Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

14 Questions

The existence of the Infallible Imam is necessary, but it is not necessary for every one to meet him, especially when certain circumstances of danger require him to be away from eyes of the enemies. 

Prophets like Prophet Musa (AS) and Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and Imams like Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (AS) other Imams during jail periods, were in occultation during times of crisis.That did not mean that they were not existing during such periods of occultation. They always had their own ways to guide people even during being away from the public life.

Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) is also in touch with the Ummah through sincere believers who are entitled to meet him and receive his guidance. Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) is in occultation but he is never absent. His guidance to the Ummah is the guarantee of saving Muslim Ummah from going astray.

Wassalam.

Part of the responsibility of a leader is to know what is happening to his people. This is especially true for a divine leader (prophet, Imam). 

Not all human beings have the qualities necessary to be good leaders. Some people have the social, intellectual, and emotional capacity, foresight, initiative, wisdom, and planning and communication skills to be great leaders. Most people do not. But that is ok, because we only need a handful of great leaders. 

So, bearing this burden might be very difficult for the average person. However, the Imam is not an average person. Allah would not give the Imam this responsibility if he did not have the ability to bear it, as Allah says in the Qur'an that He does not burden with something beyond their capability. Because the Imam is at the highest level of spiritual perfection (as well as intellectual and emotional perfection), he has the capacity to handle many things that regular people cannot. Also, when people are truly at a high level of faith and have a deep and sincere connection with God, this enables them to bear things that other people cannot.

Still, of course, we should try our best to give the Imam a good report about our deeds and circumstances, and try to work as hard as we can to improve things around us!

1. Imam Al-Mahdi ( AS) during his major occultation meets , teaches, and helps people , but people do not recognize him during the meeting but very few of the very pious believers who have a high degree in faith and know him.

2. Pious believers never claim nor disclose meeting Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). Pious believers know that Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) must be away from the enemies, so they do not disclose any information about him.

3. Those who claim in public that they met Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) or brought a message from him, can never be trusted.

4. Hundreds of very pious Ulama and believers have met Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) in hundreds of occasions. Many books were compiled in this subject by great scholars like Al-Muhaddith al-Noori in his book Dar Assalam and others.

5. We pray in Du'a al-'Ahd دعاء العهد to be granted seeing the face of our Imam Al-Mahdi (AS): اللهم أرني الطلعة الرشيدة والغُرّة الحميدة واكحل ناظري بنظرة مني إليه.

This means that seeing him during the major occultation is possible for certain very pious persons.

Wassalam.

Assalamu aleykum,

Thanks for your question.

There are many interesting and well-written books about Imam Mahdi (aj).

I recommend the following ones:

Al-Imam al-Mahdi, The Just Leader of Humanity

https://www.al-islam.org/al-imam-al-mahdi-just-leader-humanity-ayatullah...

An Inquiry Concerning Al-Mahdi

https://www.al-islam.org/an-inquiry-concerning-al-mahdi-sayyid-muhammad-...

The Promised Savior: An inquiry into the imamate of Imam Mahdi (as) from the viewpoint of Muslim thinkers

https://www.al-islam.org/promised-savior-inquiry-imamate-mahdi-viewpoint...

The Occultation of the Twelfth Imam (A Historical Background)
https://www.al-islam.org/occultation-twelfth-imam-historical-background-...

That is just one small portion of texts concerning Imam Mahdi (aj) that can be found at Al-Islam.org, there is a whole section dedicated to him (aj):

https://www.al-islam.org/library/imam-al-mahdi

Hope this is helpful inshaAllah.