saifulahi-muntakim

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalamiin. Thumma As-Salaatu wassalaamu Alaa Ashrafil Khalqi Ajmaeen, Muhammadin Wa Aalihi at-Tayyibeen at-Taahireen, Wa As-haabihil Muntajabeen. Imam Al - Mehdi (AS) By Hayder Thamir Hassan Al - Kazaz There will come a time where many will die, When the ground will shake and the skies will cry. But out of the darkness will rise a light, A servant of Allah, full of wisdom and might . A man who will change the world forever, And unite all humans living together. A man who will make the earth perfect and right, Where it will be safe for all to sleep in the night. A man who is kind, unfearful and strong, Who does things right and never wrong. His name is Al - Mehdi, the awaited one, Huja of Allah Lord of the skies and the sun. ***************A Prayer for Imam Mahdi (AS)************* This verbal salutation has been strongly recommended to welcome his inevitable return. This Ziyaarat is recommended for each Friday, as it is associated with our Living Ima`m (A.S.) in particular because he was born on Friday and is expected to come back from his temporary seclusion on Friday. ALLAAHUMMA S'ALLI A'LAA MUH'AMMADIN'W WA AALI MUH'AMMAD O Allãh send blessings on Muhammad and on the children of Muhammad. BISMILLAAHIR-RAH'MANIR-RAH'EEM In the name of Allãh, the Beneficent, the Merciful. ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA YAA H'UJJATALLAAHI FEE ARZ'IHEE Peace be on you, O the decisive argument of Allãh on His earth! ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA YAA A'YNALLAAHI FEE KHALQIHEE Peace be on you, O the ultimate link of Allãh with the mankind! ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA YAA NOORALLAAHIL LAD'EE YAHTADEE BIHIL MUHTADOONA Peace be on you, O the truth and enlightenment of Allah whom the guided on the Right Path follow and imitate, WA YUFARRAJU BIHEE A'NIL MOO-MINEENA and who gives heart, joy and confidence to the faithfuls! ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA AYYUHAL MUHAD'D'ABUL KHAAA-IFU Peace be on you, O the just, pure and refined, rendered formidable! ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA AYYUHAL WALIYYUN NAAS'IH'U Peace be on you, O the "Wali" (beloved favourite of Allãh, a friend, a helper) who always gives sincere advice! ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA YAA SAFEENATAN NAJAATI Peace be on you, O the means and medium of liberation and assurance! ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA YAA AY'NAL H'AYAATI Peace be on you, O the spring and essence of life! ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA S'ALLALLAAHU A'LAYKA WA A'LAA AALI BAYTIKAT' T'AYYIBEENAT' T'AAHIREENA Peace be on you, Blessings of Allãh be on you and on your pure and pious family. ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA A'JJALALLAAHU LAKA MAA WA-A'DAKA MINAN NAS'RI WA Z'UHOORIL AMRI Peace be on you, May Allãh fulfil, at once, in advance, the promise He made with you - to shower mercy and make distinctly visible (your) leadership. ASSALAAMU A'LAYKA YAA MAWLAAYA ANAA MAWLAAKA A'ARIFUN BI'OOLIYAAAKA WA UKHRAAKA Peace be on you, O Loving Protector! I am your friend and follower, well aware of your priority and ultimate purpose. ATAQARRABU ILALLAAHI TA-A'ALAA BIKA WA BI-AALI BAYTIKA I come near Allãh, the Highest High, through you and your family. WA ANTAZ'IRU Z'UHOORAKA WA Z'UHOORAL HA'AQQI A'LAA YADAYKA I look forward to be there when you come, at your disposal for making known the truth. WA AS-ALULLAAHA AN YUS'ALLIYA A'LAA MUH'AMMADIN'W WA AALI MUH'AMMAD I request Allãh to send blessings on Muhammad and on the children of Muhammad, WA AN YAJ-A'LANEE MINAL MUNTAZ'IREENA LAKA and make room for me amid those who have fixed the look upon you, WAT TAABI-E'ENA WAN NAAS'IREENA LAKA A'LAA AA'-DAAA-IKA who shall comply with your instructions and help you against your enemies, WAL MUSTASH-HADEENA BAYNA YADAYKA FEE JUMLATI AWLIYAAA-IKA and let me be present before you along with all your friends. YAA MAWLAAYA YAA S'AAH'IBAZ ZAMAAN O loving protector! O the Man of the moment! S'ALAWAATULLAHI A'LAYKA WA A'LAA AALI BAYTIKA Blessings of Allãh be on you and on your family. HAAD'AA YAWMUL JUMU-A'H WA HUWA YAWMUKAL MUTAWAQQA-U' FEEHI Z'UHOORUKA Today is Friday, a day you are expected to come; WAL FARAJU FEEHEE LIL MOO-MINEENA A'LAA YADAYKA the faithfuls will be free of cares and troubles when you shall arrive, WA QATLUL KAAFIREENA BI-SAYFIKA and with one strike shall put an end to the intrigues of the infidels. WA ANAA YAA MAWLAAYA FEEHEE Z'AYFUKA WA JAARUKA I, O the Loving Friend, in these hours, seek your hospitality and friendship. WA ANTA YAA MAWLAAYA KAREEMUN MIN AWLAADIL KIRAAMI You, O my Loving friend, are kind and generous, a true son of the kind and generous forefathers, WA MAAMOORUN BIZ' ZI'YAAFATI WAL IJAARAH FA-AZ'IFNEE WA AJIRNEE always inclined by nature to be hospitable and friendly. So give me a warm welcome and make friendship with me. S'ALAWAATULLAAHI A'LAYKA WA A'LAA AHLI BAYTIKAT' T'AAHIREEN Blessings of Allãh be on you and on your family. ALLAAHUMMA S'ALLI A'LAA MUH'AMMADIN'W WA AALI MUHAMMAD O Allãh send blessings on Muhammad and on the children of Muhammad. Ya Sahib uz Zaman - Al Ghayas Al Ghayas ********************************************************************** And we desired to bestow a favor upon those who were deemed weak in the land, and to make them the Imams (Leaders of mankind), and to make them the heirs. (Al Quran, 28:5) Name - Muhammad Title - Al-Mahdi, Sahib-ul-Asr, Al-Hujjat, Al-Qa'im Kuneyat - Abul Qasim Born - Friday 15th of Shaban 255 A.H., at Samarra Father's Name - Imam Hasan-al-Askari (AS) Mother's Name - Nargis Khatoon (AS) Imam Mahdi (AS) was born at Samarrah in the year 255 A.H. He is the last Imam (a.s.) and he is alive and in occultation. Sunni References: Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi's Tadhkirat al-Khawas Al-Shaykh Muhammad bin Talha Shafi'i's Matalib al-Su'ul. Ibn Khallikan's Wafayat al-A'yan. Introduction At dawn, on the 15th Sha?ban 255 A.H., the rays of the illuminating world shone with a powerful shaft of light into a human form, which became the source of existence for the universe. Yes, finally, the Divine promise was fulfilled and Imam al- Mahdi (A.S) was born in spite of the efforts of those who denied him: Al-Mahdi is one of the children of Fatimah (the Prophet's daughter). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) - Sunan Ibn Majah, V2, Tradition 4086 There existed a good deal of harmony and uniformity between the aspects pertaining to the births of Prophet Muhammad, the last Apostle of Allah and Imam Mehdi, the last Apostolical Imam. Just as the coming of the Holy Prophet was prophesised well in advance by the preceeding Prophets similarly the impending news of the gracious birth of Imam al-Mehdi was foretold by the Holy Prophet. Innumerable traditions in this context, quoted right from The Holy Prophet from the glowing contents of many books of Masanid, Sehan, and Akhbar and of Shia Scholars existed. Many Sunni scholars have accumulated these traditions in complete volumes also. Birth We the children of Abd Al-Mutalib are the Masters of the inhabitants of Heaven: Myself, Hamza (RA), Ali (AS), Jafar (RA), Hasan (AS), Hussain (AS), and Al-Mahdi (AS) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) - Sunan Ibn Majah, V2, Tradition 4087 Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (AS) was born on the 15th Shaban 255 A.H. in the city of Samarra. The momentous and miraculous aspects of his birth greatly resembled those under which the Prophet Musa (Moses) was born. The birth of Hazart Musa had signalled the downfall and extinction of the empire of Pharoah, who had ordered the slaying of all the newly born children of Bani-Israel. The Abbaside kings were similarly apprehnesive of the continuous traditions of the Holy Prophet about the birth of Imam Mehdi, who was to bring about a curse to their (Abbaside) very empire. They were, therfore, laying in ambush to discover the birth of the Imam and to put an end to his life. But the event of the Imam's birth was enveloped and shielded by the same Divine protection and miraculous phenomena which had makred the historical birth of Prophet Musa. (Al Quran 28:7-13)His birth remained strictly confidential and his nursery shrouded in secrecy except to a few devotees. The Imam's birth had coincided with the reign of al-Mutamad, the well-known Abbaside king. He, being aware of the prophecy of the twelfth Imam's birth occuring in his reign, was extremely worried and anxious to trace him out. But on the death of Imam Hasan Askari, when he was informed about the Imam's funeral prayer having been conducted by his four year old son, his perplexity knew no bounds. It struck his mind that this very boy must be the Imam, but he managed to hide his inner concern at the news of the existence of the young Imam. In order to get confirmation that the young Imam did in fact exist, he ordered the arrest of the Imam's mother, Janab-e-Nargis Khatoon (AS). The Arrest of Janab Nargis Khatoon Allah will bring out from concealment Mahdi from my Family and Progeny before the Day of Judgement, even if only one day were to remain in the life of the world, and he will spread on this earth justice and equity and eradicate tyranny and opression. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) - Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, p99 When Janab Nargis Khatoon was brought before Al-Mutamad and inquiries made about the birth of the twelfth Holy Imam, she, in order to safeguard her own life as well as to protect her son, replied that she had never felt the symptoms of maternity and labour pain; so, for the moment, he did not harass her, but did put her under the most strict surveillance of Qazi Abu Shorab, entrusting him with the task of killing any child born to her. Soon after this incident, the Abbasid kingdom passed through a revolutionary phase which greatly bewildered al-Mutamad. He was forced to face the invasion of Sahib-al-Zanj, who raided Hejaz and Yemen and let loose the hounds of loot and arson thoroughout the Abbasid kingdom, subjecting the administration of Baghdad, the capital, to utter chaos. Al-Mutamad was, therefore, naturally too occupied by warfare to pay any attention towards Janab Nargis Khatoon, who was consequently released after six months and questioned no further about the birth of the twelfth Holy Imam. Childhood The Holy Imam was brought up by his father Imam Hasan Askari(A.S.), the eleventh Imam who resorted to the same underground and secret measures in rearing his child as Hazrat Abu Talib had adopted in connection with safe-guarding the Holy Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.). He used to take care of his child in one portion of the house for a few days and then shift him to another with a view not to let the exact whereabouts be known. While Imam Hasan Askari(A.S.) kept the birth of the young Imam-to-be and the affairs of his infancy a well-guarded secret, he did put him within the access of some exclusive devotees and sincere friends in order to familiarise them with their would-be Imam to whom they would pledge their allegiance. Below mentioned are the few names of people who had the honour of having personally seen the Holy Imam Mehdi. It is mentioned by Abi Ghanim that when Imam Hasan Askari's son was born he named him after Muhammad and on the third day after his birth, bringing forth the child to show him to some of his followers, declared thus: "Here is my successor and your would-be Imam! He is that very Qaim to whose reverence your heads will bow down. He will re-appear to fill the earth with blessings and justice after it will have been abounding with sins and vices". Muawiyah Ibn Hakeem, Muah Muhammad Ibn Ayyub and Muhammad Ibn Usman mentioned that they called upon Imam Hasan Askari(A.S.) with a deputation of forty persons. The Holy Imam showed them his newly-born child and said, "This is your Imam after me! All of you should unanimously submit your allegiance to him and should not allow any controversy on the subject which will lead you in peril! Mind that he will no more be visible to you." A Prayer for Imam Mahdi (AS) O Allah! Protect Your vicegerent Hujjat (the Proof) b. al-Hasan and send salutations upon him, and his ancestors, now as well as at all the times, (as our) Imam, Guardian, Supporter, and Guide until such time when you bestow upon him the honor of heading the (Divine) Government. And let the people be delighted in his reign, by bestowing success, and by extending his reign. Imamat Cellar (Sardab) of 12th Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) in Samarra, Iraq where he was last seen. Also called Maqam Ghaybat (i.e. the place of occultation) Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.) was martyred on the 8th Rabi-ul-Awwal 260 A.H. and the day marked the inception of his son's Imamat and his elevation to the Apostolic office being the source of spiritual guidance for the whole universe. After the martyrdom of his father, Imam Mahdi (AS) went into Ghaybat e Sughra (Minor Occultation) by Divine Command. As, according to God's will, all the affairs pertaining to the Holy Imam were to remain strictly behind the curtain, he commissioned some of his deputies and ambassadors, who had been looking after the religious affairs from the time of his father to act as mediators between the people and the concealed Imam. They conveyed the problems and religious queries of the people to the Holy Imam and brought back the verdicts and the answers of the Holy Imam to the people. Outer view of the Cellar "Maqam e Ghaybat" in Samarra, Iraq It was by the Will of God that he disappeared and will again reappear by the Will of God. This will be a prelude to the Day of Judgment. Among the companions of Imam-e-Zaman , four became his most famous and confidential representatives. His representatives (Wukala) Uthman Ibin Sa'id Umari was one of the confidant and trusted companions of Imam Mahdi (AS)'s father and grandfather. Abu Jaffer Muhammad Ibin Uthman Umari was the son of the first representative Abul Qasim Hussain Ibin Ruh Nawbakht Abul Hasan Ali Ibin Muhammad Simmari A few days before the death of Ali Ibin Muhammad Simmari (the fourth representative) in 329/939 an order was issued by the Imam (AS) in which he announced the death of Simmari and the end of the representation. The last letter of Imam Al Mahdi (AS) to Simmari In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful. You are going to die in six days, may Allah grant patience to your brother's in faith on your departure. So, be prepared, but appoint no one in your place, because from the day of your death the period of my major occultation (al ghaybatul kubra) will begin. Hence forth, no one will see me, unless and until Allah makes me appear. My reappearance will take place after a very long time when people will have grown tired of waiting and those who are weak in there faith will say: What! Is he still alive? When men will become cruel and inconsiderate, and the world will be full of injustice and violence. Very soon some men will claim to have seen me. Beware! Anyone who makes such a claim before the coming out of Sufyani and the sound from heaven announcing my reappearance, is a liar and impostor. There is no might nor strength except in Allah. The four representatives who were at the highest level of faith and confidence for many years were the blessed mediators between the Imam and the people till in the year 329 A.H. when the representation was closed, and on the basis of the Divine Will the major occultation of Imam Mahdi (AS), commenced. Some more Traditions on Imam Mehdi (AS) In a tradition upon whose authenticity all Muslims agree, the Holy Prophet has said: "Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday (Day of judgment), Allah will expand that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person out of my Ahlul-Bayt who will be called by my name. He will then fill out the earth with peace and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny before then." Sunni Reference: Sahih Tirmidhi, V2, P86, V9, P74-75 (There are many more.