Kitab al-Ghayba: The Book of Occultation

Chapter 14: The signs preceding the appearance

1 - حدثنا أبو سليمان أحمد بن هوذة الباهلي، قال: حدثنا أبو إسحاق

(1) Abu Sulayman Ahmad bin Hawtha al-Bahili narrated from Abu Iss’haq Ibraheem bin Iss’haq an-Nahawandi from Abdullah bin Hammad al-Ansari from Abban bin Uthman that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“One day while the Prophet (S) was in al-Baqee,’[^1] Ali (as) came and asked where the Prophet (S) was. It was said to him that he had been in al-Baqee’. Ali (as) went to al-Baqee’. He greeted the Prophet (S) and the Prophet (S) asked him to sit down on his right hand. Then Ja'far bin Abu Talib (Ali’s brother) came and greeted the Prophet (S). The Prophet (S) asked him to sit down on his left. Then al-Abbas (the Prophet’s uncle) came, greeted the Prophet (S) and the Prophet (S) seated him before him.

The Prophet (S) turned to Ali (as) and said: “O Ali, shall I tell you of good news?” Ali (as) said: “Yes please, O messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (S) said: “Gabriel has just been with me a moment ago. He has told me that al-Qa'im, who will appear at the end of time and fill the world with justice after it will have been filled with injustice and oppression, will be from your progeny and from the descendants of al-Husayn.” Ali said: “O messenger of Allah, whatever goodness we have gotten from Allah is by means of you.”

Then the Prophet (S) turned to Ja'far bin Abu Talib and said: “O Ja'far, shall I tell you of good news?” Ja'far said: “Yes please, O messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (S) said to Ja'far: “Gabriel has just been with me and told me that the one, who will deliver the banner to al-Qa'im, will be from your progeny. Do you know who he is?” Ja'far said: “No, I do not.” The Prophet (S) said: “It is he, whose face will be like a dinar, whose teeth will be like a saw and whose sword will be like a flame of fire. He will enter into the mountain lowly and will come out of it nobly surrounded by Gabriel and Michael.”

Then the Prophet (S) turned to al-Abbas and said to him: “O the uncle of the Prophet, shall I tell you of what Gabriel has told me?” Al-Abbas said: “Yes please, O messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (S) said: “Gabriel said to me: How much distresses your progeny will receive from the progeny of al-Abbas!” Al-Abbas said: “O messenger of Allah, do I avoid sleeping with women?” The Prophet (S) said: “Allah has already determined what will happen.”[^2]

2 - أخبرنا علي بن أحمد البندنيجي، عن عبيد الله بن موسى العلوي، عن أحمد

(2) Ali bin Ahmad al-Bandaneeji narrated from Obaydillah bin Musa al-Alawi from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Khalid from Ibraheem bin Muhammad bin al-Mustaneer from Abdurrahman bin al-Qassim from his father that Abdullah bin Abbas had said:

“The Prophet (S) said to my father: “O Abbas, how much misfortunes my progeny will get from your progeny and then how much woes will come upon your progeny from my progeny!”

Al-Abbas said: “Do I avoid sleeping with women?”

The Prophet (S) said: “The will of Allah has already been determined and the decision is in His hand. But the end will be in the control of my progeny.”[^3]

3 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد بن عقدة، قال: حدثنا حميد بن زياد

(3) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed bin Oqda narrated from Hameed bin Ziyad al-Kufi from Ali bin as-Sabah from Abu Ali bin al-Hasan bin Muhammad al-Hadhrami from Ja'far bin Muhammad from Ibraheem bin Abdul Hameed from Sa’d bin Tareef from al-Asbugh bin Nabata that Imam Ali (as) had said:

“After one hundred and fifty years unbeliever rulers, untrusted treasurers and dissolute officials will control the rule. Then the merchants increase but the profits decrease. Usury spreads, illegitimate sons will be everywhere, adultery increase, relatives deny each other, the crescent is regarded as greater than it is, a woman is satisfied with a woman (in lesbianism) and a man is satisfied with a man.”

A man said to him: “What will we do when such a time comes?”

Imam Ali said: “Escape! Escape! The justice of Allah will still spread among this umma as long as the ulama do not incline to the rulers and as long as the pious still forbid the dissolute from committing sins. If they do not do so and then they are alerted and say: There is no god but Allah, Allah will say from on His Throne: You say it falsely. You are not truthful.”[^4]

4 - حدثنا محمد بن همام في منـزله ببغداد في شهر رمضان سنة سبع وعشرين

(4) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ahmad bin Mabindath from Ahmad bin Hilal from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Fadhdhal from Sufyan bin Ibraheem al-Jareeri from his father from Abu Sadiq that Amirul Mo'mineen (as) had said:

“During the rule of the Abbasids there will be ease and wealth. Their state will be so strong that even if the Turks, the Daylams, the Sindese, the Indians, the Berbers and the Taylasanese[^5] unite together, they will not shake it. They will still live at ease until their followers and commanders deviate from them and until Allah empowers a severe man, who will rise from the place, in which their rule has been established. He will conquer every town he passes by. He will defeat every army standing against him. He will remove every ease and wealth. Woe will be upon whoever resists him. He will still do so until he triumphs. Then he will deliver his victory to a man from my progeny, who will say the truth and will act according to the truth.”[^6]

5 - حدثنا محمد بن همام قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري، قال: حدثنا

(5) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Abdullah bin Ja'far al-Himyari from al-Hasan bin Mahboob from Ali bin Ri’ab that Muhammad bin Muslim had said:

“Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said: “Before the rising of al-Qa'im there will be some signs, with which Allah tries His faithful people.”

I said: “What are they?”

He said***: “It is the saying of Allah, “And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient.”***[^7] When Allah says (We will try you) He means the believers, when He says (with somewhat of fear), He refers to the fright that is caused at the end of the rule of the family of so-and-so, (hunger) is because of expensive prices, (loss of property) is corruption of trade and littleness of profits, (lives) is quick deaths, (fruits) is little production of plants and little blessing of fruits and (give good news to the patient) when al-Qa'im appears.”

Then he said to me: “O Muhammad, this is the interpretation of the verse. Allah says, “But none knows its interpretation except Allah and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge.[^8]”[^9]

6 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد بن عقدة قال: حدثني أحمد بن يوسف بن

(6) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed bin Oqda narrated from Ahmad bin Yousuf bin Ya'qoob from Abul Hasan al-Ju’fi from Issma'eel bin Mihran from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Hamza from Abu Baseer that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“There must be a sedition before the appearance of al-Qa'im, during which people become hungry, terrified by killing and they lose their properties and lives. This has been clarified by the Book of Allah. Allah has said, “And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient.”[^10]

7 - أخبرنا علي بن أحمد، عن عبيد الله بن موسى العلوي، عن علي بن إبراهيم

(7) Ali bin Ahmad narrated from Obaydillah bin Musa al-Alawi from Ali bin Ibraheem bin Hashim from his father from Muhammad bin Hafs from Amr bin Shimr that Jabir al-Ju’fi had said:

“Once I asked Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) about the meaning of this saying of Allah, “We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger…,” and he said: “O Jabir, it has a general meaning and a special meaning. The special meaning is that hunger will afflict Kufa and especially the opponents of Muhammad’s progeny and will perish them. As for the general meaning, there will be terror and hunger in Sham[^11] that have never been faced before. Hunger will be before the rising of al-Qa'im (as) but terror will be after his rising.”[^12]

8 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد، قال: حدثنا محمد بن المفضل بن إبراهيم

(8) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Muhammad bin al-Mufadhdhal bin Ibraheem bin Qays from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Fadhdhal from Tha’laba bin Maymoon from Ma’mar bin Yahya from Dawood ad-Dajaji that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“Once Amirul Mo'mineen (as) was asked about (the meaning of) this Qur’anic verse, “The sects among them disagreed.”[^13]

He said: “Expect deliverance when three signs appear.”

He was asked: “What are they?”

He said: “Disagreement among the people of Sham, the black banners coming from Khurasan and terror in the month of Ramadan.”

He was asked: “What terror is in Ramadan?”

He said: “Have you not heard the saying of Allah in the Qur'an, “If We please, We should send down upon them a sign from the heaven so that their necks should stoop to it?”[^14] It is a sign that will bring the girls out of their veils, awaken the sleepers and terrify the awake.”[^15]

9 - أخبرنا محمد بن همام قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مالك الفزارى، قال:

(9) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Malik al-Fazari from Abdullah bin Khalid at-Tameemi from some of his companions from Muhammad bin Abu Omayr from Abu Ayyoob al-Khazzaz from Umar bin Handhala that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“Before the appearance of al-Qa'im there will be five signs; the rising of as-Sufyani, the rising of al-Yamani,[^16] a cry from the Heaven, killing the pure innocent man and sinking in the desert.”[^17]

10 - أخبرنا محمد بن همام قال: حدثني جعفر بن محمد بن مالك الفزاري، قال:

(10) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Malik al-Fazari from Musa bin Ja'far bin Wahab from al-Hasan bin Ali al-Washsha’ from Abbas bin Abdullah[^18] from Dawood bin Sarhan that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“Before the year of the cry (from the Heaven), there will be a sign in the month of Rajab.”

He was asked: “What is it?”

He said: “A face will appear on the moon and a protruding hand.”[^19]

11 - أخبرنا علي بن أحمد البندنيجي قال: حدثنا عبيد الله بن موسى العلوى،

(11) Ali bin Ahmad al-Bandaneeji narrated from Obaydillah bin Musa al-Alawi from Ya'qoob bin Zayd from Ziyad bin Marwan from Abdullah bin Sinan that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“The cry (from the Heaven), the rising of as-Sufyani, the rising of al-Yamani, killing the pure innocent man and a hand appearing in the sky will be inevitable. There will be also a fright in Ramadan, which will awaken the sleepers, terrify the awake and bring the girls out of their veils.”[^20]

12 - أخبرنا محمد بن همام قال: حدثني جعفر بن محمد بن مالك، قال: حدثني

(12) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Malik from Ali bin Aasim from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abu Nasr that Imam Abul Hasan ar-Redha (as) had said:

“Before the appearance of al-Qa'im, there will be the risings of as-Sufyani, al-Marwani, al-Yamani and Shu’ayb bin Salih. Then how does this one (Muhammad bin Ibraheem bin Issma'eel known as ibn Tabataba) claim such a thing (to be al-Qa'im)?”[^21]

13 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد بن عقدة قال: حدثني أحمد بن يوسف بن

(13) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed bin Oqda narrated from Ahmad bin Yousuf bin Ya'qoob Abul Hasan al-Ju’fi from Issma'eel bin Mihran from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Hamza from his father and Wuhayb bin Hafs from Abu Baseer that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“If you see a great fire burning in the east for three days or seven days, then wait for the deliverance of Muhammad’s progeny inshallah. Allah is Mighty, Wise!”

Then he said: “The cry will not occur except in the month of Ramadan because Ramadan is the month of Allah and the cry is the cry of Gabriel to the people.”

Then he added: “A call will come from the Heaven with the name of al-Qa'im. It will be heard by everyone in the east and everyone in the west. The cry will make every sleeper awake, every stander sit and every sitter stand because of fright. Allah will have mercy upon whoever submits to the cry and obeys the caller because the first cry will be the cry of Gabriel (as)”

Then he said: “The cry will be in the month of Ramadan, in a night of a Friday, which will be the twenty-third of the month. Do never doubt that. Listen and obey! At the end of the day there will be the voice of Iblis the cursed calling out: “So-and-so (Uthman) is killed unjustly” just to make people doubt and become confused. On that day much many people will doubt and become confused and then go to Hell. If you hear the call in Ramadan, do not doubt it. It will be the voice of Gabriel. The evidence is that he will call out the name of al-Qa'im and the name of his father. The call will be heard by everyone until the virgins in their veils instigate their fathers and brothers to rise (to join al-Qa'im).

These two calls must occur before the appearance of al-Qa'im. One will be from the Heaven calling out the name of al-Qa'im and the name of his father. It will be the call of Gabriel. The other will be from the earth and it will be the call of Iblis calling out the name of someone claiming that he has been killed unjustly just to create sedition among people. Obey the first call and beware of being deceived by the second one!”

He also said: “Al-Qa'im will not appear except after a great terror among people, earthquakes, seditions, calamities, plague, terrible killing among the Arabs, great disagreements among people, separation in the religion and bad living until one will wish to die in the morning or in the evening because of the oppression of people and their striving to eat each other. Al-Qa'im will disappear after the people will have become so desperate and hopeless to get any deliverance. How blessed is he, who lives until the appearance of al-Qa'im and becomes one of his assistants and woe unto whoever opposes him, objects to his orders and become one of his opponents.”

He said: “When he (al-Qa'im) rises, he will rule with a new method, new principles, new Sunna and new judgements. He will be severe with the Arabs. He will kill great numbers of people without forgiving anyone and without caring for any blame because he will act according to the will of Allah.”

He said: “If the people of the family of so-and-so disagree among themselves, then you wait for deliverance to come soon because your deliverance will not come except after their disagreement. If they disagree, then expect the cry in Ramadan and the appearance of al-Qa'im. Allah does what he wills! Al-Qa'im will not appear and you will not get what you look forward to unless those people disagree among themselves. If that occurs, people will seize the opportunity against them, separation will occur and then as-Sufyani will rise.”

He said: “The family of so-and-so must rule. When they rule and disagree among themselves, their state will be separated and lost. Al-Khurasani[^22] and as-Syfyani will rise against them; this from the east and that from the west. They will compete towards Kufa as two racehorses until that family will be perished by them.”

He said: “The risings of as-Sufyani, al-Yamani and al-Khurasani will be in the same year, in the same month and on the same day. They will be like the beads of a rosary; one following the other. Sufferings will be from every side. Miserable will be whoever resists them. From among the three banners, only the banner of al-Yamani will be a banner of guidance because he will invite to the mission of your man (al-Qa'im). When al-Yamani rises, he will forbid selling weapons for all of the people and for the Muslims as well. When al-Yamani rises, you are to join him because his banner will be a banner of guidance. It is not permissible for any Muslim to turn away from him and whoever does so, will be in Hell, because al-Yamani will invite to the truth and to the straight path.”

He said: “The loss of the rule of the family of so-and-so will be like the breaking of pottery or like a man, who has a piece of pottery in his hand while he is walking. It falls from his hand while he is inattentive but immediately he becomes attentive to find that it is broken. So is the loss of their rule. They will be so inattentive when their state will be lost.

One day Amirul Mo'mineen (as) said from on the minbar of Kufa: “Allah has determined that it is inevitable for the Umayyads to be killed by the sword openly and for the family of so-and-so to be defeated unexpectedly.”

He said: “There must be grinding querns. When they (the querns) begin to turn around their axis, Allah will send a severe man, whose mention is obscure, against them. Victory will be always with him. His companions will be longhair and with long moustaches. Their cloths will be black and their banners will be black too. Woe unto whoever opposes them. They will kill their opponents excitedly. By Allah, as if I see them, their actions and what distresses the dissolute and the rude nomads will get from them! Allah will make them defeat those rude people with no mercy. They will kill them in their city at the shore of the Euphrates as a reward to what they have committed…and Allah is not in the least unjust to the servants!”[^23]

14 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا أحمد بن يوسف بن يعقوب،

(14) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ahmad bin Yousuf bin Ya'qoob from Issma'eel bin Mihran from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Hamza from his father from Shurahbeel that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said when he had been asked about al-Qa'im:

“Al-Qa'im does not appear until a caller from the Heaven will call out that everyone in the east and in the west will hear the call even the girls in their veils.”[^24]

15 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن، عن يعقوب بن

(15) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from Ya'qoob bin Zayd from Ziyad al-Qandi from some of his companions that it was said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as):

“Is the rising of as-Sufyani inevitable?”

He said: “Yes, it is. Killing the pure innocent man, the sinking of the desert, the appearance of a hand in the sky, the call that comes from the Heaven and the appearance of al-Qa'im are also inevitable.”

It was said to him: “What is the call?”

He said: “A caller calling out the name of al-Qa'im and the name of his father (as).”[^25]

16 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثني علي بن الحسن، عن علي بن

(16) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from Ali bin Mahziyar from Hammad bin Eessa from al-Husayn bin Mukhtar from bin Abu Ya’foor that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said to him:

“Keep in mind the perishment of so-and-so (he mentioned a name of a man from the Abbasids), the rising of as-Sufyani, killing the pure innocent man, the sinking and the call, by which the man of this matter (al-Qa'im) will be known. The entire deliverance will be after the perishment of that man of the Abbasids.”[^26]

17 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثني علي بن الحسن، عن علي بن

(17) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from Ali bin Mahziyar from Hammad bin Eessa from al-Husayn bin Mukhtar from Abdurrahman bin Siyaba from Imran bin Maytham that Abaya bin Rib’iy al-Asadi had said:

“Once we came to Amirul Mo'mineen (as). We were five persons and I was the youngest of them. I heard him saying: “My brother, the messenger of Allah, has said to me: “I am the last of a thousand prophets and you are the last of a thousand guardians. I have been entrusted with what they have not entrusted with.”

I said: “People were not just to you.”

He said: “It is not as you think, O my nephew.[^27] By Allah, I know a thousand words (facts, data, information…etc.) that no one other than me and other than Muhammad (as) knows. People recite a verse from the Qur'an, which is (And when the word shall come to pass against them, We shall bring forth for them a creature from the earth that shall speak unto them, because people did not believe in Our communications)[^28] but they do not ponder on it deeply. Do I tell you about the end of the rule of the family of so-and-so?”

We said: “Yes please, O Amirul Mo'mineen!”

He said: “(when) killing an innocent sacred man on a sacred day and in a sacred place. I swear by Him, Who has split the seed and created man, they will not rule after that except for fifteen nights.”

We said: “will something occur before or after that?”

He said: “A cry in Ramadan, that will terrify the awake, awaken the sleepers and bring the girls out of their veils.”[^29]

18 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا أبو عبد الله يحيى بن زكريا

(18) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Abu Abdullah Yahya bin Zakariyya bin Shayban from Abu Sulayman Yousuf bin Kulayb from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Hamza from Sayf bin Omayra from Abu Bakr al-Hadhrami that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“The Abbasids must rule. When they rule, they will disagree and their state will separate. Al-Khurasani and al-Sufyani will rise against them. One will come from the east and the other from the west. They will hurry towards Kufa as tow racehorses. The decline of the Abbasids will be caused by these two leaders. None of them (the Abbasids) will remain alive.”[^30]

19 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن التيملي، قال:

(19) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan al-Taymali from Amr bin Uthman from al-Hasan bin Mahboob that Abdullah bin Sinan had said:

“Once when I was with Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as), a man from Hamadan said to him: “People criticize us and say to us that we claim that a caller from the Heaven will call out the name of the man of deliverance.”

Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) became so angry. He changed his sitting and said: “Do not narrate this from me but narrate it from my father and you are not to be blamed for that. I have heard my father saying: “By Allah, it has been mentioned in the Qur'an. Allah has said, ‘If We please, We should send down upon them a sign from the heaven so that their necks should stoop to it.’[^31] Everyone on the earth then will submit to that (the call coming from the Heaven) and his neck will stoop when a call is heard from the Heaven announcing that: ‘The right is with Ali bin Abu Talib and his followers.’ The next day Iblis will rise in the space until he disappears from the people of the earth and calls out: ‘The right is with Uthman bin Affan and his followers. He has been killed unjustly so you are to avenge his blood.’ Allah will confirm the believers, who believe in the first call and then those, whose hearts are full of diseases, will doubt and become confused. By Allah, the disease of the heart is the enmity towards us. Then they will turn away from us and begin to criticize us. They will say that the first call is a piece of magic of the people of this house (Ahlul Bayt).”

Then Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) recited this Qur’anic verse, ‘And if they see a miracle they turn aside and say: Transient magic.’[^32]”

The same was narrated by Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed from Muhammad bin al-Mufadhdhal bin Ibraheem, Sa’dan bin Iss’haq bin Sa'eed, Ahmad bin al-Husayn bin Abdul Melik and Muhammad bin Ahmad bin al-Hasan al-Qatawani from al-Hasan bin Mahboob from Abdullah bin Sinan.[^33]

20 - قال: وحدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا القاسم بن محمد بن

إِنْ نَشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ آيَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَاقُهُمْ لَهَا خَاضِعِينَ {4}

وَإِنْ يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُسْتَمِرٌّ {2}

(20) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from al-Qassim bin Muhammad bin al-Hasan bin Hazim from Obayss bin Hisham an-Nashiry from Abdullah bin Jibilla from Abdus-Samad bin Basheer that Imara al-Hamadani had said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as):

“May Allah make you succeed! Some people criticize us and say that we claim that there will be a voice calling out from the Heaven.”

Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) said: “My father often said: “It has been mentioned in the Book of Allah: (If We please, We should send down upon them a sign from the heaven so that their necks should stoop to it). All the people of the earth will believe in the first call. The next day Iblis will rise high in the sky until he disappears and then he will call out: “Uthman has been killed unjustly. You are to avenge his blood.” Some people will apostate and say that it is the magic of the Shia. Therefore Allah has said: (And if they see a miracle they turn aside and say: Transient magic).”[^34]

21 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا القاسم بن محمد قال: حدثنا

(21) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from al-Qassim bin Muhammad from Obayss bin Hisham from Abdullah bin Jibilla from his father that Muhammad bin as-Samit had said:

“I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “Will there be certain signs before this matter (the appearance of al-Qa'im)?”

He said: “Yes, there will.”

I asked: “What are they?”

He said: “The perishment of the Abbasids, the rising of al-Sufyani, killing the pure innocent man, the sinking of the desert and the call from the Heaven.”

I said: “May I die for you! I am afraid that these things may take a long time!”

He said: “No. They will be like the beads of a rosary; one coming after the other.”[^35]

22 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثني أحمد بن يوسف بن يعقوب أبو

(22) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ahmad bin Yousuf bin Ya'qoob Abul Hasan al-Ju’fi from Issma'eel bin Mihran from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Hamza from his father and Wuhayb from Abu Baseer that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“Al-Qa'im (as) will rise in an odd year; one, three, five, seven or nine.

When the Umayyads rule and disagree among themselves, their state will decline and then the Abbasids will rule. Their state remains strong and they live at ease and wealth until they disagree among themselves. Then their state will decline and the people of the east and of the west will disagree. People will face difficult times full of terror. They will remain so until a caller calling out from the Heaven. When you here the call, you are to hurry up (to join al-Qa'im). By Allah, as if I see him (al-Qa'im) between the corner (of the Kaaba) and the temple (of Abraham). He will be paid homage to rule over the people with a new method, new principles and a new rule determined by the Heaven. None of his armies will be defeated until he dies.”[^36]

23 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن، عن أبيه، عن

إِنْ نَشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ آيَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَاقُهُمْ لَهَا خَاضِعِينَ {4}

(23) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from his father from Ahmad bin Umar al-Halabi from al-Husayn bin Musa from Fudhayl bin Muhammad, the freed slave of Muhammad bin Rashid al-Bajali that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“The call coming from the Heaven and calling out the name of al-Qa'im is clear in the Book of Allah.”

He was asked: “Where is it in the Book of Allah?”

He said: “Allah has said, ‘If We please, We should send down upon them a sign from the heaven so that their necks should stoop to it.’ When people hear the call, they will become as if there are birds on their heads (because of astonishment and confusion).”[^37]

24 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا أحمد بن يوسف بن يعقوب

(24) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ahmad bin Yousuf bin Ya'qoob al-Ju’fi from Issma'eel bin Mihran from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Hamza from his father from Abu Baseer that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“If the Abbasid ruler ascends the minbar of Marwan,[^38] the state of the Abbasids will begin to decline gradually. My father has said to me: “There must be a fire coming from Azerbaijan that will destroy everything. When that occurs, you are to stay at homes as long as we have stayed. When our man (al-Qa'im) rises, then hurry up to him even crawling. By Allah, as if I see him between the corner and the temple being paid homage to rule over the people with a new method. He will be severe with the Arabs. Woe unto the Arabs from a soon evil!”[^39]

25 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثني علي بن الحسن التيملي، قال:

(25) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Husayn at-Taymali from Muhammad and Ahmad, the sons of al-Hasan, from Ali bin Ya'qoob al-Hashimi from Haroon bin Muslim from Obayd bin Zurara that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“The name of al-Qa'im will be called out (from the Heaven). It will be said to him while he is behind the temple (of Abraham): “Your name has been called out. What are you waiting for?” Then his hand will be taken to be paid homage.”

Zurara said: “Praise be to Allah! We often heard that al-Qa'im would be paid homage unwillingly and we did not know the reason behind that. Then we knew that the unwillingness of the homage was not guilt.”[^40]

26 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد بإسناده عن هارون بن مسلم، عن أبي خالد

(26) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Haroon bin Muslim from Abu Khalid al-Qammat from Hamran bin A’yun that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“The inevitable things that must occur before the appearance of al-Qa'im are the rising of as-Sufyani, the sinking of the desert, killing the pure innocent man and the call that will come from the Heaven.”[^41]

27 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثني أحمد بن يوسف بن يعقوب، قال:

(27) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ahmad bin Yousuf bin Ya'qoob from Issma'eel bin Mihran from al-Hasan bin Ali from his father and Wuhayb bin Hafs from Najiya al-Qattan that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“The caller will call out that al-Mahdi is from Muhammad’s progeny. He will call out the name of al-Mahdi[^42] and the name of his father. Then the Satan will call out that the truth is with so-and-so (Uthman) and his followers.”[^43]

28 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن، عن العباس

(28) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from al-Abbas bin Aamir bin Rabah ath-Thaqafi from Abdullah bin Bukayr that Zurara bin A’yun had said:

“I heard Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) saying: “A caller will call out from the Heaven that so-and-so is the emir and that Ali and his followers are the triumphants.”

I said: “Then who will fight al-Mahdi after that?”

He said: “The Satan will call out that so-and-so and his followers are the triumphants-a man of the Umayyads (Uthman).”

I said: “Then who will know which the truthful is and which the liar is?”

He said: “Those, who used to narrate our traditions, will know that and will know that they are with the truth.”[^44]

29 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن التيملي، عن

(29) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan at-Taymali from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Yousuf from al-Muthanna that Zurara bin A’yun had said:

“I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “May Allah make you succeed! I wonder how people will fight against al-Qa'im in spite of all the miracles they will see; like the sinking of the desert with the army and the divine call that will come from the Heaven!”

He said: “The Satan will not let them free until he calls out as he has called out against the Prophet (S) on the day of al-Aqaba.”[^45]

30 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن، قال: حدثنا

(30) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from Muhammad bin Abdullah from Muhammad bin Abu Omayr that Hisham bin Salim had said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as):

“Al-Jareeri says to us that you have said that there will be two calls coming from the Heaven then which of them is truthful and which is false?”

Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) said: “Say to him: He, who has told us of that, is the truthful although you deny it!”[^46]

31 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد بهذا الإسناد عن هشام بن سالم، قال:

(31) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated that Hisham bin Salim had said: I heard Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) saying:

“There will be two cries; one at the beginning of night and the other will be at the end of the second night.”

I asked: “How will that be?”

He said: “One will be from the Heaven and the other will be from Iblis.”

I said: “How one will be distinguished from the other?”

He said: “He, who has known about them before they occur, will know which of them is from the Heaven.”[^47]

32 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن التيملي، عن

(32) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan at-Taymali from his father from Muhammad bin Khalid from Tha’lba bin Maymoon that Abdurrahman bin Maslama al-Jareeri had said:

“I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “Some people blame us and say that how the truthful call is distinguished from the false one when they both occur.”

He said: “With what do you answer them?”

I said: “With nothing.”

He said: “Say to them: He, who has believed in them before they occur, will know which of them is true and which is false. Allah has said, ‘Is He then Who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed, or he who himself does not go aright unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you; how do you judge?’[^48]”[^49]

33 - حدثنا أحمد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن التيملي من كتابه في رجب سنة

(33) Ahmad narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan at-Taymali from Muhammad bin Umar bin Yazeed and Muhammad bin al-Waleed bin Khalid al-Khazzaz from Hammad bin Uthman from Abdullah bin Sinan that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

A caller from the Heaven will call out: “So-and-so the son of so-and-so is the man of this matter. Then what is the fight for?”[^50]

34 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا أبو سليمان أحمد بن هوذة

(43) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa’eed narrated from Abu Sulayman Ahmad bin Hawtha al-Bahili from Ibraheem bin Iss’haq an-Nahawandi from Abullah bin Hammad al-Ansari from Abdulla bin Sinan that Abu Abdulla as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“This matter, which you stretch your necks to, will not be until a caller from the Heaven calls: “So and so is the man of this matter so what is this fighting for?”

35 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا محمد بن المفضل بن إبراهيم

(35) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Muhammad bin al-Mufadhdhal bin Ibraheem, Sa’dan bin Iss’haq bin Sa'eed, Ahmad bin al-Husayn bin Abdul Melik and Muhammad bin Ahmad bin al-Hasan al-Qatawani from al-Hasan bin Mahboob az-Zarrad from Abdullah bin Sinan that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“Death and killing will spread among people until they resort to the Kaaba. Then a caller (from the heaven) will call out when fighting and killing become so violent: (What are all these fights and killings for? Your man is so-and-so.”[^51]

36 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا القاسم بن محمد بن الحسن بن

(36) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from al-Qassim bin Muhammad bin al-Hasan bin Hazim from Obayss bin Hisham from Abdullah bin Jibilla from Muhammad bin Sulayman from al-Ala’ from Muhammad bin Muslim that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“The rising of as-Sufyani and the rising of al-Qa'im will be in the same year.”[^52]

37 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا أحمد بن يوسف بن يعقوب

(37) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ahmad bin Yousuf bin Ya'qoob from Issma'eel bin Mihran from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Hamza from his father and Wuhayb bin Hafs from Abu Baseer that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“While people are standing on Arafat,[^53] a rider on a quick she-camel will come to inform them of the death of a caliph, after whose death the deliverance of Muhammad’s progeny and the deliverance of all the people will come.” He also said: “When you see a sign in the sky; a great fire burning for some nights in the east, then deliverance will come. It will occur a little before the appearance of al-Qa'im (as).”[^54]

38 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد البندنيجي، عن عبيد الله بن موسى العلوي، قال:

(38) Ali bin Ahmad al-Bandaneeji narrated from Obaydillah bin Musa al-Alawi from Muhammad bin Musa from Ahmad bin Abu Ahmad al-Warraq al-Jurjani from Muhammad bin Ali from Ali bin al-Hakam from Amr bin Shimr from Jabir that Abut-Tufayl had said:

“Once ibn al-Kawwa’ asked Amirul Mo'mineen (as) about anger. Amirul Mo'mineen (as) said: “How far anger is! A death after a death! The rider of the quick she-camel and what the rider of the quick she-camel is! He will inform people of something and they will kill him. Then anger comes!”[^55]

39 - حدثنا أبو سليمان أحمد بن هوذة الباهلي قال: حدثنا إبراهيم بن إسحاق

(39) Abu Sulayman Ahmad bin Hawtha al-Bahili narrated from Ibraheem bin Iss’haq an-Nahawandi from Abdullah bin Hammad al-Ansari from Abu Malik al-Hadhrami from Muhammad bin Abul Hakam from Abdullah bin Uthman from Aslam al-Mekki from Abut-Tufayl that Huthayfa bin al-Yaman had said:

“A caliph, whom no one in the Heaven will forgive nor will he have any supporter on the earth, will be killed and another caliph, who will have no chance of getting forgiveness in the afterlife, will be deposed and then the son of the bondmaid will become the caliph.”

Abut-Tufayl said (to Aslam): “O my nephew, I wish we would live in his time!”

Aslam said: “O uncle, why do you wish so?”

Abut-Tufayl said: “Because Huthayfa has told me that the rule will return to the Prophet’s family.”[^56]

40 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا أحمد بن يوسف بن يعقوب من

سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ {53}

سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ {53}

(40) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ahmad bin Yousuf bin Ya'qoob from Issma'eel bin Mihran from al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abu Hamza from his father and Wuhayb that Abu Baseer had said: Once Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) was asked about the interpretation of the Qur’anic verse, ‘We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own souls, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth,’[^57] and he said:

“Allah will show them His signs in the skies and in their selves. The saying, ‘until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth,’ means the appearance of al-Qa'im, who is the truth that Allah will make His people see inevitably.”[^58]

41 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد، قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن التيملي، عن

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ {98}

(41) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan at-Taymali from Ali bin Mahziyar from Hammad bin Eessa from al-Husayn bin al-Mukhtar that Abu Baseer had said: I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): Allah has said, ‘The chastisement of disgrace in this world's life.’[^59] What is the chastisement of disgrace in this life?”

He said: “O Abu Baseer, is there a disgrace worse than that when a man is in his house and among his family and then his family begins to cry and weep and people ask what the matter is to be said to them that that man is metamorphosed?”

I said: “Will that happen before or after the appearance of al-Qa'im (as)?”

He said: “It will happen before the appearance of al-Qa'im (as).”[^60]

42 - أخبرنا علي بن أحمد البندنيجي، عن عبيد الله بن موسى العلوي، عن

(42) Ali bin Ahmad al-Bandaneeji narrated from Obaydillah bin Musa al-Alawi from Ahmad bin Abu Ahmad al-Warraq that Ya'qoob bin as-Sarraj had said:

I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “When will the deliverance of your Shia come?”

He said: “When the Abbasids disagree, their rule will become weak, those, who have never thought of the rule, will seize the opportunity to gain their (the Abbasids’) rule, the Arabs will become uncontrolled, as-Sufyani will rise, al-Yamani will come with his army, al-Hasani will move with his troops and then al-Qa'im will appear in Medina and move towards Mecca with the heritage of the Prophet (S).”

I said: “What is the heritage of the Prophet (S)?”

He said: “The heritage of the Prophet (S) is his sword, armor, turban, garment, banner, stick, horse and saddle.”[^61]

43 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا محمد بن المفضل وسعدان بن

(43) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Muhammad bin al-Mufadhdhal, Sa’dan bin Iss’haq bin Sa'eed, Ahmad bin al-Husayn bin Abdul Melik and Muhammad bin Ahmad bin al-Hasan al-Qatawani from al-Hasan bin Mahboob that Ya'qoob as-Sarraj had said:

“I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “When will the deliverance of your Shia be?”

He said: “If the Abbasids disagree, their rule will become weak…until the end of the previous tradition. Then he added…until he (al-Qa'im) stops at the outskirt of Mecca. He will take the sword out of its sheath, put on the armor, spread the banner and the garment, put on the turban, hold the stick with his hand and will ask Allah permission to appear. He will inform some of his guardians of that. He will go to inform al-Hasani. Immediately al-Hasani will rise but the people of Mecca will kill him and send his head to Sham. Then al-Qa'im will appear. People will pay homage to him and follow him. The ruler of Sham then will send an army to Medina but the will of Allah will make them perish before reaching Medina. Then all of Ali’s progeny in Medina will flee to Mecca and join al-Qa'im. Al-Qa'im will move towards Iraq and send an army towards Medina ordering its people to go back to it.”[^62]

44 - حدثنا محمد بن همام قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مالك، قال: حدثنا

(44) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Malik from Mo’awiya bin Hakeem that Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abu Nasr had said:

“I heard Imam ar-Redha (as) saying: “Before this matter (the appearance of al-Mahdi) there will be (bayooh).”

I did not know the meaning of (bayooh). When I went to offer the hajj, I heard a nomad saying: “This is a (bayooh) day.”

I asked him: “What does (bayooh) mean?”

He said: “It means very hot.”[^63]

45 - أخبرني أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن التيملي، عن

(45) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan at-Taymali from Ahmad and Muhammad, the sons of al-Hasan, from their father from Tha’laba bin Maymoon that Badr bin al-Khaleel al-Asadi had said:

“Once I was with Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) and he said that two signs would appear before the appearance of al-Qa'im that had never appeared since Allah had sent Adam down to the earth. He said that the sun would be eclipsed in the middle of Ramadan and the moon would be eclipsed in the end of Ramadan.

A man said: “O son of the messenger of Allah, it is the moon that will be eclipsed in the middle of Ramadan and the sun will be eclipsed in the end of it.”[^64]

Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) said: “I do know what I say. They are two signs that have never occurred since Adam (as) has descended to the earth.”[^65]

46 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا القاسم بن محمد بن الحسن بن

(46) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from al-Qassim bin Muhammad bin al-Hasan bin Hazim from Obayss bin Hisham an-Nashiri from Abdullah bin Jibilla from al-Hakam bin Ayman from Ward, al-Kumayt’s brother, that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“Before the appearance of al-Qa'im, the moon will be eclipsed five days before the end of the month and the sun will be eclipsed in the middle of the month. That will occur in Ramadan and then the calculations of the astrologers will fail.”[^66]

47 - وعن علي بن أبي حمزة، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي عبد الله أنه قال:

(47) Ali bin Abu Hamza narrated from Abu Baseer that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“One of the signs that precedes the appearance of al-Mahdi will be the eclipse of the sun in the middle of Ramadan.”[^67]

48 - حدثنا محمد بن همام قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مالك، قال: حدثنا

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنْذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ {1}

(48) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Malik from Muhammad bin al-Husayn bin Abul Khattab from al-Hasan bin Ali from Salih bin Sahl that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said when talking about the verse, ‘A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall:’[^68]

“It is not a questioner asked….it is a flowing that flowed[^69] and it is a fire that will flame in ath-Thawiyya[^70] and then it will move to the tribe of Asad and then to the tribe of Thaqeef. It will burn the enemies of Muhammad’s progeny. This will be before the appearance of al-Qa'im (as).”[^71]

49 - حدثنا أبو سليمان أحمد بن هوذة قال: حدثنا إبراهيم بن إسحاق

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنْذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ {1}

(49) Abu Sulayman Ahmad bin Hawtha narrated from Ibraheem bin Iss’haq an-Nahawandi from Abdullah bin Hammad al-Ansari from Amr bin Shimr that Jabir had said:

“Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) said: “How do you recite this verse?”

I said: “Which verse?

He said: “A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall.” Then he said: “It is not a questioner asked….it is a flowing that flowed and it is a fire that will flame in ath-Thawiyya and then it will move to the tribe of Asad and then to the tribe of Thaqeef. It will burn the enemies of Muhammad’s progeny. This will be before the appearance of al-Qa'im (as).”[^72]

50 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثني علي بن الحسن، عن أخيه محمد

(50) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from his brother Muhammad bin al-Hasan from his father from Ahmad bin Umar al-Halabi from al-Husayn bin Musa from Ma’mar bin Yahya bin Sam from Abu Khalid al-Kabuli that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“As if I see some people rising in the east. They will ask for the truth but they will not be given it. They will ask for it again and they will not be given it. Then they will unsheathe their swords and they will be given what they will ask for but they will not accept it. They will revolt and deliver their victory to your man (al-Mahdi). Their killed ones will be martyrs. If I live until that time, I will sacrifice myself to the man of this matter.”[^73]

51 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن، عن يعقوب بن

(51) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from Ya'qoob bin Yazeed from Ziyad al-Qandi from ibn Othayna that Ma’roof bin Kharrabooth had said:

“Whenever we go to Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as), he says: “Khurasan! Khurasan! Sajistan! Sajistan!”[^74] As if he wants to tell us good news (about deliverance).”[^75]

52 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن، قال: حدثنا

(52) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from al-Hasan and Muhammad, the sons of Ali bin Yousuf, from their father from Ahmad bin Umar al-Halabi from Salih bin Abul Aswad from Abul Jarood that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“When people pay homage to the young boy, every young boy will try to rise.”[^76]

53 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن، قال: حدثنا

(53) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from Muhammad bin Abdullah from Muhammad bin Abu Omayr from Hisham bin Salim that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“Al-Qa'im will not appear except after that every class of people will have ruled over people so that no one may say: “If we have ruled, we will have spread justice” then al-Qa'im will rise to rule with truth and justice.”[^77]

54 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد بهذا الإسناد، عن هشام بن سالم، عن

(54) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from the same previous narrators from Hisham bin Salim that Zurara had said:

“Once I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) if the call (from the Heaven) would be true.

He said: “Yes, by Allah, until every nation will hear it with its own language.” He also said: “Al-Qa'im will not appear unless nine tenths of people perish.”[^78]

55 - أخبرنا علي بن أحمد قال: حدثنا عبيد الله بن موسى العلوي، قال:

(55) Ali bin Ahmad narrated from Obaydillah bin Musa al-Alawi from Abdullah bin Hammad al-Ansari from Ibraheem bin Obaydillah bin al-Ala’ from his father that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“Amirul Mo'mineen (as) informed of some things that would happen after him until the appearance of al-Qa'im.

Al-Husayn (as) asked him: “O Amirul Mo'mineen, when does Allah clear the world from the unjust people?”

Amirul Mo'mineen (as) said: “Allah does not clear the world from the unjust until the sacred blood is shed.” He mentioned the story of the Umayyads and the Abbasids in a long tradition then he said: “When al-Qa'im rises in Khurasan, defeats Kufa and the two nations, passes the island of Bani Kawan,[^79] and another revolter from us rises in Jeelan, who will be supported by the people of Aabir and Daylaman,[^80] then the banners of the Turks will rise in different countries to support my son (al-Qa'im). Then some things will happen here and there. Basra will be destroyed and the emir of the emirs will rule in Egypt.”

He told a long story and then said: “When armies get ready, different leaders rise, revolters rebel and unbelievers perish then the expected Qa’im and the unknown imam will appear with honor and virtue. O Husayn, he is your descendant, who has no like at all. He will appear between the two corners (of the Kaaba) in ragged cloths. He will rule over all the peoples and will clear the world of every evil. Blessed is he, who lives until his (al-Qa'im’s) age and enjoys his rule.”[^81]

56 - محمد بن همام قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مالك الفزاري الكوفي، قال:

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا ۚ يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا ۚ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ {55}

(56) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Malik from Muhammad bin Ahmad from Muhammad bin Sinan from Younus bin Dhabyan that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“When the night of Friday comes, Allah sends down an angel to the lower heaven. When dawn comes, the angel sits on a throne on the House (the Kaaba) and sets minbars of light for Muhammad, Ali, al-Hasan and al-Husayn (peace be upon them). They ascend the minbars. The angels, the prophets and the believers are invited to gather before them. The gates of the heavens are opened. When the sun declines, the Prophet (S) says: “O my Lord, carry out Your promise that You have promised of in Your Book by this verse, ‘Allah has promised to those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly make them rulers in the earth as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most certainly establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and that He will most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange.’[^82]

The angels and the prophets say the same thing. Then Muhammad, Ali, al-Hasan and al-Husayn prostrate themselves and pray Allah: “O our Lord, avenge! Your sanctum has been dishonored, Your choice have been killed and Your faithful slaves have been degraded.” Then Allah does as He wills and that will be a great day.”[^83]

57 - حدثنا عبد الواحد بن عبد الله بن يونس قال: حدثنا محمد بن جعفر

(57) Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah bin Younus narrated from Muhammad bin Ja'far al-Qarashi from Muhammad bin al-Husayn bin Abul Khattab from Muhammad bin Sinan from al-Husayn bin Mukhtar from Khalid al-Qalanisi that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“When the wall of the mosque of Kufa is destroyed from the back next to the house of ibn Mass’ood, then the rule of the family of so-and-so will decline. He, who destroys the wall, will not restore it (he perishes before that).”[^84]

58 - حدثنا عبد الواحد بن عبد الله قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن رباح

(58) Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah narrated from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Rabah from Ahmad bin Ali al-Himyari from al-Hasan bin Ayyoob from Abdul Kareem bin Amr al-Khath’ami from someone that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“Al-Qa'im will appear after when twelve men will have agreed upon that they have seen him but they will be considered as liars.”[^85]

59 - أخبرنا محمد بن همام قال: حدثنا حميد بن زياد، قال: حدثنا الحسن بن

(59) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Hameed bin Ziyad from al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Suma’a from Ahmad bin al-Hasan al-Maythami from Abul Hasan Ali bin Muhammad from Ma’ath bin Matar from someone (Abu Sayyar) that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“Before the appearance of al-Qa'im, the war of (tribe of) Qays will break out.”[^86]

60 - حدثنا علي بن الحسين قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، قال: حدثنا

(60) Ali bin al-Husayn narrated from Muhammad bin Yahya al-Attar from Muhammad bin Hassaan ar-Razi from Muhammad bin Ali al-Kufi from Muhammad bin Sinan that Obayd bin Zurara had said:

“Once as-Sufyani was mentioned before Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as). He said: “He (as-Syfyani) will not rise except after the rising of the one in Sana’a.”[^87]

61 - أخبرنا علي بن الحسين قال: أخبرنا محمد بن يحيى، عن محمد بن حسان

(61) Ali bin al-Husayn narrated from Muhammad bin Yahya from Muhammad bin Hassaan ar-Razi from Muhammad bin Ali al-Kufi from Ibraheem bin Abul Bilad from Ali bin Muhammad bin al-A’lam al-Azdi from his father from his grandfather that Amirul Mo'mineen (as) had said:

“Before the appearance of al-Qa'im, there will be red death, white death and attacks of locusts in time and out of time. Red death is the killing by the sword and white death is by plague.”[^88]

62 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن التيملي من

(26) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan at-Taymali from Muhammad bin Umar bin Yazeed and Muhammad bin al-Waleed bin Khalid al-Khazzaz from Hammad bin Uthman from Abdullah bin Sinan from Muhammad bin Ibraheem bin Abul Bilad from his father from his grandfather that al-Asbugh bin Nabata had heard Imam Ali (as) saying:

“Before the appearance of al-Qa'im there will be deceitful years, in which a truthful one will be considered as a liar, a liar will be considered as truthful and a cheater will be respected.”[^89]

63 - حدثنا عبد الواحد بن عبد الله قال: حدثنا محمد بن جعفر القرشي، قال:

(63) Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah narrated from Muhammad bin Ja'far al-Qarashi from Muhammad bin al-Husayn bin Abul Khattab from Muhammad bin Sinan from Huthayfa bin al-Mansoor that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“Allah will have a banquet. A caller from the Heaven will call out: O birds of the sky and beasts of the earth, come to eat and be satiate of the flesh of the tyrants.”[^90]

64 - حدثنا أبو سليمان أحمد بن هوذة الباهلي، قال: حدثنا إبراهيم بن

(64) Abu Sulayman Muhammad bin Hawtha al-Bahili narrated from Ibraheem bin Iss’haq from Abdullah bin Hammad al-Ansari from Abu Baseer that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“A caller (from the Heaven) will call out the name of al-Qa'im: O you the son of so-and-so, get up!”[^91]

65 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا محمد بن المفضل وسعدان بن

(65) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Muhammad bin al-Mufadhdhal, Sa’dan bin Iss’haq bin Sa'eed, Ahmad bin al-Husayn bin Abdul Melik and Muhammad bin Ahmad bin al-Hasan from al-Hasan bin Mahboob from Ya'qoob as-Sarraj from Jabir that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“O Jabir, al-Qa'im will not appear until the people of Sham will be afflicted with a sedition, from which they try their best to be free but they cannot, terrible killing will occur between Kufa and Heera[^92] and a call that will come from the Heaven.”[^93]

66 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد، عن هؤلاء الرجال الأربعة، عن الحسن بن

(66) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from the previous four narrators from al-Hasan bin Mahboob from al-Ala’ bin Razeen from Muhammad bin Muslim that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“Expect the cry to come to you surprisingly from the direction of Damascus. Then great deliverance will come to you.”[^94]

67 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد، عن هؤلاء الرجال الأربعة عن بن محبوب.

(67) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from the four men from al-Hasan bin Mahboob, Muhammad bin Ya'qoob al-Kulayni narrated from Ali bin Ibraheem bin Hashim from his father, Muhammad bin Imran narrated from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Eessa from Ali bin Muhammad and others from Sahl bin Ziyad from al-Hasan bin Mahboob and Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah narrated from Abu Ali Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abu Nashir from Ahmad bin Hilal from al-Hasan bin Mahboob from Amr bin Abul Miqdam from Jabir bin Yazeed al-Ju’fi that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“O Jabir, keep quiet until you see some signs that I will mention to you-if you remain alive until then: The first is the disagreement of the Abbasids. I do not think that you live until then but narrate this from me after my death. Other signs are a call from the Heaven, a cry comes from the direction of Damascus, one of the villages of Sham called al-Jabiya sinks, a part of the mosque of Damascus falls down, a group of the Turks apostates and then commotion in Rome. The Turks come and occupy the island whereas the Romans come to settle in ar-Ramla.

O Jabir, that year will be full of events everywhere from the direction of the west. The first country that will be ruined is Sham. Then people will disagree and divide into three armies; the army of the reddish one, the army of the spotted one and the army of as-Sufyani. As-Sufyani will fight the spotted one and he will kill him with his followers and then he will fight the reddish one and he will kill him.

Then he will move towards Iraq. He will pass by Qarqeesiya’.[^95] A fight will break out. As-Sufyani will kill about one hundred thousands of the arrogants. Then he will send an army of seventy thousand warriors towards Kufa. They will kill, crucify and capture many of the people of Kufa. While they are doing so, an army will come from the direction of Khurasan. With this army there will be some companions of al-Qa'im.

A faithful man from Kufa with weak followers will revolt but he will be killed by the leader of as-Sufyani’s army between Kufa and Heera. As-Sufyani will send a troop to Medina. Al-Mahdi will flee from Medina to Mecca. The leader of the army will be informed that al-Mahdi has gone to Mecca so he will send a troop to follow after him but with no use. Al-Mahdi will enter Mecca frightfully and cautiously like Prophet Moses (as).

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ آمِنُوا بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ نَطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِهَا أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّا أَصْحَابَ السَّبْتِ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا {47}

The army of as-Sufyani will stop in the desert. A caller from the Heaven will call out: “O desert, destroy these people!” The desert will sink with the army and none of them will escape death except three persons, whom Allah will turn their faces towards their backs. It is about them that this verse has been revealed, ‘O you who have been given the Book! believe that which We have revealed, verifying what you have, before We alter faces then turn them on their backs.’[^96]

On that day al-Qa'im will be in Mecca leaning his back against the Kaaba. He will announce: “O people, we resort to Allah to make us succeed. Whoever of you wants to support us, let him join us. We are the progeny of your Prophet Muhammad (as). We are worthier of Allah and Muhammad than other people. Whoever argues with me about Adam, I am the worthiest of Adam. Whoever argues with me about Noah, I am the worthiest of Noah. Whoever argues with me about Abraham, I am the worthiest of Abraham. Whoever argues with me about Muhammad (as), I am the worthiest of Muhammad (as). Whoever argues with me about the prophets, I am the worthiest of the prophets.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ {33}

ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {34}

Has Allah not said in his Book, ‘Surely Allah chose Adam and Noah and the descendants of Abraham and the descendants of Imran above the nations; offspring one of the other; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing?’[^97] I am a remainder of Adam, a relic of Noah, elite of Abraham and a choice of Muhammad, peace be upon them all. Whoever argues with me about the Book of Allah, I am the worthiest of the book of Allah. Whoever argues with me about the Sunna of the messenger of Allah, I am the worthiest of the Sunna of the messenger of Allah.

I adjure everyone, who hears my speech today, to inform the absent of it. I ask you with the right of Allah, the right of His messenger and with my right, for I have a right of kinship to the messenger of Allah, to support us and to protect us from those, who have wronged us. We have been wronged, offended, expelled from our homes, separated from our families, deprived of our rights and our honor and virtues have been distorted by the evil people. For the sake of Allah, do not fail us. Support us that may Allah supports you!”

وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ {148}

Allah will make his (al-Mahdi’s) three hundred and thirteen companions join him without any previous appointment. O Jabir, it is the verse that Allah has revealed in His Book, ‘Wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together; surely Allah has power over all things.’[^98] People will pay homage to him between the corner (of the Kaaba) and the temple (of Abraham). With him there will be a covenant from the Prophet (S) that has been inherited by the descendants; one after the other.

O Jabir, al-Qa'im is one of al-Husayn’s descendants. Allah will make him succeed within a night.

O Jabir, if people doubt all that, let them not doubt his descending from the Prophet (S) and his inheriting knowledge from the ulama (the infallible imams) one after the other. If all these things become confusing to them, then the call that will come from the Heaven and will call out his name and his parents’ names certainly will not be confusing to them at all.”[^99]

68 - حدثنا أبو سليمان أحمد بن هوذة الباهلي قال: حدثنا إبراهيم بن إسحاق

(68) Abu Sulayman Ahmad bin Hawtha al-Bahili narrated from Ibraheem bin Iss’haq an-Nahawandi from Abdullah bin Hammad al-Ansari from Abu Baseer that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

“Al-Qa'im will appear on the day of Ashura.[^100]”[^101]

All these signs that have been mentioned by the infallible imams (as) throughout the current true traditions, which are so numerous, must occur before the appearance of al-Qa'im (as) because the infallible imams (as) have said that they are inevitable and surely their sayings are the most truthful. It has been said to them: “We hope that al-Qa'im (as) appears without being preceded by the rising of as-Sufyani.” They said: “By Allah it is inevitable and it must occur.”

They have confirmed that the five signs will be the greatest evidences, after which al-Qa'im (as) will appear. They have denied timing[^102] and said: “Whoever narrates from us traditions talking about timing, do not hesitate in considering him as a liar whoever he is because we do not time.”

This is clear evidence showing the falseness of whoever claims that he is al-Qa'im before the occurrence of these signs.

[^1]: Al-Baqee’ is the graveyard of the Muslims in Medina.

[^2]: Biharul Anwar, vol.51 p.76, Muntakhab al-Athar p.200, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.1 p.195.

[^3]: Men la Yahdhuruhu al-Faqeeh, vol.1 p.252, Ilal ash-Sharayi’ p.348, Biharul Anwar, vol.22 p.291, vol.28 p.48.

[^4]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.228.

[^5]: Taylasan is a region in Persia.

[^6]: Iqd ad-Durar p.47, Minhaj al-Karama p.109, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.2 p.470, Biharul Anwar, vol.8 p.359, Bisharatul Islam p.45, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.80.

[^7]: Qur'an, 2:155.

[^8]: Qur'an, 3:7.

[^9]: Kamal ad-Deen p.649, Dala’il al-Imama p.259, Al-Irshad p.361, I’lam al-Wara p.427, al-Khara'ij wel Jara'ih, vol.3 p.1153, Kashul Ghumma, vol.3 p.52, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.42.

[^10]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.734, Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.1 p.167, Hilyatul Abrar, vol.2 p.608, al-Mahajja p.47, 48, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.228, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.43.

[^11]: Nowadays Damascus. But then Sham encompassed Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine.

[^12]: Tafseer al-Ayyashi, vol.1 p.68, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.734, 740, Hilyatul Abrar, vol.2 p.610, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.229, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.41.

[^13]: Qur'an, 19:37.

[^14]: Qur'an, 26:4.

[^15]: Iqd ad-Durar p.104, Ta'weel al-Aayat, vol.1 p.387, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.734, Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.3 p.179, 180, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.229, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.238, 291.

[^16]: Coming from Yemen.

[^17]: Iqd ad-Durar p.111, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.735, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.204, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.299.

[^18]: He might be Abbas bin Otba.

[^19]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.735, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.233, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.488.

[^20]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.735, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.233, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.464.

[^21]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.735, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.233, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.4 p.166.

[^22]: From Khurasan (Persia).

[^23]: Refer to chap.13 no.19, 22 and refer to ar-Raj’a by al-Astrabady p.157 and Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.253.

[^24]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.736, Muntakhab al-Athar p.250, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.282.

[^25]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.736, Muntakhab al-Athar p.455, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.450.

[^26]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.736, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.234, Bisharatul Islam p.116, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.467.

[^27]: The Arabs often use this word “my nephew” although the addressed one is not the talker’s nephew.

[^28]: Qur'an, 27:82.

[^29]: Ar-Raj’a by al-Astarabadi p.154, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.234, Madeenatul Ma’ajiz, vol.3 p.89.

[^30]: Ar-Raj’a by al-Astarabadi p.154, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.234, Madeenatul Ma’ajiz, vol.3 p.89.

[^31]: Qur'an, 26:4.

[^32]: Qur'an, 54:2.

[^33]: Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.3 p.179-180, al-Mahajja p.157-158, Hilyatul Abrar, vol.2 p.611-612, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.292, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.294.

[^34]: Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.3 p.180, Hilyatul Abrar, vol.2 p.612, al-Mahajja p.158, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.293, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.295.

[^35]: Iqd ad-Durar p.49, Burhan by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi p.114, Fara’id Fawa’id al-Fikr p.114, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.235, Lawa’ih by as-Safareeni, vol.2 p.8, 9, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.450.

[^36]: Tajul Mawaleed p.150, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.235, Bisharatul Islam p.91, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.214.

[^37]: Al-Mahajja p.156, 157, Tafseer al-Buran, vol.3 p.180, Hilyatul Abrar, vol.2 p.614, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.293, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.297.

[^38]: The Abbasid ruler may refer to the rulers of Iraq and the Minbar of Marwan may refer to Sham (Syria).

[^39]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.293.

[^40]: Hilyatul Abrar, vol.2 p.615, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.294, Kashful Astar by Mirza an-Noori p.223, Muntakhab al-Athar p.467, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.454.

[^41]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.294, Muntakhab al-Athar p.455, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.450.

[^42]: “Al-Mahdi” is a surname of the twelfth imam, whose name is Muhammad and whose father’s name is al-Hasan.

[^43]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.294, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.281.

[^44]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.736, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.294, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.457.

[^45]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.295, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.456.

[^46]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.295, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 .457.

[^47]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.295, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.456.

[^48]: Qur'an, 10:35.

[^49]: Al-Kafi, vol.8 p.208, al-Mahajja p.99, Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.2 p.185, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.296, 299, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.161.

[^50]: Hilyatul Abrar, vol.2 p.615, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.296, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.453.

[^51]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.296, Bisharatul Islam p.139, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.445.

[^52]: Iqd ad-Durar p.87, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.737, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.239, Muntakhab al-Athar p.458, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.273.

[^53]: Arafat is a mountain near Mecca. Standing on Arafat is one of the rituals when performing the hajj.

[^54]: Iqd ad-Durar p.106, Burhan by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi p.109, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.737, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.240, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.485.

[^55]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.240.

[^56]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.240.

[^57]: Qur'an, 41:53.

[^58]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.737, al-Mahajja p.188, Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.4 p.114, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.241, Yanabee’ul Mawadda p.427, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.390.

[^59]: Qur'an, 10:98, 41:16.

[^60]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.737, Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.4 p.107, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.241, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.166, 387.

[^61]: Al-Kafi, vol.8 p.224, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.242, 301, Bisharatul Islam p.133, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.497.

[^62]: Al-Kafi, vol.8 p.224, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.242, 301, Bisharatul Islam p.133, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.497.

[^63]: Qurb al-Isnad p.170, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.242, Bisharatul Islam p.156, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.4 p.164.

[^64]: According to the astrologers the eclipse of the sun often occurs in the middle of a month and the eclipse of the moon often occurs in the end of a month.

[^65]: Al-Kafi, vol.8 p.212, Irshad al-Mufeed p.359, al-Ghayba by at-Toossi p.444, I’lam al-Wara p.429, al-Khara'ij wel Jara'ih, vol.3 p.1158, Kashful Ghumma, vol.3 p.250, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.251.

[^66]: Kamal ad-Deen p.655, al-Odad al-Qawiyya p.66, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.723, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.207, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.251.

[^67]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.242, Bisharatul Islam p.125, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.460.

[^68]: Qur'an, 70:1.

[^69]: In Arabic: “sa’ala sa’ilun”-a questioner asked- and “sala saylun”-a flowing flowed.

[^70]: It is a place in Kufa.

[^71]: Al-Mahajja p.233, Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.4 p.382, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.243, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.459.

[^72]: Al-Mahajja p.233, Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.4 p.382, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.243, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.458.

[^73]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.243, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.269.

[^74]: Khurasan and Sajistan are provinces in Persia.

[^75]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.243.

[^76]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.244.

[^77]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.738, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.244, Bisharatul Islam p.121, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.426.

[^78]: Hilyatul Abrar, vol.2 p.682, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.244, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.441.

[^79]: A big island in the Persian Gulf between Oman and Bahrain.

[^80]: Jeelan, Aabir and Daylaman are cities in Iran.

[^81]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52, p.235, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.16.

[^82]: Qur'an, 24:55.

[^83]: Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.3 p.146, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.297, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.283.

[^84]: Irshad al-Mufeed p.360, al-Ghayba by at-Toossi p.446, al-Khara'ij wel Jara'ih, vol.3 p.1163, Kashful Ghumma, vol.3 p.250, Iqd ad-Durar p.51, al-Odad al-Qawiyya p.77, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.481.

[^85]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.738, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.244, Bisharatul Islam p.122, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.488.

[^86]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.738, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.244, Bisharatul Islam p.123, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.479.

[^87]: Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.245, Bisharatul Islam p.123, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.478.

[^88]: Irshad al-Mufeed p.359, al-Ghayba by at-Toossi p.438, I’lam al-Wara p.427, al-Khara'ij wel Jara'ih, vol.3 p.1152, Iqd ad-Durar p.65, Kashful Ghumma, vol.3 p.249, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.20.

[^89]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.738, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.245, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.187.

[^90]: Iqd ad-Durar p.87, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.739, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.246, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.471.

[^91]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.739, Hilyatul Abrar, vol.2 p.614, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.246, 297, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.454.

[^92]: Heera is a place in Iraq near Kufa.

[^93]: Iqd ad-Durar p.51, Fara’id Fawa’id al-Fikr p.14, Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.582, 739, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.271, 297, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.213.

[^94]: Ithbat al-Hudat, vol.3 p.739, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.298, Bisharatul Islam p.97, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.281.

[^95]: a village near the Euphrates.

[^96]: Qur'an, 4:47.

[^97]: Qur'an, 3:33-34.

[^98]: Qur'an, 2:148.

[^99]: Irshad al-Mufeed p.359, al-Ghayba by at-Toossi p.441, I’lam al-Wara p.427, al-Khara'ij wel Jara'ih, vol.3 p.1156, Iqd ad-Durar p.49, Kashful Ghumma, vol.3 p.249, al-Fusool al-Muhimma p.301, Tafseer al-Burhan, vol.1 p.162, Biharul Anwar, vol.52 p.237, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.5 p.20.

[^100]: Ashura’ is the tenth day of Muharram, when Imam al-Husayn (as) and his companions have been martyred.

[^101]: Irshad al-Mufeed p.361, al-Ghayba by at-Toossi p. 452, Rawdhatul Wa’idheen p.263, I’lam al-Wara p.430, al-Malahim by ibn Tawoos p.194, Kashful Ghumma, vol.3 p.252, al-Fusool al-Muhimma p.302, Mo’jam Ahadeeth al-Imam al-Mahdi, vol.3 p.489.

[^102]: Timing is to put a fixed time for the events that happen in the future.