Kamaaluddin wa Tamaamun Ni’ma Vol. 2

Chapter 32: Statements of al-Baqir (a.s.) regarding the occurrence of Ghaibat

1 - Narrated to us my father and Muhammad bin Hasan - May Allah be pleased with them - they said: Narrated to us Saad bin Abdullah and Abdullah bin Ja’far Himyari: Narrated to us Ahmad bin Husain bin Umar bin Yazid from Husain Ibne Rabi Madayni: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ishaq from Usaid bin Thalaba from Umme Hani that she said:

“I met Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali bin Husain bin Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) and asked him about the following verse:

But nay! I swear by the stars, That run their course (and) hide themselves.[^1]

He said: The Imam will be concealed from the people (during occultation). It denotes the Imam who after the death of those who had his Marefat (recognition) in 260 A.H. will go into occultation. Then at the time of reappearance he will come out like a meteor on a dark night. If you live in his time it will be highly pleasing to you.”

2 - Narrated to us Ahmad bin Harun Fami and Ali bin Husain bin Shazawayh Muaddab and Ja’far Ibne Muhammad bin Masroor and Ja’far bin Husain - May Allah be pleased with them - they said: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Ja’far Himyari from his father from Ayyub bin Nuh from Abbas bin Aamir Qasbani. And narrated to us Ja’far bin Ali bin Hasan bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Mughaira Kufi that he said: Narrated to me my grandfather Hasan bin Ali bin Abdullah from Abbas bin Aamir Qasbani from Musa bin Hilal Dhabbi from Abdullah bin Ataa that he said: I asked Abi Ja’far (a.s.):

“You have a large number of followers in Iraq and by Allah there is none like you in your family, so why don’t you stage an uprising? He replied: O Abdullah bin Ataa, you have paid attention to useless talks. I am not that Imam of yours who will uprise. I asked: Then which Imam is that? He replied: Look out for the one from us whose birth is concealed from people. He will be that Imam.”
3 - Narrated to us my father and Muhammad bin Hasan - May Allah be pleased with them - they said: Narrated to us Saad bin Abdullah: Narrated to me Musa bin Umar bin Yazid Saiqal from Ali bin Asbat from Ali bin Abi Hamza from Abi Baseer from Abi Ja’far (a.s.) regarding the words of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime:

Say: Have you considered if your water should go down, who is it then that will bring you flowing water?[^2]

This is revealed for the Qaim. Your Imam will disappear from your view and you will not know where he is gone. When he will reappear he will give you news of the heavens and the earth and knowledge of the lawful and the prohibited of Allah. Then he said: By Allah, this verse has not yet actualized. It will indeed be actualized (in future).”

4 - 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 Isa bin Ubaid from Muhammad bin Fudail from Abi Hamza from Abi Ja’far (a.s.) that he said:

“Indeed Allah, the Mighty and the High sent Muhammad (S) to the jinns and men and appointed twelve successors after him. Some of them passed away and some remain. For all the successors after Muhammad (S) the practice of the successors of Prophet Isa (a.s.) was enforced and it was that Isa (a.s.) also had twelve successors. And Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s.) was on the practice of Jesus (a.s.).”

5 -Narrated to us Muhammad bin Musa bin Mutawakkil (r.a.): Narrated to us Ali bin Ibrahim from his father Ibrahim bin Hashim from Abdullah bin Hammad Ansari and Muhammad bin Sinan, all of them from Abil Jarud Ziyad bin Mundhir from Abi Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (a.s.) that he said to me:

“O Aba Jarud, when the time of occultation will prolong, people will begin to say: The Qaim is dead or he has been killed. And in which valley does he reside? And the opponents will say: Where does a Qaim exist? His bones must also have decayed. At that time remain hopeful for his reappearance and when you hear his call harken to it. You should go to join him even if you have to crawl on snow.”

6 - Narrated to us my father and Muhammad bin Hasan - May Allah be pleased with them - they said: Narrated to us Abdullah bin Ja’far Himyari from Muhammad bin Isa from Sulaiman bin Dawood from Abi Baseer that he said: I heard Aba Ja’far (a.s.) say:

“In the Master of this affair are present practices (Sunnah) of four prophets: Musa, Isa, Yusuf and Muhammad (S).

From Musa is being fearful for his life and his occultation, from Yusuf is the imprisonment, from Isa it is that it would be said: He is dead, while it would not be so. And as for the similarity with Muhammad (S) it will be his advent and rising up with the sword.”

Narrated to us Ahmad bin Ziyad Hamdani (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us Ali bin Ibrahim bin Hashim from Muhammad bin Isa from Sulaiman bin Dawood from Abi Baseer from Abi Ja’far (a.s.) a similar tradition.

7 - And narrated to us Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Isaam (r.a.): Narrated to us Muhammad bin Yaqoob [al-Kulaini]: Narrated to us Qasim bin Alaa: Narrated to us Ismail bin Ali Qazwini: Narrated to me Ali bin Ismail from Asim bin Humaid Hannat from Muhammad bin Muslim Thaqafi Tahhan that he said:

“I came to His Eminence, Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali Baqir (a.s.) in order to ask him about the Qaim of Aale Muhammad. His Eminence himself initiated the matter and said: O Muhammad bin Muslim, in the Qaim of Ahlul Bayt of Muhammad (S) are present similarities to five prophets: Yunus bin Mata, Yusuf bin Yaqoob, Musa, Isa and Muhammad - peace be on them all.

Similarity to Yunus bin Mata: Return from occultation as a young man though being advanced in age. Similarity to Yusuf bin Yaqoob: Occultation from the special people and general public and remaining concealed from the brothers and the becoming difficult of the matter on his father, Yaqoob inspite of the nearness of distance between him and his father, his family and his followers.

Similarity to Musa: Always being in fear and the prolongation of occultation. Hidden birth and the exhaustion of his followers after him from the excessive torments and tribulations that they suffered till the Almighty Allah permitted him to appear and helped and assisted him against his enemies.

Similarity to Isa: Controversy regarding him; such that a group says: He is not yet born. And a group says: He is dead. And some people allege: He is killed and is no more.

As for his similarity with his grandfather, Muhammad Mustafa (S): Taking up armed struggle and exterminating the enemies of Allah and the Prophet; and the tyrants and the oppressors. He shall be helped with the sword and awe and no flag shall be hoisted over him. Of the signs of his reappearance are: The advent of the Sufyani from Shaam (Syria), the advent of Yamani, the call from the sky in the month of Ramadan and a caller who will announce from the sky his name and his father’s name.”

8 - Narrated to us Muhammad bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Walid (r.a.): Narrated to us Muhammad bin Hasan as-Saffar: Narrated to us Ahmad bin Muhammad Isa and Muhammad bin Husain bin Abil Khattab and Haitham Ibne Abi Masruq Nahdi from Hasan bin Mahboob Sarrad from Ali bin Riyab from Abi Hamza Thumali from Abi Ja’far (a.s.) that he heard him say:

“The most proximate to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime and the most knowledgeable about Him and the most kind to the people are Muhammad (S) and the Imams (a.s.). So you enter where they enter and leave off whatever they leave. It denotes Husain and his descendants as the truth is with them and they are the successors and the Imams are among them. So wherever you see them, follow them and when they are not seen beseech the Almighty Allah and wait for the practice that you got (occultation) and follow it. Love what they love and hate what they hate. Very soon you will get deliverance.”

9 - Narrated to us my father and Muhammad bin Hasan - May Allah be pleased with them - they said: Narrated to us Saad bin Abdullah: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Husain bin Abil Khattab and Muhammad bin Isa from Muhammad bin Abi Umair from Jameel bin Durraj from Muhammad bin Muslim that he said: Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said:

“None responded to the call of the Messenger of Allah (S) before Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) and Lady Khadija (s.a.). The Messenger of Allah (S) remained in Mecca for three years (after declaring his mission) as he feared his community and other people.” It is a lengthy tradition, a part of which we have presented, as it pertains to the topic of our discussion.

10 - Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq (r.a.): Narrated to us Abu Ali Muhammad bin Hammam from Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Malik: Narrated to me Hasan bin Muhammad bin Sama-a: Narrated to us Ahmad bin Harith from Mufaddal bin Umar from Abi Abdullah Ja’far bin Muhammad as-Sadiq (a.s.) from his father, Abi Ja’far al-Baqir (a.s.) that he said:

“When Qaim (a.s.) rises up he would say:

“So I fled from you when I feared you, then my Lord granted me wisdom and made me of the apostles.[^3]

11 - Narrated to us Ali bin Ahmad bin Muhammad (r.a.): Narrated to us Muhammad bin Abi Abdullah Kufi: Narrated to us Musa bin Imran Nakhai from his uncle Husain bin Yazid Naufali from Hasan Ibne Ali bin Abi Hamza [from his father] from Abi Baseer that he said: I heard Aba Ja’far (a.s.) say:

“In the master of this affair there is a similarity to Musa, to Isa, to Yusuf and Muhammad (S).

As for the similarity to Musa: It is being fearful and watchful. And as for Isa, it is that it would be said about him what was said about Isa. And as for Yusuf it is the prison and the occultation. And as for Muhammad (S) it is rising with the sword and he will follow the style of His Eminence and expound his traditions. At that time he would carry his sword in his right hand for eight months and continuously go on eliminating his enemies till the Almighty Allah is satisfied.

I asked, How do we know that the Almighty Allah is satisfied?

He replied, ‘The Almighty Allah will instill mercy into his heart.’”

12 - Narrated to us Abdul Wahid bin Muhammad bin Ubdus (r.a.): Narrated to us Abu Amr Kashshi: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Masud: Narrated to us Ali bin Muhammad Qummi from Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Yahya from Ibrahim bin Hashim from Abi Ahmad Azdi from Dhurais Kunasi that he said: I heard Aba Ja’far (a.s.) say:

“In the Master of this affair there is a resemblance to Yusuf (a.s.) and it is that Allah, the Mighty and Sublime would improve and reform his circumstances overnight.”

13 - And through the same chain of narrators from Muhammad bin Masud that he said: Narrated to us Jibraeel bin Ahmad: Narrated to us Musa bin Ja’far bin Wahab Baghdadi am Yaqoob bin Yazid from Sulaiman bin Hasan from Saad Ibne Abi Khalaf az-Zaam from Maroof bin Kharbooz that he said: I asked Abi Ja’far Baqir (a.s.):

“Tell me about yourself. The Imam said: We are like the stars. When one sets, another rises. There is peace, security, submission, Islam, victor and keys among us till all the sons of Abdul Muttalib become equal and it is not known which one is worthy of which position. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime will make your Imam manifest for you. So praise Allah, the Mighty and Sublime Who has given choice to Imam to either choose hardships or degradation. I asked: My I be sacrificed on you, which one would the Imam choose? He replied: He will choose hardships over dishonor.”

14 - And through the same chain of narrators from Muhammad bin Masud from Nasr bin Sabbah from Ja’far bin Suhail that he said: Narrated to me Abu Abdullah Akhu Abi Ali Kabuli from Qabusi from Nasr bin Sindi from Khalil bin Amr from Ali bin Hasan Fazari from Ibrahim bin Atiyyah from Umme Hani Thaqafi that she said:

“I came to my master, Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (a.s.) and asked: A verse in the book of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime occurred in my heart and made me worried and sleepless. The Imam said: Which verse, O Umme Hani? I said: My chief it is:

“But nay! I swear by the stars. That run their course (and) hide themselves.”[^4]

The Imam said: You have asked a very good question, Umme Hani. This verse is regarding a newborn child in the last period of time. He is the Mahdi from this progeny. And for him there shall be a confusion and occultation in which a group shall deviate and a group shall be guided. Thus glad tidings for you if you live in that time and glad tidings for those who live in that time.”

15 -Narrated to us Muhammad bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Walid (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Hasan as-Saffar from Ahmad bin Abi Abdullah Barqi from his father from Mughaira from Mufaddal bin Salih from Jabir from Abu Ja’far Baqir (a.s.) that he said:

“A time will come upon the people when their Imam shall disappear from their view. Blessed be those who remain firm upon our guardianship during such times. The least divine reward that shall reach them would be that the Almighty Allah shall call them and say: O My servants and maidservants, you brought faith in My secret and believed in My unseen. Then good news to you for My goodness and rewards as you are truly My servants and maidservants. I shall accept your deeds, disregard your faults and forgive your sins. And due to you I shall send rain to My creatures and ward off calamities from them. If you hadn’t been there I would have sent My chastisement upon them.”

16 - Narrated to us Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Isaam (r.a.) that he said: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Yaqoob Kulaini: Narrated to us Qasim bin Alaa: Narrated to me Ismail bin Ali Qazwini: Narrated to me Ali Ibne Ismail from Asim bin Humaid Hannat from Muhammad bin Muslim Thaqafi that he said: I heard Aba Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (a.s.) say:

“The Qaim from us will be aided by awe and helped with divine assistance. The earth will fold up for him and the treasures will be exposed for him. His dominions will be in the east and the west and through him will Allah, the Mighty and Sublime make His religion dominate over all religions even though the polytheists hate this. Then no ruin will remain in the earth but that he will restore it. And the spirit of Allah, Isa bin Maryam (a.s.) will come down and pray behind him. I said: O son of Allah’s Messenger, when will your Qaim appear?

He replied: When the men will resemble women and women will resemble men. When men will satisfy their lusts with men and women with women. When women will ride horses. False testimony will be accepted and true testimony will be obstructed. Murder will be considered a minor thing. Adultery and usury will be common. People will fear the talks of the evil people. Sufyani will arise from Shaam and Yamani will appear from Yemen.

The Baida desert will sink. A youth from Aale Muhammad will be killed between the Rukn and Maqam. He will be Muhammad bin Hasan Nafs-e-Zakiyyah. A call will come from the sky that the truth is with him and with all the Shias. At that time will arise our Qaim. When he reappears he would lean on the Kaaba and three hundred and thirteen men would reach him, and the first words he speaks would be:

“What remains with Allah is better for you if you are believers…”[^5]

Then he would say: I am the remnant of Allah on the earth and the vicegerent of God and His Divine Proof upon you. Then no Muslim would greet him except by the words:

“Peace be on you, O the remnant of Allah on His earth.”

And when the number of his supporters reaches one Iqd, that is 10000 men, he would set out. Then no deity except Allah, the Mighty and Sublime would remain on the earth. Idols, statutes and such other things would be destroyed, and fire would rise up among them; and this would come to pass after a prolonged occultation till the Almighty Allah knows who brings faith during the occultation and who obeys.”

17 -Narrated to us Muzaffar bin Ja’far bin Muzaffar Alawi (r.a.) that: Narrated to us Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Masud from his father that: Narrated to us Abul Qasim: I have quoted from the book of Ahmad Dahhan from Qasim bin Hamza from Ibne Abi Umair that: Informed me Abu Ismail Sarraj from Khaithama Jofi that: Narrated to me Abu Ayyub Makhzumi that:

“Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali (a.s.) mentioned the biographies of the twelve guided caliphs, bliss of Allah be on them all, and when he came to the last of them he said: The twelfth of them will the one behind whom Prophet Isa Ibne Maryam (a.s.) will pray. The practice of this Imam and the obedience of Quran is incumbent upon you.”

This is the end of the first volume of Kamaaluddin wa Tamaamun Nima by Shaykh Faqih, Abi Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali bin Husain bin Musa bin Babawahy al-Qummi (r.a.), which proves the incidence of occultation and removes misunderstandings about it.

The second volume begins with the chapter of narrations from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) about the Nass in favor of the Qaim (a.s.).

[^1]: Surah Takwir 81:15-16

[^2]: Surah Mulk 67:30

[^3]: Surah Shuara 26:21

[^4]: Surah Takwir 81:15-16

[^5]: Surah Hud 11:86