Al Ghayba – Occultation – Excerpt 1

Let us know about our Imam

The religion of Islam and our Holy Imams (a.s) have always emphasised on learning and reading more and more.
Hence we have come up with this concept of listening to a book’s chapter in a summary form, this not only saves time/effort of the listener, but the listener also learns something new in a few minutes. And since acquiring Marefat of our Imam is amongst the purpose of our creation, we shall inshallah be summarising 2 or 3 chapters from the books written about the Master of our Age (atfs) every week.

Every Friday, we will be releasing an audio as well as a written summary, which will be presented within 5 – 7 mins.

We are starting with the book Al Ghaybah written by the great scholar Mohammad bin Ibrahim bin Jafar (an-Nomani)

Introduction to the Book

Name of the book: Al Ghaybah

Name of author: Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Jafar (An Nomani)

His name is included in the list of the early traditionalists of the fourth-century hijri. He was the student of the ‘pillar of Islam’ – Shaikh Yaqub al-Kulayni (r.a), (whose book ‘al-Kafi’ is among the four main books of the Shias) and he (al-Nomani) learnt the subject of ‘Hadith’ under his guidance. He got the honour of noting down the traditions (ahadith) narrated by his teacher and hence he became renowned by the title of ‘al -Kaatib’.
The book ‘Kitabul Ghaybah’ which is commonly known as ‘Ghaybat e Nomani’ contains twenty-six chapters.

Chapter One

This chapter contains 58 traditions and deals with the topic of concealing the secrets of Ahlul Bait (a.s.) from the unworthy people. For instance, the Motezalah who accept the distinction of Ameerul Momeneen (a.s) over all others but at the same time believe that an inferior person can be chosen over a superior person.

Is He then Who guides to truth worthier to be followed, or he who himself does not go aright unless he is guided What then is the matter with you, how do you judge

Surah Yunus : Verse 35

Whether it is the Motazelah or the Ashairah or other enemies of Ahlul Bait (a.s) – all of them are blind and biased. They are not able to distinguish truth from falsehood. Thus it is necessary that we don’t narrate such traditions to these kinds of people. Otherwise, they will go to the extent of refuting and rebelling against Allah, His messenger (sawa) and our Holy Imams (a.s).

Imam Sadiq (a.s) says in one tradition:

Some people consider me as their Imam, but I’m certainly not their leader. May Allah curse them! Because the things that I conceal, they reveal it among the people. I say “so and so” (without taking any names) and they say “certainly Imam was referring to so and so person (they take the name).”

Then Imam (a.s) says,

Certainly, I am the Imam of the one who obeys me.

Al Ghaybah; Chap. 1, H. No 8