Gate of Knowledge Foundation

There is divergence of opinions about the date of birth of Sayyida Zainab (sa) / Hazrat Zainab Kubra (sa). Some say it was 5th in the month of Jamadi Al-Awwal of Islamic calendar, and others say it was 1st in the month of Shabaan, in the 6th Hijrah year 625 AD. Sayyida Zainab (sa) is the elder daughter of Imam Ali (as) and Hazrat Fatima Zahra (sa), and eldest granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Ummul Momineen Hazrat Khadijah (sa). She was the third child of the family i.e. she was born after Imam Hussain (as). She is the sister of Imam Hasan (as) and Imam Hussain (as), Sayyid Shabab ul Jannah. Her younger sister is Hazrat Umm-e-Kulsoom (sa).

• Keep prayers to Allah (SWT) for hastening the reappearance, hence it is your victory.
• Rest assured that no one has a special relationship with Allah (SWT). Whoever denies me is not my (follower). The appearance of the Relief (al-Faraj) depends solely upon Allah (SWT); therefore, those who propose a certain time for it are liars. As to the benefit of my existence in Occultation (Ghaibat), it is like the benefit of the sun behind clouds where the eyes do not see. Indeed, my existence is an amnesty for the people of the earth. Pray much to Allah (SWT) to hasten the Relief, for therein also lays the release from your sufferings.

The heat of the sun burned the surface of the desert and made it actually impossible for any living thing to carry on. He missed his caravan and didn’t know the way. Wherever he turned, he saw the endless desert.

He lost his patience because of the great thirst and felt himself somehow on the verge of death. He thought for a while and said to himself: “I must die. Those vultures flying over my head and these ants are all after my dead body. There is no way out and death is irresistible.

Suddenly, he came to himself by the neigh of a horse. Then he gathered all his power to open up his eyes and look at the horizon. Suddenly he saw a handsome young horseman who was coming toward him. He said to himself: “Is it an illusion? Am I dreaming? Is he really coming to help me?”

The horseman approached and gave him a bowl of water. He drank it up and said “What a fine water! How cold and sweet it is! Who are you, O man?!”

You actually rescued me!

The stranger answered: “It is me who shall fill the world with justice. This is me, Allah’s true reason and proof for His servants. I am Allah’s Remainder.”

All at once the man began to tremble. He felt himself as a drop before an ocean of firmness and generosity. The 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) then told him: “Close your eyes!” He closed his eyes and when he opened them upon the Imam’s command, he found himself in front of his missing Caravan. The moment he really came to and looked around to thank 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as), he found that the Imam (May God hasten his glad advent) was gone and disappeared

Imam al-Mahdi (as)A little ten year old girl was accompanying her mother to visit the House of Allah, Holy Kaaba. All the people had white seamless rips (Ehraam) on.

 

Suddenly she found that she had lost her mother. She looked every where but couldn’t see her so she cried: “O mum! O dear mother…”

 

The people were circumambulating (Tawaf) Holy Kaaba and were shouting “Labbaik, Here I am.” So no one could hear her cries.

 

So she said to herself: “O my Allah! What should I do now”? I can neither go back, nor do I know how to circumambulate Holy Kaaba.

 

Once again she went here and there and looked for her mother hopping that she would be able to find her, but it was useless, there were no sign of her at all. She suddenly remembered her aunt who while biding her farewell had told her: “When you reached Holy Kaaba, extend my greetings to my Master, 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as)!”

 

She raised her little hands to the sky and cried out sorrowfully “O Imam al-Mahdi, rescue me. O you, the Expected Imam helps me out.”

 

Suddenly she heard a voice which was calling her by her name.

 

She raised her head and saw a handsome man in Ehraam who was standing before her.

 

Circumambulating Holy KaabaThe stranger said: “little girl rise and circumambulate Holy Kaaba.”

 

The little girl said: “But I do not know how to Circumambulate. Moreover, I can not circumambulate Holy Kaaba alone among this crowd.”

 

The stranger said: “Come with me and act just as I do.” Thus she rose and circumambulated Holy Kaaba along with 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as). When they circumambulated Holy Kaaba for the seventh time the stranger told the girl, “Dear little girl! Your mother and friends are there. So hurry up and join them.”

 

She looked that way. Yes, he was right. Her mother was among the women standing there in with dresses, she recognized her mother at first sight so she turned to the stranger to thank him, but had disappeared.

 

She looked every where, but she could not find him and thus she ran to her mother, embraced her and kissed her face. Her mother said: “Where were you, O my daughter? I was so anxious about you that I was about to give up my hope.”

 

12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as)The little girl quite happily explained whatever had happened to her for her mother. When she finished speaking, her mother took her in her arms and began to cry. She then said: “O my dear daughter! You called your 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) and the Imam helped you. You really met the Expected Imam al-Mahdi (as). O my daughter!”

 

“You mean I have circumambulated Holy Kaaba along with 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as)! I do not believe it!”

 

She suddenly remembered that she had to extend her aunt’s greetings to 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as). Thus she turned to the people who were circumambulating Holy Kaaba and shouted. “O my Master! I beg your pardon! I nearly forgot, my aunt has extended her greetings to you.”

There was a pious man called Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili who was traveling through the desert with a caravan of people, when he got lost. Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili searched and searched for the caravan but could not find them. It became dark as night set in. He was all alone in the hot desert, tired, hungry and frightened. He was about to give up and prepare himself for death when he suddenly saw some water. He went to the water, drank some and then did wudhu (ablution) and offered his Salaat (prayer). After his Salaat he did not have any more strength and lay there waiting for death. All of a sudden he saw a person riding a horse getting closer and closer to him. When the horse rider reached Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili he said Salaam to him and asked him what the matter was. Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili explained that he had lost his caravan and was hungry. Horse rider asked him why he did not eat the melons that were lying beside him. Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili asked the rider not to make fun of him as he had searched all over for food. Horse rider said he was not joking, and ask to look behind him. Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili looked and there were three melons. Horse rider then told him to eat one of them and to take the other two with him and pointed out the direction he was to go in. He also told Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili that at about sunset he would reach a tent and from there he would be guided to his caravan. Then Horse rider disappeared. Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili says that was when he realized that it was our 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as). Syed Muhammad Jabal Amili did as he was told and sure enough the next day at sunset he reached the tent and was directed to his caravan. Conclusion: Although we cannot see our 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as), but he can see us and knows when we are in need of his help and comes to help us

There have been many examples in history, where 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) has guided and helped his followers:

There once lived a great Mujtahid (Muslim Jurist) named Allama Majlisi (a.r.). Once this Mujtahid was asked what to do with the body of a pregnant woman who had died. Should the dead woman be buried as she was or should she be cut open and the child removed, then the woman buried?

Allama Majlisi (a.r.) decided that the woman should be buried as she was, with the child.

When the people were carrying the coffin to the grave, a horseman appeared and said that Allama Majlisi (a.r.) had decided that the baby should be removed, and this was done.

A few years later Allama Majlisi (a.r.) was visited by a man with a small child. The man told Allama Majlisi (a.r.) that this was the same child that had been cut from his mother after Allama Majlisi (a.r.) had sent the horseman telling the people that he had changed his instructions.

Horseman immediately realized that the horseman must have been Imam al-Mahdi (as) who had come to his help, preventing him making a grave mistake.

From that day Allama Majlisi (a.r.) stayed in his house refusing to give anymore advice to the people, in case he made another mistake. In a few days he received a letter from Imam al-Mahdi (as) telling him that he should not worry and should continue to guide the people. If by any chance he made a mistake, Imam al-Mahdi (as) would come to his help and solve the problem.

The duties of each and every Muslim in the time of Ghaibat-e-Kubra (Major Occultaion) is:

1. To be the caretakers of Islam.
2. To pray for the safety of 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) and give Sadaqah for his safety.
3. Ask Allah (SWT) to make 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) appearance soon, so that he may come and fill the world with truth and peace.
4. Whenever the name of 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) is said, you should stand, placing your right hand on your head and bow your head. You should also recite Salawaat after his name.

Conclusion: Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) has said that if someone dies without knowing the Imam (as) of his time, his death is that of an unbeliever. We must therefore carry out our duties to our 12th Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as) who is still alive and in Ghaibat (concealment).

Dear children,

It is now more than 1,170 years since our beloved Imam – Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) has gone into major occultation (Ghaibat-e-Kubra). Ghaibat of Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) is an examination for us. This is because we cannot meet our beloved Imam like the Shias of the earlier times. We can speak to our friends and even our foes, but we cannot speak to Imam (a.t.f.s.). That is why Ghaibat is a difficulty for us, we should pray to Allah (SWT) to remove this calamity with Imam’s (a.t.f.s.) earliest reappearance.

As we must be aware, this book Kamaaluddin was written by the great scholar Sheikh Saduq (a.r.) on the orders of Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) himself. Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) commanded Sheikh Saduq (a.r.) to record the Ghaibat of the previous prophets (a.s.) in the book. In this way Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) wanted the people to know that Ghaibat was a common trait of the previous prophets (a.s.).

Here we shall discuss the Ghaibat of one of Allah’s greatest prophets. This prophet is among the five Ulul Azm prophets. He even has a Surah of Noble Quran named after him. Can you guess his name?

He is Hazrat Ibrahim / Abraham (a.s.), for whom the fire was made cool by Allah (SWT). He was Khalilullah as he was always seeking help only and only from Allah (SWT). However, before Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) could reach that stage he had to remain in Ghaibat for a long period of time due to the evil king of his time Namrood.

Namrood was a wicked king who claimed to be god. He was very powerful and ruled over the entire world. Everyone was afraid of him and did not dare oppose him. Namrood led a very comfortable life without anyone to challenge him. This was until he was informed by a learned person in his kingdom about the birth of a child who would challenge him and finally overcome him. This made Namrood very nervous and he made immediate plans to prevent the birth of the child.

Namrood ordered his men to hunt down infants and small children in his kingdom and kill them all. His men did as they were commanded and began killing all the infants and children in Namrood’s kingdom. Thousands of infants were killed because of Namrood’s fear of that one infant who would finally overcome him.

Yet, Allah (SWT) the Almighty protects whosoever He wants and as a result, Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) was born despite such difficulties. But it was dangerous for his mother to keep Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) in the house as Namrood’s men could come anytime to check upon her. So she took him to a cave at some distance from the city and left him there. In this way Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) was all alone in the cave with no one to care for him.

Although apparently Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) was lonely and helpless in the cave, he wasn’t exactly abandoned. Allah, the Almighty, is not One to desert His special friends in difficulty. So while Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) was in the cave hungry and thirsty, Allah (SWT) arranged food for him in a most amazing manner. The food came in the form of milk from Hazrat Ibrahim’s (a.s.) thumb. Yes! Allah caused milk to flow from Hazrat Ibrahim’s (a.s.) thumb. When a servant relies only on Allah for help, then He never disappoints him.

In the cave, Allah (SWT) caused Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) to grow very fast. So much so that he grew in a day how much other children would grow in a week and he grew in a week how much other children grew in a month and he grew in a month how much other children grew in a year! One day, his mother visited the cave, expecting to see him dead. When she saw a big, handsome, healthy boy she was very surprised and embraced him. She then visited him regularly in the cave. Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) remained in Ghaibat inside the cave, away from the people, for quite some time. His Ghaibat ended when he was big enough for people to consider him as a youth than a boy.

Dear children, this was the interesting incident of Hazrat Ibrahim’s (a.s.) Ghaibat. We learn some very important lessons from it:

1. Ghaibat was common among the previous prophets and Allah (SWT) kept even the Ulul Azm prophets in Ghaibat to protect them from evil kings. So if Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) is in Ghaibat it is not something strange and unbelievable.

2. Allah, the Almighty, never abandons His servants in difficulty. First He helped Hazrat Ibrahim’s (a.s.) mother from Namrood’s men and then He helped Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) himself while he was all alone inside the cave.

3. Allah, the Almighty, is aware of His servants’ needs, like He was aware of Hazrat Ibrahim’s (a.s.) hunger. Therefore, whenever we have any need we should turn only to Allah (SWT) and He will help us, no matter how great our problem may be.

4. The evil kings try their best to harm Allah’s Hujjat, but Allah (SWT) protects them from all evil, while the kings are unaware of it.

5. Ghaibat is a great difficulty for Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) and for us and we should pray for Imam’s (a.t.f.s.) safety and earliest reappearance.

Dear Children,

It is now more than 1,170 years since our beloved Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) went into Ghaibat (occultation). The Shias are unable to contact him like the Shias of the previous era used to meet their Imams (a.s.). Today we face so many problems. If only our beloved Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) was with us, in front of us, he would solve all our problems. That is why we should pray to Allah (SWT) for the earliest reappearance of Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.).

Kamaluddin is the book written by Sheikh Saduq (a.r.) on the command of Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) himself. In this book Sheikh Saduq (a.r.) has recorded several incidents of the past Prophets (a.s.) and their similarities with Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.).

Hazrat Dawood / David (a.s.) was a prophet of Allah (SWT). He behaved very nicely with people and was a very brave man. One day he took his flock of sheep for grazing. Suddenly one lion came and took away one of the sheep. Hazrat Dawood / David (a.s.) chased that lion and captured him. He opened the mouth of the lion and recovered the sheep.

Allah (SWT) revealed a book to Hazrat Dawood / David (a.s.) called ‘Zaboor (Book of Psalms)’. It contains many Duas (supplications). When Hazrat Dawood /David (a.s.) used to pray and glorify Allah (SWT), mountains and birds would join him. He was so strong that Allah (SWT) made iron melt in his hands.

At the time of Hazrat Dawood / David (a.s.) there was an evil king named Jalut (Goliath). Hazrat Dawood / David (a.s.) used to live in another city which was ruled by Talut (Saul). Once there was a war between Talut and Jalut. The army of Talut was very afraid of Jalut and his forces. The brothers and father of Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) once went to fight against Jalut. He (a.s.) said, “I will not go to fight Jalut because he cannot fight against me.” His father and brothers laughed at him and went to the battlefield.

After some time, the food in Talut’s army was over. Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) was asked by his father to carry some food for the army. On his way to the battlefield, Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) passed by a stone. Suddenly the stone started speaking with Allah’s permission,

‘O Dawood, pick me up and kill Jalut with me. Allah (SWT) has created me so that you can kill Jalut with me.’ Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) picked up the stone and went to the battlefield.

On reaching the battlefield Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) was surprised to see that Talut’s army was afraid of Jalut and were trying their best to kill him.

Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) said, ‘Why are you so afraid of Jalut? By Allah (SWT), if I see Jalut I will kill him.’

The people reported this to the king Talut. Talut called Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) and asked him, ‘Why do you think that you are so brave that you can kill Jalut?’ Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) said, ‘One day a lion came and took away one of my sheep in his mouth. I chased the lion, caught him, opened his mouth and recovered the sheep. I have done this many times.’ Allah (SWT) revealed to Talut that the person on whom your armour fits will kill Jalut.

When Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) wore that armor it fitted him perfectly. The king and the people were surprised. Talut said, ‘I hope Allah kills Jalut through Hazrat Dawood (a.s.).’

Next day the war started. Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) saw Jalut in the battlefield. He removed the stone from his pocket and aimed it at Jalut. The stone hit Jalut between the eyes. It cut his head and pierced the brain. He died instantly.

People started shouting joyously, ‘Dawood has killed Jalut’. Soon they made Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) their king.

Dear Children, our beloved Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) has some similarities with Hazrat Dawood (a.s.). Our Imam (a.t.f.s.) will have a standard (Alam).

Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) will carry this standard everywhere. Just like the stone spoke to Hazrat Dawood (a.s.), the standard will announce, ‘O friends of Allah, kill the enemies of Allah!’

Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) will also carry a sword. When the time of his reappearance will draw near, Imam Mahdi’s (a.t.f.s.) sword will begin speaking by Allah’s permission. It will urge Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.), ‘O Allah’s Caliph, rise and fight against the enemies of Allah.’ Then Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) will reappear and fill the world with justice and equity.

We should always pray to Allah (SWT) to hasten the reappearance of Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.). We should pray that Imam (a.t.f.s.) comes soon and establishes a divine government just like Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) became the just ruler over the people.

Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, “Al-Mahdi is from my progeny. His name is the same as my name. And his kuniyat is the same as my kuniyat. In his physique and character he looks exactly like me. He will be in a state of occultation and there will be confusion (Hayra) in which people will wander about (deviate). Then he will come forth like a sharpy shooting star to fill the earth will justice and equity as it was filled before with injustice and inequity.”

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (a.s.) said, “Certainly in the Qaem of the Progeny of Muhammad (saw) is the similarity to five prophets, Yunus bin Mati, Yusuf bin Yaqoob, Musa, Isa and Muhammad, Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.”

Thus, his similarity to Yunus bin Mati (Jonah) is his reappearance after Ghaibat. He looked like a young man in spite of his advanced age.

And, his similarity with Yusuf bin Yaqoob (Joseph) is his Ghaibat (occultation) when he was away from the sight of the general, as well as the special people; due to the fear of his brothers.

His affair was hidden from his father and in such a condition when there was no distance between his father and family and his friends.

And his similarity with Musa (Moses) is persistent fear, and his prolonged Ghaibat and a secret birth, and his return by the permission of Allah (SWT), and his assistance by the people in subduing of the enemy.

And his similarity to Isa (Jesus) is the controversy among the people with regard to him. A group of them says; ‘He is not yet born.’ Another group says, ‘He is dead’ and some say: ‘He was killed and crucified.’

And his similarity with his own grandfather, Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, is his advent with the sword. He shall slay the enemies of Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and the unjust, and the tyrants.”

Imam Sajjad (a.s.) said, “In the Qaem is a similarity to Nuh (Noah) and that is his long life.”

Some question that how Baqiyatallah, Hazrat Imam Mahdi (aj), the 12th Imam of the Shias, Hazrat Imam Mahdi (aj), who was a five year old boy when his father Imam Hassan Al-Askari (as) passed away, can become the Imam of mankind? Is it possible?

First, we must question whether or not in the history of religion, the phenomenon of young leaders has a parallel. Undoubtedly, there is. Noble Quran strikes a number of examples which are worthy of mentioning:

We have the example of Hazrat Isa/Jesus (as) who became prophet and spoke to people when he was a baby in the cradle:

“But she pointed to the baby. They said: ‘How can we talk to one who is a CHILD in the cradle?’ He said: ‘I am indeed a servant of Allah. He HAS GIVEN me Scripture and ASSIGNED me a prophet, and He has made me blessed wherever I be, and has enjoined on me Prayer and Zakat as long as I live.'” (Noble Quran, 19:29-31)

Thus Hazrat Isa/Jesus (as) became prophet and received revelation and Book while he was less than two years old!

Furthermore, in few verses before, Noble Quran mentions the case of Prophet Yahya (John), to whom Allah (SWT) said:

“‘O Yahya! Take hold of the Book with might,’ And We gave him the appointment (of prophethood) in his CHILDHOOD.” (Noble Quran 19:12)

So if a two-year old boy can become a prophet and receives revelation and Scripture, then why cannot a five-year old boy become an Imam?

The third example is Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) who was appointed by Allah (SWT) the heir of his father, Prophet Dawud (David), and became the king of his community while he had not reached the age of puberty.

Have you ever heard of prodigies? They are kids between the ages of four to 18 that exhibit signs of exceptional skills that are usually found in highly qualified adults only. Here are some examples from the modern history:

John Stuart Mill (1806-73), a 19th-century English philosopher and economist, advocated utilitarian reforms in his many writings and as member of Parliament. A child prodigy, Mill had mastered Greek by the age of 7 and studied economics at the age of 13. His works express his social thought with great clarity and thoroughness. (The Bettmann Archive)

The French thinker, mathematician, and scientist Blaise Pascal (1623-62) has been credited not only with imaginative and subtle work in geometry and other branches of mathematics, but with profoundly influencing later generations of theologians and philosophers. A prodigy in mathematics, Pascal had mastered Euclid’s Elements by the age of 12. Pascal invented and sold the first calculating machine (1645).

Wolfgang was the greatest musical child prodigy who ever lived. He began composing minuets at the age of 5 and symphonies at 9.

Beethoven’s own talent was such that at the age of 12 he was already an assistant to the organist Christian Gottlob Neefe, with whom he studied.

Sarah Caldwell, born Maryville, Mo., Mar. 6, 1924, is a conductor and producer. A child prodigy in both mathematics and music, before reaching the age of ten.

While not exhaustive, the list serves the purpose of demonstrating that this phenomenon occurs naturally among normal human beings from all walks of life. Therefore, scientifically speaking, it is quite possible that a child demonstrates abilities that adults can not.

Also religiously speaking anything Allah (SWT) desires will happen no matter how strange. Indeed Allah (SWT) asserts unequivocally in Noble Quran that if He wanted something, all He has to do is to say to it is: “Be! and it will be!”.