Why do we just celebrate the beginning of Imam Mahdi’s Imamate, but we do not do it for other Imams after the martyrdom of the previous ones!?
In response, we can pay attention to some points:
First, creating a culture to celebrate the Days of Allah[1], such as Ghadir and Mab'ath Eve,[2] the anniversary of the Holy Prophet’s birthday, and other religious occasions are rooted in the cultural life of the Household of the Prophet. The Shias celebrate both of the birthday and the day of the beginning the mission of the Messenger of Allah; and both of the birthday of Imam Ali who is the Commander of the Faithful and the Ghadir Eve. The Shia are used to celebrate these days since they are the beginning days of some important religious events.
Therefore, it is worthwhile to celebrate both of the anniversary birthday and the Imamate of the Reminder of Allah[3] (Imam Mahdi), on the ninth of Rabī' al-Awwal, and to be happy on these days.
Second, the only alive Imam in our time is Imam Mahdi, and all other Imams have been martyred, so we celebrate the Imamate of the Imam of the Age because he is present and responsible for the leadership of humankind in the current time.
On this occasion, the renewal of allegiance is done to this honorable Imam at the anniversary beginning of his Imamate; as Imam Sādiq (the Shia's sixth Imam) has reminded it to the Shias by ordering them to recite the 'Ahd supplication. He states,
«مَن دَعا إلي اللهِ أربَعينَ صَباحاً بِهذا العَهدِ كانَ مِن أنصارِ قائِمِنا وَ إن ماتَ أخرَجَهُ اللهُ إلَيهِ مِن قَبرِهِ وَ أعطاهُ اللهُ بِكُلِّ كَلِمَةٍ ألفَ حَسَنَةٍ وَ مَحا عَنهُ ألفَ سَيّئَةٍ».[4]
“Whoever recites this 'Ahd (supplication) forty mornings, will be one of our Upriser's helper; and if he dies before the appearance of the Imam, he will be taken out of the grave and serve the Imam, and Allah will grand him with every word of this prayer one thousand rewards and erase one thousand sins from him.”
Therefore, since our time is the time of Imam Mahdi's Imamate our hearts and minds should pay more attention to him, so that the issue of Imamate in the period of Occultation that has been lasting for a long time, will not be forgotten, and the desire of expectation will be more aroused in the hearts. This is why we attempt and desire to remember and celebrate this day.
This celebration gains more emphasis when we notice that the atmosphere of the present situation in the contemporary world has changed and the existence of the Imam is doubted by the enemies of the Household of the Prophet, and the belief in Imam Mahdi has faced many forms of misinterpretation and doubt. Consequently, the commemoration of this day is an attempt to deepen this Islamic and Shiite belief in the hearts of the believers and to pay attention more to Islamic teachings about the conduct of the Ahl al-Bayt.
Third, when this day is considered as an Eve in continuation of "Ghadir Eve", honoring, protecting, and revival of it is as worthy as Ghadir Eve; and as the Household of the Prophet revived and created the culture of Ghadir Eve, it is necessary to revive the ninth of Rabī', which is the last and most special delegation of Imamate. Imam Ali in a narration expresses some characteristics of his Shias, and considers their joy and sorrow wise and purposeful and relates them to the infallible Imam and states,
«إنَّ اللهَ تَبارَكَ وَ تَعالي اطَّلَعَ إلي الأَرضِ فَاختارَنا وَ إِختارَ لَنا شيعَةً يَنصُرونَنا وَ يَفرَحونَ لِفَرَحِنا وَ يَحزَنونَ لِحُزنِنا وَ يَبذُلونَ أموالَهِم وَ أنفُسَهُم فينا اولئِكَ مِنّا وَ إلَينا».[5]
“Allah the Exalted, the Glorified noticed the earth and chose us, and chose Shias for us to help us. They rejoice in our joy and grieve when we are sad. They sacrifice their lives and spend their properties in our way. They are from us and they return to us.”
Therefore, just as the holding mourning ceremonies for the two months of Muharram and Safar[6] are two examples of "they grieve when we are sad" the celebration of the ninth of Rabī' is also an example of "They rejoice in our joy."
It is worthwhile to know that the lovers of Imam Mahdi and those who wait for his coming must make a special effort to protect this great day and make it popular. On this day, we must review the contents of our covenants which are mentioned in the narrations and supplications, especially the 'Ahd supplication;[7] and recognize and reread the rights and obligations that we owe to the Promised Imam and in fact, this is our commitment to Allah. Because Imam Sādiq (the sixth Imam) in response to one of his followers, about the interpretation of this verse,
﴿لا يَملِكونَ الشَّفاعَةَ إلّا مَن اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحمنِ عَهداً﴾.[8]
“[On the Day of Judgment, the intercessors] are not able to intercede, but those [such as the Prophets, Imams, Angels, and the friends of Allah] who get a covenant [of the permission to intercede] on behalf of the Beneficent [Allah].”
States,
«إلّا مَن دانَ الله بِوِلايَةِ أميرِالمُؤمِنين وَ الأئِمَّةِ مِن بَعدِهِ فَهُوَ العَهدُ عِندَ اللهِ».[9]
“Indeed, covenant with Allah is the acceptance of the guardianship of the Commander of the Faithful and the Imams after him.”
Source: The Final Hope, January 2021, Issue no. 4
[1] The "Days of Allah" alludes to some special days on which an important religious event takes place.
[2] In Ghadīr Eve Imam Ali was introduced by the Prophet as his immediate successor after his demise and in Mab'ath Eve the Prophet received the command from Allah to present his prophethood to others.
[3] This title is one of the attributes of Imam Mahdi that points to the survival of someone from Allah who is remained for the benefit of people and is the final link between Allah and His creatures.
[4] Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 83, p. 284; Mafātīh al-Jinān.
[5] Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 44, p. 287.
[6] These are the two Islamic months that contain some occasions on which Imam Hussain and his household were martyred.
[7] Mafātīh al-Jinān.
[8] The Quran, 19:87.
[9] Kāfī, vol. 1, P. 431; Biḥār al-Anwār, vol. 44, p. 332.
