How Will
the Imam Know That the Time for the Appearance (|uhúr)
Has Come?
The meeting started on time. Dr. Jalálí welcomed the group and opened the session with his question.
Dr. Jalálí: How will the Imam of the Age know that the time for his emergence has arrived? If it is said that at that moment he will receive the information from God, then it becomes necessary that he too, like the Prophets, receives revelation. In that case there would be no difference between a Prophet and an Imam.
Mr. Hoshyár: First of all, it must be pointed out that both the rational arguments and <adíth that speak about the Imamate regard it possible that the sacred existence of the Imam has contact with the hidden world. At times of dire necessity the Imam is empowered to know such religious truths. In some traditions it is reported that the Imam can hear the voice of an angel, although he does not see him.[1]
Consequently, it is possible that God, the
Almighty, might inform the twelfth Imam through inspiration. Imam
@ádiq has related:
One of us, the Imams, is victorious although in concealment. When God wills to make his task public He will impact his heart with a hint, and he will emerge and take charge of the affairs with God's command.[2]
It is reported by Abú Járúd,
who came to meet with Imam Báqir and asked him to tell
him about the Master of the Command. The Imam said:
At night he would appear to be one of the most fearful persons, whereas in the morning he will turn into one of the most confident and secure persons. His program will be revealed to him in a matter of one night and a day.' Abú Járúd went on to ask: "Will he receive revelation?" The Imam said: "Yes, he will receive revelation. But it will not be the revelation Prophets receive. Rather, it will be a revelation similar to the one ascribed to Maryam, the daughter of 'Imrán, to the mother of Moses and to a honey bee. O Abú Járúd, the Qá'im of the family of the Prophet is more respectable than Maryam, the mother of Moses and a honey bee!"[3]
These and other similar traditions suggest that the Imams too receive revelation and inspiration, while the difference between the two divinely ordained offices of the Prophet and the Imam remains intact. After all, the Prophet is the lawgiver and received the norms and the injunctions of the Sharí'a through revelation. On the other hand, the Imam is merely a protector of the law who does not receive the injunctions and the laws through revelation.
Moreover, it is possible that the Prophet
has informed the Imams about the actual time of the Mahdí's
appearance, through his provision of some indications about the
signs of appearance that shall occur at the time. The Imam of
the Age is also awaiting the fulfillment of these signs. For instance,
in the following tradition the Prophet is reported to have predicted
the emergence of the Mahdí. He said:
When the time of the ~uhúr arrives, God will bring the sword and the standard of the Mahdí to a sound calling out: 'O God's friend, rise and kill the enemy of God!'[4]
One piece of probable documentation that
is provided in the <adíth is the tradition that
describes God's sealed instructions given for each Imam about
their role by means of a revelation to the Prophet who handed
that scroll to 'Alí b. Abí ^álib. When 'Alí
assumed the caliphate he opened the scroll and read the instructions
for him and followed them during his public mission. Similarly,
each Imam following him did the same thing during their period
of Imamate. At present the sealed scroll with the instructions
for the twelfth Imam is with him.[5]
The Preparation
for the Emergence Will Take Place Overnight
There are many traditions from the Imams
that describe the events in the last days before the rise of the
Mahdí which will actually prepare the way for his revolution
and its ultimate success. Moreover, these events will occur overnight,
advancing his plans and ushering in the final advent. For instance,
in a tradition reported by 'Abd al-'A~ím \asaní,
he cites Imam Jawád saying:
'Our Qá'im is that Mahdí who should be awaited during his occultation and should be obeyed when he appears. He will be my third descendant. I solemnly declare by swearing upon God who selected Mu<ammad to be His Prophet and favored us with the Imamate that if there remains only one day in the life of this world, God will prolong it so much that the Mahdí will appear and fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with tyranny and wickedness. God will carry out His reform work overnight just as He accomplished the task He assigned to Moses overnight when he went to fetch fire for his wife and returned with the crown of Prophethood.' He then added: 'One of the best deeds of our followers is to await for deliverance [through our Qá'im].'[6]
Similarly, the Prophet declared that the
Mahdí is among his descendants and that God will accomplish
his task overnight.[7] Imam @ádiq related
a tradition in which he explained the reason for keeping the birth
of the twelfth Imam concealed and then added: 'God will help him
accomplish his task overnight.'[8] Finally,
in a tradition from Imam \usayn, he says: 'In my ninth descendant
a tradition from Joseph and a tradition from Moses will recur.
He will be the Qá'im from the ahl al-bayt. God will
help him accomplish his task overnight.' [9]
Awaiting
Deliverance through the Appearance of the Imam
Dr. Jalálí: What are the Muslims supposed to do during the period of occultation? In other words, what are their obligations during this period?
Mr. Hoshyár: Our scholars have identified and written in their books certain things Muslims ought to do during the occultation: to pray for the twelfth Imam; to do charitable works for him; to perform <ajj and to appoint someone to do that on his behalf; to seek his help and assistance in times of difficulty, and so on. There is no doubt that all these suggestions are praiseworthy and there is no need to enter into any discussion about them. However, the most important obligation mentioned in the sources and that which needs further elaboration is awaiting deliverance through him (inti~ár faraj). To some extent, this obligation has been neglected and no detailed discussion about it has been undertaken. There are many traditions from the Imams, both recommending the awaiting and enumerating its merits and excellences, during the occultation. Let us cite some examples:
Imam @ádiq (peace be upon him) says:
Any one who dies with the love (wiláyat) of the ahl al-bayt while awaiting deliverance [through the appearance of the Qá'im], resembles the one who will be in the Qá'im's tent.[10]
Imam 'Alí Ri_á (peace be upon him) reporting from his forefathers and from the Prophet relates the <adíth from the latter, who said: 'The best deed of my community is to await for the deliverance.'[11]
Imam 'Alí b. Abí ^álib
(peace be upon him) says:
Any one who awaits our government, resembles the one who, in the way of God, has rolled in his own blood.[12]
In another tradition Imam Ri_á praises
the one who awaits the deliverance, and says:
How praiseworthy are patience and awaiting for deliverance! Have you not heard that God says in the Qur'an: "You await, and We too are awaiting?" So be patient because deliverance will come after despair. Those who were before you were even more patient than you.[13]
There are numerous traditions on a similar theme. The Imams always used to advise their followers to await deliverance. They reminded them that the mere act of awaiting for deliverance is a kind of emancipation. The one who awaits is like the one who fights against the disbelievers on the battlefield and has rolled in his own blood. As such, there is no doubt that the most weighty obligation for Muslims during the occultation is to anticipate deliverance. Let us now consider the meaning of this awaiting or anticipating deliverance.
How can a person who anticipates deliverance acquire the greatest reward that accrues to the one who does good? Is it sufficient for the one awaiting the deliverance to materialize to just say with their tongue that they are awaiting the appearance of the Imam of the Age? Or, perhaps, from time to time, he should cry out and pray: "O God, send the deliverance through the Imam of the Age!" Or, after the daily prayers or in the holy shrines he should beseech God to hasten the deliverance! Or, following the blessing on the Prophet and his family he should add: alláhummá 'ajjil farajahu-shsharíf, meaning, "O God, hasten the deliverance through this noble [Imam]!" Or, maybe he should read the special prayer of nudba (lamentation) on Friday mornings with a loud lament and sob.
All these recommendations are in their own place fitting. However, I do not think that by merely saying these things a person can attain the true benefit of awaiting the deliverance, whose excellences are enumerated in several traditions on the subject. Especially the comparison of the one awaiting the deliverance with the one dying on the battlefield fighting against the enemy of God, as related in one of the <adíth above, cannot be just an exaggeration, since it is coming from the Imam to whom no false statement can be ascribed.
Imagine a person or persons who escape from every kind of social responsibility, from the moral responsibility of commanding the good and forbidding the evil, from taking a stance against corrupt and sinful behavior, from doing anything to stop injustices, by simply saying: 'O God, let the deliverance through the Imam of the Age be imminent so that he can prevent this corrupt behavior!' Can your conscience accept that this person's status is comparable to the status of the who is killed defending his religion? Can he be equal to the one who has sacrificed all his wealth, his family, and his comfort and security in the way of God and attained the status of a martyr?
To be sure, there is a deeper meaning and significance to the act of awaiting the appearance of the Imam. In order to understand that let me preface the discussion with two general observations:
First, in the light of the traditions dealing with the function of the Mahdí, it is possible to suggest that the program that the Imam intends to implement is ideal, comprehensive and, of course, difficult. It has as its target the reform of the entire world, the defeat of the forces of tyranny and wickedness in their entirety, the raising of Islam as the official religion of all the inhabitants of this world, the removal of prejudices and wrong attitudes from the minds of the people so that they can all live in peace and harmony under the government of God. In addition, the Mahdí's revolution aspires to found a global community under one God, one religion, and one ideal system of law, and to bring all other communities under the united flag of Islam. Obviously, such a goal is not easy to accomplish. This program is practicable only when the human mind is prepared to accept those goals and to go beyond the narrow confines of materialistic ideologies to realize the value of God's guidance for humanity. The need for the revolution and the desire to promulgate the divine blueprint for an ideal human society have to come from the people who have actively participated in preparing the way for the twelfth Imam to launch his program for the new world order.
Second, in view of several traditions reported
from the Imams, it appears that the Imam of the Age and his supporters
will overcome the forces of disbelief and godless materialism
by undertaking jihád. It will be with the power
of just warfare that the forces of God's enemy and the supporters
of disbelief and injustices will be exterminated. There are numerous
traditions that speak about the impending use of force to achieve
the goal. For example, Imam Báqir said:
The Mahdí resembles his grandfather Mu<ammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) in the way in which the latter began his struggle with the sword. He will kill the enemies of God, His Prophet, and those who have oppressed the people and have led them astray. He will gain victory through sword and creating fear [in the enemy]. None of his army will face defeat.[14]
A companion of Imam Báqir by the
name of Bashír told the Imam:
People say that when the Mahdí launches his revolution his tasks will become easy for him and there will be no bloodshed even to the smallest measure of a wound made for the purpose of cupping.
The Imam said: 'By God, that is not the case. If such a thing were possible it would have taken place for the Prophet. On the contrary, his teeth were wounded and his forehead injured on the battlefield. I solemnly declare that the revolution of the Master of the Command will not take place without our endeavors on the battlefield and without our blood being spilt.' He then wiped his forehead with his hand. [15]
The traditions suggest that the victory of the Mahdí's revolution will not simply be the result of God's endorsement and endowment of some hidden power to the Imam. It is not expected to succeed without manifest forces like a miracle that brings to fruition its program of reform and revival; victory does not depend on the ordinary course of events. Besides this divine endorsement the revolution will rest upon a well-equipped army that is capable of handling the most advanced weaponry in the contemporary arsenals.
With these observations derived from different traditions about the final revolution under the Mahdí we can begin to understand the preconditions for the advent of the Imam. This will also help us in grasping the responsibilities Muslims have towards this revolution, and then in judging whether Muslims today are ready to actively support this difficult task and whether their awaiting for the establishment of the ideal rule under the Qá'im has any merit.
My own understanding, which is based on the traditions from the ahl al-bayt, indicates that the most important duty of the Muslims during this period when the twelfth Imam lives a life of invisible existence (ghayba) is, first of all, to work diligently at reforming ourselves from within and with all the necessary seriousness. Muslims should adorn themselves with Islamic virtues, perform all the duties that are made obligatory on them, and apply the directives provided by the Qur'an in their daily lives. Second, they should extract the social teachings of Islam from the teachings of the Qur'an, the Prophet and the ahl al-bayt, in order to execute those perfectly in their societies. By implementing the Islamic economic programs they should resolve their economic problems and fight against poverty, unemployment, and concentration of illicit wealth. By adopting the divinely ordained laws they should rid themselves of injustices and corruption. In short, they should commit themselves to set in motion the realization of an Islamic political, social, economic, and legal system, and present this to the world as a viable alternative.
More importantly, Muslims should learn modern sciences with extreme seriousness in order to not only benefit themselves but also other societies around the world. They should, in fact, seek to be the leaders in all fields of human knowledge. Through their own religious and scientific progress they should demonstrate to the entire world that Islamic laws and ethics can serve as the ideal global system that strikes the balance between this and the next world. Moreover, by combining the concerns of a complete legal codex with the spiritual and moral concerns of the Islamic system, Muslims can become the source of emulation for a humane political, social and economic system.
In other words, Muslims have the obligation of excelling in every possible field related to the betterment of human society in order to provide each discipline with the moral and spiritual dimensions that Islam seeks from its followers. It is only then that they can expect to lead and to establish an ideal Islamic system under the leadership of the Mahdí. Those who are engaged in these endeavors to make the revolution of the Mahdí possible and successful are the ones who are truly awaiting for deliverance through the appearance of the twelfth Imam (peace be upon him). These hard-working, self-sacrificing individuals are the soldiers of the twelfth Imam and can be compared with those who are actually on the field of battle fighting the forces of evil and wickedness.
As for those people who expect their problems to be solved by the political, social, and economic system created by those who have no commitment to the faith or to its moral and spiritual components, have so far created systems which give rise to inequalities, immoderation in spending, injustices in distribution of resources, and the many other evils with which humanity is confounded today. The situation is so desperate that it is hard to imagine the level of exploitation, corruption, and conflict that is generated by the new wealth and power, the byproducts of scientific and technological advancements. The rich countries intend to dominate; the poor countries have shamelessly submitted to the overbearing compromises negotiated by their own rulers, the majority of whom are corrupt and morally bankrupt. In order to remain in power, they have sold out their own peoples and countries to their powerful masters, who make for them their decisions through a remote control of providing destructive military hardware for use against their own citizens. Now, individual Muslims who sit around and do not even think about these matters that face their fellow Muslims cannot be said to anticipate the appearance of the twelfth Imam. These people do not have the necessary preparation to institute Islamic world government, even if they repeat a hundred times: alláhummá 'ajjil farajahu-shsharíf, meaning, "O God, hasten the deliverance through this noble [Imam]!"
This is what I have understood from the
traditions that speak about the merits of anticipating the appearance
of the twelfth Imam (peace be upon him). The entire philosophy
of inti~ár ('awaiting,' 'anticipation') is summed
up by Imam @ádiq who said:
Prepare yourselves for the revolution of our Qá'im, even if it means to gather an arrow [for fighting God's enemies.][16]
Abd al-\amíd Wási>í
mentioned to Imam Báqir: 'In anticipation of the occurrence
[of the Qá'im's revolution] we have even withdrawn from
engaging in trade!' The Imam said:
O 'Abd al-\amíd, do you think that
the one who has given up his life in the way of God, God does
not make deliverance guaranteed for him? By God, God will certainly
deliver him. May God have mercy on the one who keeps our mission
alive.
Abd al-\amíd asked: "What happens
if I die before the deliverance comes?" The Imam replied:
Any of those who say: 'If I meet the Qá'im I will help him,' then such a person will share the status of the one who will have fought near the Imam [defending him]. Indeed, he will share the status of the one who will have been killed [defending him].[17]
According to Abú Ba#ír, one
of most prominent companions of the sixth Imam, one day Imam @ádiq
told his companions: "Should I inform you about a deed without
which God does not accept people's achievements?" Abú
Ba#ír told the Imam to do so. The Imam said:
To bear witness about God's unity and Mu<ammad's prophethood; to acknowledge God's commands and prohibitions; to love us and disassociate from our enemies; to accept the authority of the Imams, and to act with piety and seriousness; to adopt gentleness and to await the deliverance through the appearance of the Qá'im.
He, then, went on to say:
We will have the authority, which God will establish at the proper time. Whoever wishes to be a companion and close associate of our Qá'im should await deliverance through him. Moreover, such a person should adopt piety and virtuous life and continue to anticipate our Qá'im in that state. If they live like that and if they die before the advent of the Qá'im, then they will reap the reward of someone who has actually been with the Qá'im. O my followers, be serious and work hard while awaiting the Qá'im's emergence. O you who are blessed with God's mercy, may you taste the sweetness of the final victory.[18]
Investigation
into the Traditions against the Rise (qiyám)
Engineer Madaní: Mr. Hoshyár! From your discussions on the subject of awaiting the appearance of the Mahdí, it would seem that during the occultation of the twelfth Imam the Shí'ís are required to adopt an active posture and work to establish an Islamic government, to endeavor to execute an Islamic political and social system, and to engage in the jihád to achieve all that. By doing so, as you have pointed out, they would be actually preparing the way for the emergence of the Imam to launch his global revolution. I suspect that your interpretation might not be in agreement with the subject of some other traditions. As you know there are a number of traditions which forbid any involvement of the Shí'ís in the revolutionary movements before the rise of the Mahdí. It would be highly beneficial to discuss some of those traditions.
Mr. Hoshyár: I am grateful to you for reminding me of a different perspective on the philosophy of awaiting. It is relevant to investigate these traditions in order to evaluate their authenticity. Thus, first we should examine their chain of transmission to determine their reliability. Second, we should examine their content to determine the validity of the view that is derived from them. However, let me preface our investigation into these two areas by a general remark on the following two topics:
(1) The question of governance in religion
(2) The investigation of the <adíth-reports
On the basis of the teachings of Islam one can say that Islam is not a religion confined to belief and worship. It is a complete system of belief, worship, ethics, politics and society. Islamic principles and teachings can be generally classified into two parts:
(1) Individual injunctions that are required of each believing man and woman, such as the five daily prayers, fasting of Rama_án, ritual purification, annual pilgrimage, and so on. A person does not need a government or social organization in order to carry these out. He is capable of performing them on his own, because these injunctions deal with the God-human relationship.
(2) Collective injunctions that are required
of a group of believers, such as engaging in just war (jihád),
commanding the good and forbidding the evil; administering justice,
resolving conflicts, instituting legal punishments, and so on.
These injunctions are social and political, dealing with the individual's
relationship to other humans. As a member of a society, each person
needs to learn to respect the rights of others and to protect
his own. God has provided principles of inter-personal human relationships
which are fundamentally based on justice and equity. Hence, the
Islamic system has taken care to regulate this relationship with
due consideration to cover all spheres of humans' involvement
with each other. In other words, Islam provides a comprehensive
legal and religious system that caters to the needs of the society
without making any distinction between temporal and spiritual
realms of human existence. For instance, jihád in
God's way is an obligation to defend oneself and others living
in the society. Islamic law furnishes all the necessary regulations
to cover every aspect of the Muslim community's obligation to
defend and fight for its rights. Thus, the Qur'an in requiring
the obligation of jihád says:
Fight them, till there is no persecution and the religion is God's. (Baqara [2], 193)
But if they (i.e., the unbelievers) break their oaths after their covenant and thrust at your religion, then fight the leaders of unbelief; they have no sacred oaths; haply they will give over. (Tawba [9], 12)
There are numerous such verses that indicate
that Muslims have an obligation to spread Islam and fight the
forces of unbelief and persecution. It, moreover, calls upon Muslims
to mobilize themselves and stand firm against the enemy:
Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to terrify thereby the enemy of God and your enemy, and others besides them that you know not; God knows them. (Anfál [8], 60)
Consequently, it is correct to surmise that
establishing and instituting social and political structures to
further the cause of the Muslim community is part of Islamic religious
teaching. Muslims have the obligation to do everything within
their means to further these interests and to inspire the enemy
with a fear and awe of Islam so that they will not try to intervene
and interfere with their affairs.
The Obligation
to Command the Good and Forbid the Evil
This obligation is one of the most important
teachings of Islam for achieving Islamic justice. It actually
forms the basis for the existence of government in Islam. It is
the duty of every Muslim to stand firm against any act of injustice
and corrupt sinful behavior. The spread of true religion is impossible
without moral purification -- which provides the justification
for this social duty. There are numerous verses in the Qur'an
that require Muslims to undertake the responsibility to command
the good and forbid the evil as part of their moral responsibility
as believers in One God. Thus, the Qur'an says:
Let there be one nation of you, calling to good, and bidding to honor, and forbidding dishonor; those are prosperers. (Ál 'Imrán, 104)
You are the best nation ever brought forth to men, bidding honor, and forbidding dishonor, and believing in God. (Ál 'Imrán, 110)
All the above discussion instills in us
a confidence that Islam as a religion demands the creation of
a worldwide society which acknowledges, on the one hand, an individual's
personal relationship with God by requiring him or her to carry
out the injunctions imposed on them by God; and, on the other,
an individual's responsibility as a member of a society in which
interpersonal relationships are regulated by the principles of
justice and equity as defined by God's revelation. Consequently,
the establishment of government to manage the affairs of humanity
was part and parcel of the Islamic creed. Just as God provided
the laws to direct human affairs, God also provided directives
pertaining to the exercise of authority in Muslim society. How
can one imagine a duty to fight without any guidance in the matter
of who can command the Muslim army, or make critical decisions
about the war strategies, and so on? In other words, Muslims needed
both the law and the executor of the divine will on earth. Hence,
it is accurate to say that governance is an integral part of Islamic
faith and tradition.
The
Prophet as the Leader of the Muslims
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny)
was in actuality the head of the Muslim community during his lifetime.
As God's representative he managed the affairs of the community.
He had been given a wide range of authority in matters related
to the everyday existence of his community and the first Muslim
polity. He, according to the Qur'an, had discretionary control
over his followers' affairs.[19] In another
place the Qur'an says:
So judge between them according to what God has sent down, and do not follow their caprices. (Má'ida [5], 48)
Accordingly, the Prophet of God held two positions: on the one hand, by means of revelation he was connected to God, from Whom he received the injunctions which he conveyed to the people; on the other, he was in charge as the head of the community, which he organized politically and socially by promulgating the laws of Islam.
A study of the Prophet's biography reveals that he was practically in charge of the affairs of the community and ruled over them. He used to appoint governors and commanders, judges and administrators; he used to declare war, dispatch armies for defense and oversee every aspect of community life in the Muslim polity.[20]
The position that he held in the community
was divinely ordained. In accordance with his appointment he was
to legislate in the areas of the social and political life of
the people as members of the Islamic umma, and see to the
law's execution. Whereas Muslims were required to participate
in the warfare, the Prophet was to prepare them for it and to
call upon them when it was the proper jihád. For
instance, the Qur'an commands the Prophet to encourage people
to participate in warfare in the way of God:
O Prophet, urge on the believers to fight. (Anfál [8], 65)
O Prophet, struggle (jihád) with the unbelievers and hypocrites, and be thou harsh with them. (Tawba [9], 73)
Surely We have sent down to thee the Book with the truth, so that thou mayest judge between people by that which God has shown thee. So be not an advocate for the traitors. (Nisá' [4], 105)
Besides being the Prophet, which meant that
he received the message from God and delivered it to the people,
he was the head of the Muslims, invested with power to make decisions
and give judgements, administer justice and institute penalties.
In other words, to perform all those functions that strictly speaking
belong to the head of a state. In this regard, the Qur'an required
Muslims to obey the commands of God that were relayed to them
through the Prophet. Thus the Qur'an says:
O believers, obey God, and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. (Nisá' [4], 59)
And obey God, and His Messenger, and do not quarrel together, and so lose heart, and your power depart. (Anfál, 46)
We sent not ever any Messenger, but that he should be obeyed, by the leave of God. (Nisá' [4], 64)
In all these verses obedience to the Prophet
is prefaced by obedience to God. Muslims are commanded to obey
God and the Prophet. Obedience to God is materialized by accepting
the ordinances sent through the Prophet. In addition, Muslims
are specifically required to obey the Prophet's commands, which
include all that he, as the head of the community, requires Muslims
to carry out. It is evident that obedience to the Prophet is derived
from an obedience to God, and it is in this sense that it has
become obligatory. It is accurate to maintain that governance
was, from the very inception of Islam as a religion, an integral
part of the Prophet's function as the leader of the community
and its social-political structure.
Islamic
Governance after the Prophet
Following his death, the prophethood and the revelation were terminated. But the ordinances and laws of religion, including the Islamic social-political programs, remained with Muslims as the directives of Islam. Here one should raise an important question: Did the end of the Prophethood mean that the governance of the community also was to be terminated? Did the Prophet himself conceive of the future of his community? Did he not leave any directives to ensure that his legacy would continue after him? Or, did he simply leave the entire issue of the leadership to the community to do as it pleased?
The Shí'a believe that the Prophet
of Islam was also the statesman and ruler over the affairs of
the community. He effected the programs that were revealed to
him. He understood fully the critical importance of leadership
for the umma. In order for Muslims to continue as a community
they needed governance under a qualified leader who would implement
the Islamic goals for humanity. The Prophet himself was aware
that his community could not survive without a just government
to carry on his mission. It was for this reason that from the
beginning of his mission, as the opportunity presented itself,
and in accordance with the instructions received from God, the
Prophet introduced 'Alí b. Abí ^álib as his
caliph and the Imam of the community after him. The books written
by both the Sunni and the Shí'í scholars have recorded
several occasions when 'Alí b. Abí ^álib
was introduced as the vicegerent of the Prophet. Among these occasions
is the monumental speech of the Prophet during the Farewell Pilgrimage,
in the Ghadír Khumm, when he stood in the midst of his
community, including the major figures of early Islam, and said:
'O people who is more worthy ('awla) [in the eyes of] the believers than their ownselves?' They said: 'God and His Messenger know better.' He said: 'God is my Master and I am the Master of the Believers and I am worthier in their eyes than their ownselves. Whoever has me for his Master has `Ali for his Master.' He said it thrice, and according to Ahmad, the Imam of the Hanbalis, four times.[21]
The above proclamation at the Ghadír Khumm regarding the leadership of Imam 'Alí b. Abí ^álib occurred in the last year of the Prophet's life (10 AH/632 CE). Following the proclamation 'Umar b. al-Kha>>áb met 'Alí and congratulated him saying: "O son of Abú ^álib, congratulations for attaining the new position. From now on you are my master and the master of all believing men and women."
There are far too many such reports in the
sources to mention. However, they all establish the fact that
the Prophet made sure that his position as the ruler of the community
would continue in 'Alí b. Abí ^álib. He prepared
him for this day on many occasions by giving him the necessary
information about the responsibility he had. Moreover, he knew
that 'Alí was endowed with infallibility and it was with
the designation from God that he had acquired the position of
the Imam after him. 'Alí too was aware of the great responsibility
that was placed upon his shoulders. He was the protector of the
Islamic ordinances and their executor. As such, the event at Ghadír
Khumm was the culmination of a process that had begun in the early
days of the Prophet's mission. In fact, 'Umar's statement while
congratulating 'Alí indicates that he understood the meaning
of the word mawlá in its proper signification of
a 'master.' Other Muslims also understood the Prophet's statement:
'Whoever has me for his Master has `Ali for his Master,' as a
statement of designation and, therefore, they paid their allegiance
and remained loyal to him. Had the statement had any other than
a political meaning, there would have been no need to pay allegiance.
'Alí
b. Abí ^álib, the Designated Caliph of the Prophet
of God
Although the Prophet had ensured that his right to governance would continue through 'Alí b. Abí ^álib's designation to the Imamate, after his death a number of his close companions decided to acquire the caliphate for themselves. Taking advantage of the ignorance and weakness of the people they usurped the legitimate right of 'Alí to rule. This marked the deviation of Islamic governance from its true path. His refusal to pay allegiance to those who came to power and his several orations in which he critically evaluated the situation after the death of the Prophet, indicate that 'Alí b. Abí ^álib clearly saw the rupture between the ideal Islamic governance and the one that was pursued by the companions. Moreover, these orations show the importance that was attached to the question of the comprehensive governance of the community, and not simply its religious and spiritual dimensions. The caliphs had not usurped the religious and spiritual authority of 'Alí, to whom they referred all their problems in those areas; rather, they had usurped his political power, the power to effect the laws of Islam.
When, finally, he assumed the caliphate in 35 AH/656 CE, he shouldered the comprehensive power which included everything that the Prophet had done as the ruler. When ^al<a and Zubayr opposed his caliphate, they opposed this comprehensive aspect of his governance. They never opposed his religious and spiritual authority per se. Mu'áwiya had disputed Imam 'Alí not in the matter of interpretation of an ordinance; rather he disputed him on his right of governance and his position as a comprehensive leader of the community.
From all this discussion it is possible to conclude that Islamic governance did not come to an end with the death of the Prophet. On the contrary, by appointing 'Alí, the Prophet ensured its perpetuity for posterity. It also demonstrates that the lawgiver of Islam never conceived of a system for the people which could do without governing the community's social-political structure. In other words, Islamic governance should be a permanent part of Muslim life in general throughout history.
Imam 'Alí b. Abí ^álib
designated his son \asan to follow him in his position as the
Imam of the Muslims. In turn, Imam \asan appointed his brother
\usayn to succeed him in the Imamate. From Imam \usayn the Imamate
went to his son Zayn al-'Ábidín and in this way
it continued until the line reached the last Imam, \ujjat b. al-\asan
(peace be upon him). All these twelve Imams, besides being endowed
with divine protection in the form of infallibility and profound
knowledge of Islamic revelation, were also granted the wisdom
to govern and rule in accordance with the divine laws and scales
of justice. Hence, the Imamate of the community and the governance
of the infallible leader are indispensable aspects of the ideal
Muslim public order. And yet, apart from the short time of the
governance by 'Alí b. Abí ^álib, no other
had been given the opportunity to rule in accordance with the
laws of God and to restore a true direction to and generate confidence
in Islamic public order.
Islamic
Governance during the Period of Occultation
Now the question arises about the status of Islamic social-political programs during the occultation. What should the Muslims do when they do not have access to the Imam, the rightful ruler? Who should take charge of leading the community to its divinely ordained goal? Should the faithful simply abandon the idea of following the tradition of the Prophet in matters of governance? Were the directives given by the Prophet relevant only during his own short period of earthly life, and will they again be implemented only when the Mahdí appears? Must the majority of God's ordinances dealing with social-political-legal matters remain in abeyance during this period of the invisible presence of the twelfth Imam? In other words, are we to read these verses of the Qur'an and discuss them in the light of the <adíth-reports in order to enlighten ourselves without trying to effect them in our contemporary social and political existence?
Doubtless a Muslim ought not regard these
Islamic ideals and directives as in abeyance until a qualified
leader like the Imam himself assumes the governance. In particular,
no scholar would ever concede that these ideals were given to
the Prophet so that later generations should merely discuss them,
dispute about them and ultimately write them down for the future
generations. If this is so, then one has no choice but to agree
that neither the Prophet nor the Imams left all these directives
for an Islamic governance only in the future age of the Mahdí.
Under no circumstance can one say that Islam came to provide the
community with ordinances and social-political legislation without
providing it the means for executing these ideals through the
executor of the divine will, the leader, the Imam.
The
Obligations of Muslims during the Occultation
It is true that the Prophet and the infallible
Imam were appointed by God to undertake the governance of the
community affairs as their rulers, and that the Prophet and the
Imam should exert themselves to execute the divine will in this
regard. Nevertheless, the essential obligation lies on the shoulders
of the people who should provide the critical support needed by
the Prophet and the Imam to attain the power and use it for advancing
the purposes of God. As long as the people do not show their loyalty
and obedience to these divinely designated leaders, it is simply
unthinkable to see the ideal governance being effected. By the
same token, during the absence of the Imam, as in our own times,
Muslims have the responsibility to seriously work for the establishment
of the Islamic form of government. Islam, even under present conditions,
has not suspended the duty of Muslims to implement and to follow
its directives. In fact, many Islamic rulings are directed towards
the generality of the Muslim community:
Go forth, light and heavy! Struggle in God's way with your possessions and your selves; that is better for you, did you know. (Tawba [9], 41)
Struggle in the way of God with your possessions and your selves. (@aff [61], 11)
And fight in the way of God with those who fight with you, but aggress not. (Baqara [2], 190)
As to the thief, male and female, cut off the hands of both, as a recompense for what they have earned, and a punishment exemplary from God; God is All-mighty, All-wise. (Má'ida [5], 38)
The fornicatress and the fornicator -- scourge each one of them a hundred stripes, and in the matter of God's religion let no tenderness for them seize you . . . (Núr [24], 2)
O believers, be you securers of justice, witnesses for God, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents and kinsmen, whether the man be rich or poor. (Nisá' [4], 135)
All these verses are addressed to the generality
of the Muslims and demand from them that they respond to their
social obligations that are related to the betterment of Islamic
public order. It is evident that carrying out these social injunctions
cannot be possible without an authority who can ensure its fair
execution. The nature of injunctions dealing with public order
inevitably requires a governing body invested with executive powers
to effectuate Islamic ordinances. In other words, the comprehensive
realization of an Islamic public order with all its spiritual,
moral and legal dimensions is impossible without a government
invested with executive powers. To practice Islam in all its dimensions
necessarily requires the existence of a government that is committed
to do its bidding. Thus the Qur'an says:
He has laid down for you as religion that He charged Noah with, and that We have revealed to thee, and that We charged Abraham with, Moses and Jesus: 'Perform religion, and scatter not regarding it.' (Shúrá [42], 13.)
It is possible to conclude from these general
addresses of the Qur'an to all believing Muslims and the provisions
made by the Prophet for giving permanence to the governance of
Islamic public order through Islam's social-political-legal-moral
teachings that during the occultation of the twelfth Imam Muslims
have the obligation to work seriously towards the implementation
of Islamic ideals in their everyday personal and social lives.
As long as we believe that Islam came to provide happiness in
this and the next world and, therefore, it legislated laws to
cover every aspect of God-human and human interpersonal relationships,
then we must maintain the necessity of managing our affairs in
accordance with these laws. This conclusion becomes even more
pertinent if we remind ourselves that we also believe that these
laws were not given for the short period of the Prophet's life
only; they will be with us until God resurrects us for the Final
Judgement. Hence, our endeavors to effect these norms today assume
some urgency. Muslims must resolve to prepare themselves to be
worthy of supporting the final revolution of the Mahdí
by constantly evaluating their shortcomings and reforming themselves
to undertake the great responsibility of making the Islamic public
order the only viable order that can guarantee peace with justice
and harmony on the earth.
Two Evidences
(1) The need to establish a government and
to endeavor to make it stable is a rational need upon which all
reasonable persons agree. Islam has not only not rejected this
rational deduction, it has actually sanctioned it. During the
Battle of U<ud in the early days of Islam, when the false news
about the Prophet having been killed was spread among the Muslims,
the consequence of such a story was the demoralization of Muslim
soldiers who immediately abandoned their positions and were scattered.
That moment has been captured in the following verse of the Qur'an:
Muhammad is naught but a Messenger; Messengers have passed away before him. Why, if he should die or is slain, will you turn about on your heels? (Ál 'Imrán, 144)
Does it mean that after the Prophet dies Muslims should revert to their old habits? In other words, Islam is a reality that will remain even after the Prophet dies. Consequently, Muslims should assess their loyalty to the teachings of Islam and should work for its implementation without interruption. No explicit duty imposed by the Qur'an becomes invalidated by the death of the Prophet or the occultation of the Imam.
(2) The second evidence is provided by the Muslims during the early history in the aftermath of the Prophet's death. The companions had gathered in the Thaqífa of Banú Sá'ida, all in agreement that the governance of the Muslim polity had to continue through a new leader, the caliph. The disagreement touched upon the question of who that leader would be, not upon the need for the leadership itself. The An#ár maintained that the leader had to be one of their group; the Muhájirún disputed them and contended that the leadership actually belonged to the Meccans. The compromise that was proposed suggested a caliph from one and a commander from the other group. However, no one ever said that there was no need for a leader and that they could continue an umma (community) without anyone directing their social and political life.
More importantly, even 'Alí b. Abí
^álib, who disagreed with the outcome of the Thaqífa
deliberations and opposed their decision, knowing very well that
he was being denied his right to lead the community at its most
critical stage, did not even for a moment dispute the fundamental
need for someone to continue to provide governance to the nascent
Islamic polity. The caliphate, as it emerged after the Thaqífa
was, in 'Alí b. Abí ^álib's opinion, a deviation
from its original goal, but it was still a necessary instrument
for the continuation of the social-political life of the umma.
It was for this reason that he never attempted to undermine the
caliphate. On the contrary, realizing the danger that was posed
by the political turmoil to Islam, he never refrained from offering
the best advice for Islam's preservation. Moreover, he never prevented
his most loyal supporters and family members from accepting official
assignments under the caliphs. He was fully committed to the principle
of governance for the continuation of Islamic public order in
the future. In his dispute with the Khawárij, who seceded
from his army in rebellion, and who had misused the Qur'anic verse:
'The judgement is God's alone' to rebel against 'Alí's
authority, he refuted their interpretation by pointing out:
The statement is in itself a truth, but they infer an erroneous conclusion out of it. Indeed, there can be no judgement except that it belongs to God. However, they are implying that there should be no governance except that exercised by God. People necessarily need a ruler, whether he be godly or unjust, so that under his government a believer may be able to continue doing what he does, and an unbeliever may continue enjoying [his life] in it, until God's decree reaches its final decision in their regard. [Moreover, the need to have the governance is underscored by the fact that] under his governance taxes can be collected and the enemy can be fought, and the highways kept secure and safe. [In addition,] the rights of the weak can be exacted from the strong, so that a godly person can live in peace and remain immune from the harm of a wicked person.[22]
Accordingly, one should not doubt the principle that establishment and continuation of the government is among the necessary things. Moreover, this responsibility has been laid on the shoulders of the people. When the Prophet or the Imam is accessible, the people should support and help him to manage the affairs of the nation; when the Imam is in occultation, the people should search for and elect a well qualified jurist (faqíh), knowledgeable in the detail of the laws of Islam, fully experienced in the social and political realm, and endowed with political insight to administer the Muslim public order. The justification for electing a qualified jurist to govern the Muslim polity is found in the <adíth of the Imams who not only accepted the jurist's governance in the absence of the twelfth Imam, but even recommended that their followers seek such leaders among themselves. Such a person is capable of leading the Muslim umma and of executing the Islamic social and political program.
It is relevant to point out that the debate about Islamic government and its relation to the `governance of the jurist' (wiláyat-i faqíh) is intricate and needs a detailed exposition which we cannot undertake at this point in our discussion about the twelfth Imam (peace be upon him). Nevertheless, we will briefly treat the subject and conclude our discussion. Our purpose in going through all these details about the necessity of Islamic governance during the occultation is to make you aware that when we consider traditions that object to any active involvement in social and political movements prior to the advent of the Mahdí, we should be aware that all those obligations are classified as part of the collective duties -- such as warfare, defence, institution of penalties, administration of justice, and so on and therefore are among the required matters of Islamic juridical tradition. Accordingly, one can not doubt about their execution in a Muslim public order. In order to do so effectively, there ought to be a Muslim authority invested with the power to execute the social and political agenda of Islam. Hence, we should examine the traditions that encourage political quietism within the context of the need to manage Muslim affairs. I hope to take up this issue next time we meet and to elaborate on it in some detail so that we can arrive at our conclusion more objectively. It is running late, and we should adjourn now.
Dr. Jalálí:
Let me extend to you the invitation to meet once again here in
my house for our next session.