Your Questions Answered (volume 5)

Q. 30:number of Imams

Was any number fixed for this chain of the Guides? A. Yes, according to many accepted traditions, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has said: "Imams after me will be twelve."

Q. 31: THE TWELVE IMAMS

Who are those twelve Imams?

A. They are as follows:

  1. 'Ali
  2. Hasan
  3. Husayn
  4. 'Ali Zaynul 'Abdeen
  5. Muhammad Baqir
  6. Ja'far Sadiq
  7. Musa Kazim
  8. 'Ali Rida
  9. Muhammad Taqi
  10. Ali Naqi
  11. Hassan 'Askari
  12. Muhammad Mahdi

Q. 32:WHY SUNNI SCHOLARS, IN SPITE OFNARRATING HADITH OF GHADEER,DO NOT ACCEPT 'ALI (A.S.) AS FIRST KHALIFA?

If there are so many Sunni scholars who have narrated the traditions that 'Ali was the appointed successor of the Prophet and that after him 12 Imams were to follow, how come the Sunni majority still believes in the three Caliphs etc. How can those scholars be called Sunni, if they narrate these traditions which prove Shi'a belief?

A. It is because in their eyes Imamate is synonymous with ruier-ship; and, as such, depends on acceptance of people. Allah or Rasul, in Sunni theology, have no role in it. A famous Sunni writer had once written in India, "I accept that it was the Prophet's ardent wish that 'Ali should be his immediate successor. But also it should be accepted that the Ummah decided otherwise".

So this is their way of thinking. For details, see my book, Imamat, available from the Mission.

Q. 33: DID 'ALI (A.S.) ACCEPT ABU BAKR AS THE RIGHTFUL KHALIFAH?

In The "Light" (June, 1986) in the article The Origin of the Shiahs' appears this passage: "Both the Sunni and the Shia sects agree that when allegiance was being taken from Muslims, 'Ali (a.s.) did not accept the authority of Abu Bakr."The question arises, whether 'Ali (a.s.) ever accepted the - Khilafat of Abu Bakr?

A. The sentence ("Both the Sunni and the Shi'a sects agree that when allegiance was being taken from Muslims, 'Ali (a.s.) did not accept the authority of of Abu Bakr") is correct The difference is about the later period, whether after the death of Hazrat Fatima (a.s.), 'Ali (a.s.) gave the oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr. The Sunnis claim, as mentioned in Bukhari, that he did. The Shi'as deny it.

I do not have time to go into detailed explanations. Suffice it to say that Bibi Fatima and Hazrat 'Ali (peace be on them) both were sinless and Ma'sum; and the verse of "Purity" confirms their freedom from every error and sin. As the Sunnis accept that Bibi Fatima did not allow her husband to give allegiance to Abu Bakr, it naturally means that she herself did not accept Abu Bakr. Not only that; they agree that she died angry with Abu Bakr and Umar; and told 'Ali (a.s.) not to allow them to attend her funeral.

Now, the question arises Was her rejection of Abu Bakr right or wrong? It could not be wrong, because Fatima (a.s.) couid not do any wrong. So, it was right; and that is why 'Ali (a.s.) too could not give allegiance to Abu Bakr.

Now, if 'Ali (a.s.) changed his stand after six months as the Sunnis claim, then the question arises: Which of his stands was correct? If, as explained above, his attitude during first six months was correct, then changing it would be wrong, an error and a sin. But 'Ali (a.s.) was free from all errors and sins.

Two other events show what attitude 'Ali had towards these persons.

First: During the Shura, when 'Abdur Rahman ibn 'Awf offered Khilafat to 'Ali (a.s.) on the condition that 'Ali (a.s.) would follow (1) the Book of Allah, (2) the tradition of the Prophet and (3) the system of the two shaykhs (i.e., Abu Bakr and 'Umar), 'Ali (a.s.) refused to accept the 3rd condition (i.e., following the system of Abu Bakr and 'Umar).

The same condition was put before 'Uthman, who at once agreed and was declared as the 3 rd Khalifah. Had 'Ali (a.s.) agreed to that condition, it would have been tantamount to confirming their legitimacy. For 'Ali (a.s.) leaving his own chance of Khilafat was easier than showing that they were legal Khalifas.

Second: When Ibn Ziyad (Yazid's governor of Kufa) appointed 'Umar ibn Sa'd as commander of the army which was being sent to Karbala, he said to 'Umar ibn Sa'd to fight and kill Imam Husayn (a.s.) unless the Imam gives his allegiance to Yazid. To this, 'Umar ibn Sa'd replied: "Husayn will not give that allegiance because the heart (nafs) of his father is inside his chest." What does it mean? It means that at least upto the year 61 A.H., friends and foes alike knew that Ali (a.s.) had not given allegiance to those Khalfas. Otherwise, Ibn Ziyad would not have remained silent.

Q.34: THE PRESENT IMAM

Who is the Imam these days?

A. The Imam these days is the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi (a.s.).

Q. 35: SOME MORE ABOUT THE PRESENT IMAM.

Tell me some more about him.

A. Imam Mahdi (a.s.), the twelfth Imam, is alive, but is hidden from our eyes by order of Allah. He will re-appear, when Allah allows him, to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. It will be near the end ot the world, when he will establish justice and equity in the world after it would have been devastated by injustice and oppression.

Q. 36: HE WHO DIES WITHOUT KNOWING THE IMAM OF HIS TIME...

Can you give me the full references to the quote on page 17 of the The Light (August, 1987): "He who dies without recognising the Imam of his age is like the one who died during the Jahiliyah."

A. It is a well known hadith, accepted both by the Sunnis and the Shi'as. For Shi'a books, please see 'Allama Majlisi's "Biharui-Anwar", 7th volume (Vol. 23 in the new printing in which original 25 volumes have been printed in 110 handy volumes), chapter 4: "Chapter of recognising the Imam, and that people shall not be excused if they discard the Wilayah;

and that he who dies without recognising his Imam, or having doubt about him. dies the death of Jahiliyyah, disbelief and hyprocrisy". There you will find more than 30 traditions to this effect narrated from the Prophet (s a.w.a.) and the Imams, in various words (New edition, vol. 23. p 76-95).

As for the Sunnis references,at present I can give you the reference of Kanzul-Ummai,(by Mulla 'Ali al-Muttaqi, 5th ed.1985, Beirut), 1st Vol. p. 103, Hadith 'No.463 and 464. Hadith No.463:(Abdullah) ibn 'Umar narrates:'He who dies without (doing) bai'at dies the death of Jahiliyyah:" It is quoted from al-Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

No. 464: Mu'awiyah narrates: "He who dies without an Imam, dies the death of Jahiliyyah". It is quoted from al-Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and al-Mu'jam al-kabir of Imam at-Tabarani.

Q. 37: WHO WILL KILL DAJJAL?

In the book, "Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) is the last Prophet", it is mentioned that Hazrat 'Isa (a.s.) is the person who will chase and kill Dajjal. But in many of the books written by Shi'ite scholars, it is stated that this work will be done by Imam-e-Zaman (a.s.). Kindly clarify this contradiction.

A. As the said book deals with the Qadianis' beliefs, naturally most of the traditions and references have been given from the Sunni books; and their books refer to Hazrat 'Isa (a.s.) as the one who will kill Dajjal.

However, it is not irreconcilable with most of the Shi'a traditions which say that the 12th Imam (a.s.) will kill Dajjal. As Hazrat 'Isa (a.s.) will come to assist Imam Akheruz-Zaman (a.s.) and will fight the unbelievers under his banner as one of his closest commanders, any work done by Hazrat 'Isa (a.s.) can logically and truthfully be attributed to Imam Akheruz-Zaman (a.s.). So, even if someone insists on the Sunni version, he cannot discard the Shi'a traditions.

Q.38: RAJ'AT (RETURN)

Will the total transformation of the society into an Islamic one be achieved during the reign of Imam-e-Zaman (a.s.) or will it be completed by the other holy Imams' (a.s.) "Return" (i.e. Raj'at)? By the way, will the other Imams (a.s.) come during the life-time of Imam-e-Zaman (a.s.) or after his death?

A. "The total transformation" will happen during the reign of Imam Sahebuz-Zaman (a.s.). The belief in "Raj'at" is necessary, and the concept and the principle must be believed in. But the details should be left into the hands of Allah.

However, it is certain that the Prophet and all preceding eleven Imams (peace be on them) will return during the life-time of Imam Sahebu-e-Zaman (a.s.).

Q. 39: DAY OF JUDGEMENT

What is the significance of the Day Judgement?

A. After re-appearance of Imam al-Mahdi, there will come Qiyamat, the day of resurrection, the day of judgement. All people will die; then the whole mankind will be resurrected to face the reckoning of their faith and deed. People having correct belief and doing good deeds will be placed in the paradise; while people having wrong belief will go to the hell.