Imam al-Ḥusayn's Narrations about Imam al-Mahdi

Imam al-Ḥusayn's Narrations about Imam al-Mahdi

Preface

The happening of Āshūrā is an apex of the Islamic and Shiite history for which it always deserves several comprehensive studies. Among what deserves more attention is the various statements narrated from Imam Hussain about Imam Mahdi and his appearance. In his remarks, Imam Hussain highlighted certain features of Imam Mahdi, the signs of his appearance, and the grandeur of that time for both Shiites and people of other religions in the world.

We read in a part of Āshūrā Ziyārah of Imam Hussein,

«وَ اَسئَلهُ اَن یبَلِّغَنِی المَقامَ المَحمُودَ لَکُم عِندَالله وَ اَن یرزُقَنِی طَلَبَ ثارِکُم مَعَ اِمامٍ هُدَی ظاهِرٍ ناطِقٍ بِالحَقّ مِنکُم».

"I ask Allah to bring me to a praiseworthy position of yours (the Household of the Prophet) in the presence of Allah. And grant me the request of taking revenge for the unjustly shed blood of you while we are the companions of an Imam from you (Imam Mahdi) who is guided, is appeared (people can see him), and speaks about the truth."

By examining the statements of Imam Hussain about Mahdism and the matter of revelation, we realize the deep and inseparable connection between these two important and crucial uprisings.

What Imam Hussain knew about Mahdism and passed it on to his noble companions was a great goal that determines the future of the world. The Imam's martyrdom also was a prelude to achieving this universal goal.

Āshūrā paved the way for the uprising and a worldwide revolution of the Savior of mankind; since it created the fundamental idea among the Shia that death is better than living under the rule of oppressors and infidel powers. This idea has been always a yardstick with the Shias throughout history, and such a factor led to the formation of revolutions such as the Islamic Revolution of Iran. The continuation of this thinking, with Allah's help, will lead to Imam Mahdi's world revolution. The Shia believe that Imam Mahdi will come to complete Imam Ḥusayn's mission and bring it to an end so that oppression will not remain in the world and justice will spread throughout the world.

Imam Hussain talked about the emergence and discussed the issue of Mahdism on several occasions. The present article seeks to classify, analyze, and examine some of these statements.

Imam Ḥusayn's description about Imam Mahdi

In some cases, Imam Hussain, by expressing the characteristics of Imam Mahdi, persuaded people towards him and thus, prepared the ground for his emergence in the coming centuries. For instance, he in response to a man who wanted to know about Imam Mahdi described him as follows,

«مِنْ بَنِی هَاشِمٍ مِنْ ذِرْوَةِ طَوْدِ الْعَرَبِ وَ بحْرِ مغِیضِهَا إِذَا وَرَدَتْ وَ مَخْفِرِ أَهْلِهَا إِذَا أُتِیَتْ وَ مَعْدِنِ صَفْوَتِهَا إِذَا اکْتَدَرَتْ لَا یَجْبُنُ إِذَا الْمَنَایَا هَکَعَتْ وَ لَا یَخُورُ إِذَا الْمَنُونُ اکتَنَعَتْ وَ لَا ینْکُلُ إِذَا الْکمَاةُ اصْطَرَعَتْ مُشَمِّرٌ مُغْلَوْلِبٌ ظَفِرٌ ضِرْغَامَةٌ حَصِدٌ مُخْدِشٌ ذِکْرٌ سَیْفٌ مِنْ سُیُوفِ اللَّهِ رَأْسٌ قثَمُ نشُؤَ رَأْسُهُ فِی بَاذِخِ السُّؤْدَدِ وَ عَارِزٌ [غَارِزٌ مَجْدَهُ فِی أَکْرَمِ الْمَحْتِدِ فَلَا یَصْرِفَنَّکَ عنْ بیْعَتِهِ صارِفٌ»^[1]

"He (Imam Mahdi) is from the offspring of Banī Hāshim from the highest of Arabs tribes in position and from an ocean towards which water flows from all sides.^[2] He is like a shelter for the refugees and the source of purity when other things are dark and naughty. When death shows itself in an ambush, there will be no horror in his heart, and when death reveals its face, he will not show any weakness and inability. He will not retreat on the battlefield where all the other brave men could not stay firm. He is ambitious, will have many followers, is like a lion in the thicket in bravery who can uproot the base of the oppressors. He will be a strong and powerful support (for others) and a sword from the swords of Allah. He is a master and full of goodness and is grown up in a family of glory and honor and the root of his glory and majesty is the most original (and strong) root. So, nothing should prevent you from swearing allegiance to him."

Then the Imam continued,

«أَوْسَعُکُمْ کَهْفاً وَ أَکْثَرُکُمْ عِلْماً وَ أَوْصَلُکُمْ رَحِماً»

"His shelter for (needy people) is the most pervasive, his knowledge is the most abundant, and his paying attention to those who are connected to him is more than others."

In another narration, Imam Hussain describes Imam Mahdi by saying,

«فِي التَّاسِعِ مِنْ‏ وُلْدِي‏ سُنَّةٌ مِنْ‏ يُوسُفَ‏ وَ سُنَّةٌ مِنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ وَ هُوَ قَائِمُنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ»^[3]

"In the ninth man of my generation, there is a sign of Prophet Joseph and a sign of Muses bin 'Imrān.^[4] Among us, the Household of the Prophet, he is the one who will rise."

However, Imam Hussain used to portray the importance of the holy existence of Imam Mahdi for the Shias in such a way that everyone was eager to visit and serve him.

Imam Ḥusayn and the issue of Imam Mahdi's occultation

There is a great gap between the time of Imam Hussain to the time of the Greater Absence of Imam Mahdi and finally up to his emergence. But it is clear from the statements of Imam Hussain that from the very beginning, he felt a responsibility for the future of humanity, so that he took some great steps and coordinated all his actions with this great mission.

In his speeches, Imam Hussain prepared the minds of his people for understanding the prolongation of the absence of Imam Mahdi and spoke of a serious divine test during that period. It is narrated from him to have said,

«لَهُ‏ غَيْبَةٌ يَرْتَدُّ فِيهَا قَوْمٌ وَ يَثْبُتُ عَلَى الدِّينِ فِيهَا آخَرُونَ فَيُؤْذَوْنَ وَ يُقَالُ لَهُمْ‏ مَتى‏ هذَا الْوَعْدُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صادِقِينَ‏ أَمَا إِنَّ الصَّابِرِينَ فِي غَيْبَتِهِ عَلَى الْأَذَى وَ التَّكْذِيبِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ بِالسَّيْفِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّه‏.»^[5]

"For him (Imam Mahdi), it is an absence in which some groups of people turn away from the religion and other groups remain steadfast in it but suffer annoyance in this way. They are told, 'When will this promise come true if you are truthful?' Those who endure these harassments and denials are like the ones who hold their swords in jihad next to the Messenger of Allah."

In another statement, Imam Hussain describes the state of the society and the relations between Muslims during the absence of the Major Occultation of Imam Mahdi by stating,

«لَا يَكُونُ الْأَمْرُ الَّذِي تَنْتَظِرُونَهُ حَتَّى‏ يَبْرَأَ بَعْضُكُمْ‏ مِنْ‏ بَعْضٍ‏ وَ يَتْفُلُ بَعْضُكُمْ فِي وُجُوهِ بَعْضٍ وَ يَشْهَدَ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ بِالْكُفْرِ وَ يَلْعَنَ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً»^[6]

"The matter you are waiting for (the issue of the appearance) will not take place unless a group of you show their disgust with the other group (due to confusion and chaos), and some of you spit on the faces of others, and some of you testify to the disbelief of the other group, and some of you curse the other."

Here, the narrator told the Imam, "So, there will be no goodness at that time?" and the Imam responded,

«الْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ يَقُومُ قَائِمُنَا وَ يَدْفَعُ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ.»

"(On the contrary) all goodness will be gathered at that time; Our Upriser will rise and removes all those evils."

In general, what can be deduced from the verses of the holy Quran and the correct narrations of the Prophet and his household is that at the time of the advent of Imam Mahdi who is the Promised One, corruption, moral deviation; and political and economic oppression will pervade all human societies and most people, even Muslims, will forget many spiritual, divine, and religious values. The general state of the world will take a gloomy and depressing face, and people will wait for a miracle to save them and get them rid of this irresistible situation.

Imam Ḥusayn and the signs of the appearance

It is stated in a narration that Imam Hussain pointed to the fact that the friends and followers of the oppressors are among those whom Imam Mahdi will punish for their bad deeds. Here the Imam says,

«مَرَّ الْحُسَيْنُ‏ ع عَلَى حَلْقَةٍ مِنْ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَ هُمْ جُلُوسٌ فِي مَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ ص فَقَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا تَذْهَبُ‏ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ مِنِّي رَجُلًا يَقْتُلُ مِنْكُمْ أَلْفا...»^[7]

"Once Imam Hussain passed by a group of Umayyads sitting in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah. He told them, 'Be aware, I swear to Allah that the world will not come to an end until Allah raises from my progeny a man who will kill thousands of you…'"

Here we should note that Islam is the religion of mercy; and the Prophet of Allah is the symbol of affection and amiability. This is what we read in the Quran about the Prophet,

﴿وَ ما أَرْسَلْناکَ إِلاَّ رَحمَةً لِلْعالَمینَ﴾^[8]

"We sent you only as a mercy to the world."

As a result, Imam Mahdi who follows the Sunnah of the Prophet will act exactly in accordance with what the Prophet used to do and will be the representation of kindliness. But we should not neglect the fact that the Imam should be severe to those who want to act against the tradition of the Prophet and in opposition to the interest of the Islamic society just as what the Prophet used to treat with the polytheists.

Conclusion

We, by deliberating Imam Hussain's statements about Mahdism and his Emergence, find that he was aware of the status and importance of Imam Mahdi's action against the tyrannical rule of that time. Imam Hussain has enough knowledge and certainty about this issue in the light of his infallibility and closeness to Allah.

He knew that only by sacrificing his pure blood and that of his companions could preserve the religion of the holy Prophet, and deliver the banner of Islam to the pure hands of the Promised Mahdi.

Āshūrā and waiting for the advent of Imam Mahdi are inextricably linked with each other. For this reason, Imam Hussain promoted the culture of Mahdism in various ways.

Therefore, if we now seek to cognize the real face of the Event of Āshūrā, after gaining knowledge, we should try to prepare the ground for the appearance of Imam Mahdi by examining the words of Imam Hussain and getting acquainted with the various dimensions of his uprising in Āshūrā. Because the issue of awaiting and laying the groundwork for the rule of divine justice is one of the important achievements of Karbalā incident.

Source:  The Final Hope, October 2020, Issue no. 3

The Promised Mahdi Cultural Foundation