Hence it is essential to discuss the traditions of the Prophet and the Imams...

Hence it is essential to discuss the traditions of the Prophet and the Imams, especially these traditions which concern the Twelfth Imam, so as to see their role in the question of his occultation. The Occultation of al-Qa’im al-Mahdi in the Qur'an In Shi’ite exegesis many Qur'anic verses are regarded as references to the role of al-Qa’im and his occultation.

The most important is the following verse: O, but I call to witness the planets, the stars which rise and set (al-Takweer, 81:15-6) According to Imam al-Baqir, this verse means that an Imam would go into occultation in…