The sermon of Ghadeer by Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) holds a special importance in the religion of Islam. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has talked about Tauheed, Maad, Nabuwwat, and Imamat. Apart from the central pivot of the sermon, which is about Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) as being the immediate successor, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has also talked about the holy personality of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.)
[Behaarul Anwaar, vol. 37, pg. 201-217]On the first occasion, he (s.a.w.a.) has driven attention to Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) in the following phrases:
“O people! Believe in Allah and His messenger and the light which has been sent down along with him… O people! The light from Allah, the Majestic, the Mighty, is in me, then in Ali, and will remain in his progeny until the al-Qaem al-Mahdi”.
At the second instance, he (s.a.w.a.) has spoken about 20 phrases on the characteristics of Imam-e-Asr (a.s.).
1. “Know that! Surely, the seal of the Imams, Mahdi, is from us.”
2. “Know that! Surely, he is the one who will overcome all the religions.”
3. “Know that! Surely, he will take revenge from the oppressors.”
4. “Know that! Surely, he will capture the forts and destroy them.”
5. “Know that! Surely, he is the one who will kill every tribes of the polytheists.”
6. “Know that! Surely, he is the avenger of the blood of every friend of Allah.”
7. “Know that! Surely, he is the helper of the religion of Allah.”
8. “Know that! Surely, he will reap maximum from the deep oceans.”
9. “Know that! Surely, he will indicate the virtue of every virtuous and the ignorance of every ignorant.”
10. “Know that! Surely, he will be the dearest and choicest servant of Allah.”
11. “Know that! Surely, he is the inheritor of every knowledge and is the one who encompasses every understanding.”
12. “Know that! Surely, he is the giver of news from his Lord and is the one who will tell everything about belief in Allah.”
13. “Know that! Surely, he is the one who is of the highest grade (he is most intellectual and wise, and he guides and closes the door of all evils).”
14. “Know that! Surely, he is the one to whom all affairs will be delegated.”
15. “Know that! Surely, he is the one regarding whom the previous nations have given glad tidings.”
16. “Know that! Surely, as a proof of Allah, only he will remain and there will be no proof after him.”
17. “Know that! Surely, truth will be only with him and the light (noor) will be only with him.”
18. “Know that! Surely, he is the one whom none will overcome, and none will be victorious over him.”
19. “Know that! Surely he is the authority of Allah on His earth and His ruler among His creatures.”
20. “He is the trustworthy of Allah in secret and open.”
We delve into the first attribute mentioned in the aforementioned phrases:
“Know that! Surely the seal of the Imams, al Mahdi, is from us.”
The above statement of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) points us to four attributes of Imam-e-Asr (a.s.).
First attribute
He (a.s.) is the seal of Imams. The word ‘seal’ (Khaatam) has the same connotation for the series of Imams (a.s.), as it has for the series of the prophets and the messengers (a.s.). In fact, apart from the name and agnomen of Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) – being identical to the name and agnomen of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) – just as Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) terminated the series of the prophets and messengers, and he (s.a.w.a.) was the last in the series, and Allah has not sent any prophet after him, Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) terminates the series of Imamat and he is the last of the Imams.
Here, we would like to clarify that the word ‘khaatam’ mentioned in the Holy Quran does not refer to ‘beauty’, as the Bahais and the Qadianis have interpreted it for Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) but it is in fact, the last seal. Hence, the number of the Imams (a.s.) are twelve and Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) is the twelfth one and the last of them, and there will no Imam after him.
Second attribute
One of the titles is ‘al-Qaem’. The word ‘Qaem’, from the perspective of Arabic grammar, is ‘Ism Faael’ (active participle) derived from the root alphabets of ق, و, م, which means ‘to arise’. Hence, ‘Qaem’ means the one who rises. Even though, according to the narrations of Ahle Bait (a.s.), this title is applicable for all the Imams (a.s.), but the uprising of Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) will be unique and universal and will be the greatest uprising in the history of mankind against all forms of injustice and corruption.
In the narrations, various reasons are cited for naming Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) with this title.
- The first reason is that Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) will rise on truth, with truth and for truth, and the reason for this is that the uprising of the enemies was on falsehood.
- The second reason is that he was named so by Allah in the previous world. When the angels complained to Allah regarding the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.), Allah introduced Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) – who was standing and praying – as ‘Qaem’, the one who will avenge the blood of Imam Husain (a.s.).
Abu Hamzah Sumali says that I asked Abu Jafar Mohammed ibne Ali al-Reza (a.s.): Why al-Qaem was named as al-Qaem? He (a.s.) replied:
“When my grandfather Imam Husain (a.s.) was killed, the angels, in a state of lament, approached Allah. They said: O Lord! Will you be silent on the killing of your chosen servant, who is the son of your caliph? Then Allah revealed to them: I swear by My Might and My Majesty, I will most certainly take revenge from them. Then, Allah introduced Imam Mahdi (a.s.) who will be from the progeny of Imam Husain (a.s.). Then, Allah showed some lights to the angels, while one of them was in the state of standing and was praying. Then Allah said: By that standing one (al-Qaem), I will take revenge from them”
- The third reason that is mentioned is because he will rise at the time when he would have been forgotten and majority of the people, who had believed in his Imamat, will deny him.
Suqraabi Daulah narrates that I heard Abu Jafar Mohammed ibn Ali al-Reza (a.s.) saying: “Surely the Imam after me….”. Then he (a.s.) became silent.
Then I said: O the son of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! Who is the Imam after al-Hasan (al-Askari) (a.s.)? Then he (a.s.) cried and said: “Surely (the Imam) after Hasan al-Askari (a.s.), is his son, the one who will rise (al-Qaem) with the truth, the awaited one.”
I asked: O the son of messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), why is he named al-Qaem?
He (a.s.) replied:
“Because certainly he will rise after he is forgotten and majority of the believers would have renounced their belief in his Imamat. (And majority of the believers in Imamat would be those who would forsake his Imamat).”
It is recommended to stand up facing the Qiblah when Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) is mentioned with this title of ‘al-Qaem’.
Third attribute
One of the titles is ‘al-Mahdi’. The word ‘Mahdi’, from the perspective of Arabic grammar, is ‘Ism Maf’ool’ (passive participle) derived from the root alphabets of ﻫ, د, ى which means ‘to guide’. Hence, ‘al-Mahdi’ is ‘the one who is guided’. This is one of the most frequently used titles in the traditions and two reasons for this title are mentioned as follows:
- The first reason is that he is guided by Allah for hidden affairs.
Janab Jabir (r.a.) narrates that a man came in the presence of Abu Jafar Imam al-Baqir (a.s.)….Imam Baqir (a.s.) told him
“Indeed he is titled as ‘al-Mahdi’ because he has been guided for hidden affairs.”
- The second reason is to consider ‘al-Mahdi’ in the meaning of ‘Ism Faael’ from the aspect of this world. He is titled so because he will guide the people in hidden affairs.
There is no argument in accepting both the meanings because only the one who is guided can be a guide for others.
Regarding the ‘hidden affairs’, several interpretations have been done by the scholars.
- Most of the people would lose and forget the basics of religion due to the prolonged occultation, the emergence of false propagandists of religion and their deviated interpretations of the book of Allah and narrations of the infallibles, and the destructive thoughts that are against the fundamentals of religion. Therefore, Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) would, after his reappearance, present and guide towards the correct religion and true beliefs. The corruption in religion would be to such an extent that people would think that Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) has brought a new religion, whereas it would be the same religion brought by Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
- Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) will guide people to the correct teachings and books of the previous religions (that are not distorted but are unavailable with the people).
- Due to absence of the physical presence of Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) and the onslaught of the enemies of Islam, people would not only forget the fundamental beliefs, but they would also fall in the pit of deviation, and be deprived in other spheres of their life, including morality, role models of their life, financial aspects, and the treasures of the earth that Allah has created for the people. Imam-e-Asr (a.s.), after his reappearance, will uncover the lost valuables and treasures for the people.
Here, we would like to point out that despite major occultation and its inherent feature, viz the absence of direct and physical access to Imam-e-Asr (a.s.), the door of guidance is not closed, and those who attach themselves with his holy presence in this period of absence, do achieve guidance and directions from him.
The long era of 1400 years elapsed in a moment, but the sermon of Ghadeer of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), who said: “Surely I am a trustworthy prophet for you”, that carries a lot of importance, feels like the Holy Prophets (s.a.w.a.) is still announcing it loud and clear and everyone is listening to it. This long era has been accorded as ‘kalamhil basar’ (twinkling of an eye) and is a thought-provoker to the intellectuals. Gradually, the world has reached to such a stage of destruction and devastation that it seems it will be destroyed at any moment and not a soul will survive.
This is the reason why all religions are wailing that a Mahdi will come who will fill this dead earth with justice.
From this perspective, if the people of Islam read the sermon of Ghadeer and judge, then the curtains that have covered their intellect and insight, can be pulled away and they would enter the haven of this faith-enriched valley for whose protection, our Qaem (a.s.) will rise and this world will get a new life through his reappearance.
Allah sent a person to the earth who is the cause of existence of the creatures and the seal of the prophets as a mercy for the worlds. The premise of this mercy, in the sermon of Ghadeer, is the repetition of the word ألا (know that). We are repeatedly reminded that, O those who believe beware now! If after this warning, a person follows his own wish, then he should be aware of its consequences in the world and the hereafter. This warning must be borne in mind in such a way that that people who believe must be steadfast in awaiting the reappearance of the last Imam (a.s.).
We pray to Allah that He increase our recognition of Imam-e-Asr (a.s.) and consider us among the true awaiters of Imam-e-Asr (a.s.); that we remain attached to him till our last breath and follow the instructions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) in the sermon of Ghadeer, so that we achieve success in this world and hereafter. We hope to be included among his true and sincere followers in this world and amongst his neighbours in the hereafter. Aameen!