ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Discussion On Imam-e-zaman Commencement of the Minor Occultation (ghaibat-e-sughra) The minor occultation commenced from the year 260 A.H. Why the minor occultation? Perhaps because its duration is shorter or maybe because there was a link between Imam (a.s.) and the people. During this era, Usman Ibn Saeed Amri (r.a.) took many people to the service of Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.) and brought the replies of numerous letters from Imam (a.s.) to them.

Therefore, those Shias, who were inclined to get some information from Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.) and desired to forward their queries to him, almost had a direct contact with him (a.t.f.s.). That is, they got their religious queries answered through minimum links and on numerous occasions through Imam’s letters and signatures. In this period, it was prohibited to utter the name of Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.). Why?

Because it created some problems and difficulties for the Shias and hence, they remembered him by the title of “Saahebuz Zamaan”. Thus, for the Shias, it was forbidden to take the name of Imam (a.s.), which was the same as the name of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.). Quite a few jurists considered this edict to be applicable till date.

The reason they cite is that when something is declared to be illegal, it continues to be so, till the promulgator who has issued the legislation, lifts the restriction. And in this case, its illegality has not yet been removed. Some other jurists are of the view that this restriction was confined to the era of the minor occultation, when Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.) was subject to danger.

But presently, it has been revised and they don’t regard uttering the name of Imame- Zaman (a.t.f.s.) in this time as haraam (forbidden). This restriction was applicable only in olden times when even in the books his name was written as M-H-M-D. The Special Deputies of Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) Usman Ibn Saeed was the special deputy for duration of two and a half years. After his demise, as per the advice of Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.), his son Muhammad Ibn Usman was raised to the state of deputyship.

A reliable narrator of Imamite traditions, he remained in this coveted position for a period of thirtyfive years and executed his responsibilities. After him, an Iranian from the renowned family of Nawbakht, Husain Ibn Rauh Nawbakhti, became the special deputy and continued to be so for duration of twenty years.