations, here are some reflections by 'Allamah Tabataba'i about nations: https://www.al-islam.org/ask/what-have-ahlulbait-as-said-about-nationali...).

It is also narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (A) that every nation and every time has a witness; therefore, if each nation is different at a different time, it may have a witness for each time period. (For instance, Italy might have a witness for the pre-Roman period, the time of the ancient Roman Empire, the Christian Roman Empire, the modern nation-state of Italy, etc.; or those might be treated as different "nations".)

For the Muslim ummah, it is said that the witness is probably the Prophet (S) or the Imams (A), who would have access to knowledge of all the deeds of the nation. Some might argue that the witness is someone else who simply bears witness to the deeds, even if the Prophet and Imams are able to bear witness to all.

So, from all angles, the verse seems to speak about the Day of Judgment. However, as with many ayat of the Qur'an, the exact meaning of the ayah is open to interpretation, and sometimes the important thing is to ponder on what the meaning could be and see what one can take from it.

139225

Meaning . Al-Abbas ibn Ali . Imam al-Mahdi

What is the difference in the meaning of the terms آل الله and آل رسول? Is using titles like قمرآل الله for Hazrat Abbas or منتقم آل الله for Imam Mahdi appropriate?

Aal Allah آل الله are in fact same as Aal Al-Rasool آل الرسول because Aal Al-Rasool are the pious Progeny of the Messenger whose obedience is obligatory on every Muslim being part and parcel of the obedience of the Prophet (SAWA) which is in fact the obedience of Allah (SWT).

Aal Allah are in fact Aal Al-Rasool as they are the Most obedient servants of Allah.

Wassalam.

132938

Deputies . Ghayba (Occultation) . Imam al-Mahdi

In the letter written to his last deputy, Imam Mehdi (a) said that anyone claiming to meet him during Major occultation before Sufyani's advent is a liar. But there are reports of various people meeting him, so how can these be reconciled?

It means that people should not publicly claim to be in contact with Imam Mahdi (A) and use that as a grounds for their authority over people. It should also not be used as a justification for telling people what to do (for instance, telling people to change the shari'ah, or to give them money, or to follow a certain military leader, or to do anything else, because they say that this is what Imam Mahdi told them).

It is possible to meet Imam Mahdi (A) during the occultation and gain guidance or assistance, but this is a private matter, and it is between the individual and Allah whether or not that person truly met Imam Mahdi (A) or not.

132515

Narrations . Martyrdom . Imam al-Mahdi . Imam Husayn

I believe there are narrations that suggest that Imam al-Mahdi (as) will be martyred and Imam Hussein (as) will perform Namaz of Janaza. Does that mean that Imam Hussein (as) will be reborn?

There is no re birth but resurrections or return to this life which known as Raj'ah رجعة.

Raj'ah is the return of best servants of Allah and worst enemies of Allah to this life again to witness the victory of Islam and the punishment of its enemies. It is mentioned in Quran ( Sura Ghaafir, verse 11).

Imam Hussain (AS) will come back to this life in Raj'ah.

Wassalam.

132501

Woman . Imam al-Mahdi

Is it true that there is a narration where it is said about the presence of two female generals in the army of Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him)?

The 313 most trusted believers who will come with the Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) when he will come back to the public include many ladies. Some narrations mentioned that they will be fifty ladies among the 313. This is narrated by Jaabir Al-Jo'fi from Imam Al-Baqir (AS). (Ethbaat Al-Hodaat by al-Hurr Al-A'amily; 3:575.

In Dalaa'il Al-Imamah by al-Tabari , page 259: Mufadhdhal ibn Omar said: I heard Imam aal-Sadiq (AS) saying: There will be with The Imam Al-Qaa'im thirteen women. The narration says that the Imam Al-Sadiq (AS) mentioned some names of those ladies: Alqinwaa Bint Rasheed, Umm Ayman , Hubabah Al-Waalibiyyah, Sumayyah Umm Ammar, Zubaida, Umm Khalid Al-Ahmasiyyah, Um Sa'eed Al-Hanafiyyah, Subabah Al-Mashta, and Umm Khalid Al-Juhaniyyah.

So, the leading ladies with Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) are not just two but much more up to fifty. Thirteen of them will be very prominent personalities who will be resurrected from their graves to be with the Imam (AS).

Wassalam.

131663

Water . Christians . Muslims . Imam al-Mahdi

I live in Nigeria and I wrote a letter to the Imam of the age (AJTF) but now I have no water to put it in. The wells here are used by both Christians and Muslims so I do not want it to be taken when someone goes to fetch water. What should I do?

You can put it is any will or water near your area. If there is no water at all, then you can burry it.

Wassalam.

111148

Imamah . Imam Hasan al-Askari . Imam al-Mahdi

How many people witnessed Imam Hassan Askari AS when he announced the Imamat of Imam Mehdi? How many people saw Imam Mehdi? Do we know their names?

As the Abbasid government rulers' pressure on Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) and his family was tremendous, the disclosure of Imamate of Imam Mahdi (AS) was among the near circle of the most trusted persons. Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) told very few most trusted believers and allowed them to see his successor Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). These are names of some of those who saw Imam Al-Mahdi (AS):

1. Othman ibn Sa'eed Al-Amri who became later the first Safeer of the Imam Al-Mahdi (AS).

2. Muhammad ibn Othman ibn Sa'eed Al-Amri, who became later the second Safeer of the Imam.

3. Al-Husain ibn Rooh.

4. Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Samari.

5. Lady Hakimah daughter of Imam Al-Jawad (AS).

6. Ibraheem ibn Mahziyar Al-Ahwaazi.

7. Ahmad ibn Eshaq ibn Sa'd Al-Ash'ari.

8. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Mutahhar.

9. Ismael ibn Ali Al- Nawbakhti.

10. Ali ibn Ibraheem ibn Mahziyaar Al-Ahwaazi.

11.Kaamil ibn Ibrahim Al-Madani.

12.Allaan Al-Kulayni.

13. Muhammad ibn Ismael ibn Musa Al-Kadhim.

14. Al-Hasan ibn Wajnaa' Al-Naseebi.

15.Ibrahim ibn Idrees.

16. Ibrahim ibn A'bdah Al-kNisabori.

17.Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Al-Tabreezi.

18. Sa'ad ibn Abdullah ibn Abi Khalaf Al-Ash'ari.

19. Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Shimshaati.

20- Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim Al-Aqeeli.

There are hundreds of well known pious believers who saw Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). Whole books were been compiled on this subject by big scholars.

Wassalam.