Excerpts from Book An-Najmuth Saaqib ( Part 4 )
Let us know our Imam
Chapter One: (Part 2)
A Brief account of the birth and some circumstances of Imam (a.s.) during the lifetime of his father (a.s.)
On the evening preceding the birth of Hazrat Mahdi (atfs), Imam Hasan Askari (as) requested his aunt Janabe Hakima khatoon (as) to stay back in their house. Just like in the case of the birth of Prophet Musa(as), even in case of Hazrat Mahdi(atfs) signs of pregnancy were not made evident till the very end.
At the time of dawn when Hazrat Mahdi (atfs) was born, Imam Hasan Askari (as) requested his aunt to bring the new born to him. She says that she saw the just born baby in a state of prostration.
On his right forearm it was written:
جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
“The truth has come and the falsehood has vanished; surely falsehood is a vanishing (thing).
(Surah Isra 17:81)
She further narrates that when she picked him up she found him pure and clean.
When Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) took him in his arms he put his tongue in his mouth and gently stroked his eyes, ears and joints with his hand.
Then he said, ‘O my son, speak.’ The child replied,
‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is unique and has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.’
Then he sent his greetings upon Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and upon all the Imams respectively till he reached the name of his father.
Later he was entrusted in the care of Hazrat Ruhul Quddus. He grew very fast. Imam Hasan Askari (as) said:”We divine successors grow in a day as much as others grow in a week and grow in a week as much as others grow in a year.”
Few days before his martyrdom he said:
“The son of Narjis is my successor after me. Soon you will not find me amongst you. So listen to him and obey him.”
It is also narrated from Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) that he said:
“When the master was born, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, sent two angels. They took him to the heavens. Thus, he stood in the presence of the Lord. The Almighty Allah said: Welcome! Through you I bestow, through you I forgive and through you I will punish.”
May the Almighty(swt) hasten his(atfs)’s reappearance!