By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz

 

Heartiest felicitations to our dear readers on a very auspicious day, since today happens to be the 9th of Rabi al-Awwal which marks the start of the Divinely-designated mission of the 12th and Last Infallible Heir of the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). 

He is the Prophet’s namesake, and was a boy of only five years when orphaned the day before on the 8th of Rabi al-Awwal, in the year 260 AH ( 874 AD) in the Iraqi city of Samarra on the martyrdom through poisoning of his father, Imam Hasan Askari (AS). 

The Divine mantle of imamate came to rest on his tender shoulders under circumstances when the self-styled caliph of the usurper Abbasid regime, after assassinating his father, was bent upon finding him, and if possible murder him as well. But by the Grace of Allah Who bestowed prophethood upon Jesus (AS), while still a boy in the cradle and saved him from the conspiracies of the Israelites, the 12th Imam went into occultation, and will reappear as Qa’em al-Mahdi in the end times to cleanse the Planet of all vestiges of oppression and corruption by establishing the global government of peace, prosperity, and justice. 

Orphaned at the tender age of 5, Divine Providence Willed that his imamate continue in the state of occultation. As a matter of fact minor occultation or Ghaybat as-Sughra, during which period he was hidden from the prying eyes of the usurpers of the caliphate who had launched a manhunt to trace him out and murder him, in view of the Prophet’s famous statement that the number of his Righteous Successors will number 12 and the last one will rise as Qa’em al-Mahdi. Nevertheless he kept secret contact with the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt through the well-organized system of “wikala” or representation, headed by Deputies, who succeeded one another and numbered four. 

The Abbasids shuddered at the thought of his return, which God Willed should be prolonged for several centuries as Ghaybat al-Kubra (major occultation) – as a trial for mankind, as a respite for the doubters to reform and rectify their beliefs, and as a hope for the believers to look forward to his eventual reappearance without the least pessimism after having endured the blessings of unwavering awaiting that no propaganda of the faithless, no plot of hypocrites, and no treason of the Takfiris could undermine.

The One promised by God, foretold by the Messenger of Mercy – as both Shi’a and Sunni sources of hadith testify – and expected in all religions as the Deliverer of humanity, will indeed reappear when the world would be brimming with violence, bloodshed, treachery, and all sorts of injustices – as the trend of events of our times indicates. He will make his advent at the holy Ka’ba, the Symbolic House of the One and Only Creator. He will stand between the Rukn al-Yamaani and the Maqaam al-Ibrahim (or the Station of Prophet Abraham), and call five times for redemption of justice, that is, Isteghasa or appeal in the Divine Court for help.

The 1st phrase of his Isteghasa would be: “Know O’ people of the world! I am Imam al-Qa’em.”

The 2nd phrase of the Imam’s Isteghas will be: “Know O’ people of the world! I am the Avenging Sword.”

Here some questions arise. For whose innocent blood will Imam Mahdi (AS) will be the Avenging Sword? Who was the person whom beasts in human form brutally martyred? For whom do the faithful continue to shed tears, while making pilgrimage to his shrine, even at the risk posed to their life by the dastardly devils of every deviationist doctrine, such as the US regime, the Zionists, the Wahhabis, the Salafis, the cannibalistic Takfiris, and all sorts of terrorists and traitors?

The answers to these questions are provided in the 3rd, 4th and 5th phrases of the Isteghatha of Imam Mahdi (AS), who will proclaim from the precincts of the holy Ka’ba: 

“Know O’ people of the world! Indeed my ancestor [Imam] Husain was slain in the state of acute thirst.”

The next phrase will be: “Know O’ people of the world! Surely, my ancestor [Imam] Husain lay bare without a shroud or burial.”

The last phrase of the Isteghasa of Imam Mahdi (AS) on his reappearance at the holy Ka’ba will be: “Know O’ people of the world! The bare body of my ancestor [Imam] Husain was trampled [by the Omayyad horsemen].”

True believers from all over the world will rally to the Imam’s call on his reappearance, which would be preceded by five definite signs, according to a statement from the Prophet’s 6th Infallible Heir, Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS), who says:

“Before the uprising of Imam Mahdi (AS) there will be five certain signs: (uprisings of) the Yemeni, the Sufyani, the call from the sky, martyrdom of Nafs Zakiyyah (or the pure soul) and the rift in the desert (where the earth will swallow an army sent to Hijaz by the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt)”.

This hadith is ample proof that the Arabian Peninsula would be cleared of the evil presence of the Wahhabis, especially the ruling Saudi Najdi family of brigands with Jewish roots, who are masquerading as Muslims in order to destroy the spirit of Islam through their collaboration with the US and the Zionists, and their open enmity with the followers of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt. Another point to note is the Islamic Revolution in Yemen and preparation of Yemeni Muslims for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AS), along with the flags of the east from Khorasan (Iran) that will converge on Iraq to save the country from the bloody hordes of Sufyani who would be unleashing bloodbaths in Syria. It is mentioned that Sanaa will be the capital of the Islamic Movement in Yemen, and its leader will be from the progeny of Zayd the Martyr, the son of Zain al-Abedin (AS).

Imam Mahdi (AS) will arrive in Iraq to save the people from the sedition of the Sufyani and his bloodthirsty invaders from Syria.

The Mahdi (AS) will have as his lieutenant Prophet Jesus (AS) – who will also reappear and disown Christianity – which means, most of the Europeans and Americans, having rid themselves of the despots in the White House and the despicable Zionists, would by then become God-fearing believers, receptive to the universal mission of Islam, as preached by the 12th Imam whose mother was the spotlessly pure lady, Narjes, a granddaughter of the Byzantine emperor and a direct descendant through her mother of Simeon, one of the 12 disciples of the Virgin-born Messiah.  

“O Allah make him the refuge for Your oppressed servants and a helper for him who has no other helper besides You and the reviver of the commandments in Your book which has been neglected and the strengthener of the sciences in Your religion and the way of Your Prophet – may Allah’s blessing be upon him and his progeny.”

“O Allah, enable us to witness his days, his appearance and his rising, and appoint us to be among his helpers, avenging the martyrs alongside him. Write us among his supporters and dedicated friends; bring us to life in his reign, prosperous, enriched by his company, defending his cause, and secure from all ills, O Most Merciful of the merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, and may His blessings be on our master, Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Envoys, and on his Progeny and Kindred, the truthful ones. (O God), may Your curse be on all oppressors!”