431) The early years of his life were spent in the usual way.

431.The early years of his life were spent in the usual way. When he was in his fifth year, he lost his respected father.(Al Kaft Vol. 1 pg. 503)After this tragic event the responsibility of guiding the shias was transferred upon him. At this time, Hazrat (A.S.) possessed all the qualities and the divine knowledge that was bestowed upon the previous Imams (A.S.), by the Almighty.

In the same way as Hazrat Yahya (A.S.) in his childhood and Hazrat Isa (A.S.) in his infancy was favoured with the divine office of Prophethood by Allah.(Quran: sura Maryam, Ayat 12 and 30)Although all the Imams (A.S.) were holding the divine office of wilayat, the efforts of the enemies to eliminate the twelfth Imam (A.S.) were maximum.

Hence Imam-e-Zamana (A.S.) was entrusted to ghaibat and being away from the sight of people, he had to fulfill all the duties of an Imam.It is said that the concealed life of Hazrat Mahdi (A.S.) is not something extraordinary. Rather, in the life of so many Prophets (A.S.) and even Imams (A.S.) it is seen, that they were at some time, in concealment from the people.

The Holy Quran records the concealment of various prophets (A.S.) like Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.) (Sura Maryam: 48-49), Hazrat Musa (A.S.) (Sura Qasas:21-22) and Hazrat Isa (A.S.) (Sura Nisa: 157).The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) and the Imams (A.S.) had pointed out to the people the imminent occultation of their last proof (Imam Mahdi A.S). So that no doubt or misunderstanding should remain, regarding this problem. The occultation (Ghaibat) of the twelfth Imam consists ,of two phases.

One is Ghaibat-e-Sughra (The lesser occultation) and the second is Ghaibat-e-Kubra (The greater occultation).Imam Jaffar as Sadiq (A.S.) said: 'There are two occultations for Qaem. One is short and the other prolonged. In the short occultation only the special shias will know of his whereabouts. And in the longer occultation only his trustworthy servants will know where he is" (Al Kafi Vol. 1 Pg. 340. Ghaibat Nomani Pg.

180)According to the well-known reports, the lesser occultation (ghaibat-e-sugra) commenced from the year of his Imamat in 260 A.H and continued for 69 years. Some of the scholars like Shaykh Mufeed and Syed Mohsin Amin Amili maintain that ghaibat-e-sugra began right from the time of his birth. (Al Kafi Vol. 1 Pg. 340. Ayan ush shia Vol. 2 Pg. 46)Because, even in those early years, Hazrat (A.S.) was concealed from the common people.

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