Dedication
This book is dedicated to Khair Allah al-Sa'dani and L. K. Hussain without whose moral support and academic assistance it would have never been written.
- The Occultation of the Twelfth Imam (A Historical Background)
- Dedication
- Preface
- Introduction
- Survey of the Sources
- The Role of Traditions in the Occultation of the Twelfth Imam
- 1. The early usage of the term al-Mahdi
- 2. The Occultation of al-Qa’im al-Mahdi in the Qur'an
- 3. The traditions concerning the Twelfth Imam and his occultation
- The Role of the Imams in the Shiite Underground Activities and their Influence upon the Evolution of the Ghayba
- 1. Al-Sadiq's Attitude towards the new Regime
- 2. The Imamite activities during the period of al-Kazim (148-183/765-799)
- 3. The Attitude of al-Riďa towards the ‘Alid Revolt against al-Ma’mun
- 4. The development of the Imamite organization (al-Wikala) during the time of al-Jawad
- 5. The ‘Abbasids' Attitude toward the activities of al-Hadi
- 6. Conclusion
- The Imamites’ Views concerning the Concealed Imam and His Birth
- The Underground Activities of the Twelth Imam as seen in the Actions of the Saf’irs
- The Underground Activities of the Second Saf’ir of the Twelfth Imam
- The Career of the Third Saf’ir, al-Nawabakhti
- The Fourth Saf’ir and the Complete Occultation of the Twelfth Imam
- 1. The Career of the Fourth Saf’ir (326-329/937-941)
- 2. An Analysis of the Tawqi’ of the Fourth Saf’ir
- 3. The Imamite Learned Men's Attitude Towards the Second Occultation
- 4. The Attitude of the Ordinary Imamites towards the Second Occultation
- 5. The Application of the Epithet al-Mahdi to the Twelfth Imam
- 6. The Effect of the Complete Occultation on the Position of the Imamite Fuqaha'
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- List of Abbreviations Employed in the Footnotes and in the Bibliography
