One of the responsibilities of the believers during the occultation of Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) is daily recitation of Dua-e-Ahad after the morning prayers. Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) says “Whoever will recite this dua for forty days then Allah will enlist him among the aides of our Qaem and if he dies before his reappearance then Allah will raise him after death so that he can serve the Imam of his time.”
One of the phrases of this important dua is: “O Allah bestow on me the sight of the beautiful guide and his dazzling forehead. Let one glimpse of him, have a kohl-like effect on my eyes, which will illuminate my vision.”
In the dua of Asr-e-Ghaibat, we find the following phrase: “O Allah: I implore you to let me see the Valiye-Amr” Similar such phrases and expressions are found in other duas related to Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.). In Dua-e-Nudbah, a believer remembers his Imam, and pleads with him in this manner: “It is indeed very hard for me to bear that I can see everyone but am unable to see you”
All these lamentations that have been related by the Infallibles (a.s.) state the practical possibilities of meeting in Occultation. These clearly indicate that during the occultation of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.), it is possible to meet him but of course by the consent of Allah.
The Concept of Occultation Incidentally, we have discussed the exact import and concept of Occultation in earlier editions of Al Muntazar. However, for the uninitiated, we will just give a quick definition of Occultation. The occultation of Imam (a.s.) does not in any manner means that he is living in a cave or a basement and has no interaction with the people.
Rather, occultation means that Hazrat Imam-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.) is living in a state of anonymity and people do not recognize him. Of course, Imam (a.s.) moves around among the people, redresses their grievances and helps them in calamities but people fail to recognize him.
Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) says: “Imam-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.) goes for Hajj every year. He sees people and recognizes them. The people also see but do not fail to recognize him.”
(Kamaaluddin, vol. 2, pg. 440)
Is it possible that someone is present among the people, rescues them in difficulties and solves their problems but they do not recognize him The answer to this question lies in the story of Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.). Holy Quran has narrated the meeting of the brothers of Yusuf (a.s.) when they visited him in Egypt in the following verse: “And Yusuf’s brothers came and went to meet him, and he knew them, while they did not recognize him.”
(Surah Yusuf (12): Verse 58)
If Allah’s Proof is present among the people but does not want them to recognize him then despite he being right in front of them, they would never know his identity.
Traditions say that among other traits of Prophets (a.s.), Imam (a.s.) shares some similarities with Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) as well.The brothers of Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) could recognize him only when he decided to introduce himself, as the Holy Quran narrates the incident. So when they came to him, they said: O chief! Distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought scanty money, so give us full measure and be charitable to us; surely Allah rewards the charitable.
He said: Do you know how you treated Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?
They said: Are you indeed Yusuf? He said: I am Yusuf and this is my brother; Allah has indeed been gracious to us; surely he who guards (against evil) and is patient (is rewarded) for surely Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good.
They said: By Allah! Now Allah has certainly chosen you over us, and we were certainly sinners.
He said: (There shall be) no reproof against you this day; Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful”
(Surah Yusuf (12): Verses 88-92)
A glance at the above verses will reveal that they not only failed to recognize Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) but also his brother Benjamin who was standing next to him. Incidentally Benjamin had accompanied them in their previous trip and Hazrat Yusuf (a.s.) had actually detained him. This means that if Allah’s Proof (a.s.) wishes then despite being face, to face the people will not only be unable to recognize him but also will not be able to recognize anyone whom he does not wish to be identified. Nevertheless, whenever he will desire they will recognize him.
Hence subsequent to Divine consent, whenever Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) will wish, the people will be allowed to recognize him. We all pray to Allah that in this period of Occultation we get the privilege of meeting him.
The levels of meeting Spiritual meeting:
Spiritually we should develop such a bond with Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) that we should feel his presence in front of us. The sentiment should be similar to our distant Ziyarat of Hazrat Imam Husain (a.s.), which we recite with complete recognition .When we recite the Ziyarat we feel as if we are present in front of Imam Husain (a.s.) and are talking to him (a.s.). If such emotions are provoked, the feelings become intense and tears start trickling down the eyes.
When a person says from the depth of his heart, Assalamo Alaika Ya Sahebaz Zamaan (a.s.), he develops a spiritual bond with him. However, it is imperative that the ziyarat and salam should be said with utmost attention and feelings and not out of habit and indifference. This had been eloquently explained in Dua Nudba thus:
“May my life be sacrificed for you, though you are in occultation but my existence is not devoid of your remembrance. May my life be sacrificed for you, although you are separate from us but never too far from us.”
Present despite disappearance, near though far.Meeting in dream There have been such anecdotes where people have seen Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) in their dreams. Numerous traditions have been reported which have mentioned about the supplications, actions and special chapters for meeting Imam (a.s.) in their dreams.
Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) said:
“If someone recites Surah Bani Israel for 40 nights of Thursday, then he will not die until he has met our Qaem and eventually he will be among his helpers and aides.”
(Mikyaalul Makaarim, vol. 2, p. 528, [Persian])
Meeting during Apocalypse Allah has given such a power to human soul that if it can extricate itself from material needs then it can breach all barriers. This can be achieved after lot of practice and dedication. It is through this power that a man can foresee the incidents of future. A man can attain the privilege of meeting Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) during apocalypse. However, it should be borne in mind that even in Mukashefa, it will be possible to meet him only when he gives consent for the meeting. Otherwise, despite all the practice and devotion it will not be possible to meet him, the meeting hinges entirely on his approval.
Apparent meeting There are few preconditions to the meeting; A. We may meet Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) but neither before, during or even after the meeting will it be known that he is Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.).
B. It may not be known during the meeting but after the meeting it becomes clear that the person who has just left is none other than Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.). Even this has two aspects; sometimes it becomes immediately clear after the meeting, while at other times it becomes known only after the lapse of a long period. During the occultation of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) several such incidents have been narrated about meetings in such conditions.
C. Sometimes during the course of the meeting, it becomes evident that the person is none other than Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.). Very few such incidents have been reported for instance the incident of Ismail Harqali or those related to Allamah Sayed Mahdi Bahrool Uloom (r.a.).
Imam (a.s.) is Alive Innumerable anecdotes of meeting with Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) have been related. A few things that becomes clear through such narrations are:
- Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) is alive
- Imam(a.s.) is living on this very earth
- Imam(a.s.) solves the problems of the people
- We should turn towards him in times of crisis
- The earth is not devoid of Allah’s Proof
- These incidents are strong rebuttal to all those detractors who deny the existence of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.).
- Who is eligible for the meeting?
While reading the incidents of meeting, we observe that those who got the privilege of meeting Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) did not possess any special qualification or characteristic that could be considered a pre requisite for the meeting. Those people who met him included scholars as well as lay persons, pious people and some ordinary people, businessmen and destitute, affluent and poor, professionals and laborers, people in distress, in fact even non-shias have also met him. This proves that those who met him did not have any special background except that it depended on the sole discretion of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.).
Nevertheless, piety, tearful supplications, intense desire to meet him will definitely help but again it can never be a guarantee for the meeting. Hazrat Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) has himself mentioned the reason for not meeting, in one of his letters.
“May Allah give the grace of obedience to our followers. If they would have remained firm on their pledge, then there would not have been any delay in meeting. They would have been able to meet us soon along with recognition. The reason that has increased the distance between us are those reports that we have received about them which are extremely disliked by us and we never expected it from them.”
(Ehtejaaj Tabarasi, vol. 2, p. 325, quoted from Mikyaalul Makaarim vol. 1, p. 160, [Persian])
This letter has clearly indicated that the reason that we have not been able to meet him are our own misdeeds which he does not expect from us and dislikes it extremely.
Ali bin Mahziyaar is among the select few who had the honor of meeting Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.) and it becomes all the more special as he knew that he is meeting the Imam of his time. When Ali bin Mahziyaar presented himself in front of Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.), Imam (a.s.) addressed him thus:
“O Abul Hasan, We spent days and nights eagerly waiting for you, what took you so long?”
Ibn Mahziyaar said: Master there was none who could have directed me to you Imam (a.s.) said, “There was none who could lead you to us?”
Then Imam (a.s.) raised a finger and drew a line on the sand and wrote: It is not so (the delay was) because You people increased your wealth
- You suppressed the weak believers and intimidated them
- You have severed the ties of relationship
Is any excuse left after this?”
Mahziyaar said: Apologies! I seek your pardon O my Master!Imam (a.s.) continued “O Ibne Mahziyaar if some Shias from you did not seek forgiveness for others then all of you would have perished except some special Shias. The special Shias are those whose deeds match their words.”
(Tabseratul Wali by Sayed Hashim Bahraani, p 142)
An important lesson that we learn from this meeting is that an increase in wealth, intimidation of poor shias and breaking ties with relatives are reasons for not being able to meet Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.). Hence if we want to meet Imam (a.s.) we should avoid all these misdeeds.
Let us sincerely abstain from sins for the sake of Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and pray to Allah for meeting His Divine Proof (a.s.).
Maybe even we could also get the privilege of meeting our Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.). Aameen.