Hawzah News Agency- The period of the occultation of Imam Mahdi (pbuh) is a time of sedition, danger, and deviation. The followers of the occulted Imam, during the turbulence of the Era of Occultation, must protect their beliefs and be mindful of their behaviors so that they do not fall into the traps of the devils and not stray from the framework of following the Imam.
One of the most important means and tools is Dua [supplication] and communication with Allah (swt), as well as communication with the Imam, so that one does not forget him and stays connected to him in forms of Zikr [remembrance], Dua [supplication], and Zayarah [devotional prayer].
Imam Sadiq (pbuh) said:
«سَتُصِیبُکُمْ شُبْهَةٌ فَتَبْقَوْنَ بِلاَ عَلَمٍ یُرَی وَ لاَ إِمَامٍ هُدًی وَ لاَ یَنْجُو مِنْهَا إِلاَّ مَنْ دَعَا بِدُعَاءِ اَلْغَرِیقِ قُلْتُ کَیْفَ دُعَاءُ اَلْغَرِیقِ قَالَ یَقُولُ یَا اَللَّهُ یَا رَحْمَانُ یَا رَحِیمُ یَا مُقَلِّبَ اَلْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِی عَلَی دِینِکَ.»
“Doubt will strike you, and you will be left without knowledge that can be seen and without a guiding leader. None will be saved from it except he who calls upon the supplication of the drowning person.” The narrator said, “What is the supplication of the drowning person?” Imam responded, “He [drowning person] says, ‘O Allah, O Most Gracious, O Most Merciful, O Changer of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.’” (Kamaluddin, Vol. 2, p. 351)
This supplication emphasizes that during the occultation of the Imam, who bears the banner of guidance, we should pray for steadfastness and firmness in the religion of Allah, and this indicates the importance of supplication.
Imam Askari (pbuh) said:
«وَ اللَّهِ لَیغِیبَنَّ غَیبَةً لَا ینْجُو فِیهَا مِنَ التَّهْلُکَةِ إِلَّا مَنْ یثَبِّتُهُ اللَّهُ عَلَی الْقَوْلِ بِإِمَامَتِهِ وَ وَفَّقَهُ لِلدُّعَاءِ بِتَعْجِیلِ فَرَجِه.»
"By Allah, indeed he [Imam Mahdi (pbuh)] will have a long occultation in which no one will be saved from destruction except the one whom Allah (swt) makes steadfast in his belief in the Imamate and makes him successful in praying for the hastening of his uprising. (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 52, p. 23)
Of course, from another perspective, praying for the Imam of Time (pbuh) is an important duty for those awaiting him, which has been a special concern of the previous Imams (pbut). It is stated in the hadiths that Imam Reza (pbuh) used to order supplication for the Imam Mahdi (pbuh) in this way:
«اللَّهُمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنْ وَلِیکَ وَ خَلِیفَتِکَ وَ حُجَّتِکَ عَلَی خَلْقِکَ….َ وَ احْفَظْهُ مِنْ بَینِ یدَیهِ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ وَ عَنْ یمِینِهِ وَ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ وَ مِنْ فَوْقِهِ وَ مِنْ تَحْتِه….َ أَیدْهُ بِنَصْرِکَ الْعَزِیزِ وَ أَیدْهُ بِجُنْدِکَ الْغَالِبِ …..وَ وَالِ مَنْ والاهُ وَ عَادِ مَنْ عَادَاهُ…»
O Allah! Keep [every calamity] away from Your Wali [appointed leader], and Your caliph, and Your proof over Your creation… and guard him from before him and behind him, from his right and his left, from above him and beneath him… and strengthen him with Your mighty support, and aid him with Your prevailing army… and Befriend whoever befriends him, and oppose whoever opposes him... (Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 92, p. 330)
Therefore, supplication and spiritual connection with the Imam of the time is one of the principles of Shias' behavior in the era of occultation that has many effects and benefits.
The supplications and Ziyarah [devotional prayer] of Imam Mahdi can be grouped into two:
a. The supplications and ziyarah that have been narrated from Imam Mahdi (pbuh) himself and that have reached the Shias during the period of the minor occultation through his special representatives, such as the “Ziyarah Aal-Yasin” and the “Du’a al-Faraj”.
b. The supplications and ziyarah that have been narrated from the Infallibles (pbut) about Imam Mahdi (pbuh), such as the “Dua al-Ahd” and the “Ziyarah of Imam Mahdi (pbuh) in the Holy Basement of Samarra”.
There is no specific time or place for supplicating for Imam Mahdi (pbuh) and communicating with him. All people, exclusively Shias and those awaiting him, can talk and whisper to him at any time and place, offer their greetings and salutations to him, and renew their commitment and agreement with him; although among the days of the week, Friday, according to the hadiths, is dedicated to the Imam of the Time (pbuh). Therefore, a special ziyarah has been narrated for this day, which is called "The Ziyarat of Imam al-Zaman (pbuh) on Friday".
In the books of supplications and ziyarah written by Shia scholars such as Sayyid ibn Tawus, Allama Majlisi, and Sheikh Abbas Qummi, many supplications and ziyarah have been narrated related to the Imam of the Time (pbuh), some of which have received special attention and recommendation from those scholars and have become more famous among Shias.
This discussion continues…
Adapted from “Negine Afarinesh" [The Jewel of Creation] with slight modifications.
Your Comment