A Replay To Belief of Mahdism in Shia Imamate

B. History of Leadership and Caliphate

This issue has always been much in attention. The prophet hood was still in its start and the Revelations had started coming down, this issue too made its appearance as a matter of no less magnitude. There is a story of a man who approached the Prophet and told him that he would embrace his faith on one condition and that was that he becomes leader after the Prophet (SAW). The Prophet (SAW) rejected the man.

In the meantime, it is true that in the current of some great events of historical significance the religions view of Shiasm sometimes used to palpitate and sometimes the Islamic rays have had so glared through the prism that its reflection has astonished the viewers and captured their attention.

It is a historical fact that governments came to power, which were quite incompetent and not fit for the leadership. Although bad they were imposed on the people because they facilated the ground which became easily accessible for the leadership. Leadership thus obtained they ruled over the people. People were helpless. They could do nothing beyond disdaining and cursing them. The governments in spite of the power could not rule over the dominion of hearts. In the lifetime of the Prophet (SAW) nobody dared to show his true identity.

As there was no opposition openly, the underground movements took root. What they could not accept was the leadership of Ali (AS), announced time and again by the Prophet. Secret plots were concocted. The Prophet himself was to be assassinated.

After the death of the Prophet (SAW) what was underground became open.

The Prophet was no more to be feared; but his house and its members were there. The opposition had a plan, and they proceeded with it. Now the front was the very house of the Prophet (SAW). Whoever was a member, friend or sympathizer to the Holy Prophet’s household was to be crushed, so that their opposition should gain ground. Thus the division became wider and the opposition reached every house, if that house was a friend of the Prophet’s house. Those who were supporters of the Prophet’s household were called Shia. In other words, those who adhered to the Prophet’s household or remained in his camp, became Shia. Wherever a Shia be, he had to confront this opposition.

The only daughter of the Prophet (SAW), Zahra, was not excluded. They came to her house and tortured her and showed the people that they could go to that extreme and beyond. Thereafter the events took their course. Some of the followers of the Prophet went astray and a split was now the rule.

This deviation from the original course became a school and whoever adhered to it became a Sunni. And a Sunni was to oppose a Shia who remained in the line of the Prophet (SAW) which was under the protection of his household. Although such was the case however face to face confrontation was very prudent by avoided in the time of Abu Bakr and also in the regime of Omar. What did the people do? The legality or the legitimacy of the government a mattered to some, which others remained indifferent. Some people rather enjoyed the opportunity as they affiliated themselves to the ruling junta. There were also three who considered the issue as finished and settled.

But a few among them, like Omar, never considered themselves safe and secure, because the legitimacy of their rule was under question by some. As long as doubt existed the danger too existed that the people might return to the original track. Therefore Omar adopted very calculated policies in which to keep Ali (AS) at a distance from power. So, Omar wrote a plan, which introduced the proposal of a six men committee. Othaman carried out the plan. As a result Ali once again stayed away from power. In the meantime, this occasioned for the people to recall the words of the Prophet (SAW) about Ali (AS) when he had introduced him as the one who would succeed him. An outpour of memory excited the passions in such an effective way that they, the people, showed and expressed their disappointment as they saw the deviation from the track of the Prophet (SAW) was getting wider. The hatred and abhorrence towards Othaman was in such abundance that Muslims could not restrain their anger and anguish.

The huge fire, which had erupted, was fueled by the irregularities and injustice of Othaman himself. The original Islam was in need of the rightful successor of the Prophet. As there was no other than Ali, huge crowds of Muslims gathered around to support him. After twenty-five years of straying off the right path, people were once again shown the correct path. Ali (AS) and a holy war under his command were considered by Muslims a great honor. Allegiance to him was pledged and his succession to the Prophet’s place was celebrated. Shiasm considers nothing wrong with this, but quite the contrary; this was done in compliance with logic and reason.

This is a fact that the faith of the Shia was never forgotten. The hearts of the people have always hung to the Prophet’s household. They were victims and deprived of their right. People gave their support as the occasion arose and the opportunity invited. Poets have narrated this faith. Farazdog is a good example of one of these poets whose famous laudation addresses Husham telling him as to who Imam Zainulabedeen was. Mosa Bin Naseer was the governor of Africa.

He had a slave by the name of Tariq. Tariq conquered Spain. Eventhough they held offices in the government of Bani Ommiya, they were Shia. Because of his being a Shia, Tariq’s properties were confiscated and he himself was dismissed, regardless of his services. The Shia belief had penetrated even into Mawiya’s family. Mawiya’s grandson, Yazid, was a Shia. He openly accused his father and grandfather and announced his allegiance to Ali and other members of the Prophet’s House. Likewise was the situation in the Bani Abbas dynasty.

It is the Truth and the originality that the Shia faith has survived throughout ages in spite of the ups and downs that has disturbed it and posed as a threat to its holder. From the political aspect, any Shia was restricted from holding any office in the government. The tyrant and cruel rulers of the Bani Abbas dynasty like Mansoor, Haroon and Mamun had knowledge of Shiasm, however contrary to their knowledge they crushed the Shia thought in order to obtain and keep their power.

Going down the line of the Bani Abbas dynasty we see another ruler, Muntasar, who held the Shia thought. Again, another by the name of Naser; he too was Shia. At Samerre (Iraq), the place of disappearance of Mahdi (AS), the twelfth Imam, had been entrusted to and was repaired by Naser. There are narrations from Shia sources, which say that Naser was Shia and regarded himself as a deputy of the twelfth Imam, Mahdi (AS). The Shia faith is Islam. Neither greed corrupted nor ambition has polluted it. They did not desert the Prophet. When he was no more the tradition of THADALAIN goaded them to the Prophet’s household - the Imams, twelve in succession. Nothing was added there to; nothing was reduced there from.

It was the same in the Prophet’s lifetime and remained the same throughout the fourteen centuries. What had history to do with it? They attribute it to history. What we do understand is that the Shia faith has been the cause for uprisings, movements either open or underground ones, revolts, and revolutions. The Shia faith has always stood against tyrants. It is quite contrary to what some think and say. Of course, there who think such are men of no knowledge or little information. They do not know; and those who know conceal; but history knows and tells and does not conceal. There were Shia governments in Egypt, Dialama, North Africa, Iran, and Iraq. The upraising of the Safavis was an event caused by Shiasm. All these dominions were under Shia rule. There were the events that the Shia faith caused; and not the other way around.