ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Life of Imam Al-mahdipeace Be Upon Him The Minor Occultation The oppressive Abbasid caliphs tried very much to arrest His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) and put him to death.

Therefore the Almighty Allah bestowed a great favor and mercy on His Eminence, the Awaited Imam and kept him away from the eyes of the Abbasids, just like He had concealed the great-grandfather, the Prophet of Islam (a.s) from the view of the Quraish who had gathered to assassinate him and the Holy Prophet (a.s) came out from among them and they did not see him. In the same way His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) was among Abbasides but they were not able to see him.

In the forthcoming discussion we would present some details about the period of the Minor Occultation. Period of Minor Occultation The period of minor occultation commenced from the time of the martyrdom of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) in 260 A.H. [1] After the passing away of his respected father, His Eminence disappeared from the view of people and only some believers, righteous persons and trustworthy gentlemen met His Eminence as we shall discuss in the forthcoming pages.

Place and situation of Minor Occultation His Eminence disappeared in his house in Samarrah where the holy graves of holy grandfather, His Eminence, Imam Ali al-Hadi (a.s) and his father, His Eminence, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) are situated. [1] Miraatul Jinaan, 2/462; Tarikh Khamis, 2/ 347; Tarikh Ibne Wardi, 1/319 Lies And Allegations Shias and followers of the school of Ahle Bayt (a.s) are made targets of unjust calumnies and allegations.

And many false things are heaped upon those who have always served the religion of Islam and helped in its spread. One of these concocted and shameful allegations is regarding the Awaited Imam. According to them Shias claim that His Eminence, had disappeared into the cellar and in this also there are two statements, one of them mentions a cellar in Babel and another in Samarrah. Cellar in Babel [1] Ibne Khaldun has mentioned the location of the cellar to be in Babel.

He says: The Shias think that their twelfth Imam is Muhammad Ibne Hasan al-Askari (a.s) and that his title is Mahdi. He entered the cellar of his house in Hilla with his mother and disappeared from there. And he will reappear in the last period of time and fill the earth with equity and justice. The Shias quote the tradition that Tirmidhi has recorded in his book regarding Mahdi.