HISTORY AND LIFE OF TWELVE IMAM

A Short History of the Lives of The Twelve ImamsThe Messenger Of ALLAH Said:-There Will Be Twelve IMAMS of The Muslims.(Bukhari v.9 #329)TOP


ALI IBNE ABU TALIB AL-MURTAZA(A.S)The First IMAM & Father of Imams(A.S)AMIR AL MOMINEEN ALI (A.S) Was The Son Of ABU TALIB(A.S) The ShaIkh Of The Banu Hashim.Abu Talib Was The Uncle And Guardian of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the person who had brought the Prophet (P.B.U.H) to his house and raised him like his own son. After the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was chosen for his prophetic mission Abu Talib continued to support him and repelled from him the evil that came from the infidels among the Arabs and especially the Quraysh.According To Well Known Traditional Accounts ALI(A.S) Was Born Ten Years Before The Commencement Of The prophetic Mission Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H).When six years old as a result of famine in and around Macca he was requested by the Prophet (P.B.U.H) to leave his father's house and come to the house of his cousin the Prophet (P.B.U.H).There he was placed directly under the guardianship and custody of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).A Few Years Later When The Prophet (P.B.U.H) Was Endowed With The Divine Gift Of Prophecy And For The First Time Received The Divine revelation in the cave of Hira as he left the cave to return to town and his own house he met Ali on the way. He told him what had happened and ALI(A.S) accepted the new faith. Again in a gathering when the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) had brought his relatives together and invited them to accept his religion, he said the first person to accept his call would be his vicegerent and inheritor and deputy. The only person to rise from his place and accept the faith was ALI(A.S) and the Prophet (P.B.U.H) accepted his declaration of faith. Therefore Ali was the first man in Islam to accept the faith and is the first among the followers of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) to have never worshipped other than the One God.ALI(A.S) Was Always In The Company Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) Until The Prophet (P.B.U.H) Migrated From Macca To Medina. On The night of the migration to Madina hijrah when the infidels had surrounded the house of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and were determined to invade the house at the end of the night and cut him to pieces while he was in bed ALI(A.S) slept in place of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) while the Prophet (P..U.H) left the house and set out for Medina. After the departure of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) according to his wish Ali gave back to the people the trusts and charges that they had left with the Prophet (P.B.U.H).Then he went to Medina with his mother, the daughter of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and two other women.In Madina Also ALI(A.S) Was Constantly In The Company Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) In Private And In Public. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) gave Fatimah his beloved daughter from Khadijah to Ali as his wife and when the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was creating bonds of brotherhood among his companions he selected Ali as his brother.ALI(A.S) Was Present In All The Wars In Which The Prophet (P.B.U.H) Participated Except The Battle Of Tabuk When He Was Ordered to stay in Madina in place of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).He did not retreat in any battle nor did he turn his face away from any enemy. He never disobeyed the Prophet (P.B.U.H) so that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said ALI(A.S) is never separated from the Truth nor the Truth from Ali.On The Day Of The Death Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) ALI(A.S) Was Thirty three Years Old. Although He Was Foremost In Religious Virtues and the most outstanding among the companions of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) he was pushed aside from the caliphate on the claim that he was too young and that he had many enemies among the people because of the blood of the polytheists he had spilled in the wars fought alongside the Prophet (P.B.U.H).Therefore ALI(A.S) was almost completely cut off from public affairs. He retreated to his house where he began to train competent individuals in the Divine sciences and in this way he passed the twenty-five years of the caliphate of the first three caliphs who succeeded the Prophet (P.B.U.H).When the third caliph was killed people gave their allegiance to him and he was chosen as caliph.During His Caliphate Of Nearly Four Years And Nine Months ALI(A.S) Followed The Way Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) And Gave His Caliphate the form of a spiritual movement and renewal and began many different types of reforms. Naturally these reforms were against the interests of certain parties that sought their own benefit. As a result a group of the companions foremost among whom were Talhah and Zubayr who also gained the support of AYishah and especially MuaViya made a pretext of the death of the third caliph to raise their heads in opposition and began to revolt and rebel against Ali(A.S).In Order To Quell The Civil Strife And Sedition ALI(A.S) Fought A War Near Basra Known As The (Battle Of The Camel) Against Talhah and Zubayr in which Ummul MOmineen AYishah was also involved. He fought another war against MuaViya on the border of Iraq and Syria which lasted for a year and a half and is famous as the Battle of Siffin.He also fought against the Khawarij at Nahrawan in a battle known as the Battle of Nahrawan.Therefore most of the days of Ali's caliphate were spent in overcoming internal opposition. Finally in the morning of the 19th of Ramadan in the year 40 A.H.while praying in the mosque of Kufa he was wounded by one of the Khawarij and died as a martyr during the night of the 21st of Ramadan.According To The Testimony Of Friend And Foe Alike ALI(A.S) Had No Shortcomings From The Point Of View Of Human Perfection. And in the Islamic virtues he was a perfect example of the upbringing and training given by the Prophet (P.B.U.H).The discussions that have taken place concerning his personality and the books written on this subject by Shites Sunnis and members of other religions as well as the simply curious outside any distinct religious bodies are hardly equalled in the case of any other personality in history.In Science And Knowledge ALI(A.S) Was The Most Learned Of The Companions Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) And Of Muslims In General. In his learned discourses he was the first in Islam to open the door for logical demonstration and proof and to discuss the "divine sciences or metaphysics maarifi ilahlyah.He spoke concerning the esoteric aspect of the Quran and devised Arabic grammar in order to preserve the Quran's form of expression. He was the most eloquent Arab in speech as has been mentioned in the first part of this book.The Courage Of ALI(A.S) Was Proverbial. In All The Wars In Which He Participated During The Lifetime Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) And also afterward he never displayed fear or anxiety. Although in many battles such as those of Uhud Hunayn Khaybar and Khandaq the aides to the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Muslim army trembled in fear or dispersed and fled he never turned his back to the enemy. Never did a warrior or soldier engage Ali in battle and come out of it alive. Yet with full chivalry he would never slay a weak enemy nor pursue those who fled. He would not engage in surprise attacks or in turning streams of water upon the enemy.It has been definitively established historically that in the Battle of Khaybar in the attack against the fort he reached the ring of the door and with sudden motion tore off the door and cast it away. Also on the day when Macca was conquered the Prophet (P.B.U.H) ordered the idols to be broken. The idol Hubal was the largest idol in Mecca a giant stone statue placed on the top of the Kaba.Following The Command Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) ALI(A.S) Placed His Feet On The Prophet (P.B.U.H)'S Shoulders Climbed to the top of the Kaba pulled (Hubal) from its place and cast it down.ALI(A.S) Was Also Without Equal In Religious Asceticism And The Worship Of God.In Answer To Some Who Had Complained Of ALI's(A.S) anger toward them the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said Do not reproach Ali for he is in a state of Divine ecstasy and bewilderment.ndolences.The daughter of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said My cousin ALI(A.S) has not died.Rather in fear of God he has fainted. This condition overcomes him often.There are many stories told of Ali's(A.S) kindness to the lowly compassion for the needy and the poor and generosity and munificence toward those in misery and poverty.Ali(A.S) spent all that he earned to help the poor and the needy and himself lived in the strictest and simplest manner.Ali loved agriculture and spent much of his time digging wells planting trees and cultivating fields. But all the fields that he cultivated or wells that he built he gave in endowment waqf to the poor. His endowments known as the alms of Ali(A.S) had the noteworthy income of twenty four thousand gold dinars toward the end of his life.
HASSAN IBNE ALI(A.S) AL Mujtaba,The Second ImamImam HASSAN Mujtaba(A.S) upon whom be peace was the second Imam. He and his brother Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) were the two sons of Amir al-mOminin ALI(A.S) and HaZrat Fatima(S.A) the daughter of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).Many times the Prophet (P.B.U.H) had said HASSAN and HUSSAIN(A.S) are my children.Because of these same words ALI(A.S) would say to his other children You are my children and HASSAN(A.S) and HUSSAIN(A.S) are the children of the Prophet (P.B..H).Imam HASSAN(A.S) was born in the year 3 A.H.in Medina and shared in the life of the Prophet(P.B.U.H) for somewhat over seven years, growing up during that time under his loving care. After the death of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) which was no more than three or according to some six months earlier than the death of Hazrat Fatima(S.A) HASSAN(A.S) was placed directly under the care of his noble father. After the death of his father through Divine Command and according to the will of his father Imam HASSAN became Imam he also occupied the outward function of caliph for about six months, during which time he administered the affairs of the Muslims. During that time MuaViya who was a bitter enemy of Ali and his family and had fought for years with the ambition of capturing the caliphate first on the pretext of avenging the death of the third caliph and finally with an open claim to the caliphate marched his army into Iraq, the seat of Imam HASSAN's(A.S) caliphate. War ensued during which MuaViya gradually subverted the generals and commanders of Imam HASSAN's(A.S) army with large sums of money and deceiving promises until the army rebelled against Imam HASSAN(A.S).Finally the Imam was forced to make peace and to yield the caliphate to MuaViya provided it would again return to Imam HASSAN(A.S),after Mu'awiyah's death and the Imam's household and partisans would be protected in every way.In this way MuaViya captured the Islamic caliphate and entered Iraq. In a public speech he officially made null and void all the peace conditions and in every way possible placed the severest pressure upon the members of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Shiah. During all the ten years of his Imamate Imam HASSAN(A.S) lived in conditions of extreme hardship and under persecution with no security even in his own house. In the year 50 A.H.he was poisoned and martyred by one of his own household who as has been accounted by historians had been motivated by MuaViya.In human perfection Imam HASSAN(A.S) was reminiscent of his father and a perfect example of his noble grandfather. In fact, as long as the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was alive he and his brother were always in the company of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) who even sometimes would carry them on his shoulders. Both Sunni and Shite sources have transmitted this saying of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) concerning HASSAN(A.S) and HUSSAIN(A.S) These two children of mine are Imams whether they stand up or sit down allusion to whether they occupy the external function of caliphate or not. Also there are many traditions of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and Ali concerning the fact that Imam HASSAN(A.S) would gain the function of Imamate after his noble father.
HUSSAIN IBNE ALI (A.S)The Third Imam,Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) (SYED AL SHUHADA) the lord among martyrs the second child of Ali and FATIMA(S.A) was born in the year 4 A.H.And after the martyrdom of his brother Imam HASSAN Mujtaba(A.S) became Imam through Divine Command and his brother's will.Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) was Imam for a period of ten years all but the last six months coinciding with the caliphate of MuaViya.Imam Husayn lived under the most difficult outward conditions of suppression and persecution.This was due to the fact that first of all religious laws and regulations had lost much of their weight and credit and the edicts of the Umayyad government had gained complete authority and power. Secondly MuaViya and his aides made use of every possible means to put aside and move out of the way the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Shiah and thus obliterate the name of Ali(A.S) and his family. And above all MuaViya wanted to strengthen the basis of the caliphate of his son Yazid who because of his lack of principles and scruples was opposed by a large group of Muslims.Therefore in order to quell all opposition MuaViya had undertaken newer and more severe measures. By force and necessity Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) had to endure these days and to tolerate every kind of mental and spiritual agony and affliction from MuaViya and his aides until in the middle of the year 60 A.H.MuaViya died and his son Yazid took his place.Paying allegiance (bayah) was an old Arab practice which was carried out in important matters such as that of kingship and governorship. Those who were ruled and especially the well known among them would give their hand in alleging agreement and obedience to their king or prince and in this way would show their support for his actions. Disagreement after allegiance was considered as disgrace and dishonour for a people and it was like breaking an agreement after having signed it officially, it was considered as a definite crime. Following the example of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), people believed that allegiance, when given by free will and not through force carried authority and weight.MuaViya had asked the well known among the people to give their allegiance to Yazid, but had not imposed this request upon Imam HUSSAIN(A.S).He had especially told Yazid in his last will that if HUSSAIN(A.S) refused to pay allegiance he should pass over it in silence and overlook the matter for he had understood correctly the disastrous consequences which would follow if the issue were to be pressed. But because of his egoism and recklessness Yazid neglected his father's advice and immediately after the death of his father ordered the governor of Medina either to force a pledge of allegiance from Imam HUSSAIN. or send his head to Damascus.After the governor of Medina informed Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) of this demand,the Imam, in order to think over the question,asked for a delay and overnight started with his family toward Macca.He sought refuge in the sanctuary of God which in Islam is the official place of refuge and security.This event occurred toward the end of the month of Rajab and the beginning of Shaban of 60 A.H.For nearly four months Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) stayed in Macca in refuge. This news spread throughout the Islamic world. On the one hand many people who were tired of the iniquities of MuaViya's rule and were even more dissatisfied when Yazid became caliph, corresponded with Imam HUSSAIN(A.S). and expressed their sympathy for him. On the other hand a flood of letters began to flow especially from Iraq and particularly the city of Kufa inviting the Imam to go to Iraq and accept the leadership of the populace there with the aim of beginning an uprising to overcome injustice and iniquity. Naturally such a situation was dangerous for Yazid.The stay of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) in Macca continued until the season for pilgrimage when Muslims from all over the world poured in groups into Mecca in order to perform the rites of the hajj.The Imam discovered that some of the followers of Yazid had entered Mecca as pilgrims hajjis with the mission to kill the Imam during the rites of hajj with the arms they carried under their special pilgrimage dress ihram. The Imam shortened the pilgrimage rites and decided to leave. Amidst the vast crowd of people he stood up and in a short speech announced that he was setting out for Iraq. In this short speech he also declared that he would be martyred and asked Muslims to help him in attaining the goal he had in view and to offer their lives in the path of God. The next day he set out with his family and a group of his companions for Iraq.Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) was determined not to give his allegiance to Yazid and knew full well that he would be killed. He was aware that his death was inevitable in the face of the awesome military power of the Umayyads supported as it was by corruption in certain sectors spiritual decline and lack of will power among the people especially in Iraq. Some of the outstanding people of Mecca stood in the way of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) and warned him of the danger of the move he was making. But he answered that he refused to pay allegiance and give his approval to a government of injustice and tyranny. He added that he knew that wherever he turned or went he would be killed. He would leave Mecca in order to preserve the respect for the house of God and not allow this respect to be destroyed by having his blood spilled there. While on the way to Kufa and still a few days journey away from the city he received news that the followers of Yazid in Kufa had put to death the representative of the Imam in that city and also one of the Imam's determined supporters who was a well known man in Kufa.Their feet had been tied and they had been dragged through the streets. The city and its surroundings were placed under strict observation and countless soldiers of the enemy were awaiting him, There was no way open to him but to march ahead and to face death. It was here that the Imam expressed his definitive determination to go ahead and be martyred and so he continued on his journey.Approximately seventy kilometres from Kufa in a desert named Kerbala the Imam and his entourage were surrounded by the army of Yazid.For eight days they stayed in this spot during which the circle narrowed and the number of the enemy's army increased. Finally the Imam with his household and a small numbers of companions were encircled by an army of thirty thousand soldiers.During these days the Imam fortified his position and made a final selection of his companions. At night he called his companions and during a short speech stated that there was nothing ahead but death and martyrdom. He added that since the enemy was concerned only with his person he would free them from all obligations so that anyone who wished could escape in the darkness of the night and save his life.Then he ordered the lights to be turned out and most of his companions who had joined him for their own advantage dispersed. Only a handful of those who loved the truth about forty of his close aides and some of the Banu Hashim remained.Once again the Imam assembled those who were left and put them to a test. He addressed his companions and Hashimite relatives saying again that the enemy was concerned only with his person. Each could benefit from the darkness of the night and escape the danger. But this time the faithful companions of the Imam answered each in his own way that they would not deviate for a moment from the path of truth of which the Imam was the leader and would never leave him alone. They said they would defend his household to the last drop of their blood and as long as they could carry a sword.On the ninth day of the month the last challenge to choose between (allegiance or war) was made by the enemy to the Imam. The Imam asked for a delay in order to worship overnight and became determined to enter battle on the next day.On the tenth day of MUHARRAM of the year 61/680 the Imam lined up before the enemy with his small band of followers less than ninety persons consisting of forty of his companions thirty some members of the army of the enemy that j joined him during the night and day of war, and his Hashimite family of children brothers nephews, nieces and cousins.That day they fought from morning until their final breath the Imam the young Hashimites and the companions were all martyred. Among those killed were two children of Imam HASSAN(A.S) who were only thirteen and eleven years old and a five year old child and a suckling baby of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S).The army of the enemy after ending the war plundered the haram of the Imam and burned his tents. They decapitated the bodies of the martyrs denuded them and threw them to the ground without burial. Then they moved the members of the haram all of whom were helpless women and girls, along with the heads of the martyrs, to Kufa.Among the prisoners there were three male members a twenty two year old son of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) who was very ill and unable to move, namely Ali ibn HUSSAIN(A.S) the fourth Imam; his four year old son Muhammad ibn Ali(A.S) who became the fifth Imam and finally HASSAN the son of the second Imam who was also the son in Mlaw of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) and who having been wounded during the war lay among the dead. They found him near death and through the intercession of one of the generals did not cut off his head. Rather they took him with the prisoners to Kufa and from there to Damascus before Yazid.The event of Karbala the capture of the women and children of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H), their being taken as prisoners from town to town and the speeches made by the daughter of ALI(A.S) ZAINAB(S.A) and the fourth Imam who were among the prisoners disgraced the Umayyads.Such abuse of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) annulled the propaganda which Mu'awiyah had carried out for years. The matter reached such proportions that Yazid in public disowned and condemned the actions of his agents.The event of Kerbala was a major factor in the overthrow of Umayyad rule although its effect was delayed.It also strengthened the roots of The Followers of AHLULBAIT.Among its immediate results were the revolts and rebellions combined with bloody wars which continued for twelve years. Among those who were instrumental in the death of the Imam not one was able to escape revenge and punishment. Anyone who studies closely the history of the life of Imam HUSSAIN(P.B.U.H). and Yazid and the conditions that prevailed at that time, and analyses this chapter of Islamic history will have no doubt that in those circumstances there was no choice before Imam HUSSAIN(P.B.U.H). but to be killed.Swearing allegiance to Yazid would have meant publicly showing contempt for Islam something which was not possible for the Imam for Yazid not only showed no respect for Islam and its injunctions but also made a public demonstration of impudently treading under foot its basis and its laws. Those before him even if they opposed religious injunctions always did so in the guise of religion and at least formally respected religion. They took pride in being companions of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the other religious figures in whom people believed. From this it can be concluded that the claim of some interpreters of these events is false when they say that the two brothers HASSAN(A.S) and HUSSAIN(A.S) had two different tastes and that one chose the way of peace and the other the way of war, so that one brother made peace with MuaViya although he had an army of forty thousand while the other went to war against Yazid with an army of forty. For we see that this same Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) who refused to pay allegiance to Yazid for one day lived for ten years under the rule of MuaViya in the same manner as his brother who also had endured for ten years under MuaViya without opposing him.It must be said in truth that if Imam HASSAN(A.S) or Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) had fought MuaViya they would have been killed without there being the least benefit for Islam.Their deaths would have had no effect before the righteous appearing policy of MuaViya a competent politician who emphasized his being a companion of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) the "scribe of the revelation and Suckle of the faithful" and who used every stratagem possible to preserve a religious guise for his rule. Moreover with his ability to set the stage to accomplish his desires he could have had them killed by their own people and then assumed a state of mourning and sought to revenge their blood just as he sought to give the impression that he was avenging the killing of the third caliph. ALI IBNE HUSSAIN AL ZAINUL ALABEDIN(A.S),The Fourth ImamImam Sajjad(A.S) ALI IBNE HUSSAIN(A.S) entitled ZAINUL ABEDIN and Sajjad was the son of the third Imam and his wife the queen among women the daughter of Yazdigird the king of Persia. He was the only son of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) to survive for his other three brothers Ali Akbar aged twenty five five year old JAFAR and Ali Asghar or Abdallah who was a suckling baby were martyred during the event of Kerbala.The Imam had also accompanied his father on the journey that terminated fatally in Kerbala but because of severe illness and the inability to carry arms or participate in fighting he was prevented from taking part in the holy war and being martyred.So he was sent with the womenfolk to Damascus. After spending a period in imprisonment he was sent with honour to Madina because Yazid wanted to conciliate public opinion. But for a second time, by the order of the Umayyad caliph,Abd alMalik he was chained and sent from Medina to Damascus and then again returned to Madina.The fourth Imam upon returning to Medina retired from public life completely closed the door of his house to strangers and spent his time in worship.He was in contact only with the elite among the Shites such as Abu Hamzah Thumali Abu Khalid Kabuli and the like.The elite disseminated among the Shiah the religious sciences they learned from the Imam.In this way The Followers of Ahlu Bayt spread considerably and showed its effects during the Imamate of the fifth Imam.Among the works of the fourth Imam is a book called Sahifa ALSajjadiyah.It consists of fifty seven prayers concerning the most sublime Divine sciences and is known as "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).The fourth Imam died according to some Shite traditions poisoned by Walid ibn Abd alMalik through the instigation of the Umayyad caliph Hisham) in 95/712 after thirty-five years of Imamate.
MUHAMMAD IBNE ALI ALBAQIR(A.S),The Fifth ImamImam MUHAMMAD IBNE ALI BAQIR the word Baqir meaning he who cuts and dissects a title given to him by the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was the son of the fourth Imam and was born in 67/675.He was present at the event of Karbala when he was four years old.After his father through Divine Command and the decree of those who went before him, he became Imam.In the year 114/732 he died according to some Shi'ite traditions poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn Abdallah the nephew of Hisham the Umayyad caliph.During the Imamate of the fifth Imam as a result of the injustice of the Umayyads revolts and wars broke out in some corner of the Islamic world every day. Moreover there were disputes within the Umayyad family itself which kept the caliphate busy and to a certain extent left the members of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) alone. From the other side the tragedy of Karbala and the oppression suffered by the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) of which the fourth Imam was the most noteworthy embodiment had attracted many Muslims to the Imams. These factors combined to make it possible for people and especially the Shites to go in great numbers to Medina and to come into the presence of the fifth Imam.Possibilities for disseminating truths about Islam and the sciences of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) which had never existed for the Imams before him were presented to the fifth Imam. The proof of this fact is the innumerable traditions recounted from the fifth Imam and the large number of illustrious men of science and Shite scholars who were trained by him in different Islamic sciences. These names are listed in books of biographies of famous man in time.
JAFAR IBNE MUHAMMAD ALSADIQ(A.S),The Sixth ImamImam JAFAR IBNE MUHAMMAD ALSADIQ(A.S) the son of the fifth Imam was born in 83/702.He died in 148/785 according to Shite tradition, poisoned and martyred through the intrigue of the Abbasid caliph Mansur.After the death of his father he became Imam by Divine Command and decree of those who came before him.During the Imamate of the sixth Imam greater possibilities and a more favorable climate existed for him to propagate religious teachings. This came about as a result of revolts in Islamic lands especially the uprising of the Muswaddah to overthrow the Umayyad caliphate, and the bloody wars which finally led to the fall and extinction of the Umayyads.The greater opportunities for Shite teachings were also a result of the favorable ground the fifth Imam had prepared during the twenty years of his Imamate through the propagation of the true teachings of Islam and the sciences of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).The Imam took advantage of the occasion to propagate the religious sciences until the very end of his Imamate which was contemporary with the end of the Umayad and beginning of the Abbasid caliphates. He instructed many scholars in different fields of the intellectual and transmitted sciences such as ZararaH Muhammad ibn Muslim Mumin Taqi Hisham ibn Hakam Aban ibn Taghlib, Hisham ibn Salim Hurayz Hisham Kalbi Nassabah and Jabir ibn Hayyan the alchemist. Even some important Sunni scholars such as Sufyan Thawri, Abu Hanifah, the founder of the Hanafi school of law Qadi.l Sukuni,Qadi Abu'Bakhtari,and others, had the honour of being his students. It is said that his classes and sessions of instruction produced four thousand scholars of hadith and other sciences. The number of traditions preserved from the fifth and sixth Imams is more than all the hadith that have been recorded from the Prophet (P.B.U.H)and the other ten Imams combined.Towards the end of his life the Imam was subjected to severe restrictions by the Abbasid caliph Mansur who ordered such torture and merciless killing of many of the descendants of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) who were Shite that his actions even surpassed the cruelty and heedlessness of the Umayyads.On his order they were arrested in groups some thrown into deep and dark prisons and tortured until they died while others were beheaded or buried alive or placed at the base of or between walls of buildings, and walls were constructed over them.Hisham the Umiad caliph had ordered the sixth Imam to be arrested and brought to Damascus. Later the Imam was arrested by Saffah. the Abbasid caliph, and brought to Iraq. Finally Mansur had him arrested again and brought to Samarrah where he had the Imam kept under supervision, was in every way harsh and discourteous to him, and several times thought of killing him. Eventually the Imam was allowed-to return to Medina where he spent the rest of his life in hid-ing, until he was poisoned and martyred through the intrigue of Mansur.Upon hearing the news of the imam's martyrdom Mansur wrote to the governor of Medina instructing him to go to the house of the Imam on the pretext of expressing his condolences to the family to ask for the Imam's will and testament and read it.Whoever was chosen by the Imam as his inheritor and successor should be beheaded on the spot.Of course the aim of Mansur was to put an end to the whole question of the Imamate and to Shite aspirations. When the governor of Medina following orders, read the last will and testament. He learnt that the Imam had chosen four people rather than one to administer his last will and testament: the caliph himself the governor of Medina Abdallah Aftah. the Imam's older son and Musa his younger son. In this way the plot of Mansur failed. MUSA IBNE JAFAR KAZAM(A.S),The Seventh ImamImam MUSA IBNE JAFAR KAZIM the son of the sixth Imam was born in 128/744 and was poisoned and martyred in prison in 183/799. He became Imam after the death of his father through Divine Command and the decree of his forefathers.The seventh Imam was a contemporary of the Abbasid caliphs Mansur Hadi Mahdi and Harun.He lived in very difficult times and in hiding, until finally Harun went on the Hajj. In Madina he had the Imam arrested while praying in the Mosque of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).He was chained and imprisoned then taken from Medina to Basra and from Basra to Baghdad where for years he was transferred from one prison to another. Finally he died in Baghdad in the Sindi ibn Shahak prison through poisoning and was buried in the cemetery of the Quraysh which is now located in the city of Kazimayn.
ALI IBNE MUSA AL RAZA(A.S)The Eight ImamImam Rida ALI IBNE MUSA(A.S) was the son of the seventh Imam and according to well known accounts was born in 148/765 and died in 203/817.The eighth Imam reached the Imamate after the death of his father through Divine Command and the decree of his forefathers. The period of his Imamate coincided with the caliphate of Harun and then his sons Amin and Mamun.After the death of his father Mamun fell into conflict with his brother Amin which led to bloody wars and finally the assassination of Amin after which Mamun became caliph. Until that day the policy of the Abbasid caliphate toward the Shi'ites had been increasingly harsh and cruel.Every once in a while one of the supporters of ALI(A.S) would revolt causing bloody wars and rebellions which were of great difficulty and consequence for the caliphate. The Shite Imams would not co operate with those who carried out these rebellions and would not interfere with their affairs. The Shites of that day who comprised a considerable population, continued to consider the Imams as their religious leaders to whom obedience was obligatory and believed in them as the real caliphs of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). They considered the caliphate to be far from the sacred authority of their Imams, for the caliphate had come to seem more like the courts of the Persian kings and Roman emperors and was being run by a group of people more interested in worldly rule than in the strict application of religious principles..The continuation of such a situation was dangerous for the structure of the caliphate and was a serious threat to it.Mamun thought of finding a new solution for these difficulties which the seventy-year old policy of his Abbasid predecessors had not been able to solve. To accomplish this end he chose the eighth Imam as his successor hoping in this way to overcome two difficulties first of all to prevent the descendants of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) from rebelling against the government since they would be involved in the government themselves and secondly to cause the people to lose their spiritual belief and inner attachment to the Imams. This would be accomplished by having the Imams become engrossed in worldly matters and the politics of the caliphate itself which had always been considered by the Shites to be evil and impure. In this way their religious organization would crumble and they would no longer present any dangers to the caliphate. Obviously after accomplishing these ends the removal of the Imam would present no difficulties to the Abbasids.In order to have this decision put into effect Mamun asked the Imam to come to Marw from Medina. Once he had arrived there Mamun offered him first the caliphate and then the succession to the caliphate. The Imam made his apologies and turned down the proposal but he was finally induced to accept the successor ship with the condition that he would not interfere in governmental affairs or in the appointment or dismissal of government agents. This event occurred in 200/814.Soon Mamun realized that he had committed an error for there was a rapid spread of The Followers of Ahlu Bayt.Increasing growth in the peoples attachment to the Imam even from the army and government agents.Mamun sought to find a remedy for this difficulty and eventually had the Imam poisoned and martyred. The Imam was buried in the city of Tus in Iran which is now called Mashhad.Mamun displayed great interest in having works on the intellectual sciences translated into Arabic. He organized gatherings in which scholars of different religions and sects assembled and carried out scientific and scholarly debates. The eighth Imam also participated in these assemblies and joined in the discussions with scholars of other religions. Many of these debates are recorded in the collections of Shite hadiths.
MUHAMMAD IBNE ALI Taqi(A.S)The Ninth ImamImam Muhammad IBNE ALI TAQI(A.S) sometimes called Jawad and Ibn AL RAZA was the son of the eighth Imam. He was born in 196/809 in Medina and according to Shite traditions was martyred in 220/835 poisoned by his wife the daughter of Mamun at the instigation of the Abbasid caliph Mutasim.He was buried next to his grandfather the seventh Imam, in Kazimayn.He became Imam after the death of his father through Divine Command and by the decree of his forefathers.At the time of the death of his father he was in Medina.Mamun called him to Baghdad which was then the capital of the caliphate and outwardly showed him much kindness. He even gave the Imam his daughter in marriage and kept him in Baghdad. In reality he wanted to keep a close watch upon the Imam from both outside and within his own household. The Imam spent some time in Baghdad and then with the consent of Mamum set out for Medina where he remained until Mamun's death.When Mu'tasim became the caliph he called the Imam back to Baghdad and as we have seen through the Imam's wife had him poisoned and killed.
ALI IBNE MUHAMMAD NAQI(A.S)The Tenth ImamImam ALI IBNE MUHAMMAD NAQI sometimes referred to by the title of Hadi was the son of the ninth Imam. He was born in 212/ 827 in Medina and according to Shite accounts was martyred through poisoning by Mutazz the Abbasid caliph in 254/868.The tenth Imam was a contemporary of seven of the Abbasid caliphs Mamun Mutasim Wathiq Mutawakkil Muntasir Mustam and Mutazz. It was during the rule of Mutasim in 220/835 that his noble father died through poisoning in Baghdad. At that time Ali ibn Muhammad NAQI(A.S) was in Medina. There he became the Imam through Divine Command and the decree of the Imams before him. He stayed in Medina teaching religious sciences until the time of Mutawakkil. In 243/857 as a result of certain false charges Mutawakkil ordered one of his government officials to invite the Imam from Medina to Samarrah which was then the capital. He himself wrote the Imam a letter full of kindness and courtesy asking him to come to the capital where they could meet.Upon arrival in Samarrah the Imam was also shown certain outward courtesy and respect.Yet at the same time Mutawakkil tried by all possible means to trouble and dishonour him.Many times he called the Imam to his presence with the aim of killing or disgracing him and had his house searched.In his enmity toward the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) Mutawakkil had no equal among the Abbasid caliphs.He was especially opposed to Ali, whom he cursed openly.He even ordered a clown to ridicule ALI(A.S) at voluptuous banquets.In the year 237/850 he ordered the mausoleum of Imam HUSSSAIN(A.S) in Kerbala and many of the houses around it to be torn down to the ground. Then water was turned upon the tomb of the Imam. He ordered the ground of the tomb to be ploughed and cultivated so that any trace of the tomb would be forgotten.During the life of Mutawakkil the condition of life of the descendants of ALI(A.S) in the Hijaz had reached such a pitiful state that their womenfolk had no veils with which to cover themselves. Many of them had only one old veil which they wore at the time of the daily prayers. Pressures of a similar kind were put on the descendants of Ali who lived in Egypt. The tenth Imam accepted in patience the tortures and afflictions of the Abbasid caliph Mutawakkil until the caliph died and was followed by Muntasir Mustain and finally Mutazz whose intrigue led to the Imam being poisoned and martyred.
HASSAN IBNE ALI ASKARI(A.S)The Eleventh ImamImam HASSAN IBNE ALI ASKARI(A.S) the son of the tenth Imam was born in 232/845 and according to some Shite sources was poioned and killed in 260/872 through the instigation of the Abbasid caliph Mutamid.The eleventh Imam gained the Imamate after the death of his noble father, through Divine Command and through the decree of the previous Imams.During the seven years of his Imamat due to untold restrictions placed upon him by the caliphate he lived in hiding and dissimulation taqiyah. He did not have any social contact with even the common people among the Shite population. Only the elite of the Shiah were able to see him. Even so he spent most of his time in prison.There was extreme repression at that time because the Shite population had reached a considerable level in both numbers and power. Everyone knew that the Shiah believed in the Imamate and the identity of the Shite Imams was also known. Therefore the caliphate kept the Imams under its close supervision more than ever before. It tried through every possible means and through secret plans to remove and destroy them. Also the caliphate had come to know that the elite among the Shia believed that the eleventh Imam according to traditions cited by him as well as his forefathers would have a son who was the promised Mahdi.The coming of the Mahdi had been foretold in authenticated hadiths of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) in both Sunni and Shite sources. For this reason the eleventh Imam more than other Imams was kept under close watch by the caliphate. The caliph of the time had decided definitely to put an end to the Imamate in The Followers of Ahlu Bayt through every possible means and to close the door to the Imamate once and for all.Therefore as soon as the news of the illness of the eleventh Imam reached Mutamid.he sent a Physician and a few of his trusted agents and judges to the house of the Imam to be with him and observe his condition and the situation within his house at all times. After the death of the Imam they had the house investigated and all his female slaves examined by the midwife.For two years the secret agents of the caliph searched for the successor of the Imam until they lost all hope.The eleventh Imam was buried in his house in Samarrah next to his noble father. Here it should be remembered that during their lifetimes the Imams trained many hundreds of scholars of religion and hadith and it is these scholars who have transmitted to us information about the Imams.In order not to prolong the matter the list of their names and works and their biographies have not been included here.
MUHAMMAD IBNE HASSAN ALMAHDI(A.S),The Twelfth ImamThe promised MAHDI(A.S) who is usually mentioned by his title of ImamI Asr the Imam of the Period and Sahib alZaman the Lord of the Age is the son of the eleventh Imam.His name is the same as that of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). He was born in Samarrah in 256/868 and until 260/872 when his father was martyred lived under his father's care and tutelage. He was hidden from public view and only a few of the elite among the Shia were able to meet him. After the martyrdom of his father he became Imam and by Divine Command went into occultation ghaybat.Thereafter he appeared only to his deputies naib) and even then only in exceptional circumstances.The Imam chose as a special deputy for a time Uthman ibn Said Umari one of the companions of his father and grandfather who was his confidant and trusted friend.Through his deputy the Imam would answer the demands and questions of the Shia.After Uthman ibn Saad his son Muhammad ibn Uthman Umari was appointed the deputy of the Imam. After the death of Muhammad ibn Uthman Abu'l Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh Nawbakhti was the special deputy, and after his death Ali ibn Muhammad Simmari was chosen for this task.A few days before the death of Ali ibn Muhammad Simmari in 329/939 an order was issued by the Imam stating that in six days ALI IBNE Muhammad Simmari would die.Henceforth the special deputation of the Imam would come to an end and the major occultation ghaybat-i kubra would begin and would continue until the day God grants permission to the Imam to manifest himself.The occultation of the twelfth Imam is therefore divided into two parts the first the minor occultation ghaybat-i-sughra which began in 260/872 and ended in 329/939 lasting about seventy years the second the major occultation which commenced in 329/939 and will continue as long as God wills it.In a hadith upon whose authenticity everyone agrees the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) has said If there were to remain in the life of the world but one day Allah would prolong that day until He sends in it a man from my community and my household.His name will be the same as my name. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny.On the Appearance of the MAHDI(A.S).In the discussion on prophecy and the Imamate it was indicated that as a result of the law of general guidance which governs all of creation, man is of necessity endowed with the power of receiving revelation through prophecy which directs him toward the perfection of the human norm and the well being of the human species. Obviously if this perfection and happiness were not possible for man whose life possesses a social aspect, the very fact that he is endowed with this power would be meaningless and futile. But there is no futility in creation. In other words ever since he has inhabited the earth man has had the wish to lead a social life filled with happiness in its true sense and has striven toward this end. If such a wish were not to have an objective existence it would never have been imprinted upon man's inner nature in the same way that if there were no food there would have been no hunger. Or if there were to be no water there would be no thirst and if there were to be no reproduction there would have been no sexual attraction between the sexes. Therefore by reason of inner necessity and determination the future will see a day when human society will be replete with justice and when all will live in peace and tranquility when human beings will be fully possessed of virtue and perfection. The establishment of such a condition will occur through human hands but with Divine succour.And the leader of such a society, who will be the saviour of man, is called in the language of the hadith, the Mahdi.In the different religions that govern the world such as Hinduism Buddhism Judaism Christianity Zoroastrianism and Islam there are references to a person who will come as the savior of mankind. These religions have usually given happy tidings of his coming although there are naturally certain differences in detail that can be discerned when these teachings are compared carefully. The hadith of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) upon which all Muslims agree The Mahdi is of my progeny refers to this same truth. There are numerous hadiths cited in Sunni and Shite sources from the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Imams concerning the appearance of the Mahdi such as that he is of the progeny of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and that his appearance will enable human society to reach true perfection and the full realization of spiritual life. In addition there are numerous other traditions concerning the fact that the Mahdi is the son of the eleventh Imam Hassan al Askari(A.S).They agree that after being born and undergoing a long occultation the Mahdi will appear again filling with justice the world that has been corrupted by injustice and iniquityAs an example ALI IBNE Musa ALRAZA(A.S) the eighth Imam has said in the course of a hadith The Imam after me is my son Muhammad and after him his son Ali and after Ali his son, HASSAN(A.S) and after HASSAN(A.S) his son H.Hujjat ALQAIM who is awaited during his occultation and obeyed during his manifestation. If there remain from the life of the world but a single day Allah will extend that day until he becomes manifest and fill the world with justice in the same way that it had been filled with iniquity. But when? As for news of the hour verily my father told me, having heard it from his father who heard it from his father who heard it from his ancestors who heard it from Ali(A.S) that it was asked of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H),Oh Prophet (P.B.U.H) of God when will the support qaim who is from thy family appear? He said His case is like that of the Hour of the Resurrection. He alone will manifest it at its proper time. It is heavy in the heavens and the earth. It cometh not to you save unawares (Quran, VII, 187).102Saqr ibn Abi Dulaf said I heard from Abu JAFAR MUHAMMAD IBNE Ali al-Rida [the ninth Imam] who said The Imam after me is my son Ali his command is my command his word is my word to obey him is to obey me. The Imam after him is his son Hassan.His command is the command of his father; his word is the word of his father to obey him is to obey his father. After these words the Imam remained silent. I said to him Oh son of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) you will be the Imam after HASSANA Short History of the Lives ofThe Twelve ImamsThe Messenger Of ALLAH Said:-There Will Be Twelve IMAMS of The Muslims.(Bukhari v.9 #329)TOP


ALI IBNE ABU TALIB AL-MURTAZA(A.S)The First IMAM & Father of Imams(A.S)AMIR AL MOMINEEN ALI (A.S) Was The Son Of ABU TALIB(A.S) The ShaIkh Of The Banu Hashim.Abu Talib Was The Uncle And Guardian of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the person who had brought the Prophet (P.B.U.H) to his house and raised him like his own son. After the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was chosen for his prophetic mission Abu Talib continued to support him and repelled from him the evil that came from the infidels among the Arabs and especially the Quraysh.According To Well Known Traditional Accounts ALI(A.S) Was Born Ten Years Before The Commencement Of The prophetic Mission Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H).When six years old as a result of famine in and around Macca he was requested by the Prophet (P.B.U.H) to leave his father's house and come to the house of his cousin the Prophet (P.B.U.H).There he was placed directly under the guardianship and custody of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).A Few Years Later When The Prophet (P.B.U.H) Was Endowed With The Divine Gift Of Prophecy And For The First Time Received The Divine revelation in the cave of Hira as he left the cave to return to town and his own house he met Ali on the way. He told him what had happened and ALI(A.S) accepted the new faith. Again in a gathering when the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) had brought his relatives together and invited them to accept his religion, he said the first person to accept his call would be his vicegerent and inheritor and deputy. The only person to rise from his place and accept the faith was ALI(A.S) and the Prophet (P.B.U.H) accepted his declaration of faith. Therefore Ali was the first man in Islam to accept the faith and is the first among the followers of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) to have never worshipped other than the One God.ALI(A.S) Was Always In The Company Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) Until The Prophet (P.B.U.H) Migrated From Macca To Medina. On The night of the migration to Madina hijrah when the infidels had surrounded the house of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and were determined to invade the house at the end of the night and cut him to pieces while he was in bed ALI(A.S) slept in place of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) while the Prophet (P..U.H) left the house and set out for Medina. After the departure of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) according to his wish Ali gave back to the people the trusts and charges that they had left with the Prophet (P.B.U.H).Then he went to Medina with his mother, the daughter of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and two other women.In Madina Also ALI(A.S) Was Constantly In The Company Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) In Private And In Public. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) gave Fatimah his beloved daughter from Khadijah to Ali as his wife and when the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was creating bonds of brotherhood among his companions he selected Ali as his brother.ALI(A.S) Was Present In All The Wars In Which The Prophet (P.B.U.H) Participated Except The Battle Of Tabuk When He Was Ordered to stay in Madina in place of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).He did not retreat in any battle nor did he turn his face away from any enemy. He never disobeyed the Prophet (P.B.U.H) so that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said ALI(A.S) is never separated from the Truth nor the Truth from Ali.On The Day Of The Death Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) ALI(A.S) Was Thirty three Years Old. Although He Was Foremost In Religious Virtues and the most outstanding among the companions of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) he was pushed aside from the caliphate on the claim that he was too young and that he had many enemies among the people because of the blood of the polytheists he had spilled in the wars fought alongside the Prophet (P.B.U.H).Therefore ALI(A.S) was almost completely cut off from public affairs. He retreated to his house where he began to train competent individuals in the Divine sciences and in this way he passed the twenty-five years of the caliphate of the first three caliphs who succeeded the Prophet (P.B.U.H).When the third caliph was killed people gave their allegiance to him and he was chosen as caliph.During His Caliphate Of Nearly Four Years And Nine Months ALI(A.S) Followed The Way Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) And Gave His Caliphate the form of a spiritual movement and renewal and began many different types of reforms. Naturally these reforms were against the interests of certain parties that sought their own benefit. As a result a group of the companions foremost among whom were Talhah and Zubayr who also gained the support of AYishah and especially MuaViya made a pretext of the death of the third caliph to raise their heads in opposition and began to revolt and rebel against Ali(A.S).In Order To Quell The Civil Strife And Sedition ALI(A.S) Fought A War Near Basra Known As The (Battle Of The Camel) Against Talhah and Zubayr in which Ummul MOmineen AYishah was also involved.He fought another war against MuaViya on the border of Iraq and Syria which lasted for a year and a half and is famous as the Battle of Siffin.He also fought against the Khawarij at Nahrawan in a battle known as the Battle of Nahrawan.Therefore most of the days of Ali's caliphate were spent in overcoming internal opposition. Finally in the morning of the 19th of Ramadan in the year 40 A.H.while praying in the mosque of Kufa he was wounded by one of the Khawarij and died as a martyr during the night of the 21st of Ramadan.According To The Testimony Of Friend And Foe Alike ALI(A.S) Had No Shortcomings From The Point Of View Of Human Perfection. And in the Islamic virtues he was a perfect example of the upbringing and training given by the Prophet (P.B.U.H).The discussions that have taken place concerning his personality and the books written on this subject by Shites Sunnis and members of other religions as well as the simply curious outside any distinct religious bodies are hardly equaled in the case of any other personality in history.In Science And Knowledge ALI(A.S) Was The Most Learned Of The Companions Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) And Of Muslims In General. In his learned discourses he was the first in Islam to open the door for logical demonstration and proof and to discuss the divine sciences or metaphysics maarifi ilahlyah.He spoke concerning the esoteric aspect of the Quran and devised Arabic grammar in order to preserve the Quran's form of expression. He was the most eloquent Arab in speech as has been mentioned in the first part of this book.The Courage Of ALI(A.S) Was Proverbial.In All The Wars In Which He Participated During The Lifetime Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) And also afterward he never displayed fear or anxiety. Although in many battles such as those of Uhud Hunayn Khaybar and Khandaq the aides to the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Muslim army trembled in fear or dispersed and fled he never turned his back to the enemy. Never did a warrior or soldier engage Ali in battle and come out of it alive. Yet with full chivalry he would never slay a weak enemy nor pursue those who fled. He would not engage in surprise attacks or in turning streams of water upon the enemy. It has been definitively established historically that in the Battle of Khaybar in the attack against the fort he reached the ring of the door and with sudden motion tore off the door and cast it away. Also on the day when Macca was conquered the Prophet (P.B.U.H) ordered the idols to be broken. The idol Hubal was the largest idol in Mecca a giant stone statue placed on the top of the Kaba.Following The Command Of The Prophet (P.B.U.H) ALI(A.S) Placed His Feet On The Prophet (P.B.U.H)'S Shoulders Climbed to the top of the Kaba pulled (Hubal) from its place and cast it down.ALI(A.S) Was Also Without Equal In Religious Asceticism And The Worship Of God. In Answer To Some Who Had Complained Of ALI's(A.S) anger toward them the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said Do not reproach Ali for he is in a state of Divine ecstasy and bewilderment.ndolences.The daughter of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said My cousin ALI(A.S) has not died. Rather in fear of God he has fainted. This condition overcomes him often.There are many stories told of Ali's(A.S) kindness to the lowly compassion for the needy and the poor, and generosity and munificence toward those in misery and poverty.Ali(A.S) spent all that he earned to help the poor and the needy and himself lived in the strictest and simplest manner.Ali loved agriculture and spent much of his time digging wells planting trees and cultivating fields. But all the fields that he cultivated or wells that he built he gave in endowment waqf to the poor. His endowments known as the alms of Ali(A.S) had the noteworthy income of twenty four thousand gold dinars toward the end of his life.
HASSAN IBNE ALI(A.S) AL Mujtaba,The Second ImamImam HASSAN Mujtaba(A.S) upon whom be peace was the second Imam.He and his brother Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) were the two sons of Amir al-mOminin ALI(A.S) and Hadrat Fatima(S.A) the daughter of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).Many times the Prophet (P.B.U.H) had said HASSAN and HUSSAIN(A.S) are my children.Because of these same words ALI(A.S) would say to his other children You are my children and HASSAN(A.S) and HUSSAIN(A.S) are the children of the Prophet (P.B..H).Imam HASSAN(A.S) was born in the year 3 A.H.in Medina and shared in the life of the Prophet(P.B.U.H) for somewhat over seven years, growing up during that time under his loving care.After the death of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) which was no more than three or according to some six months earlier than the death of Hadrat Fatima(S.A), HASSAN(A.S) was placed directly under the care of his noble father. After the death of his father through Divine Command and according to the will of his father Imam HASSAN(P.B.U.H). Became Imam he also occupied the outward function of caliph for about six months, during which time he administered the affairs of the Muslims. During that time MuaViya who was a bitter enemy of Ali and his family and had fought for years with the ambition of capturing the caliphate first on the pretext of avenging the death of the third caliph and finally with an open claim to the caliphate marched his army into Iraq, the seat of Imam HASSAN's(A.S) caliphate. War ensued during which MuaViya gradually subverted the generals and commanders of Imam HASSAN's(A.S) army with large sums of money and deceiving promises until the army rebelled against Imam HASSAN(A.S).Finally the Imam was forced to make peace and to yield the caliphate to MuaViya provided it would again return to Imam HASSAN(A.S),after Mu'awiyah's death and the Imam's household and partisans would be protected in every way.In this way MuaViya captured the Islamic caliphate and entered Iraq. In a public speech he officially made null and void all the peace conditions and in every way possible placed the severest pressure upon the members of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Shiah. During all the ten years of his Imamate Imam HASSAN(A.S) lived in conditions of extreme hardship and under persecution with no security even in his own house.In the year 50 A.H.he was poisoned and martyred by one of his own household who as has been accounted by historians had been motivated by MuaViya.In human perfection Imam HASSAN(A.S) was reminiscent of his father and a perfect example of his noble grandfather. In fact, as long as the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was alive he and his brother were always in the company of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) who even sometimes would carry them on his shoulders. Both Sunni and Shite sources have transmitted this saying of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) concerning HASSAN(A.S) and HUSSAIN(A.S) These two children of mine are Imams whether they stand up or sit down allusion to whether they occupy the external function of caliphate or not. Also there are many traditions of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and Ali concerning the fact that Imam HASSAN(A.S) would gain the function of Imamate after his noble father.
HUSSAIN IBNE ALI (A.S)The Third Imam,Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) (SYED AL SHUHADA) the lord among martyrs the second child of Ali and FATIMA(S.A) was born in the year 4 A.H.And after the martyrdom of his brother Imam HASSAN Mujtaba(A.S) became Imam through Divine Command and his brother's will.Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) was Imam for a period of ten years all but the last six months coinciding with the caliphate of MuaViya.Imam Husayn lived under the most difficult outward conditions of suppression and persecution. This was due to the fact that first of all religious laws and regulations had lost much of their weight and credit and the edicts of the Umayyad government had gained complete authority and power. Secondly MuaViya and his aides made use of every possible means to put aside and move out of the way the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Shiah and thus obliterate the name of Ali(A.S) and his family. And above all MuaViya wanted to strengthen the basis of the caliphate of his son Yazid who because of his lack of principles and scruples was opposed by a large group of Muslims. Therefore in order to quell all opposition MuaViya had undertaken newer and more severe measures. By force and necessity Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) had to endure these days and to tolerate every kind of mental and spiritual agony and affliction from MuaViya and his aides until in the middle of the year 60 A.H.MuaViya died and his son Yazid took his place.Paying allegiance (bayah) was an old Arab practice which was carried out in important matters such as that of kingship and governorship. Those who were ruled and especially the well known among them would give their hand in alleging agreement and obedience to their king or prince and in this way would show their support for his actions. Disagreement after allegiance was considered as disgrace and dishonor for a people and it was like breaking an agreement after having signed it officially, it was considered as a definite crime. Following the example of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), people believed that allegiance, when given by free will and not through force carried authority and weight.MuaViya had asked the well known among the people to give their allegiance to Yazid, but had not imposed this request upon Imam HUSSAIN(A.S).He had especially told Yazid in his last will that if HUSSAIN(A.S) refused to pay allegiance he should pass over it in silence and overlook the matter for he had understood correctly the disastrous consequences which would follow if the issue were to be pressed.But because of his egoism and recklessness Yazid neglected his father's advice and immediately after the death of his father ordered the governor of Medina either to force a pledge of allegiance from Imam Husayn or send his head to Damascus.After the governor of Medina informed Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) of this demand, the Imam, in order to think over the question, asked for a delay and overnight started with his family toward Macca.He sought refuge in the sanctuary of God which in Islam is the official place of refuge and security. This event occurred toward the end of the month of Rajab and the beginning of Shaban of 60 A.H.For nearly four months Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) stayed in Macca in refuge. This news spread throughout the Islamic world. On the one hand many people who were tired of the iniquities of MuaViya's rule and were even more dissatisfied when Yazid became caliph, corresponded with Imam HUSSAIN(P.B.U.H). and expressed their sympathy for him. On the other hand a flood of letters began to flow especially from Iraq and particularly the city of Kufa inviting the Imam to go to Iraq and accept the leadership of the populace there with the aim of beginning an uprising to overcome injustice and iniquity. Naturally such a situation was dangerous for Yazid.The stay of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) in Macca continued until the season for pilgrimage when Muslims from all over the world poured in groups into Mecca in order to perform the rites of the hajj.The Imam discovered that some of the followers of Yazid had entered Mecca as pilgrims hajjis with the mission to kill the Imam during the rites of hajj with the arms they carried under their special pilgrimage dress ihram.The Imam shortened the pilgrimage rites and decided to leave. Amidst the vast crowd of people he stood up and in a short speech announced that he was setting out for Iraq. In this short speech he also declared that he would be martyred and asked Muslims to help him in attaining the goal he had in view and to offer their lives in the path of God. The next day he set out with his family and a group of his companions for Iraq.Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) was determined not to give his allegiance to Yazid and knew full well that he would be killed. He was aware that his death was inevitable in the face of the awesome military power of the Umayyads supported as it was by corruption in certain sectors spiritual decline and lack of will power among the people especially in Iraq. Some of the outstanding people of Mecca stood in the way of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) and warned him of the danger of the move he was making. But he answered that he refused to pay allegiance and give his approval to a government of injustice and tyranny. He added that he knew that wherever he turned or went he would be killed. He would leave Mecca in order to preserve the respect for the house of God and not allow this respect to be destroyed by having his blood spilled there. While on the way to Kufa and still a few days journey away from the city he received news that the followers of Yazid in Kufa had put to death the representative of the Imam in that city and also one of the Imam's determined supporters who was a well known man in Kufa.Their feet had been tied and they had been dragged through the streets. The city and its surroundings were placed under strict observation and countless soldiers of the enemy were awaiting him, There was no way open to him but to march ahead and to face death.It was here that the Imam expressed his definitive determination to go ahead and be martyred and so he continued on his journey.Approximately seventy kilometers from Kufa in a desert named Kerbala the Imam and his entourage were surrounded by the army of Yazid.For eight days they stayed in this spot during which the circle narrowed and the number of the enemy's army increased. Finally the Imam with his household and a small numbers of companions were encircled by an army of thirty thousand soldiers. During these days the Imam fortified his position and made a final selection of his companions. At night he called his companions and during a short speech stated that there was nothing ahead but death and martyrdom. He added that since the enemy was concerned only with his person he would free them from all obligations so that anyone who wished could escape in the darkness of the night and save his life.Then he ordered the lights to be turned out and most of his companions who had joined him for their own advantage dispersed. Only a handful of those who loved the truth about forty of his close aides and some of the Banu Hashim remained.Once again the Imam assembled those who were left and put them to a test. He addressed his companions and Hashimite relatives saying again that the enemy was concerned only with his person. Each could benefit from the darkness of the night and escape the danger. But this time the faithful companions of the Imam answered each in his own way that they would not deviate for a moment from the path of truth of which the Imam was the leader and would never leave him alone. They said they would defend his household to the last drop of their blood and as long as they could carry a sword.On the ninth day of the month the last challenge to choose between (allegiance or war) was made by the enemy to the Imam. The Imam asked for a delay in order to worship overnight and became determined to enter battle on the next day.On the tenth day of MUHARRAM of the year 61/680 the Imam lined up before the enemy with his small band of followers less than ninety persons consisting of forty of his companions thirty some members of the army of the enemy that j joined him during the night and day of war, and his Hashimite family of children brothers nephews, nieces and cousins. That day they fought from morning until their final breath the Imam the young Hashimites and the companions were all martyred. Among those killed were two children of Imam HASSAN(A.S) who were only thirteen and eleven years old and a five year old child and a suckling baby of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S).The army of the enemy after ending the war plundered the haram of the Imam and burned his tents. They decapitated the bodies of the martyrs denuded them and threw them to the ground without burial. Then they moved the members of the haram all of whom were helpless women and girls, along with the heads of the martyrs, to Kufa.Among the prisoners there were three male members a twenty two year old son of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) who was very ill and unable to move, namely Ali ibn HUSSAIN(A.S) the fourth Imam; his four year old son Muhammad ibn Ali(A.S) who became the fifth Imam and finally HASSAN the son of the second Imam who was also the son in Mlaw of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) and who having been wounded during the war lay among the dead. They found him near death and through the intercession of one of the generals did not cut off his head. Rather they took him with the prisoners to Kufa and from there to Damascus before Yazid.The event of Karbala the capture of the women and children of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H), their being taken as prisoners from town to town and the speeches made by the daughter of ALI(A.S) ZAINAB(S.A) and the fourth Imam who were among the prisoners disgraced the Umayyads.Such abuse of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) annulled the propaganda which Mu'awiyah had carried out for years. The matter reached such proportions that Yazid in public disowned and condemned the actions of his agents.The event of Kerbala was a major factor in the overthrow of Umayyad rule although its effect was delayed. It also strengthened the roots of The Followers of Ahlu Bayt.Among its immediate results were the revolts and rebellions combined with bloody wars which continued for twelve years. Among those who were instrumental in the death of the Imam not one was able to escape revenge and punishment.Anyone who studies closely the history of the life of Imam Husayn and Yazid and the conditions that prevailed at that time, and analyses this chapter of Islamic history will have no doubt that in those circumstances there was no choice before Imam Husayn but to be killed. Swearing allegiance to Yazid would have meant publicly showing contempt for Islam something which was not possible for the Imam for Yazid not only showed no respect for Islam and its injunctions but also made a public demonstration of impudently treading under foot its basis and its laws.Those before him even if they opposed religious injunctions always did so in the guise of religion and at least formally respected religion. They took pride in being companions of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the other religious figures in whom people believed. From this it can be concluded that the claim of some interpreters of these events is false when they say that the two brothers HASSAN(A.S) and HUSSAIN(A.S) had two different tastes and that one chose the way of peace and the other the way of war, so that one brother made peace with MuaViya although he had an army of forty thousand while the other went to war against Yazid with an army of forty. For we see that this same Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) who refused to pay allegiance to Yazid for one day lived for ten years under the rule of MuaViya in the same manner as his brother who also had endured for ten years under MuaViya without opposing him.It must be said in truth that if Imam HASSAN(A.S) or Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) had fought Mu'awiyah they would have been killed without there being the least benefit for Islam. Their deaths would have had no effect before the righteous appearing policy of MuaViya a competent politician who emphasized his being a companion of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) the scribe of the revelation and SSSuncle of the faithful" and who used every stratagem possible to preserve a religious guise for his rule. Moreover with his ability to set the stage to accomplish his desires he could have had them killed by their own people and then assumed a state of mourning and sought to revenge their blood just as he sought to give the impression that he was avenging the killing of the third caliph. ALI IBNE HUSSAIN AL ZAINUL ALABEDIN(A.S),The Fourth ImamImam Sajjad(A.S) ALI IBNE HUSSAIN(A.S) entitled ZAINUL ABEDIN and Sajjad was the son of the third Imam and his wife the queen among women the daughter of Yazdigird the king of Persia. He was the only son of Imam HUSSAIN(A.S) to survive for his other three brothers Ali Akbar aged twenty five five year old JAFAR and Ali Asghar or Abdallah who was a suckling baby were martyred during the event of Kerbala.The Imam had also accompanied his father on the journey that terminated fatally in Kerbala but because of severe illness and the inability to carry arms or participate in fighting he was prevented from taking part in the holy war and being martyred. So he was sent with the womenfolk to Damascus. After spending a period in imprisonment he was sent with honour to Madina because Yazid wanted to conciliate public opinion. But for a second time, by the order of the Umayyad caliph,Abd alMalik he was chained and sent from Medina to Damascus and then again returned to Madina.The fourth Imam upon returning to Medina retired from public life completely closed the door of his house to strangers and spent his time in worship.He was in contact only with the elite among the Shites such as Abu Hamzah Thumali Abu Khalid Kabuli and the like.The elite disseminated among the Shiah the religious sciences they learned from the Imam.In this way The Followers of Ahlu Bayt spread considerably and showed its effects during the Imamate of the fifth Imam. Among the works of the fourth Imam is a book called Sahifa ALSajjadiyah.It consists of fifty seven prayers concerning the most sublime Divine sciences and is known as The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).The fourth Imam died according to some Shite traditions poisoned by Walid ibn Abd alMalik through the instigation of the Umayyad caliph Hisham) in 95/712 after thirty-five years of Imamate.
MUHAMMAD IBNE ALI ALBAQIR(A.S),The Fifth ImamImam MUHAMMAD IBNE ALI BAQIR the word Baqir meaning he who cuts and dissects a title given to him by the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was the son of the fourth Imam and was born in 67/675.He was present at the event of Karbala when he was four years old. After his father through Divine Command and the decree of those who went before him, he became Imam.In the year 114/732 he died according to some Shi'ite traditions poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah the nephew of Hisham, the Umayyad caliph. During the Imamate of the fifth Imam as a result of the injustice of the Umayyads revolts and wars broke out in some corner of the Islamic world every day. Moreover there were disputes within the Umayyad family itself which kept the caliphate busy and to a certain extent left the members of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) alone. From the other side the tragedy of Kerbala and the oppression suffered by the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) of which the fourth Imam was the most noteworthy embodiment had attracted many Muslims to the Imams. These factors combined to make it possible for people and especially the Shi'ites to go in great numbers to Medina and to come into the presence of the fifth Imam.Possibilities for disseminating truths about Islam and the sciences of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) which had never existed for the Imams before him were presented to the fifth Imam. The proof of this fact is the innumerable traditions recounted from the fifth Imam and the large number of illustrious men of science and Shite scholars who were trained by him in different Islamic sciences. These names are listed in books of biographies of famous man in time.
JAFAR IBNE MUHAMMAD ALSADIQ(A.S),The Sixth ImamImam JAFAR IBNE MUHAMMAD ALSADIQ(A.S) the son of the fifth Imam was born in 83/702.He died in 148/785 according to Shite tradition, poisoned and martyred through the intrigue of the Abbasid caliph Mansur.After the death of his father he became Imam by Divine Command and decree of those who came before him.During the Imamate of the sixth Imam greater possibilities and a more favorable climate existed for him to propagate religious teachings. This came about as a result of revolts in Islamic lands especially the uprising of the Muswaddah to overthrow the Umayyad caliphate, and the bloody wars which finally led to the fall and extinction of the Umayyads.The greater opportunities for Shite teachings were also a result of the favorable ground the fifth Imam had prepared during the twenty years of his Imamate through the propagation of the true teachings of Islam and the sciences of the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).The Imam took advantage of the occasion to propagate the religious sciences until the very end of his Imamate which was contemporary with the end of the Umayad and beginning of the Abbasid caliphates. He instructed many scholars in different fields of the intellectual and transmitted sciences such as ZararaH Muhammad ibn Muslim Mumin Taqi Hisham ibn Hakam Aban ibn Taghlib, Hisham ibn Salim Hurayz Hisham Kalbi Nassabah and Jabir ibn Hayyan the alchemist. Even some important Sunni scholars such as Sufyan Thawri, Abu Hanifah, the founder of the Hanafi school of law Qadi.l Sukuni,Qadi Abu'Bakhtari,and others,had the honour of being his students. It is said that his classes and sessions of instruction produced four thousand scholars of hadith and other sciences. The number of traditions preserved from the fifth and sixth Imams is more than all the hadith that have been recorded from the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the other ten Imams combined.Towards the end of his life the Imam was subjected to severe restrictions by the Abbasid caliph Mansur who ordered such torture and merciless killing of many of the descendants of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) who were Shite that his actions even surpassed the cruelty and heedlessness of the Umayyads.On his order they were arrested in groups some thrown into deep and dark prisons and tortured until they died, while others were beheaded or buried alive or placed at the base of or between walls of buildings, and walls were constructed over them.Hisham the Umiad caliph had ordered the sixth Imam to be arrested and brought to Damascus. Later the Imam was arrested by Saffah., the Abbasid caliph, and brought to Iraq.Finally, Mansur had him arrested again and brought to Samarrah where he had the Imam kept under supervision, was in every way harsh and discourteous to him, and several times thought of killing him. Eventually the Imam was allowed-to return to Medina where he spent the rest of his life in hid-ing, until he was poisoned and martyred through the intrigue of Mansur.Upon hearing the news of the imam's martyrdom Mansur wrote to the governor of Medina instructing him to go to the house of the Imam on the pretext of expressing his condolences to the family to ask for the Imam's will and testament and read it. Whoever was chosen by the Imam as his inheritor and successor should be beheaded on the spot. Of course the aim of Mansur was to put an end to the whole question of the Imamate and to Shite aspirations. When the governor of Medina following orders, read the last will and testament.He learnt that the Imam had chosen four people rather than one to administer his last will and testament: the caliph himself the governor of Medina Abdallah Aftah. the Imam's older son and Musa his younger son. In this way the plot of Mansur failed. MUSA IBNE JAFAR KAZAM(A.S),The Seventh ImamImam MUSA IBNE JAFAR KAZIM the son of the sixth Imam was born in 128/744 and was poisoned and martyred in prison in 183/799.He became Imam after the death of his father through Divine Command and the decree of his forefathers.The seventh Imam was a contemporary of the Abbasid caliphs Mansur Hadi Mahdi and Harun.He lived in very difficult times and in hiding, until finally Harun went on the Hajj.In Madina he had the Imam arrested while praying in the Mosque of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).He was chained and imprisoned then taken from Medina to Basra and from Basra to Baghdad where for years he was transferred from one prison to another. Finally he died in Baghdad in the Sindi ibn Shahak prison through poisoning and was buried in the cemetery of the Quraysh which is now located in the city of Kazimayn.
ALI IBNE MUSA AL RAZA(A.S)The Eight ImamImam Rida ALI IBNE MUSA(A.S) was the son of the seventh Imam and according to well known accounts was born in 148/765 and died in 203/817.The eighth Imam reached the Imamate after the death of his father through Divine Command and the decree of his forefathers.The period of his Imamate coincided with the caliphate of Harun and then his sons Amin and Mamun.After the death of his father Mamun fell into conflict with his brother Amin which led to bloody wars and finally the assassination of Amin after which Mamun became caliph. Until that day the policy of the Abbasid caliphate toward the Shi'ites had been increasingly harsh and cruel.Every once in a while one of the supporters of ALI(A.S) would revolt causing bloody wars and rebellions which were of great difficulty and consequence for the caliphate. The Shite Imams would not co operate with those who carried out these rebellions and would not interfere with their affairs. The Shites of that day who comprised a considerable population continued to consider the Imams as their religious leaders to whom obedience was obligatory and believed in them as the real caliphs of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). They considered the caliphate to be far from the sacred authority of their Imams, for the caliphate had come to seem more like the courts of the Persian kings and Roman emperors and was being run by a group of people more interested in worldly rule than in the strict application of religious principles..The continuation of such a situation was dangerous for the structure of the caliphate and was a serious threat to it.Mamun thought of finding a new solution for these difficulties which the seventy-year old policy of his Abbasid predecessors had not been able to solve. To accomplish this end he chose the eighth Imam as his successor hoping in this way to overcome two difficulties first of all to prevent the descendants of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) from rebelling against the government since they would be involved in the government themselves and secondly to cause the people to lose their spiritual belief and inner attachment to the Imams. This would be accomplished by having the Imams become engrossed in worldly matters and the politics of the caliphate itself which had always been considered by the Shites to be evil and impure. In this way their religious organization would crumble and they would no longer present any dangers to the caliphate. Obviously after accomplishing these ends the removal of the Imam would present no difficulties to the Abbasids.In order to have this decision put into effect Mamun asked the Imam to come to Marw from Medina. Once he had arrived there Ma'mun offered him first the caliphate and then the succession to the caliphate. The Imam made his apologies and turned down the proposal but he was finally induced to accept the successor ship with the condition that he would not interfere in governmental affairs or in the appointment or dismissal of government agents. This event occurred in 200/814.Soon Mamun realized that he had committed an error for there was a rapid spread of The Followers of Ahlu Bayt.Increasing growth in the peoples attachment to the Imam even from the army and government agents.Mamun sought to find a remedy for this difficulty and eventually had the Imam poisoned and martyred. The Imam was buried in the city of Tus in Iran which is now called Mashhad.Mamun displayed great interest in having works on the intellectual sciences translated into Arabic. He organized gatherings in which scholars of different religions and sects assembled and carried out scientific and scholarly debates. The eighth Imam also participated in these assemblies and joined in the discussions with scholars of other religions. Many of these debates are recorded in the collections of Shite hadiths.
MUHAMMAD IBNE ALI Taqi(A.S)The Ninth ImamImam Muhammad IBNE ALI TAQI(A.S) sometimes called Jawad and Ibn AL RAZA was the son of the eighth Imam. He was born in 196/809 in Medina and according to Shite traditions was martyred in 220/835 poisoned by his wife the daughter of Mamun at the instigation of the Abbasid caliph Mutasim.He was buried next to his grandfather the seventh Imam, in Kazimayn.He became Imam after the death of his father through Divine Command and by the decree of his forefathers.At the time of the death of his father he was in Medina.Mamun called him to Baghdad which was then the capital of the caliphate and outwardly showed him much kindness. He even gave the Imam his daughter in marriage and kept him in Baghdad. In reality he wanted to keep a close watch upon the Imam from both outside and within his own household. The Imam spent some time in Baghdad and then with the consent of Mamum set out for Medina where he remained until Mamun's death.When Mutasim became the caliph he called the Imam back to Baghdad and as we have seen through the Imam's wife had him poisoned and killed.
ALI IBNE MUHAMMAD NAQI(A.S)The Tenth ImamImam ALI IBNE MUHAMMAD NAQI sometimes referred to by the title of Hadi was the son of the ninth Imam. He was born in 212/ 827 in Medina and according to Shite accounts was martyred through poisoning by Mutazz the Abbasid caliph in 254/868.The tenth Imam was a contemporary of seven of the Abbasid caliphs Mamun Mutasim Wathiq Mutawakkil Muntasir Mustam and Mutazz. It was during the rule of Mutasim in 220/835 that his noble father died through poisoning in Baghdad.At that time Ali ibn Muhammad NAQI(A.S) was in Medina. There he became the Imam through Divine Command and the decree of the Imams before him. He stayed in Medina teaching religious sciences until the time of Mutawakkil. In 243/857 as a result of certain false charges Mutawakkil ordered one of his government officials to invite the Imam from Medina to Samarrah which was then the capital.He himself wrote the Imam a letter full of kindness and courtesy asking him to come to the capital where they could meet.Upon arrival in Samarrah the Imam was also shown certain outward courtesy and respect. Yet at the same time Mutawakkil tried by all possible means to trouble and dishonour him. Many times he called the Imam to his presence with the aim of killing or disgracing him and had his house searched.In his enmity toward the Household of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) Mutawakkil had no equal among the Abbasid caliphs. He was especially opposed to Ali, whom he cursed openly.He even ordered a clown to ridicule ALI(A.S) at voluptuous banquets. In the year 237/850 he ordered the mausoleum of Imam HUSSSAIN(A.S) in Karbala and many of the houses around it to be torn down to the ground. Then water was turned upon the tomb of the Imam. He ordered the ground of the tomb to be ploughed and cultivated so that any trace of the tomb would be forgotten.During the life of Mutawakkil the condition of life of the descendants of ALI(A.S) in the Hijaz had reached such a pitiful state that their womenfolk had no veils with which to cover themselves. Many of them had only one old veil which they wore at the time of the daily prayers. Pressures of a similar kind were put on the descendants of Ali who lived in Egypt. The tenth Imam accepted in patience the tortures and afflictions of the Abbasid caliph Mutawakkil until the caliph died and was followed by Muntasir Mustain and finally Mutazz whose intrigue led to the Imam being poisoned and martyred.
HASSAN IBNE ALI ASKARI(A.S)The Eleventh ImamImam HASSAN IBNE ALI ASKARI(A.S) the son of the tenth Imam was born in 232/845 and according to some Shite sources was poioned and killed in 260/872 through the instigation of the Abbasid caliph Mutamid.The eleventh Imam gained the Imamate after the death of his noble father, through Divine Command and through the decree of the previous Imams.During the seven years of his Imamat due to untold restrictions placed upon him by the caliphate he lived in hiding and dissimulation taqiyah. He did not have any social contact with even the common people among the Shite population. Only the elite of the Shiah were able to see him. Even so he spent most of his time in prison.There was extreme repression at that time because the Shi'ite population had reached a considerable level in both numbers and power. Everyone knew that the Shiah believed in the Imamate and the identity of the Shite Imams was also known. Therefore the caliphate kept the Imams under its close supervision more than ever before. It tried through every possible means and through secret plans to remove and destroy them. Also the caliphate had come to know that the elite among the Shia believed that the eleventh Imam according to traditions cited by him as well as his forefathers would have a son who was the promised Mahdi.The coming of the Mahdi had been foretold in authenticated hadiths of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) in both Sunni and Shite sources. For this reason the eleventh Imam more than other Imams was kept under close watch by the caliphate. The caliph of the time had decided definitely to put an end to the Imamate in The Followers of Ahlu Bayt through every possible means and to close the door to the Imamate once and for all.Therefore as soon as the news of the illness of the eleventh Imam reached Mutamid.he sent a Physician and a few of his trusted agents and judges to the house of the Imam to be with him and observe his condition and the situation within his house at all times. After the death of the Imam they had the house investigated and all his female slaves examined by the midwife.For two years the secret agents of the caliph searched for the successor of the Imam until they lost all hope.The eleventh Imam was buried in his house in Samarrah next to his noble father. Here it should be remembered that during their lifetimes the Imams trained many hundreds of scholars of religion and hadith and it is these scholars who have transmitted to us information about the Imams.In order not to prolong the matter the list of their names and works and their biographies have not been included here.
MUHAMMAD IBNE HASSAN ALMAHDI(A.S),The Twelfth ImamThe promised MAHDI(A.S) who is usually mentioned by his title of ImamI Asr the Imam of the Period and Sahib alZaman the Lord of the Age is the son of the eleventh Imam. His name is the same as that of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). He was born in Samarrah in 256/868 and until 260/872 when his father was martyred lived under his father's care and tutelage. He was hidden from public view and only a few of the elite among the Shia were able to meet him. After the martyrdom of his father he became Imam and by Divine Command went into occultation ghaybat.Thereafter he appeared only to his deputies naib and even then only in exceptional circumstances.The Imam chose as a special deputy for a time Uthman ibn Said Umari one of the companions of his father and grandfather who was his confidant and trusted friend.Through his deputy the Imam would answer the demands and questions of the Shia.After Uthman ibn Saad his son Muhammad ibn Othman Umari was appointed the deputy of the Imam. After the death of Muhammad ibn Uthman Abu'l Qasim HUSSAIN(P.B.U.H). ibn Ruh Nawbakhti was the special deputy, and after his death Ali ibn Muhammad Simmari was chosen for this task.A few days before the death of Ali ibn Muhammad Simmari in 329/939 an order was issued by the Imam stating that in six days ALI IBNE Muhammad Simmari would die. Henceforth the special deputation of the Imam would come to an end and the major occultation ghaybat-i kubra would begin and would continue until the day God grants permission to the Imam to manifest himself. The occultation of the twelfth Imam is therefore divided into two parts the first the minor occultation ghaybat-i-sughra which began in 260/872 and ended in 329/939 lasting about seventy years the second the major occultation which commenced in 329/939 and will continue as long as God wills it. In a hadith upon whose authenticity everyone agrees the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) has said If there were to remain in the life of the world but one day Allah would prolong that day until He sends in it a man from my community and my household. His name will be the same as my name. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny.On the Appearance of the MAHDI(A.S).In the discussion on prophecy and the Imamate it was indicated that as a result of the law of general guidance which governs all of creation, man is of necessity endowed with the power of receiving revelation through prophecy which directs him toward the perfection of the human norm and the well being of the human species. Obviously if this perfection and happiness were not possible for man whose life possesses a social aspect, the very fact that he is endowed with this power would be meaningless and futile. But there is no futility in creation. In other words ever since he has inhabited the earth man has had the wish to lead a social life filled with happiness in its true sense and has striven toward this end. If such a wish were not to have an objective existence it would never have been imprinted upon man's inner nature in the same way that if there were no food there would have been no hunger. Or if there were to be no water there would be no thirst and if there were to be no reproduction there would have been no sexual attraction between the sexes. Therefore by reason of inner necessity and determination the future will see a day when human society will be replete with justice and when all will live in peace and tranquility when human beings will be fully possessed of virtue and perfection. The establishment of such a condition will occur through human hands but with Divine succour.And the leader of such a society, who will be the saviour of man, is called in the language of the hadith, the Mahdi.In the different religions that govern the world such as Hinduism Buddhism Judaism Christianity Zoroastrianism and Islam there are references to a person who will come as the saviour of mankind. These religions have usually given happy tidings of his coming although there are naturally certain differences in detail that can be discerned when these teachings are compared carefully. The hadith of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) upon which all Muslims agree The Mahdi is of my progeny refers to this same truth. There are numerous hadiths cited in Sunni and Shite sources from the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Imams concerning the appearance of the Mahdi such as that he is of the progeny of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and that his appearance will enable human society to reach true perfection and the full realisation of spiritual life.In addition there are numerous other traditions concerning the fact that the Mahdi is the son of the eleventh Imam Hassan al Askari(A.S).They agree that after being born and undergoing a long occultation the Mahdi will appear again filling with justice the world that has been corrupted by injustice and iniquityAs an example ALI IBNE Musa ALRAZA(A.S) the eighth Imam has said in the course of a hadith The Imam after me is my son Muhammad and after him his son Ali and after Ali his son, HASSAN(A.S) and after HASSAN(A.S) his son H.Hujjat ALQAIM who is awaited during his occultation and obeyed during his manifestation.If there remain from the life of the world but a single day Allah will extend that day until he becomes manifest and fill the world with justice in the same way that it had been filled with iniquity. But when? As for news of the hour verily my father told me, having heard it from his father who heard it from his father who heard it from his ancestors who heard it from Ali(A.S) that it was asked of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H),Oh Prophet (P.B.U.H) of God when will the support qaim who is from thy family appear? He said His case is like that of the Hour of the Resurrection. He alone will manifest it at its proper time.It is heavy in the heavens and the earth.It cometh not to you save unawares (Quran, VII, 187).102Saqr ibn Abi Dulaf said I heard from Abu JAFAR MUHAMMAD IBNE Ali al-Rida [the ninth Imam] who said The Imam after me is my son Ali his command is my command his word is my word to obey him is to obey me. The Imam after him is his son Hassan.His command is the command of his father; his word is the word of his father to obey him is to obey his father. After these words the Imam remained silent. I said to him Oh son of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) you will be the Imam after Hasan?The Imam cried hard then said, Verily after HASSAN his son is the awaited Imam who is al-qaim bil-haqq He who is supported by the Truth.Musa ibn JAFAR(A.S) Baghdadi said I heard from the Imam Abu Muhammad AL HASSAN IBNE ALI(A.S) the eleventh Imam who said I see that after me differences will appear among you concerning the Imam after me. Whoso accepts the Imams after the Prophet (P.B.U.H) of God but denies my son is like the person who accepts all the prophets but denies the prophet hood of Muhammad, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) of God upon whom be peace and blessing. And whoso denies [Muhammad] the Prophet (P.B.U.H) of God is like one who has denied all the prophets of God, for to obey the last of us is like obeying the first and to deny the last of us is like denying the first. But beware Verily for my son there is an occultation during which all people will fall into doubt except those whom Allah protects.The opponents of The Followers of AHLULBAIT protest that according to the beliefs of this school the Hidden Imam should by now be nearly twelve centuries old whereas this is impossible for any human being. In answer it must be said that the protest is based only on the unlikelihood of such an occurrence not its impossibility. Of course such a long lifetime or a life of a longer period is unlikely. But those who study the hadiths of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Imams will see that they refer to this life as one possessing miraculous qualities.Miracles are certainly not impossible nor can they be negated through scientific arguments. It can never be proved that the causes and agents that are functioning in the world are solely those that we see and know and that other causes which we do not know or whose effects and actions we have not seen nor understood do not exist. It is in this way possible that in one or several members of mankind there can be operating certain causes and agents which bestow upon them a very long life of a thousand or several thousand years. Medicine has not even lost hope of discovering a way to achieve very long life spans. In any case such protests from "peoples of the Book such as Jews Christians and Muslims are most strange for they accept the miracles of the prophets of God according to their own sacred scriptures..The opponents of The Followers of AHLULBAIT also protest that they considers the Imam necessary in order to expound the injunctions and verities of religion and to guide the people the occultation of the Imam is the negation of this very purpose for an Imam in occultation who cannot be reached by mankind cannot be in any way beneficial or effective. The opponents say that if God wills to bring forth an Imam to reform mankind He is able to create him at the necessary moment and does not need to create him thousands of years earlier. In answer it must be said that such people have not really understood the meaning of the Imam, for in the discussion on the Imamate it became clear that the duty of the Imam is not only the formal explanation of the religious sciences and exoteric guidance of the people. In the same way that he has the duty of guiding men outwardly the Imam also bears the function of walayat and the esoteric guidance of men. It is he who directs man's spiritual life and orients the inner aspect of human action toward God Clearly his physical presence or absence has no effect in this matter. The Imam watches over men inwardly and is in communion with the soul and spirit of men even if he be hidden from their physical eyes. His existence is always necessary even if the time has not as yet arrived for his outward appearance and the universal reconstruction that he is to bring about.
GHAIBAT-E-SUGHRA,GHAIBAT-E-SUGHRA means the minor concealment. Its period was about 70 years. It began in 260 A.H. when Imam ALMAHDI (A.S) first went into concealment and ended in 328 A.H.During GHAIBAT-E-SUGHRA the Imam appointed some agents to represent him and the people. The Imam had four agents. After the death of the fourth agent the Imam went into major concealment Ghaibut-ul-Kubra.This was on the 10th Shawal 329 A.H.The Signs Heralding the Reappearance of Imam ALMAHDI (A.S),Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) has said Even if the entire duration of the world’s existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday Allah will expand that day to such length of time as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my AHLULBAIT who will be called by name. He will fill out the earth with and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny by thenFrom this Hadith it is clear to every Muslim that the twelfth Imam will reappear when this world is full of sins and injustice.There are many signs mentioned by the MASUMEEN (A.S) on the reappearance of the 12th Imam. It is reported in Biharul Anwar that after the last pilgrimage the Prophet made the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) stood near the Kaba and called his people to listen to him. The Prophet said listen to me carefully so that you transmit these words of mine to those who are absent today. The Prophet began My people a time will come when kings and rulers will be tyrannical. The Prophet also said that the payment of Zakat will be stopped.According to the MASUMEEN (A.S) Muslim countries will seek aid from non Muslim countries. This is already evident in a number of Muslim countries. Another prediction that is come true is that 60 impostors will claim to be Prophets.By their attractiveness their persuasion and their personality they will misguide the people. 58 false Prophets have already emerged since the days of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).We have only two more to witness.It is reported in QAYAMAT-E-SUGHRA citing Oqdatud Durr that Hazrat Amir (A.S) has said that the Mahdi will not appear until one third of the world population will die by being killed and one third will die as a result of epidemics.The Last Signs Heralding the Appearance of Imam ALMAHDI (A.S).There is a Hadith from Imam Muhammad BAQIR (A.S) that for three or seven consecutive days one will see reddish yellow fire raging in the East.Sufiani will emerge in Palestine where he will start a revolt in the month of Rajab. He will be an uncompassionate rebel and his rule will last for eight consecutive months. He will conquer and rule Egypt for four consecutive months.Sufiani will conquer Tunisia, Algeria Morocco Jordan and Syria.Sufiani has been specifically described by Aimma (A.S).as an ugly, blistered, green-eyed, cross-eyed person who will be an enemy of the friends of the Ahlul-Bait. Imam Ali (A.S) has said that Sufiani’s hatred of the devotees of the AHLULBAIT will be such that any person named ALI(P.B.U.H)., FATIMA(P.B.U.H)., HASSAN(P.B.U.H)., HUSSAIN(P.B.U.H)., ZAINAB, Ruquaiya will be arrested and beheaded straight away without further investigations. Sufiani will rip the Mimber of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).The holy house of the Prophet which contains his grave will be pulled and used as a stable. Horses will be tied in that Holy place.Sufiani will then decide to attack Makka. His purpose would be to demolish the Holy Kaaba and kill the entire population of Makka.Sufiani’s army will set out via Baghdad but as Allah would have it when they get between Medina and Makka in the desert of Baida suddenly one night they will hear a voice from the sky which will say O Baida eat up the entire army of Sufiani.It is said that the entire army numbering 100,000 persons will be swallowed up by the earth, except for two. The two who will be spared will suddenly encounter an angel.He will slap both of them turning their faces right round, looking behind instead of front. And that will be the time when Imam ALMAHDI(A.S) will already have reappeared in Makka. The Imam will establish his authority in the Holy Mosque at Makka in the Haram.The angel will then order one of them calling him Bashir.O Bashir go straight to Makka into the Haram and inform the Imam that Sufiani’s army has been swallowed up by the land. The other called Nazir will be ordered to go to Sufiani and tell him that the Imam has already appeared.He should proceed straight to Makka and declare allegiance to him.Sufiani will prepare to attack the Imam but will not have enough courage.The Imam will catch Sufiani in Jerusalem and will kill him.Imam ALI (A.S) has said that nine definite signs will precede the emergence of IMAM MAHDI (A.S).These nine signs areDajaal will emerge.A loud voice will be heard from the sky.Sufiani will appear and wage a fierce war.The army of Sufiani will be swallowed by a sudden opening of the land between Makka and Medina in the desert of Baida.A revered wise saint will be murdered in Makka.This saint is to be a Hashimite descent.A Seyyid descendant of Imam Hassan (A.S) will emerge with his army. The army of Seyyid-e-Hassan and an image of a man will appear in the sky opposite the sun. There will be two eclipses in the holy month of Ramadhan contrary to the normal order and calculation and the eclipse of the moon. On three occasions a loud voice from the sky will be heard in the holy month of Ramadhan.The ReappearanceHazrat Isa (Jesus) Hazrat Khizr,Hazrat Ilias,and Hazrat Idris (A.S) will give allegiance to the Imam when he re appears.Also Jibrael will announce 313 companions of the Imam.These 313 companions will be people of eminent piety great knowledge and absolutely steadfast in their determination and faith towards the Imam.Another 1000 people will be in the army of the Imam.These people will fight battles and kill enemies like Dajal who will appear from India.Dajal will have the musical tunes with him.Then the Imam will lead the prayers Hazrat Isa (A.S)will be behind him.Let us all pray to Almighty Allah for the reappearance of Imam ALMAHDI (A.S).Amin.?The Imam cried hard then said Verily after Hasan his son is the awaited Imam who is al-qaim bil-haqq He who is supported by the Truth.Musa ibn JAFAR(A.S) Baghdadi said I heard from the Imam Abu Muhammad AL HASSAN IBNE ALI(A.S) the eleventh Imam who said I see that after me differences will appear among you concerning the Imam after me. Whoso accepts the Imams after the Prophet (P.B.U.H) of God but denies my son is like the person who accepts all the prophets but denies the prophet hood of Muhammad, the Prophet (P.B.U.H) of God upon whom be peace and blessing. And whoso denies Muhammad the Prophet (P.B.U.H) of God is like one who has denied all the prophets of God, for to obey the last of us is like obeying the first and to deny the last of us is like denying the first. But beware Verily for my son there is an occultation during which all people will fall into doubt except those whom Allah protects.The opponents of The Followers of AHLULBAIT protest that according to the beliefs of this school the Hidden Imam should by now be nearly twelve centuries old whereas this is impossible for any human being. In answer it must be said that the protest is based only on the unlikelihood of such an occurrence not its impossibility. Of course such a long lifetime or a life of a longer period is unlikely. But those who study the hadiths of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the Imams will see that they refer to this life as one possessing miraculous qualities.Miracles are certainly not impossible nor can they be negated through scientific arguments. It can never be proved that the causes and agents that are functioning in the world are solely those that we see and know and that other causes which we do not know or whose effects and actions we have not seen nor understood do not exist.It is in this way possible that in one or several members of mankind there can be operating certain causes and agents which bestow upon them a very long life of a thousand or several thousand years. Medicine has not even lost hope of discovering a way to achieve very long life spans. In any case such protests from peoples of the Book such as Jews Christians and Muslims are most strange for they accept the miracles of the prophets of God according to their own sacred scriptures..The opponents of The Followers of AHLULBAIT also protest that they considers the Imam necessary in order to expound the injunctions and verities of religion and to guide the people the occultation of the Imam is the negation of this very purpose for an Imam in occultation who cannot be reached by mankind cannot be in any way beneficial or effective. The opponents say that if God wills to bring forth an Imam to reform mankind He is able to create him at the necessary moment and does not need to create him thousands of years earlier. In answer it must be said that such people have not really understood the meaning of the Imam for in the discussion on the Imamate it became clear that the duty of the Imam is not only the formal explanation of the religious sciences and exoteric guidance of the people. In the same way that he has the duty of guiding men outwardly the Imam also bears the function of walayat and the esoteric guidance of men. It is he who directs man's spiritual life and orients the inner aspect of human action toward God Clearly his physical presence or absence has no effect in this matter. The Imam watches over men inwardly and is in communion with the soul and spirit of men even if he be hidden from their physical eyes. His existence is always necessary even if the time has not as yet arrived for his outward appearance and the universal reconstruction that he is to bring about.
GHAIBAT-E-SUGHRA,GHAIBAT-E-SUGHRA means the minor concealment. Its period was about 70 years. It began in 260 A.H. when Imam ALMAHDI (A.S) first went into concealment and ended in 328 A.H.During GHAIBAT-E-SUGHRA the Imam appointed some agents to represent him and the people. The Imam had four agents.After the death of the fourth agent the Imam went into major concealment Ghaibut-ul-Kubra.This was on the 10th Shawal 329 A.H.The Signs Heralding the Reappearance of Imam ALMAHDI (A.S),Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) has said Even if the entire duration of the world’s existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before Doomsday Allah will expand that day to such length of time as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my AHLULBAIT who will be called by name. He will fill out the earth with and justice as it will have been full of injustice and tyranny by thenFrom this Hadith it is clear to every Muslim that the twelfth Imam will reappear when this world is full of sins and injustice.There are many signs mentioned by the MASUMEEN (A.S) on the reappearance of the 12th Imam.It is reported in Biharul Anwar that after the last pilgrimage the Prophet made the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) stood near the Kaba and called his people to listen to him. The Prophet said listen to me carefully so that you transmit these words of mine to those who are absent today. The Prophet began My people a time will come when kings and rulers will be tyrannical. The Prophet also said that the payment of Zakat will be stopped.According to the MASUMEEN (A.S) Muslim countries will seek aid from non Muslim countries. This is already evident in a number of Muslim countries. Another prediction that is come true is that 60 impostors will claim to be Prophets. By their attractiveness their persuasion and their personality they will misguide the people. 58 false Prophets have already emerged since the days of the Prophet (P.B.U.H).We have only two more to witness.It is reported in QAYAMAT-E-SUGHRA citing Oqdatud Durr that Hazrat Amir (A.S) has said that the Mahdi will not appear until one third of the world population will die by being killed and one third will die as a result of epidemics.The Last Signs Heralding the Appearance of Imam ALMAHDI (A.S).There is a Hadith from Imam Muhammed BAQIR (A.S) that for three or seven consecutive days one will see reddish yellow fire raging in the East.Sufiani will emerge in Palestine where he will start a revolt in the month of Rajab.He will be an uncompassionate rebel and his rule will last for eight consecutive months. He will conquer and rule Egypt for four consecutive months.Sufiani will conquer Tunisia, Algeria Morocco Jordan and Syria.Sufiani has been specifically described by Aimma (A.S).as an ugly blistered, green-eyed cross-eyed person who will be an enemy of the friends of the AHLULBAIT.Imam Ali (A.S) has said that Sufiani’s hatred of the devotees of the AHLULBAIT will be such that any person named Ali, Fatema, Hassan, Hussein, Zainab, Ruquaiya will be arrested and beheaded straight away without further investigations. Sufiani will rip the Mimber of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).The holy house of the Prophet which contains his grave will be pulled and used as a stable. Horses will be tied in that Holy place.Sufiani will then decide to attack Makka. His purpose would be to demolish the Holy Kaaba and kill the entire population of Makka.Sufiani’s army will set out via Baghdad but as Allah would have it when they get between Medina and Makka in the desert of Baida suddenly one night they will hear a voice from the sky which will say O Baida eat up the entire army of Sufiani.It is said that the entire army numbering 100,000 persons will be swallowed up by the earth, except for two. The two who will be spared will suddenly encounter an angel.He will slap both of them turning their faces right round, looking behind instead of front. And that will be the time when Imam ALMAHDI(A.S) will already have reappeared in Makka. The Imam will establish his authority in the Holy Mosque at Makka in the Haram.The angel will then order one of them calling him Bashir.O Bashir go straight to Makka into the Haram and inform the Imam that Sufiani’s army has been swallowed up by the land. The other called Nazir will be ordered to go to Sufiani and tell him that the Imam has already appeared.He should proceed straight to Makka and declare allegiance to him.Sufiani will prepare to attack the Imam but will not have enough courage.The Imam will catch Sufiani in Jerusalem and will kill him.Imam ALI (A.S) has said that nine definite signs will precede the emergence of IMAM MAHDI (A.S).These nine signs areDajaal will emerge.A loud voice will be heard from the sky.Sufiani will appear and wage a fierce war. The army of Sufiani will be swallowed by a sudden opening of the land between Makka and Medina in the desert of Baida.A revered wise saint will be murdered in Makka.This saint is to be a Hashimite descent.A Seyyid descendant of Imam Hassan (A.S) will emerge with his army. The army of Seyyid-e-Hassan and an image of a man will appear in the sky opposite the sun. There will be two eclipses in the holy month of Ramadhan contrary to the normal order and calculation and the eclipse of the moon. On three occasions a loud voice from the sky will be heard in the holy month of Ramadhan.The ReappearanceHazrat Isa (Jesus Hazrat Khizr,Hazrat Ilias,and Hazrat Idris (A.S) will give allegiance to the Imam when he re appears. Also Jibrael will announce 313 companions of the Imam.These 313 companions will be people of eminent piety great knowledge and absolutely steadfast in their determination and faith towards the Imam. Another 1000 people will be in the army of the Imam. These people will fight battles and kill enemies like Dajal who will appear from India.Dajal will have the musical tunes with him.Then the Imam will lead the prayers Hazrat Isa (A.S)will be behind him.Let us all pray to Almighty Allah for the reappearance of Imam ALMAHDI (A.S).Amin.