Kamaaluddin wa Tamaamun Ni’ma Vol. 2

Chapter 44: Reasons for Occultation (Ghaibat)

1 - Narrated to us Muhammad bin Musa bin Mutawakkil: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Yahya al-Attar [from Muhammad bin Husain] from Muhammad bin Isa bin Ubaid from Muhammad bin Abi Umair from Saeed bin Ghazwan from Abi Baseer from Abi Abdullah (a.s.) that he said:

“The birth of the Master of this affair has been concealed from the people so that when he emerges, he would not be having anyone’s allegiance upon him.”

2 - Narrated to us my father and Muhammad bin Hasan - May Allah be pleased with them – they said: Narrated to us Saad bin Abdullah from Muhammad bin Ubaid and Muhammad bin Husain bin Abil Khattab from Muhammad bin Abi Umair from Jameel Ibne Salih from Abi Abdullah (a.s.) that he said:

“The Qaim will arise without having anyone’s allegiance on his neck.”

3 - Narrated to us my father (r.a.): Narrated to us Saad bin Abdullah from Yaqoob bin Yazid and Hasan bin Zareef, all of them from Muhammad bin Abi Umair from Hisham bin Saalim from Abi Abdullah (a.s.) that he said:

“The Qaim (a.s.) will arise and there will not be anyone’s allegiance on his neck.”

4 - Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq (r.a.): Narrated to us Ahmad bin Muhammad Hamadani: Narrated to us Ali bin Hasan bin Ali bin Faddal from his father from Abil Hasan Ali bin Musa ar-Reza (a.s.) that he said:

“As if I can see the Shias after the passing away of my third descendant, that they are roving about like cattle in search of pasture but unable to find it. I asked: Why would it be so, O son of Allah’s Messenger? He replied: Because that Imam will be hidden from them. I asked: Why? He replied: So that when he rises up with the sword he would not be having anyone’s allegiance on his neck.”

5 - Narrated to us Abdul Wahid bin Muhammad al-Attar (r.a.): Narrated to us Abu Amr Kashshi from Muhammad bin Masud: Narrated to us Jibraeel bin Ahmad: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Isa from Muhammad bin Abi Umair from Saeed bin Ghazwan from Abi Baseer from Abi Abdullah (a.s.) that he said:

“The master of this affair will be one whose birth shall be concealed from the people so that when he rises up he would not be having anyone’s allegiance on his neck. And Allah, the Mighty and Sublime will improve his circumstances overnight.”

6 - Narrated to us Muzaffar bin Ja’far bin Muzaffar Alawi Samarqandi (r.a.): Narrated to us Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Masud and Haider bin Muhammad Samarqandi, all of them said: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Masud: Narrated to us Jibraeel bin Ahmad from Musa bin Ja’far Baghdadi: Narrated to me Hasan bin Muhammad Sairafi from Hanan bin Sadeer from his father from Abi Abdullah (a.s.) that he said:

“There is an occultation for our Qaim, which shall be prolonged.” I asked: “Why, O son of Allah’s Messenger?” He replied: “Because the Almighty Allah wants that the practices of His prophets in their occultation should also occur on him. And O Sudair, his occultation must come to an end. The Almighty Allah says:

“That you shall most certainly enter one state after another.”[^1]

It means: The Sunnats of those who have gone before you.”

7 - And through the same chain of narrators from Muhammad bin Masud: Narrated to me Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Khalid: Narrated to me Ahmad bin Hilal from Uthman bin Isa Rawasi from Khalid bin Najih Jawwaz from Zurarah that he said: Abi Abdullah (a.s.) said:

“O Zurarah, occultation is inevitable for the Qaim. I said: Why? He said: He will fear for his life - and he pointed to his stomach with his hand.”

8 - And through the same chain of narrators from Muhammad bin Masud: Narrated to me Muhammad bin Ibrahim Warraq: Narrated to us Hamdan bin Ahmad Qalanisi from Ayyub bin Nuh from Safwan bin Yahya from Ibne Bukair from Zurarah that he said: I heard Aba Ja’far (a.s.) say:

“There is occultation for the Qaim before his advent. I said: Why? He said: He will fear - and he pointed to his stomach with his hand.”

9 - Narrated to me Abdul Wahid bin Muhammad bin Ubdus al-Attar (r.a.): Narrated to us Ali bin Muhammad bin Qutaibah from Hamdan bin Sulaiman from Muhammad bin Husain from Ibne Mahboob from Ali bin Riyab from Zurarah that he said: I heard Aba Ja’far (a.s.) say:

“The Qaim (a.s.) will have an occultation before he rises up. I said: Why? He said: He will fear - and he pointed to his stomach with his hand.” – Zurarah says: That is [he will fear] being killed.

10 -Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ali Majilaway (r.a.): Narrated to me my uncle Muhammad bin Abil Qasim from Ahmad bin Abi Abdullah Barqi from Ayyub bin Nuh from Safwan bin Yahya from Ibne Bukair from Zurarah from Abi Abdullah (a.s.) that he said:

“The Qaim (a.s.) will have an occultation before he rises up. I said: Why? He said: He will be afraid that he would be killed.”

11 -Narrated to us Abdul Wahid bin Muhammad bin Ubdus al-Attar (r.a.): Narrated to me Ali bin Muhammad Ibne Qutaibah Nishapuri: Narrated to us Hamdan bin Sulaiman Nishapuri: Narrated to me Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Ja’far Madayni from Abdullah bin Fadl Hashimi that he said: I heard As-Sadiq Ja’far bin Muhammad (a.s.) say:

“Certainly, there is a long occultation for the master of this affair which cannot be avoided, as during the period of occultation every falsehood seeking person shall fall into doubt.

I asked: Why, may I be sacrificed on you? He replied: For the reason we have not been permitted to reveal.

I said: Then what is the wisdom behind his occultation? He replied: The same wisdom that was behind the occultation of divine proofs before him. Indeed the wisdom behind the occultation of His Eminence will not be known except after his reappearance just as the wisdom behind the actions of Khizr (a.s.) of making a hole in the boat, killing the boy and repairing the wall were not clear to Prophet Musa till the time of the parting of their ways.

O son of Fadl, this matter (of occultation) is a matter of Allah the Almighty and is one of the divine secrets from the unseen of God. And since we know that the Almighty Allah is All-Wise, we testify that all His actions and words are based on wisdom even though their causes may not be clear for us.”

[^1]: Surah Inshiqaq 84:19