One reason is that he apprehends being killed and second...

One reason is that he apprehends being killed and second, it is for the examination of the people because preparedness of the people is examined in occultation. The question that arises is that why Allah doesn’t destroy the person who becomes an obstacle in the way of Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.)? The answer is that because it is decided that co-operation should be voluntary. When will Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.) reappear? Whenever co-operation and support is found and hence, no time is fixed.

For those who fix the time of his reappearance, it is said, “Those who fix the time have lied.93” If somebody claims that Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.) will reappear after ten years, it implies that for the next nine years, relax and go to sleep. And hence it is declared, “Those who fix the time have lied.” So, when is the time of reappearance? The answer is whenever Allah permits. And this permission is subject to your truthfulness.

Khwaja Naseer Tusi (a.r.), the renowned theologian, has summed the reason of occultation, as follows: “His existence is a grace, his authority is another grace and his occultation is because of us.94” In other words, if Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.) is not among us today, it is due to us. This phrase, ‘because of us’, has been interpreted in various ways. Some are of the view that it implies that our eyes are not worthy enough to witness him or we don’t deserve to see him.

Both these suggestions are not the correct exegesis. The real interpretation is that we are still like the people of Ali’s era! We are still like the people of Imam Hasan’s era! We are still like the people of Imam Husain’s era! We are those that when our knowledge increases, we start questioning the actions of Imam Sadeq (a.s.). When he orders to jump into the pit-fire, we ask the reason behind his command.

But if you jump into the pit-fire with absolute submission, the fire will not smolder you. For, the next man who entered (Haroon Makki, a very close companion of Imam), jumped straight into the fire but when the lid was raised, the man from Khorasan saw Haroon sitting comfortably and busy in Allah’s remembrance.

Then Imam Sadeq (a.s.) asked, “How many such people do you have in Khorasan?” He replied, “None!” Imam (a.s.) retorted, “So now onwards don’t talk about uprising and revolt and simply improve yourself.” Of course, regarding the philosophy of occultation, there can be a thousand reasons of which we are unaware.