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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imam Al Mahdi, The Twelfth Khalifah In The Sahih Sunni Ahadith Issues Of The Ghaybah: The Two Roles Of The Imam ==================================================== One of the major differences between the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah and the Shi’ah Imamiyyah – on the question of al-mahdawiyyah – concerns the location of the Awaited Mahdi at this present time.

Most Sunnis maintain that he is not born yet, while all Shi’i Ithna ‘Ashariyyah believe that he came into this world in 255 H, more than 1000 years ago. If the Shi’is were right, then where is he? What exactly is he doing, assuming he is alive? What use does he have for this Ummah at this very moment? To address these questions, we will start first with the roles of the Imams sent by Allah to mankind.

The Qur’an says: ووهبنا له إسحاق ويعقوب نافلة وكلا جعلنا صالحين وجعلناهم أئمة يهدون بأمرنا And We bestowed upon him (i.e. Ibrahim) Ishaq and Ya’qub. Each one We made righteous. And We appointed them Imams, GUIDING BY OUR COMMAND .[^1] And: ولقد آتينا موسى الكتاب فلا تكن في مرية من لقائه وجعلناه هدى لبني إسرائيل وجعلنا منهم أئمة يهدون بأمرنا لما صبروا وكانوا بآياتنا يوقنون And indeed We gave Musa the Book. So be not you in doubt of meeting him. And We made it a guide to the Children of Israel.

And We appointed from among them Imams GUIDING BY OUR COMMAND , when they (i.e. the Imams) were patient and used to believe with certainty ( yaqin ) in Our Verses.[^2] So, the primary role of the Imam is to “guide” by the Command of Allah. The phrase “by Our Command” establishes three things about the Imams: They are appointed and commissioned by explicit Divine Decrees. They guide others in accordance with, and towards, the Command of Allah in every circumstance.

The Imams possess the Command of Allah over His creatures. This is the first role of the Imams: to guide mankind onto, and by, the Command of Allah. The second type of role is spelt out in this hadith of Shaykh al-Saduq (d.

381 H): حدثنا علي بن عبد الله الوراق قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد ابن إسحاق بن سعد الأشعري قال: دخلت على أبي محمد الحسن بن علي عليهما السلام وأنا أريد أن أسأله عن الخلف] من [بعده، فقال لي مبتدئا: يا أحمد بن إسحاق إن الله تبارك وتعالى لم يخل الأرض منذ خلق آدم عليه السلام ولا يخليها إلى أن تقوم الساعة من حجة لله على خلقه، به يدفع البلاء عن أهل الأرض، وبه ينزل الغيث، وبه يخرج بركات الأرض. ‘Ali b. ‘Abd Allah al-Warraq – Sa’d b. ‘Abd Allah – Ahmad b. Ishaq b.