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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Discussion On Imam-e-zaman The Imamat of Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.)and the Minor Occultation As stated in the previous chapter, Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) was born on 15th Sha’baan. Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) requested those involved to keep this event as a secret. From the year 255 A.H., Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) was being nourished and nurtured in the house of his father but in a way that the ordinary folks were unaware about it.

The Introduction of Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) to the elite among the Shias Numerous traditions have cited that some of the companions of the Imams (a.s.) were coming to Saamarra. They used to come with various types of questions, many of them concerning Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.). Like they asked Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) as to who would be the Imam after him. To the tried and true, Imam (a.s.) gave clear and detailed explanations. Among those who referred was a person by the name Ahmed Ibn Ishaaq.

Shaykh Sadooq (a.r.) in his book, “Kamaaluddin” has narrated his incident in the chapter of traditions narrated from Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) in the discussion concerning Hazrat Mahdi’s (a.t.f.s.) occultation. Ahmed Ibn Ishaaq says, “I went to Abu Muhammad Hasan Ibn Ali (a.s.) to ask him about his successor and the Imam after him. Before I could pose my query, Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) said, ‘O Ahmed Ibn Ishaaq!

Allah the Almighty has not left His earth without a proof since the creation of Adam (a.s.). Nor will it remain without His representative till the day of judgement.’ I said, ‘O son of Allah’s Messenger! Who is the Imam and successor after you?’ Imam Hasan al- Askari (a.s.) stood up quickly and went into a room. Later, he emerged with a three year old boy in his arms whose face shone like a full moon.

Then he said, ‘Had you not enjoyed such a status and rank in front of Allah the Almighty and His Proofs (a.s.), I would not have shown my son to you.” Sometimes, in these five years, the companions of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) attended to him and were narrating a few things to him. On these occasions, they were also inquiring from him about his successor, to which Imam Hasan al- Askari (a.s.) was replying in general.

One such person was Abu al-Adyaan, whose incident is reported as under: “I was a servant of Imam Hasan al-Askari ( a.s.), and carried his letters to different cities and environs. I had the honour to attend to his service in his last illness.