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Philosophy of the Delay of Reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (A.S.)
Ayatullah al-Uzma Shaykh Lutfullah as-Safi al-Gulpaygani
QUESTION:
Throughout history, we sometimes come across conditions and opportunities in which it is assumed the requisites for reappearance are present, for example, the people’s receptiveness to religion, self-sacrifice in the path of Islam, giving their lives, and martyrdom for it was to such an extent or with such fervor and commotion that it appears that rather than 313 people, thousands of people are ready to sacrifice their lives under the command of the Imam (peace be upon him). With the existence of these conditions, what is the secret of the delay of the reappearance?
ANSWER:
Regarding the presence of the conditions for the reappearance of the Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his return): First, no one can claim to know with certainty, that is, say that all the conditions are fulfilled, since this claim itself requires knowledge of all the conditions, since it is possible that the traditions have not comprised an exposition of all of the conditions.
Second, assuming that the conditions are limited to those instances that have come in the traditions, as Shaykh al-Saduq has said, in reality one can still not be sure that those particular 313 companions and the remaining conditions are present.
This is because if all of the conditions and circumstances apparently indicate the presence of the requisites of reappearance, without denying, for example, the existence of pure individuals who can be counted among the 313 companions of the Imam (peace be upon him), we also cannot claim that all of the individuals are like Salman, Abu Dhar, Miqdad, Rashid Hijri, and the people of Karbala’.
In the present situation, with all the claims that are put forward in our society for returning to and aspiring at Islam, which are certainly a matter of pride, we still see that many bring the Divine laws under question in a large number of political, economical, and social issues. This is to such an extent that they regard some religious commandments that are not exclusive to a particular time or place as being restricted to the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) time and on this pretext free themselves from responsibility. With the existence of such individuals and events, how can we say that the conditions for reappearance are ready, let alone asking about the reason for it delay?
On this basis, in this issue it is appropriate for us to submit to the command and will of Allah, the All-Knowing, and not forgo the merit of waiting for the reappearance. And as was indicated in the tradition of ‘Ali ibn Mahziyar, we should attribute the concealment of the Imam (peace be upon him) to our own actions and always keep the memory of that personage alive in our hears and try to bring about the requisites of his appearance ever more by reforming our own actions.
The Length of the Occultation and Difficult and Formidable Trials
QUESTION:
According to what is well known, during the occultation of Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), which will be very lengthy, difficult trials will occur such that a person will be a believer in the morning but a disbeliever in the evening. Are these types of trials in the time near the reappearance or will such trials occur throughout the period of occultation?
ANSWER:
According to Islamic principles, the world is a place of tests and trials and people are in a state of being tried during everything that happens to them. During youth and old age, whether wealthy or in need, in health and illness, when in power, when in leadership, they are always in a state of trial; it makes no difference whether the Imam (peace be upon him) is present or in occultation.
The Qur’an says in this regard:
 ÃóÍóÓöÈó ÇáäøóÇÓó Ãóäú íõÊúÑóßõæÇ Ãóäú íóÞõæáõæÇ ÂãóäøóÇ æóåõãú áÇó íõÝúÊóäõæäó 
“Have the people presumed they would be released upon saying, ‘We believe,’ without being tested?” Surah ‘Ankabut (29), Verse 2
As we know, during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) himself, while all of the programs and incidents were a test, sometimes, severe trials would occur, in which none but a few were able to fulfill their obligation. For example, in battle, aside from individuals like ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) and Abu Dujana and a few others, none were able to stand firm in jihad and defense of Islam and the Prophet. This is because during severe trials, only a limited number of people have the ability to stand firm; many an individual would flee out f fear. It has been related that in on the battles ‘Uthman fled from the battlefield and returned after three days. Or after the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) demise, such a severe trial came to pass that not more than three or seven people were able to successfully perform their duty and remain firm on the line that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) had specified. Afterwards as well, such trials continued and shall continue, so that, in the words of the Qur’an:
áöíóãöíÒó ÇáúÎóÈöíËó ãöäó ÇáØøóíøöÈö
“…so that Allah separates the impure from the pure.” Surah Anfal (8), Verse 37
These trials have wisdom and many benefits, among which is that the disposition of the people of the world and society become ready for that dignified reappearance in which the resolute and steadfast believers will be separated from the remaining people. Preserving one’s faith during the period of the Imam’s (peace be upon him) occultation is possible by enduring very severe difficulties. Without doubt, millions of people leave this school of trials with pride and heads held high, that is through patience and forbearance and perseverance in difficulties, they succeed in preserving their religion, faith, and honor.
According to the content of some traditions, during this period protecting one’s religion will become more difficult than holding fire in the palm of one’s hand, and oppression, injustice, corruption, and perversion will become prevalent. Values will be regarded as being against values, and things opposed to values will be regarded as values. Sins will be considered a matter of pride and accomplishment. One’s friends will encourage and induce him to sin and reproach him for not cooperating with oppressors, sinners, and corrupt people.
Women will enter into work exclusive to men. Many wars and natural afflictions will come about. In a tradition of Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari regarding the commentary of the verse:
ÃóØöíÚõæÇ Çááåó æóÃóØöíÚõæÇ ÇáÑøóÓõæáó æóÃõæáöí ÇáÃóãúÑö ãöäúßõãú
“(O you who believe Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you (the legatees of the Messenger).” Surah an-Nisa’ (4), Verse 59
It has come that the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him and his family) gives news about his khulafa’ and successors from Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him) until Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), names them one after one and gives tidings to the people about the conquering of the East and West of the world at the blessed hands of Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return), and says, inter alia:
" ÐóÇáóßó ÇáøóÐöí íõÛöíÈõ Úóäú ÔöíÚóÊöåö æóÃóæúáöíóÇÆöåö ÛóíúÈóÉð áÇó íõËúÈöÊõ ÝöíåóÇ Úóáóì ÇáúÞóæúáö ÈöÅöãóÇãóÊöåö ÅöáÇøó ãóäö ÇãúÊóÍóäó Çááåõ ÞóáúÈóåõ áöáÅöíãóÇäö ."
“He is the one who will be concealed from his Shi‘a and friends such a concealment that none shall remain firm in belief in his Imamah except one whose heart Allah has tested for faith.” (A’lam al-Wara, Page 397)
And Amir al-Mu’minin has also informed about these difficulties and tribulations in Nahj al-Balagha. In one instance, he says;
ãóÇ ÃóØúæóáó åóÐóÇ ÇáÚöäóÇÁö æóÃóÈúÚóÏó åóÐóÇ ÇáÑøóÌóÇÁö .
“How lengthy is this adversity, and how distant is this hope!” (Nahj al-Balagha, Subhi as-Salih, Speech 187, Part 4)
It has even been related, in another tradition, that:
Åöäøó áöóÇÍöÈö åóÐóÇ ÇáÃóãúÑö ÛóíúÈóÉð ÇóáúãõÊóãóÓøößõ ÝöíåóÇ ÈöÏöíäöåö ßóÇáúÎóÇÑóØö áöáúÞöÊóÇÏö .
“Verily the Master of this Affair has a such a concealment that one who grips firmly to his religion during it is like one who picks thorns with his hands.” (Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 52, Page 111, hadith 21.)
Therefore, as can be understood from the traditions, the entire period of concealment is a period of trial and examination; of course, the types of those trials are different in the different times and places. The believer during this period must show perseverance in abiding by the commandments of religion and struggling to elevate the word of Islam and honor of the Muslims and to repel the influence and cultural and political domination of foreigners. He must be in combat and jihad with all negative and unhelpful circumstances and conditions and be hopeful of the victory of Islam and the Muslims and the succor of Allah. He must not lose hold of himself in face of the power and strength of the disbelievers or become inclined towards their improper behavior. And at the same time he must have certainty that the promises of Allah and the Prophet of Allah are true and that eventually Islam will be victorious and conquer the world, as a result of which justice and equity shall fill the world.
The Principle of Grace and the Imamah of the Concealed Imam
QUESTION:
Has the “principle of grace” been derived from the traditions and narrations of the Ahl al-Bait (peace be upon them) or has it entered Shi‘a kalam (theology) through the contact of the Shi‘a with the Mu‘tazila? And what is the method of applying this principle with the existence of the concealed Imam?
ANSWER:
Since the Shi‘a have many proofs regarding the principle of Imamah aside from the principle of grace, with the existence of those proofs, if the principle of grace is relied upon, it is for the purpose of supporting the proofs.
As for the contact of the Shi‘a with the Mu‘tazila, who are sometimes referred to as the adliyya (Equitists) as opposed to the Asha‘ira, it should be known that though the Mu‘tazila, a sect that splintered off from the Asha‘ira and came into being after the Shi‘a, were in agreement with the Shi‘a over some beliefs and theological issues, this is not proof of their affecting the Shi‘a school. Rather, it is instead proof of their being affected by Shi‘a beliefs, since the Asha‘ira are a sect that came into being later on. Moreover, as was mentioned, all of the Shi‘a beliefs are taken from reason, the Glorious Qur’an, and traditions of the Ahl al-Bait (peace be upon them). The principle of grace is also from the Shi‘a themselves and is derived from those very sources and origin.
It is in a tradition that Jabir asked the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) about the benefit of the existence of a concealed Imam and the way of deriving benefit from his existence during the concealment. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said in reply,
Ãóíú æóÇáøóÐöí ÈóÚóËóäöí ÈöÇáäøõÈøõæóÉö! Åöäøóåõãú íóäúÊóÝöÚõæäó Èöåö æóíóÓúÊóÖúíöÆõæäó ÈöäõæÑö æöáÇóíóÊöåö Ýöí ÛóíúÈóÊöåö ßóÇäöÊúÝóÇÚö ÇáäøóÇÓö ÈöÇáÔøóãúÓö æóÅöäú ÌóáøóáóåóÇ ÇáÓøóÍøóÇÈö .
“Yes, by the One who sent me with the prophecy! Verily they benefit from him and seek light from the illumination of his wilayah (authority) during his concealment just as people benefit from the sun though it has been covered by clouds.” (al-Zam al-Nasib, Volume 1, Page 429)
To negate in entirety that the existence of a concealed Imam is lutf (grace) is not proper for a rational person who is unaware of unseen affairs. After the Imamah itself and his concealment are established, certainty of the existence of grace and presence of a benefit in his existence is necessary, since if the appointment of an Imam who has been commanded to go into concealment does not entail grace, it is futile and vain; and Allah is far above vain and futile actions. Therefore, the appointment of a concealed Imam by Allah certainly entails lutf (grace).
Granted, if we wish to establish both the necessity of appointment of an Imam and the Imamah of a concealed person through the principle of grace, the objection arises that it must first be known that the concealed Imam entails grace. Otherwise, without knowledge of its being grace, his Imamah will not be established. However, we establish the necessity of appointment of an Imam through the principle of grace and the Imamah of the concealed Imam through other firm proofs, and by joining these two proofs to the fact that Allah does not do anything in vain, it is established that the Imamah of the concealed Imam entails grace. The statement of al-Muhaqqiq al-Tusi, who says;
æõÌõæÏöåö áõØúÝñ æóÊóúÑöÝõåõ áõØúÝñ ÂÎöÑó æóÚóÏóãõåõ ãöäøóÇ .
is based on the principle that the existence of the Imam is grace absolutely, whether manifest or hidden. And this is a principle that has been established in accordance with the speech of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him), who says:
áóÆóáøóÇ ÊõÈúØöáõ ÍõÌóÌö Çááåö æóÈóíøöäóÇÊöåö .
The Divine proofs and signs are protected by the existence of the Imam, whether he be present or concealed.
It is worthy of mention that if the objection of the absence of grace with regard to the concealed Imam be valid, it is also applicable to an Imam who is not concealed, yet who is not able to act freely in affairs. His Imamah will be without grace for the same reason that the Imamah of the concealed Imam is regarded as being without grace. However, this objection has not been made with regard to the manifest Imam who is not able to freely act in the affairs and tasks pertaining to Imamah. Similarly, it has not been made regarding a prophet who, due to circumstances, is unable to guide others or whose guidance is not effective, or a prophet whose mission was general, but opponents and adversaries prevented his message from reaching the entire public, and it has not been denied that his prophecy entails grace.
It is possible to establish a rational proof of the Imamah of the concealed Imam (peace be upon him) with the exposition that appointment and specification of the Imam by Allah is grace, and grace is obligatory upon Allah. Therefore, Allah has appointed someone to Imamah after Imam Hasan al-‘Askari (peace be upon him), and that person will not be other than his son, since the incapacity and invalidity of the other claimants to Imamah has been established and at present, no one has such a claim. Thus, either Allah has withheld grace to His servants during the period of concealment, which is opposed to Divine wisdom, or He has appointed an Imam out of grace, in which case the Imam is none other than the twelfth Imam.
The Issue of Bada’ (Alteration in the Divine Will) and the Tradition of Abu Hamza
QUESTION:
A tradition has been narrated by Abu Hamza Thumali from Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) according to which Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) said that relief will come after the 70th year after Hijra, but because of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) the affair was delayed until the year 140 after Hijra. Then, because the Shi‘a did not protect the secret, Allah once again delayed the affair such that He did not place any time for it in the knowledge of the Imams.
Please explain the commentary of this tradition along with the many other traditions that indicate that the promised relief shall occur after long periods and following great events and happenings. And doesn’t the occurrence of bada’, which is understood from this tradition, cause the presumption that something became known for Allah—we seek refuge with Allah—after it had been unknown? In any case, what is the correct explanation?
ANSWER:
First: This tradition has objections in its chain of narrators, since according to books of rijal, Abu Hamza al-Thumali did not belong to the fourth generation of narrators; his demise occurred in the year 150 A.H. Hasan ibn Mahbub, who according to the chain of narrators narrated this tradition from Abu Hamza, is from the sixth generation, and passed away at the age of 75 years in the year 224 A.H. Thus, Hasan ibn Mahbub was not more than one year old when Abu Hamza passed away. In such a case it is absolutely not possible for him to narrate from Abu Hamza, and without doubt another individual was an intermediary between him and Abu Hamza. However, since it is not known who that person is, we cannot regard this tradition as reliable; moreover, a tradition narrated by only one person cannot be an authority in doctrinal principles, let alone when its chain of narrators is also unknown.
Second: With the existence of many reliable traditions that all explicitly indicate that the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return) and the just government of the righteous shall not come to pass that quickly and that one must await magnificent changes and grave events over very long periods before his reappearance, how can a forged tradition with only one chain of narrators be relied upon in the face of all those traditions? Moreover, many sermons and traditions have been related from Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) in which both the length of the period during which one must await the reappearance and the great events and severe trials of the believers have been referred to. With the existence of this, how is it possible to say that a singly-narrated, forged traditions that says that the Imam specified the time of reappearance as the year 70 A.H. is reliable.
In addition, alteration in Divine decrees is a conceivable matter, though this does not mean that Allah the Exalted is unaware of affairs in the beginning and then acquires knowledge of them. Such a belief is invalid according to the Shi‘a, since all Shi‘a believe Allah to be free and far removed from ignorance coming to know about something after its being concealed. Bada’, in the conception which the Shi‘a believe in, is a Qur’anic and Islamic principle, and an important part of the issues of theology and similarly the issues of prophecy are based on it.
Among the verses related to bada’ are;
æóáóæú Ãóäøó Çóåúáó ÇáÞõÑì ÂãóäõæÇ æóÇÊøóÞóæÇ áóÝóÊóÍúäóÇ Úóáóíúåöãú ÈóÑóßóÇÊö ãøöäó ÇáÓøóãóÇÁö æóÇáÃóÑúÖö æóáóßöäó ßóÐøóÈõæÇ ÝóÃóÎóÐúäóÇåõãú ÈöãóÇ ßóÇäõæÇ íóßúÓöÈõæäó
“Were the inhabitants of the cities to believe and adopt piety, We would open them blessings from the sky and the earth; yet they denied (the truth), so We requited them what they had earned.” Surah A’araf (7), Verse 96
ÙóåóÑó ÇáúÝóÓóÇÏõ Ýöí ÇáúÈóÑøö æóÇáúÈóÍúÑö ÈöãóÇ ßóÓóÈóÊú ÃóíöÏöí ÇáäøóÇÓö
“Corruption has manifested in the land and in the sea on account of what the hands of the people have earned.” Surah Rum (30), Verse 41
æóÞóÇáó ÑóÈøõßõãú ÇõÏúÚõæäöí ÃóÓúÊóÌöÈú áóßõãú
“Your Lord has said, Call on Me that I may answer you.” Surah Ghafir (40), Verse 60
ÇóÓúÊóÛúÝöÑõæÇ ÑóÈøóßõãú Åöäøóåõ ßóÇäó ÛóÝøóÇÑÇð íõÑúÓöáõ ÇáÓøóãóÇÁó Úóáóíúßõãú ãöÏúÑóÇÑÇð
“Seek forgiveness from your Lord, since He is Ever-Forgiving; He constantly sends rain upon you from the sky.” Surah Nuh (71), Verse 10, 11
æóæóÇÚóÏúäóÇ ãõæúÓóì ËóáóËöíäó áóíúáóÉð æóÃóÊúãóãúäóÇåóÇ ÈöÚóÔúÑò
“We covenanted Musa thirty nights, then completed them with ten (nights more).” Surah A’raf (7), Verse 142
ÝóáóæúáÇó ßóÇäóÊú ÞóÑúíóÉò ÂãóäóÊú ÝóäóÝúÚöåóÇ ÅöíúãóÇäõåóÇ ÅöáÇøó Þóæúãõ íõæúäõÓò áóãøóÇ ÂãóäõæÇ ßóÔóÝúäóÇ Úóäúåõãú ÚóÐóÇÈó ÇáúÎöÒúíö Ýöí ÇáúÍóíóÇÉö ÇáÏøõäúíóÇ æóãóÊóÚúäóÇåõãú Åöáì Íöíóä
“So why did not one of the cities believe that its belief might benefit it except the people of Yunus; when they believed we remove from them the debasing punishment in this world and cause them to enjoy until a specified time.” Surah Yunus (10), Verse 98
áóÆöäú ÔóßóÑúÊõãú áÃóÒöíÏöäøóßõãú
“Verily, if you be grateful, I shall increase you (in blessings).” Surah Ibrahim (14), Verse 7
æóãóäú íóÊøóÞö Çááåó íóÌúÚóáú áóåõ ãóÎúÑóÌÇð æóíóÑúÒõÞúåõ ãöäú ÍóíúËõ áÇó íóÍúÊóÓöÈõ
“Whoever adopts piety with regard to Allah, He creates for him an escape (from difficulty) and grants him sustenance whence he does not expect.” Surah Talaq (65), Verse 2, 3
ÐóÇáößó ÈöÃóäøó Çááåó áóãú íóßõ ãõÛóíøöÑÇð äöÚúãóÉò ÃóäúÚóãóåóÇ Úóáóì Þóæúãò ÍóÊøóì íõÛóíøöÑõæÇ ãóÇ ÈöÃóäúÝõÓöåöã
“That is because Allah does not change any blessing He had granted unto a people until they change what is in themselves.” Surah Anfal (8), Verse 53
The bada’ that the Shi‘a believe in, along with belief in the absolute knowledge and power of Allah, is a concept that is understood from such verses. For example, in them it is said that gratitude causes blessings from Allah to increase; Allah delivers a pious person from hardships by virtue of piety (taqwa) and sustains him from an unexpected source; He fulfills needs through prayer; on account of repentance and faith, He distances people from punishment; and because of misuse of blessings, He removes them from people.
Of course, abundant traditions that have been narrated by Shi‘a and Sunnis and similarly manifold stories which have been related in original Islamic sources indicate this point. In fact, if bada’ were not to exist, many religious concepts, such as prayer, reliance on Allah, repentance, charity, kindness towards relatives, gratitude, seeking forgiveness, admonition, granting tidings, and threatening, will be impossible to explain. Bada’ means belief in the effect of these affairs in the life of a person.
Whether we are able to explain bada’ in view of Allah’s absolute knowledge and cognizance of all affairs or are unable to understand its secret and reality, in any case we must believe in the issue of bada’ in accordance with the content of manifold verses of Qur’an and mutawatir traditions.
This is because sometimes, though all the factors and preliminaries for the occurrence of something are present, other factors strip them of their effect and as a result prevent that thing from occurring. In such a case, the existence of those factors, their continuation, and the factors that strip them of their effect are all preserved in the Umm al-Kitab by Divine decree in accordance with the order and arrangement He has specified. Those affairs are also linked to people’s actions by choice, they occur through the will of Allah and His decree. That is, neither compulsion (jabr) is involved, nor delegation (tafwid); rather it is a reality between the two:
áÇó ÌóÈúÑó æóáÇó ÊóÝúæöíÖó Èóáú ÃóãúÑó Èóíúäó ÇáÃóãúÑóíäö .
“Neither compulsion (jabr) nor delegation (tafwid), but a matter between the two ideas.” (Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 4, Page 197)
As an example, Allah has decreed that fire should burn or that every created being should develop in its particular course, and if an obstacle comes about, that thing will not exist. Of course, it should be kept in mind that in matters pertaining to matter, if an obstacle to their coming about blocks the causes of an event, this is not called bada’. Only in instances when things like charity, kindness to family, and prayer influence the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an affair such that humanity considers its existence or non-existence definite from the point of view of apparent causes and then the opposite occurs, that is called bada’.
This is though apparently this instance does not have much difference from the previous instance except that the object of effacement and affirmation in the first issue was observable matters and able to be perceived by most or all people, but in the second issue it is non-observable matters; thus, most individuals are unable to perceive it. The second type indicates the existence and influence of the unseen world and the existence of Allah more than the first, though all affairs are from Him.
In summary, the concept of bada’ is the same concept that is well understood from this verse of Qur’an in which Allah the Exalted refutes the false belief of the Jews:
æóÞóÇáóÊö ÇáúíóåõæÏõ íóÏõ Çááåö ãóÛúáõæúáóÉð ÛõáøóÊú ÃóíúÏöíåöãö æóáõÚöäõæÇ ÈöãóÇ ÞóÇáõæÇ Èóáú íóÏóÇåõ ãóÈúÓõæØóÊóÇäö íõäúÝöÞõ ßóíúÝó íóÔóÇÁõ
“And the Jews said, Allah’s hand is fettered, may their hands be fettered and they be cursed on account of what they said. Rather His hands are outspread; He bestows howsoever He wishes.” Surah Ma’idah (5), Verse 64
Thus bada’ in its correct meaning is the negation of this erroneous belief of the Jews, who say that Allah’s hand is fettered from acting in affairs. In other words, bada’ means that Allah’s hands are extended and His absolute power is unlimited, without this having any conflict with His absolute knowledge.
In other words, the reality of bada’, with its correct meaning such that it is compatible with Allah’s absolute knowledge, in accordance with His freedom from all forms of ignorance, and opposed to the erroneous view of the Jews and all other deniers of the issue of bada’ who view Allah’s power as limited, must be explained thus: According to Divine decree, everything has particular effects, and things take place in accordance with those effects in conformance to Divine Will.
In other words, it is a Divine decree that, for example, fire should burn, but the realization of this characteristic—its occurrence—is pursuant to Divine Will. In addition, there are a number of unseen causes, such as reliance on Allah, charity, and prayer—which are not common material affairs—all of which have a peculiar effect. In the stage of action, whichever of those material or non-material causes—apparent or unseen—is stronger will be effective in the occurrence of affairs, and its entailed result will come about. For example, in many cases, in spite of the existence of barriers, kindness to relatives, which has been decreed as a factor in lengthening one’s life overcomes all other factors and as a result a person’s life is lengthened. Thus, it has come in a tradition:
öáøóÉõ ÇáÑøóÍúãö ÊõÒöíÏõ Ýöí ÇáúÚõãúÑö æóÊõÏúÝóÚõ ãöíúÊóÉó ÇáÓøõæúÁö .
“Kindness to relatives lengthens the life and repels the difficulties of death” (Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 77, Page 172)
The summary of the reality of bada’ is that causes and factors are not limited to material causes. Rather, in addition to material causes, there are also non-material causes in accordance with Divine decree.
On this basis, one must have faith both in unseen causes and in Divine Will and that:
ßõáøõ íóæúãò åõæó Ýöí ÔóÃúäö
“Every day He is in a state [of glory]” Surah al-Rahman (55), Verse 29
and the continuance of His acting in sustaining, curing, guiding, and so forth. Without Allah’s will, nothing can produce an effect, though we are unable to fathom the details of these Divine matters and their connection to one another.
It is possible that the meaning of “effacement” in bada’ is the effacement of these decrees by other decrees, such as the effacement of the effect of illness and being cured by medicine or prayer, which takes place by the will of Allah. The decree and effect of the illness is also by Divine will, just as we see that in material and apparent causes and effects a particular factor prevented a person from falling into the ocean or from a high place or prevented the occurrence of an accident or collision. And sometimes this change is effaced or affirmed by the influence of unseen causes.
Perhaps the meaning is that decrees are not definite; it is only through the will of Allah that these decrees are effaced or affirmed, and without that no decree comes to fruition. And the meaning of:
æóÚöäúÏóåõ Ãõãøõ ÇáúßöÊóÇÈö
“And with Him is the ‘Mother of the Book’ Surah Ra’d (13), Verse 39
is that all relations and decrees are in the “Mother of the Book,” or that whatever takes place does not take place in contradiction to it, and everything is in the “Mother of the Book.”
In any case, bada’ has an intelligible and logical meaning and it can’t be said to mean the uncovering of a matter hidden from or unknown by Allah. The purpose of explaining bada’ in terms of each of the mentioned explanations is so that by understanding these realities people’s attention to Allah increase and so that they do not forget Him in any circumstances or rely only on apparent and ordinary means in their affairs. And even when those means are present they should still consider themselves in need of Allah’s attention, and when those means are not present, they should not become hopeless; Allah may very well bring about that matter through other means.
In short, unlike the Jews, he should not consider Allah’s hands to be tied, and should believe in the great truth of Divine unity that:
Þõáö Çáøóáåõãøó ãóÇáößõ Çáúãõáúßö ÊõÄúÊöí Çáúãõáúßó ãóäú ÊóÔóÇÁõ æóÊõäúÒöÚõ Çáúãõáúßó ãöãøóäú ÊóÔóÇÁõ æóÊõÚöÒøõ ãóäú ÊóÔóÇÁõ æóÊõÐöáøõ ãóäú ÊóÔóÇÁõ ÈöíóÏößó ÇáúÎóíúÑó Åöäøóßó Úóáóì ßõáøö ÔóíÁò ÞóÏöíÑö .
“Say: O’ Allah, Master of the Kingdom, You grant the kingdom to whomsoever You please and remove it from whomsoever You please; You make mighty whomsoever You please and debase whomsoever You please. All good lies in Your hand; verily You have power over all things.” Surah Ali-Imran (3), Verse 26
As a matter of principle, without such a conviction, the development of humanity and their traveling the worlds of cognizance and true advancement and ascension to celestial positions is not possible. This is a reality that also has a basis in human nature, and even if he denies the issue of bada’ with his tongue, he admits it with his conscience. Thus, in situations of danger, he supplicates to Allah to repel them and takes recourse to His most beautiful names, like the Sustainer, the Healer, the Sufficient, the Protector, all of which make sense through belief in bada’.
And as Allah says in the Qur’an:
Þõáú ÃóÑóÃóíúÊóßõãú Åöäú ÃóÊóÇßõãú ÚóÐóÇÈó ááåö Ãóæú ÃóÊóÊúßõãö ÇáÓøóÇÚóÉó ÃóÛóíúÑó Çááåö ÊóÏúÚõæäó Åöäú ßõäúÊõãú óÇÏöÞöíäó Èóáú ÅöíøóÇåõ ÊóÏúÚõæäó .
“Say: Do you think that if Allah’s punishment come to you or the Hour (of Resurrection) come, that you will call upon other than Allah, if you be truthful; rather Him alone will you call.” Surah Anam (6), Verse 40
Based on this importance which belief in bada’ has in worshipping Allah and paying attention to Him, it has come in Shi‘a traditions that:
ãóÇ ÚõÈöÏó Çááåó ÈöÔóíúÁò ãöËúáõ ÇáúÈóÏóÇÁö
“Allah has not been worshipped by anything like belief in bada’” (Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 4, Page 107, hadith 19)
In summary, the issue of bada’, no matter how it is explained, does not contradict Allah’s absolute knowledge. That is, just as He is “All-Knowing,” He is also “All-Powerful.”
Two objections have been raised regarding the issue of bada’.
First Objection:
The first objection is from the believers in predetermination, who say that when Allah has knowledge with respect to something, it is impossible for His knowledge to be in disagreement with the thing that is known. Thus, the meaning of “Every day He is in a state of glory” is that every day and every instant whatever Allah’s knowledge is associated to occurs; He creates and sustains and withholds. All actions are from Him, and nothing occurs that is outside the range of His knowledge. In fact, outside the limits of His knowledge, no action is possible. Similarly, it is obligatory for all events to which His knowledge is associated to take place, since for such actions not to take place entails His being ignorant, while The Divine Essence is pure of all forms of ignorance, defect, and fault. From this they raise the objection of Allah—as well as His creation—being compelled.
Of course, this objection is rejected by referring to one’s reason, since every individual clearly and unambiguously sees himself as free in his actions. In reality, this is a form of objection with respect to obvious matters, just like if someone doubts whether fire burns or makes hot.
Another answer to this objection is that first of all, it doesn’t disprove the issue of bada even if it is valid, since if one believes in predetermination and denies free will, effacement and affirmation, which are among Allah’s actions, will in the end occur either by compellation or free will, like all other actions.
In other words, a person who believes in predetermination cannot negate effacement and affirmation with this objection; he can only say that the occurrence of effacement and affirmation, which are both Divine actions, is necessary and certain.
Second, the correct answer to the objection itself is that effacement and affirmation are both uncompelled Divine actions, and like all other Divine actions take place through free will; and “Allah’s knowledge of their occurrence through free will” cannot negate their being uncompelled. Otherwise, it would entail knowledge influencing the thing that is known, which is impossible. Similarly, with regard to the actions of people, Allah has knowledge that they will occur through free will. Such knowledge does not negate the person’s free will. It appears that the sage Muhaqqiq al-Tusi refers to this asnswer when he says (in the form of a poetical couplet) in answer to Khayyam:
To term the timeless Divine knowledge the cause of disobedience
Is, among those possessed of reason, out of extreme ignorance
That is, knowledge of the performance of actions by individuals possessing free will does not contradict the uncompelled nature of those actions.
Second Objection:
How can the prophecies of the Prophets and Divine friends regarding unseen future events, especially the prophecies of the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him and his family) and the pure Imams (peace be upon them) be explained and justified if bada’ is possible with regard to them? That is, how have they given information with certainty about so many future events without taking into account the possibility of bada’ with respect to those prophecies?
ANSWER: The possibility of occurrence of bada’ and its occurrence in some instances does not mean that it occurs in all instances. Thus, the prophecies of those personages, whose knowledge was grounded in Allah’s knowledge and teaching and inspiration, indicates that bada’ will not occur, and is not in contradiction with the possibility of bada’.
The objection may also be worded in a different way: according to some traditions, in some instances the reports of the prophets and Imams (peace be upon them) did not come to pass, and the reason for that has been mentioned as bada’ or other factors. And this entails having informed about something that is untrue and being accused of lying, and causes a weakening of the position of prophecy and vicgerency.
In addition, the prophet or vicegerent who makes the prophecy either knows about the occurrence of bada’ or doesn’t know about it. In the first case, it is obvious that announcing with certainty the occurrence of an event that will not occur even though the announcer knows that it will not occur constitutes a lie. And the position of the prophets is far removed from that.
In the second case as well, announcing with certainty the occurrence of an event that may or may not occur because of the possibility of bada’, if not a lie, does not much befit the position of prophecy or Imamah.
ANSWER: First, according to reliable traditions, the knowledge and awareness of unseen matters that Allah grants to the prophet or his successor and commands him to announce belongs to the definite affairs in which there is no bada’. For example, the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) prophecy about ‘Ammar being killed at the hands of the rebellious party, about the martyrdom of Amir al-Mu’minin and Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) and the remaining tragedies to befall the Ahl al-Bait (peace be upon them), or about Fatimah (peace be upon her) being the first of the Ahl al-Bait to meet him, all are definite matters not subject to bada’. The same is true about the prophecy that Islam shall subdue the world, that Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return) will appear at the end of time and the explanation of his qualities and characteristics, and tens of other undeniable prophecies. Similarly, the reports about the unseen given by Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him), much of which the Ahl al-Sunnat have also narrated, and the reports of the remaining Imams (peace be upon them) about unseen affairs are not subject to bada’, or more correctly, bada’ will not take place in these matters, or else those personages would not have given information about them.
The traditions which mention the existence of bada’ in their reports of the unseen are either very rare or contain a weak chain of narration, or else their indication of such a point is incomplete. Take for example the same tradition of Abu Hamzah which was discussed earlier.
If there is a sahih (sound) tradition in this regard, it is the tradition of Amr ibn Hamq from Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) which says, I had the honor of coming to the presence of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) when he had been struck with the fatal blow; he (peace be upon him) said, O’ Amr, I shall part from you… until the year 70, calamities will take place; he repeated this statement thrice.
I said, O’ Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him), you said that calamities will occur until the year 70; is there deliverance after that year?
He said, Yes, Amr. After every trial there is deliverance and ease.
íóãúÍõæ Çááåó ãóÇ íóÔóÇÁõ æóíõËúÈöÊõ æóÚöäúÏóåõ Ãõãøõ ÇáúßöÊóÇÈö
“Allah effaces whatsoever He pleases and affirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.” Surah Ra’d (13), Verse 39 [Tafsir al-‘Ayashi, Volume 2, Page 217, hadith 68]
This tradition does not prophesy the appearance and uprising of the Imam of the Time (may Allah hasten his return); rather it gives information about a Divine custom,
Åöäøó ãóÚó ÇáúÚõÓúÑö íõÓúÑÇð
“Verily with difficulty is ease.” Surah Inshirah (94), Verse 6
At the same time, it mentions the point that this deliverance will come to be in the case that bada’ does not occur. In reality, the Imam, by reciting the verse “Allah effaces whatsoever He pleases and affirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book” wanted to say that this matter is not definite; it may very well be that bada’ will occur and prevent it from occurring.
Belief in the Return (Raj’ah) with respect to Belief in the Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return)
QUESTION:
According to many traditions, at the end of time a number of the deceased Imams (peace be upon them) as well as others will return to this world. Is belief in the concealment of the twelfth Imam (may Allah hasten his return) and his reappearance in accordance with belief in the return (raj’ah)? In other words, does the belief in concealment and reappearance include the return and all other events that will occur before the Day of Judgment, or is it an independent belief separate from the return?
ANSWER:
Belief in the appearance of the Mahdi and Savior from the Ahl al-Bait and progeny of Fatimah (peace be upon her) is a widespread and collective belief of the Muslims and is not exclusive to the Shi‘a. Though the Shi‘a also specify his identity in terms of lineage and characteristics, the belief itself is universal, and its tidings have been given in previous religions in the Tawrat and Zabur as well. And according to the principles of the Twelver Shi‘a school, without belief in it, one’s faith is incomplete, and the acceptance of one’s actions is dependent on accepting it. One who dies without believing in this issue or who does not recognize the twelfth Imam (may our souls be his ransom) as the Imam has died the death of ignorance according to the judgment of the prophetic tradition:
ãóäú ãóÇÊó æóáóãú íóÚúÑöÝú ÅöãóÇãö ÒóãóÇäöåö ãóÇÊó ãöíúÊóÉð ÌóÇåöáöíøóÉò .
“Whoever dies without recognizing the Imam of his time dies the death of the Age of Ignorance.” Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 8, Page 368
This belief, in terms of influence and importance, is at this level.
Belief in the return as well, though it is rooted in the Qur’an and traditions, is not such that the issue of concealment and reappearance not be explainable without it.
Thus, the principle of Imamah and the issue of the Mahdi has been discussed in books even without mention of the issue of the return.
Still, it must be mentioned that the issue of raj’ah and the return of the deceased itself is an Islamic issue and its occurrence in previous times is confirmed on the basis of numerous verses of the Qur’an. When this is the case, since it has had a parallel in the past, the possibility of its reoccurrence at the end of time cannot be denied.
When the return of the deceased has occurred in past ummah (communities), according to well-known tradition famous among the Ahl al-Sunnat, they must consider it possible in this ummah as well:
áöÊóÓúáõßúäó ÓõÈõáó ãóäú ßóÇäó ÞóÈúáößõãú ÍóÐõæÇ ÇáäóÚúáó ÈöÇáäóÚúáó æóÇáÞóÐúÉó ÈöÇáúÞóÐúÉö ÍóÊøóì áóæú Ãóäú ÃóÍóÏõåõãú ÏóÎóáó ÍóÌúÑó ÖóÈøó áóÏóÎóáúÊõãõæåõ .
“Verily you will follow the path of those before you…” (Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 21, Page 257)
Thus, the denial of its possibility in this ummah by non-Shias is incorrect according to the meaning of this tradition.
In the end, while overlooking the verses that mention the occurrence of raj’ah in previous ummahs, for the sake of blessings and grace we mention one verse that bears witness to its occurrence in this Nation:
æóíóæúãó äóÍúÔõÑõ ãöäú ßõáøö ÃõãøóÉò ÝóæúÌÇð ãöãøóäú íõßóÐøöÈõ ÈöÂíóÇÊöäóÇ Ýóåõãú íõæúÒóÚõæäó
“And (remember) the day when We shall gather from every community a group of those who gave the lie to Our signs, so they will meet one another.” Surah Naml (27), Verse 83
This verse indicates a day when from every ummat a group of people will be gathered who gave the lie to the Divine signs, which naturally is a day other than the Day of Judgment.
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