?How Do the Companions of Imam Mahdi Join Him

?How Do the Companions of Imam Mahdi Join Him

According to the sayings, the companions gather around miraculously from faraway and close places at a night or in a morning in Mecca and they join Imam Mahdi there.

Imam Ali quotes from Prophet Muhammad in this regard, “God brings together the companions of Mahdi in Mecca, from east and west, in a blink of an eye.”‌

According to Imam Baqir, the companions of Mahdi get to Mecca miraculously and they join Imam Mahdi there.

The Presence of Women among the Companions of Imam Mahdi

Women too, are present among the companions of Imam Mahdi and they work as nurses. Different numbers have been mentioned in different sayings in regards to the women. According to a saying by Imam Sadiq there are thirteen nurses among the companions of Imam Mahdi, who take care of the injured and the sick. The name of nine of them has been mentioned in this saying. Some other sayings have talked about fifty women among the companions of Imam Mahdi, who work as nurses and aid the warriors of Islam. A greater number has been mentioned in some other sayings. That is probably because these sayings are about the women who accompany Imam Mahdi after his battle and they aid his army.

Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi

?Who Are the Companions and the Helpers of Imam Mehdi

?Who Are the Companions and the Helpers of Imam Mehdi

 

The Companions of Imam Mahdi:

The companions of Imam Mehdi are special people with exceptional talents, who join Imam Mehdi in the first hours after his appearance. They form the primary core for the international battle of Imam Mehdi. They are the people who both start Imam Mehdi’s battle with their presence, and become the advisers and ministers of him after the victory of the battle and they will be responsible for a lot of tasks then. Imam Mehdi will conquer the world with their help and he will establish justice all over the world.

These people are called “The Companions of Imam Mehdi”‌ in the sayings of Imams. They, in comparison to the other followers of Imam Mehdi, have a superior position and are more honored. They will also have more important and more sensitive duties in the government of Imam Mehdi.

The Helpers of Imam Mehdi:

The helpers of Imam Mehdi are among those who support him after his appearance and they join his army. This means all the people who join Imam Mehdi after the battle starts. There are three groups among the helpers that join the army of Imam Mehdi gradually:

1. The first group consists of those who join Imam Mehdi after he appears and the news of his battle reach Mecca. After Imam Mehdi appears and these people join him, he starts his battle and leaves Mecca for Medina.

2. The second group consists of all the believers, who join the army of Imam Mehdi in the way and fight against the enemies of God.

3.The third group consists of the forces and armies that join Imam Mehdi from far and close places in order to fight against the army of Sofiani and to support Imam Mehdi’s battle.

Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi

The title of Imam Mahdi "Al-Qa’im" (The Riser): Part 3

The title of Imam Mahdi "Al-Qa’im" (The Riser): Part 3

Now, contemplate; how can this tradition””whose narrator is the champion of fabrication””be relied upon in opposition to those firm fundamentals and hundreds of reliable traditions

As for the reason for employing the title "Al-Qa’im" for the Imam of the Age (may Allah hasten his return): "Al-Qa’im" means "the one who rises." The Imam shall rise against political conditions and religious and social deviations and fill the world with justice and equity after it had become filled with injustice and oppression. Additionally, the issue of rising with the 

The title of Imam Mahdi "Al-Qa’im" (The Riser): Part 1

The title of Imam Mahdi "Al-Qa’im" (The Riser): Part 1

QUESTION: As everyone knows, one of the titles of the Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return) is "Al-Qa’im" (The Riser). A tradition has been related regarding the reason for his being given this title that requires contemplation, since it apparently indicates that this title was given because that personage will reappear after death. Yet we have over approximately one thousand traditions regarding that personage, his occultation, and long life, in view of which that tradition cannot be relied upon. However, if some clarifications about its narrators, text, 

The Era of Patience

The Era of Patience

O impatient ones! Allah (SWT) will not become hurried in regards with the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) due to the hurry and rush of people…”‌

Believing in a saviour and his mission of settling the affairs of humanity is an accepted concept among all Divine religions, and mankind has been long waiting for the fulfilment of this aim.

This agenda (removing oppression from the earth and establishing a just government) is a huge project and a fundamental element of Allah’s (SWT) plan for future of all societies. However, for this purpose to be fulfilled, intellectual and mental growth is essential. 

Imam Mahdi (A.S) and the Wahabbis

Imam Mahdi (A.S) and the Wahabbis

After propounding the Qur'an and traditional arguments there remains no doubt amongst the Muslims, irrespective of his religion either Sunni, Shiite, Wahabi or non-Wahabi, regarding the belief in imam al-Mahdi (A.S) and it is proved beyond doubt that it is a genuine Islamic belief, but since the Wahabi sect is having a very narrow-minded belief about some of the concepts of Islam hence from its very inception, it has been a butt of rebuke from the Muslim scholars, therefore we analyze in this brief study Wahabis point of view about imam al-Mahdi (A.S). In fact the following proofs will clarify that like other Muslim scholars Wahabi Scholars also believe in the existence of al-Mahdi (Mahdaviyat) and they regard this belief as the climax of 

(Al-Siddiqah (The Honest

(Al-Siddiqah (The Honest

We have already mentioned that one of Fatima’s names was Siddiqah. This word means a woman with scrupulous honesty or sincerity.

Siddiqah differs from the word Sadooq, in that the first is scrupulous and precise in telling facts. Furthermore, several other meanings have been given to the word Siddiqah;

(Hazrat Fatimah (s.a), the Link between Prophet Hood and Imamate (Part 2

(Hazrat Fatimah (s.a), the Link between Prophet Hood and Imamate (Part 2

(Her Relationship with the Holy Prophet (PBUH

According to Sunni sources 'Ayshah said ''I had not been seen any one who was more resembling the Messenger of Allah in his speech, conduct and manners as Fatimah; when she used to enter (his house) he would stand up for her, take her hand and kiss it and make her sit in his sitting place; and when he used to enter (her house) she would stand up for him, take his hand and kiss it and make him sit in her 

(Hazrat Fatimah (s.a), the Link between Prophet Hood and Imamate (Part 1

Hazrat Fatimah (s.a), the Link between Prophet Hood and Imamate (Part 1)

Fatimah (s.a) was the only woman connecting Prophet Hood and Imamate and was the link between the two. She was the daughter of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the wife of the first Imam (a.s) and the mother of the rest of the Imams (s.a) who descended from her and her husband Ali (a.s). Allah singled her out with this virtue and peculiarity because she was the most perfect and highest example in purity, sanctity, worship, asceticism and morals.

hijab in Islam

Through an analytical approach, the present research is an attempt to find fair answers to such questions, investigating the issue of “hijab”‌ in Islamic community and among other peoples and nations in the past as well as analyzing its philosophy by benefiting from the original sources of Islamic school of thought, thereby achieving a clear vision for the status of implementing this stable and firm value within the contemporary Iranian society.

‘Hijab’ is an Arabic word which literally means to put on, to cover, curtain, veil or covering (noun); however, among all these meanings, curtain or veil is more common and as a result it has led many people to suppose that Islam wants women to always stay at home behind the curtains and not to go out.

In this regard, the great scholar, Martyr Morteza Motahhari states: “Covering for women in Islam means that in their interactions with men, women cover their bodies and don’t try to exhibit themselves or have coquettish behavior”‌. [1]

 The related verses in Qur’an as well as jurists’ Fatwa in this regard refer to and highlight this principle. The module for covering in Islam can be achieved via Qur’an and tradition sources. In related verses, the term ‘hijab’ is not directly used.  In other words, the verses in this regard, in holy chapters of either Noor or Al-Ahzaab indirectly refer to the limitations with regard to dress code and the interaction between men and women without using the word ‘hijab’.[2]

Considering the abovementioned words, ‘Islamic hijab’ or ‘Islamic covering’ will be succinctly explained and described in the next parts of this article.

Notes:

[1]Motahhari, Morteza, 1996. Hijab.Sadra Publishing Center , 43th Edition, P. 28

[2]  Ibid

The Mahdi from among the Descendants of the Prophet

Such hadith-reports are abundant. The main idea that runs through all of them suggests that the topic about the future coming of the Mahdi and Qa’im during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) was well known. In fact the way these reports speak about the subject indicates that it was not something new which was being presented to the people. On the contrary they relate the signs and characteristics of the person who would emerge as the Mahdi as in the statement "the promised Mahdi will be among

Hazrat Zahra’s Birth and Features

When Hazrat Fatima"s (S.A.) birth was to take place, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) told Khatija (S.A.) "Jabriel has given me the good news that this child which is going to be born is a daughter and all the infallible Imams will be from her generation.

Hazrat Fatima Zahra (S.A.) was born on Friday the 20th of Jamadi ussani, the fifth year of Hijrah, when Quraish were busy in constructing the building of Khana-e-Kaabah.

Hazrat Fatima's(as) Position before God

Allama Majlisi has related in his magnum opus Bihar Al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 24 that Prophet Muhammad said: "Fatima is the leader of the women of the worlds from the first to the last. When she stands in the prayer niche, twenty thousand angels greet her and address her like they addressed Mary. They say, 'O Fatima, verily God has chosen you and purified you and has chosen you above the women of the worlds.' And they are from the close angels."

 

In the same book, it is related that Prophet Muhammad was asked if Fatima is the leader of the women of this world. He replied:

"Mary, daughter of Amran, is the leader of the women of this world, my daughter Fatima is the leader of the women of all the worlds."

Once it is understood that Fatima has such a place in the universe, we will also realize that we must struggle day and night to learn about this great lady. We must learn who she was and how she lived. Then we must emulate her lifestyle, whether we are male or female. In reality, her status and lifestyle are so lofty that Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) has even said:

"In the daughter of the Messenger of God is a great example for me to emulate." (Lisan Al-Mizan, vol. 3, p. 180)

We must not overlook that the savior of the world, the one who will fill the earth with justice and equity and wipeout injustice and oppression, the one who will realize the efforts of all the prophets and their successors, the one who will establish God's government and religion on the face of the earth, meaning Imam Mahdi, even takes lessons from Fatima. Thus, can we afford to ignore or forget her?

Having said that, we will mention some of her virtues from reliable traditions.

Fatima's Position before God

In various traditions, Prophet Muhammad has said:

"Verily, God becomes angered when Fatima is angered, and He is pleased when Fatima is pleased." (Bihar Al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 54)

The more we think about this statement, the more Lady Fatima's position becomes clear to us. This tradition has a world of meaning, and everyone can take from it in accordance to his/her ability and understanding. We will discuss two points in regards to it:

 

1. Human beings are naturally inclined towards position and rank. Unfortunately, most people believe that one can attain this goal through wealth and power. Therefore, they endeavor and use all of their God-given abilities and resources in order to attain more riches and more power because they foolishly believe that the more of these they have the higher status they will have. However, Islam has shown us that this path is the path of Satan.

True position and worth comes with serving and submitting to God. The more one submits to God's will, the more status he/she attains.

 It can reach a point where the servant completely surrenders him/herself to God, and God submits all that is in the heavens and earth to him/her. There are even traditions that say that a true servant of God can reach such a status that whenever he/she says "Be!" to a thing, it becomes, just as God says "Be!", and it is. Lady Fatima had surrendered herself to God so much so that God's anger and pleasure are related to her anger and pleasure.

 

2. This position of Fatima is also used to defend the leadership (Wilayah) and right of Imam Ali (peace be upon her).

In reality, Fatima is the first defender of Wilayah.

Her defense of her husband and his God-given rights eventually led to her being attacked in her own home and being martyred as a result of her injuries. Her anger with her attackers and those who usurped her husband's rights led her to request her husband to bury her at night, so that those who angered her do not attend her funeral and pray over her body.

 

In doing so, Lady Fatima left an eternal question in the hearts of all truth seekers: why was the only remaining daughter of the Prophet of Islam buried at night and why is her grave unknown?

Whoever truthfully and objectively searches out the answer to this question will, God-willing, find the truth and become a follower of the School of Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them). There are numerous examples of people from various religions and schools of thought who pursued the answer to this question and found their way to the Ahlul Bayt.

 

As an example, I will mention a sister of ours who became Muslim during the time of Malcolm X. Eventually she questioned herself why is Lady Fatima's grave unknown? While searching for the answer, she found her way to the school of Ahlul Bayt. The benefits of this research were so admirable that her entire family is devoted followers and lovers of Fatima. Two of her sons have studied in Qum and are now serving Imam Mahdi.

(Merits of Hazrat Fatimah’s Tasbih (Part 1

Allahu Akbar - 34 times, Alhamdulillah - 33 times and Subhanallah - 33 times.

(This is what we call the Tasbih of Hazrat Fatimah (s.a.

The Tasbih of Hazrat Fatimah (s.a) is from the emphatically recommended acts of worship in the Islamic Shariat. It has immense significance in the eyes of the infallible Imams (a.s) and the Shiite jurists. It is a simple act of worship from the aspect of performance; however, its effect, reward and merit are abundant. This can be gauged from the fact that when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) wished to impart this act of worship to his daughter Hazrat Zahra (s.a), he declared,

‘O Fatimah! I have granted you something that is superior to a maidservant and to the world and everything in it.’ (Aasaar o Asraare Tasbih Zahra (s.a), Pg. 7

In this context Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) informs, ‘Allah is not worshipped by anything more meritorious than the Tasbih of Fatima Zahra (s.a). Had there been any worship superior to it, most surely the Holy Prophet (PBUH) would have granted it to Hazrat Fatimah (s.a).’ (Wasaaelush Shea, Vol 4 Pg. 1024)

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s) says about the dearness of this Tasbih in the :eyes of the Imams of the Ahl-ul-bayt (a.s)

“Reciting Tasbih of Hazrat Zahra (s.a) everyday after every Namaz is liked by me more than reciting one thousand rakats of (mustahab) namaz”. (Al-Kafi, Kitabus Salaat)

Reciting this Tasbih results in forgiveness of sins. In a tradition, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s) says:

“One, who recites the Tasbih of Hazrat Zahra (s.a) and then seeks forgiveness, will be forgiven”. (Wasaaelush Shia Vol 4, Pg. 1023)

It also results in driving Satan away and in the satisfaction of Allah as tradition from Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s) says:“(Reciting Tasbih) drives away Satan and makes results in the satisfaction of Allah”. (Wasaaelush Shia Vol 4, Pg. 1023)

Reciting Tasbih regularly delivers the reciter from adversities in this world as well as the hereafter. One of the graceful effects of the regular recitation of the Tasbih of Hazrat Zahra (s.a) is that it delivers the reciter from adversities and hardships in this world as well as the hereafter. Thus one should not ignore its benefits and effects and should not be careless and lazy in its recitation

In this connection, Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s) says to one of his companions:

“You do adhere to it and be regular about its recitation, for surely one who is steadfast upon its recitation will not encounter adversity.” (Al-Kafi, Kitabus Salaat, Pg. 343)

(How to recite Tasbih of Hazrat Zahra (s.a):

According to a tradition from Imam Jafar Sadiq, one should recite Allaho Akbar 34 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Subhaanallah 33 times. (Behaarul Anwaar Vol 85, Pg. 334)

Reciting Tasbih immediately after Namaz

Tasbih of Hazrat Zahra (s.a) should be recited immediately on completion of Namaz. This entails that as soon as the reciter has finished the Namaz, he should remain seated in the same position of Tashahud without moving his feet and doing any other thing, immediately he should commence the recitation of the Tasbih. The reciting of Tasbih immediately on completion of Namaz has a special excellence, which is not there otherwise.

The above statement can be evidenced by the following tradition of Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s) wherein he states:

“One who recites the Tasbih of Hazrat Zahra (s.a) before even moving his feet, Allah will forgive him.” (At-Tahzeeb of Shaikh Toosi (r.a), Vol 2, Pg. 105)

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) has said: “One who recites the Tasbih of Hazrat Zahra (s.a) after a wajib namaz before he stretches out his legs (i.e. he recites the Tasbih while he is in the posture of Tashahud) , then Jannat (Paradise) becomes wajib upon him” (Falaahus Saael by Ibne Taaoos (r.a.), Pg. 165)

Another tradition from Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: “One who glorifies Allah after the obligatory prayer through the Tasbih of Hazrat Zahra (s.a.), and then follows it up by saying ‘Laa elaaha illallaho’, Allah will forgive his sins.” (Al-Kafi, Kitabus Salaat, Pg. 342)

Source: duas.org

Hazrat Fatima:part 2

Charity to the poor

Fatimah (A.S) was charitable and too kind to the poor and the deprived. She, her husband, and her two sons were meant by these Qur’anic verses, (And they give food out of love for Him to the poor, the orphan, and the captive. We only feed you for Allah’s sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks. 76:8-9).

Fatimah (A.S) milled wheat and barley for her poor neighbors who were unable to do that. She carried water to her weak neighbors who could not get water.

On the night of her wedding, Fatimah (A.S) had a new dress on. When she knew that a young woman from the Ansar[1] could not find a dress to put on, she took off the dress of her wedding and gave it to that young woman. Fatimah (A.S) turned away from every material pleasure and preferred the satisfaction of Allah to everything. Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari said,

‘Once, the messenger of Allah (A.S) led us in offering the Asr (afternoon) Prayer, and when he offered the nafila (a supererogatory prayer), he sat in the qibla and people sat around him. A very old man came complaining of hunger and saying, ‘O prophet of Allah, I am hungry. Feed me! And I am naked (have no clothes). Clothe me!’

The Prophet (A.S) asked the old man to go to the house of his (the Prophet) daughter Fatimah (A.S). The old nomad man went to Fatimah’s house and from behind the door he greeted her and said, ‘O daughter of Muhammad, I am naked and hungry. Would you please comfort me, may Allah have mercy on you?’

Fatimah (A.S) herself was in neediness, and she found nothing to give to the man except a sheepskin that her sons al-Hassan and al-Hussein slept on. The old man did not like it and he gave it back to her. Then, Fatimah (A.S) took a necklace, which was a present from her cousin Fatimah bint Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib, off her neck and gave it to the man. 

The old man took the necklace and went back to the Prophet (A.S) saying to him, ‘Fatimah gave me this necklace and said to me, ‘Sell it! May Allah recompense you with good for it.’

The Prophet (A.S) cried and said, ‘And how does Allah not recompense you with good for it while the daughter of Muhammad, the principal of the daughters of Adam, has given it to you?’

Ammar bin Yasir asked the Prophet (A.S), ‘O messenger of Allah, do you permit me to buy this necklace?’

The Prophet (A.S) said, ‘Buy it, Ammar! If the human beings and the jinn participate in it, Allah will not punish them with Fire.’

Ammar said, ‘O Sheikh (old man), how much is the necklace?’

The old man said, ‘I sell it for a meal of bread and meat, a Yemeni garment that I cover my private parts and offer prayer for my Lord with, and a dinar that takes me to my family.’

Ammar said to him, ‘I give you twenty dinars, two hundred dirhams, a Yemeni garment, my camel to take you to your family, and a meal of wheat bread and meat.’

The old man said, ‘O man, how generous you are!’ He left delightedly saying, ‘O Allah, there is no god but You. O Allah, give Fatimah what no eye has ever seen and no ear has ever heard of.’

Ammar perfumed the necklace with musk, enveloped it in Yemeni garment, and gave it one of his slaves saying to him, ‘Take this necklace to the messenger of Allah (A.S) and you will be his.’

When the slave took the necklace to the Prophet (A.S), the Prophet (A.S) asked him to take it to Fatimah (A.S) who took it and set the slave free. The slave smiled. Fatimah (A.S) asked him what made him smile and he said:

‘What made me smile was the great blessing of this necklace. It satiated a hungry one, clothed a naked one, made a poor one rich, freed a slave, and then returned to its owner.’

Taken from the book called:  THE LIFE OF FATIMAH AL-ZAHRA'