It will thus be announced by the Imam, ‘These are robbers of the House of God’.

It will thus be announced by the Imam, ‘These are robbers of the House of God’.”[^17] Shaybah became Muslim during the conquest of Mecca and the Prophet (S) appointed him as the key-keeper of the Ka‘bah , and for a long time the tribe of Bani Shaybah was the key-keeper of the Ka‘bah and its doorkeeper.[^18] The late Mamqani said: “Bani Shaybah is among the robbers of the House of God, and God willing, their hands will be amputated for this crime and they will be hung on the wall of the Ka‘bah .”[^19] Dealing with Different Groups During the uprising of Hadrat al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ), he will confront various groups and bands.

Some of them would be a particular community ( qawm ) or ethnicity and some would be the followers of religions other than Islam. Although apparently Muslim, another group would act hypocritically, or would be one of the sanctimonious who will oppose the Imam ( ‘atfs ) or would be the followers of deviant sects. The Imam ( ‘atfs ) will have a particular dispute with each of them, which we shall examine by quoting some relevant hadith s. 1.

The Arab Nation Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ) said: “When our Qa’im rises up, there will be…