Ghaibat – IN THE LIGHT OF QURAN
Numerous ayats of the Holy Quran mention about the Ghaibat of previous Prophets (a.s.) as well as Imam-e-Zamana (a.s.).
Holy Quran itself says:
وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
And with Him are the keys of the unseen treasures — none knows them but He; and He knows what is in the land and the sea, and there falls not a leaf but He knows it, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything green nor dry but (it is all) in a clear book.
(Anam: 59)
But to understand everything about Quran, Allah has sent Prophets (a.s.).
وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ
“We revealed to you the Book so that you may explain to them what has been revealed.”
(Nahl: 44)
About 200 ayats of Quran are connected to the topic of Mahdaviyat. Here we will discuss five ayats.
الم ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
“This book, there is no doubt in it is a guide to those who guard against evil. Those who believe in the ghaib and keep up prayer and spend out what we have given them.”
(Baqarah : 2-3 )
Under this ayat, Yahya bin Abil Qasim narrates from Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.). Imam (a.s.) says, “Muttaqee’ implies the shia of Ameerul Momeneen Ali ibn Abi Taleb (a.s.) and ‘Ghaib’ implies to Imam Zamana (i.e. Imam Zamana will be in Ghaibat). And then he (a.s.) quoted another ayat,
‘And they say: Why is not a sign sent to him from his Lord? Say: The unseen is only for Allah therefore wait; surely I too with you am of those who wait.
(Yunus: 20) – Kamaluddin, 1/18, Yanabial Mawwadda 508)
Here when it is asked, “Why the ayat is not sent?” But it is in concealment and we are supposed to await for his reappearance.
Imam (a.s.) says over here Allah is saying that
وَجَعَلْنَا ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ آيَةً
“We have made Isa and his mother as ayat (sign)”.
(Momeneen: 50)
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاءٍ مَّعِينٍ
“O Prophet say: If your water seeps into the ground, then who is it who will bring you the fresh water?”
(Mulk: 30)
Under this ayat, there are four or five traditions from Aimmah-e-Masoomeen (a.s.).
- Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.) says: This ayat refers to our Qaem.
“If your Imam is away from your sight and you cannot reach him and you don’t know where he is and then who can show you where he is? Who will inform you about the secrets of the heavens and the earth?” Then Imam (a.s.) added, “But the time of taweel of this ayat has still not arrived.”
(Kamaluddin, 1/325)
- Ammar-e-Yasir narrates from Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.s):
Allah will send the rightly guided Imams through the progeny of Ali (a.s.). And from them will be Mahdi (a.s.) of this nation. Ammar says, “Who is this Mahdi?” Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.): “O Ammar! Allah has promised me that He will give birth to nine Imams from Husain and He will keep the ninth one in Ghaibat.
And it is to him that Allah says,
‘For him is a long occultation. During his occultation some will deny him while some will accept. Then in the last days when he will appear, he will establish the religion of Allah on the earth. He will strive to fill this earth with justice and equity just as it would be filled with injustice and oppression. His name is same as my name.”
(Ilzam Nasib, 1/185, 98)
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ الْجَوَارِ الْكُنَّسِ
“I swear by the stars that keep coming and going.”
(Takveer : 15-16)
- Umme Haani narrates that I came before Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.) and said that something is constantly worrying me. Then she recited this ayat.
Imam (a.s.) replied, “This question is valid. However the misdaaq of this ayat will appear in the last days. He is the Mahdi of this ummat. For him there will be confusion and ghaibat. Some will be guided in it while some will be deviated. If you remain alive till then, then congratulation to you and to all those who reach that era.
(Kamaluddin, 1/330)
وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةً بَاقِيَةً فِي عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And he made it a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it].
(Zukhruf:28)
- Imam Zainul Abeedeen Ali ibn Husain (a.s.) says under this ayat:
“Imamat will remain in the progeny of Husain till day of judgement.” Then for our Qaem there will be two ghaibats. One longer than the other…. In the second which will be longer, many will be deviated from him. Only that person will remain steadfast whose faith will be strong and who submits to our judgement completely.
(Kamaluddin, 1/323, 24, Yanabi 447)