I am security for the inhabitants of earth just as the stars...

I am security for the inhabitants of earth just as the stars are security for the inhabitants of the sky. So, don’t ask about things that you don’t need and don’t strain yourself in learning the knowledge of things that you will not be questioned about. Pray as much as you can for the hastening of the relief (al-faraj) because it is your relief. Peace be on you, O Isḥāq b. Ya`qūb, and [on] whoever follows guidance. `Uyūn akhbār al-Riḍā[^5]: Muḥammad b. Ibrāhīm b. Isḥāq, from Aḥmad b.

Muḥammad al-Hamdānī, from `Alī b. al-Ḥasan b. `Alī b. Faḍḍāl, from his father, from Abū l-Ḥasan `Alī b. Mūsā al-Riḍā, peace be on him, who said: “It is as if I am with the Shias who are [wandering] like livestock—during the occultation of my third descendant—in search of pasture, but will not find it.” I asked, “And why will it be so, O Son of Allah’s Messenger?” He answered, “Because, their Imam will be concealed from them.” “Why?” I asked again.

He answered, “So that he will not have the allegiance of anyone on his neck when he rises with the sword.” Ghaybat al-Shaykh[^6]: Al-Ḥusayn b. `Ubaid Allah, from Abū Ja`far Muḥammad b. Sufyān al-Bazaufarī, from Aḥmad b. Idrīs, from `Alī b. Muḥammad b. Qutayba, from al-Faḍl b. Shādhān al-Nīsābūrī, from al-Ḥasan b. Maḥbūb, from `Alī b.

Ri`āb, who said: “Zurāra said, ‘The Qā’im will have an occultation before he appears.’ I asked, ‘Why?’ He replied, ‘He will fear for his life.’” The following traditions also prove the above concept: 337, 626, 654, 656, and 669. [^1]: Even though the reason behind the occultation is concealed from us, this cannot be used as a pretext to deny it hasn’t occurred or the existence of a benefit in its occurrence.

For, Allah’s customs regarding this event and other events that occur by Allah’s Wisdom are one. Just as there is no way to deny the benefits in some of His actions whose rationale and advantage are not known to us, likewise, there is no way one can deny the benefits in His Assigned-Guardian (walī) and Proof’s occultation. Surely, our senses and intellect fall short of perceiving the benefits of most things including Allah’s customs in his creations and religious laws.

We have not even been given the power to comprehend many of the unknown things. Thus, it is best to acknowledge the deficiency in our understanding. It has been narrated from our master, (Imam) Abū `Abd-Allah Ja`far b. Muḥammad al-Ṣādiq, peace be on him: “O son of Adam!