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Lesson 79: The Hidden Imam

Tradition

كَيْفَ يَنْتَفِعُ النّاسُ بِالْحُجَّةِ الْغائِب الْمَسْتُور؟ قالَ كَما يَنْتَفِعُونَ بِالشَّمْسِ إذا سَتَرَهَا السَّحآبُ

Someone asked Imam al-Sadiq (‘a): “How do the people benefit from the existence of a hidden Imam?” The Imam (‘a) answered: “In the same way that one benefits from the sun when it is hidden behind the clouds.”1

Brief Commentary

The light of the sun is the driving source of all life that exists on this earth and there is no living creature that is able to continue its existence in the long term without this amazing source of energy. In this same way, the Hidden Imam (‘a) has been likened to the power of the sun over all that exists on this earth. This doesn’t only apply to their physical existence, but also their spiritual existence as well.

Even when the sun is hidden behind the clouds, it still transmits a great deal of light to the earth and this light exerts a great influence over all living things. Similarly, the Imam (‘a) exerts a great physical and spiritual influence over the earth, even when he is hidden from the sight of the people. At the same time, it must be said that all things benefit only to the degree of their potential. In this way, the benefit of the people from the Imam (‘a) will only be to the degree that they have developed themselves and are able to benefit from him.

  • 1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52, p. 92.