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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Life of Imam Al-mahdipeace Be Upon Him Some Queries There are some doubts regarding the occultation of His Eminence, the Awaited Imam (a.s) that we shall study in the following pages: What is the benefit derived from the occultation of the Imam of the Age (a.s)? A lot of discussion is carried out on the benefits of the occultation of the Awaited Imam (a.s).

Those who do not have deep understanding of the matter have expressed their view saying that the existence or absence of the Imam, whether he is in occultation or not is one and the same.

The Shia scholastic theologians have later rebutted their view and mentioned numerous benefits, and they are as follows: Firstly: Even though His Eminence is concealed from public view, his existence is the cause of security for the inhabitants of the earth, as mentioned clearly in numerous traditions regarding this matter. Some of them are as follows: a. The Messenger of Allah (a.s) said: “My Ahle Bayt are security for the inhabitants of the earth.

If my Ahle Bayt are not there, the inhabitants of the earth shall be destroyed.” [1] b. The Messenger of Allah (a.s) said: “This religion shall always be upright till there are twelve chiefs from Quraish. When they pass away, the earth will swallow all its inhabitants.” [2] [1] Zakhairul Uqbah, Pg 17, Kanzul Ummal, 6/116 [2] Muntakhabul Athar, Pg. 27, quoted from Kashful Astar c. His Eminence, Amirul Momineen (a.s) said: “Yes!

The earth is never devoid of the Qaim from Allah...” Other traditions also prove that the Purified Imams (a.s) are the security for the inhabitants of the earth and their existence repels calamities and troubles from all the people of the earth. And the traditions also prove that the occultation of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) is for the well-being of people.

Secondly: The occultation of the Awaited Imam is so because the people do not deserve him and also because of prevailing evils among the people. Were they righteous and deserving and had not deviated from the path of truth, His Eminence would have appeared. The great scholar, Tusi (a.r.) has pointed towards these two causes mentioned above.