Story No. 487 – Hazrat Mehdi (a.s.) and Hazrat Dawood / David (a.s.) [Occultation (Ghaibat) of past prophets]
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.