What is the benefit of the existence of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s) while he is in occultation?

Monday, 30 November -0001 00:00

Sayyed Roohullah Musavi

90

Intermediate

occultation of the Imam of the Age, Imam of the time, Imam Mahdi
Imam Mahdi's life, Imamate

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\viewkind4\uc1\pard\ltrpar\sa200\sl276\slmult1\lang1033\f0\fs22 There is a lot of discussion regarding the benefits of the Awaited Imam (a.s). While we cannot see him because of his\fs40 \fs22 occultation, some of the benefits counted by the theologians are as follows:
\par Firstly: Even though His Eminence is concealed from public view, his existence is the cause of security for the inhabitants of the earth, as mentioned clearly in numerous traditions regarding this matter. Some of them are as follows:
\par a. The Messenger of Allah (a.s) said:
\par "My Ahle Bayt (household) are security for the inhabitants of the earth. If my Ahle Bayt are not there, the inhabitants of the earth shall be destroyed." (1)
\par b. The Messenger of Allah (a.s) said:
\par "This religion shall always be upright till there are twelve chiefs from Quraish. When they pass away, the earth will swallow all its inhabitants." (2)
\par Other traditions also prove that the Purified Imams (a.s) are the security for the inhabitants of the earth and their existence repels calamities and troubles from all the people of the earth.
\par
\par Secondly: The occultation of the Awaited Imam is so because the people do not deserve him and also because of prevailing evils among the people. Were they righteous and deserving and had not deviated from the path of truth, His Eminence would have appeared. The great scholar, Tusi (a.r.) has pointed towards these two causes mentioned above. He says: "The existence of His Eminence is a grace; his authority is another grace, and his occultation is because of us." (3)
\par So his occultation has a positive educational benefit because the seekers of the Imams and those who wait his must purify themselves and also their society so pave the way for the reappearance of their Imam.
\par
\par Thirdly: While he is in occultation, Imam Mahdi (a.s) is kind on his followers and he prays for them and there is no obstacle in his prayer. If the prayer of the Imam had not been for them, the oppressors would never have allowed the righteous people to control their desires and they would have destroyed all of them. The same point is mentioned in a letter of His Eminence (a.s) to Shaykh Mufeed (a.r.). In the letter he says: "Surely we are neither negligent of your affairs, nor are we forgetful of your remembrance. Had it been so, afflictions would have descended upon you and enemies would have suppressed you."
\par
\par Fourthly: Imam Mahdi (a.s) has himself explained that how he benefits the people while he is in occultation. He said:
\par "Taking benefit from me during my occultation is like getting benefit from the sun while it is hidden from the view." Sulaiman Amash bin Mehran asked His Eminence, Imam Sadiq (a.s): How do the people benefit from His Eminence, the Proof (Hujjat) (a.s) when he is concealed from the view? His Eminence, Imam Sadiq (a.s) replied: "Just as they benefit from the sun when a cloud comes over it."
\par
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\par References:
\par
\par 1 Zakhairul Uqbah, Pg 17, Kanzul Ummal, 6/116
\par 2 Muntakhabul Athar, Pg. 27, quoted from Kashful Astar
\par 3 Sharh Tajreed, Tusi, Pg. 389 (Iran Edition)
\par \pard\ltrpar\lang1065\f1\fs28
\par }

The Life of Imam Mahdi (a.), p.241, by Allamah Qurashi

The Life of Imam Mahdi (a.)

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