Kitab al-Ghayba: The Book of Occultation

Chapter 23: The age of al-Qa'im

1 - أخبرنا علي بن أحمد، عن عبيد الله بن موسى، قال: حدثني محمد بن

(1) Ali bin Ahmad narrated from Obaydillah bin Musa from Muhammad bin al-Husayn (from) ibn Abul Khattab from Muhammad bin Sinan from Abul Jarood that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“This matter (deliverance) will be carried out by the youngest and obscurest one of us.”

The same was narrated by Ali bin al-Husayn from Muhammad bin Yahya al-Attar from Muhammad bin Hassaan ar-Razi from Muhammad bin Ali as-Sayrafi from Muhammad bin Sinan from Abul Jarood from Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as).[^1]

2 - حدثنا محمد بن همام قال: حدثنا أحمد بن مابنداذ، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن

(2) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ahmad bin Mabindath from Ahmad bin Hilal from Abu Malik al-Hadhrami from Abu as-Safatij that Abu Baseer had said:

“I said to one of them-Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) or Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as): “Can this matter (imamate) be entrusted to one, who is not adult yet?”

He said: “It will be so.”

I said: “How does he (the young imam) act?”

He said: “Allah grants him with knowledge and wisdom and does not make him follow his fancies.”[^2]

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

(3) 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 Abul Jarood that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) had said:

“This matter (deliverance) is not carried out except by the obscurest and youngest one of us.”[^3]

4 - أخبرنا محمد بن همام قال: حدثنا أحمد بن مابنداذ، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن

(4) Muhammad bin Hammam narrated from Ahmad bin Mabindath from Ahmad bin Hilal from Iss’haq bin Sabah that Imam Abul Hasan ar-Redha (as) had said:

“The imamate will be entrusted to one, who is so young and obscure.”[^4]

The infallible imams (as) have confirmed that al-Qa'im (as) will be entrusted with the imamate while he is too young yet and that his mention is so obscure to the most of people. None of the other imams has been entrusted with the imamate when he is as young as al-Mahdi (aj).

When they mention that he is the obscurest one among them, they refer to his disappearance and that his news will be unknown by people. The traditions about this concern are too many, true and current. Doubting this matter must be away from the minds of the believers, whom Allah has guided and lit their hearts.

[^1]: Biharul Anwar, vol.51 p.42.

[^2]: Biharul Anwar, vol.51 p.43.

[^3]: Biharul Anwar, vol.51 p.43.

[^4]: Biharul Anwar, vol.51 p.43.