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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Life of Imam Al-mahdipeace Be Upon Him The Minor and the Major Occultation I am certain that the readers would be eager to gain information on the minor and major occultation of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s), as this belief is not fully supported by all the sects of Muslims. Therefore, we present the following discussion for the benefit of our respected readers.

The Imam of the time under the shade of his respected father As His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) is that divine reformer whom the Almighty Allah has kept especially for the reformation of the world and the establishment of religious rule on the Earth therefore, His Eminence, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) also accorded the best of respects and honors to his son who would be the “Remnant of Allah on His Earth” (Baqiatullah Fil Arzih).

He kept his affair concealed very meticulously from the oppressive Abbasids who were in severe pursuit of him. In spite of this Imam Askari (a.s) informed many great trusted personalities of the Shias regarding this matter and introduced His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) to them in special audiences. These people saw His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) in some gatherings of Imam Askari (a.s).

These gentlemen in turn conveyed this information to the other Shias who were considered trustworthy and sincere with regard to the Wilayat (love and guardianship) of Ahle Bayt (a.s) till the existence of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) became a certain fact to all of them and no doubts remained in this regard. The subject of the Awaited Imam is the foremost of the accepted and clear beliefs of the Shias.

He is the last of the successors of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) who were certified by him as the leaders of his community. Therefore, it was but natural for the Shias to pose many detailed questions about him to the Prophet and other Imams in order to recognize him perfectly and to gain as much information in this subject as possible. We have hinted about this in the previous discussions.

Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) goes towards the Eternal Abode The Abbasid tyrants used to wreak the worst kind of tortures and pressures on His Eminence, Imam Askari (a.s). They transferred him from one prison to another so that a major part of his limited and brief life passed away in dark and horrible prisons. Similarly they did not permit that Shias should meet His Eminence and that the scholars and narrators of tradition should benefit from the company of the Imam.