Hawzah News Agency - Tawqi’s of Imam Mahdi (pbuh)
Undoubtedly, the earth is never devoid of a divine proof, and an infallible guide has always existed among the people to complete the proof and to explain and elucidate divine rulings and commandments. During the occultation of Imam Mahdi (pbuh), although he does not have a recognisable presence among the people and societies, nevertheless, his blessings and bounties continuously flow upon the people.
One of the ways to clarify issues and resolve doubts is to utilize the guidance and benefit from the Tawqi's and handwritten letters that Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his relief) wrote to trusted individuals.
What is a Tawqi’?
“Tawqi’” literally means writing marginal notes, and in a technical sense, it refers to the decrees and letters of caliphs and kings written to various individuals. However, in the books of Shia scholars, it refers to the letters and commands that reached the Shia from Imam Mahdi (pbuh) during the period of occultation, and this is what we mean by tawqi’s (tawqi’at).
Types of Tawqi’s
The tawqi’s of Imam Mahdi (pbuh) can be divided into two categories:
A) Tawqi’s of the Era of the Minor Occultation
During the limited period of the Minor Occultation, tawqi’s were issued through the Imam’s four deputies (Uthman bin Sa’id, Muhammad bin Uthman, Husayn bin Ruh, and Ali bin Muhammad al-Samori) in response to questions and doubts. The main theme of such tawqi’s was determining the duties of the Shia, and the Imam sought to save them from confusion.
B) Tawqi’s of the Era of the Major Occultation
During the time of the Major Occultation, the communication of the Shia with the Imam is undoubtedly established indirectly, and one of the ways of this connection is the issuance of tawqi’s from him to the elites and prominent figures of the Shia. Regarding the tawqi’s of the Major Occultation era, there are two important points:
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Such tawqi’s were not to be disclosed except in times of necessity, and not everyone could gain access to their contents.
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Responding to doubts, validating or invalidating personalities, analyzing current events, etc., are among the fundamental axes of such tawqi’s.
Were the Tawqi’s of Imam Mahdi (pbuh) in His Own Sacred Handwriting?
The answer is that neither can all tawqi’s be considered to be in the Imam’s handwriting, nor can it be denied that some of them were in the handwriting of the Imam (pbuh) himself. Some believe that the scribe of those tawqi’s was the Imam himself, and even his blessed handwriting was well-known among his elite companions and the scholars of the time, who recognized it well; there is evidence for this claim:
For example, Ishaq bin Ya’qub says:
سَأَلْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ الْعَمْرِيَّ أَنْ يُوصِلَ لِي كِتَاباً قَدْ سَأَلْتُ فِيهِ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ أَشْكَلَتْ عَلَيَّ، فَوَقَعَ التَّوْقِيعُ بِخَطِّ مَوْلَانَا صَاحِبِ الدَّارِ.
I asked Muhammad bin Uthman al-Amri to deliver a letter for me in which I had asked about issues that were problematic to me. So, the tawqi' was issued in the handwriting of our Master, the Owner of the House (Imam Mahdi).
(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.51, p.349)
On the contrary, based on other evidence, the tawqi’s were not in the handwriting of the Imam (pbuh).
For example, Abu Nasr Hibat-Allah says:
وَكَانَتْ تَوْقِيعَاتُ صَاحِبِ الْأَمْرِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ تَخْرُجُ عَلَى يَدَيْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ وَابْنِهِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ إِلَى شِيعَتِهِ … بِالْخَطِّ الَّذِي كَانَ يَخْرُجُ فِي حَيَاةِ الْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
And the Tawqi’s of the Master of the Affair (Imam Mahdi) used to be issued through the hands of Uthman bin Sa’id and his son, Abi Ja’far Muhammad bin Uthman, to his followers… in the same handwriting that was issued during the life of al-Hasan (pbuh).
(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.51, p.346)
Content of the Tawqi’s
The words and statements of Imam Mahdi (pbuh) in the tawqi’s possess various dimensions and characteristics, which we will mention:
Informing about the Major Occultation and the Signs of his Rise
In a tawqi’ addressed to Ali bin Muhammad al-Samarri, the Imam stated:
فَقَدْ وَقَعَتِ الْغَیْبَةُ الثَّانِیَةُ فَلَا ظُهُورَ إِلَّا بَعْدَ إِذْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ ذَلِکَ بَعْدَ طُولِ الْأَمَدِ وَ قَسْوَةِ الْقُلُوبِ وَ امْتِلَاءِ الْأَرْضِ جَوْراً.
The second occultation has occurred, so there shall be no reappearance except after the permission of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and that will be after a long period of time, the hardening of the hearts, and the filling of the earth with tyranny.
(Kamal al-Din, Vol.2, p.516)
Complete Awareness of the Conditions of the Shia
In a tawqi’ addressed to Sheikh Mufid, the Imam stated:
فَإِنَّا یُحِیطُ عِلْمُنَا بِأَنْبَائِکُمْ وَ لاَ یَعْزُبُ عَنَّا شَیْءٌ مِنْ أَخْبَارِکُمْ وَ مَعْرِفَتُنَا بِالزَّلَلِ اَلَّذِی أَصَابَکُمْ مُذْ جَنَحَ کَثِیرٌ مِنْکُمْ إِلَی مَا کَانَ اَلسَّلَفُ اَلصَّالِحُ … إِنَّا غَیْرُ مُهْمِلِینَ لِمُرَاعَاتِکُمْ وَ لاَ نَاسِینَ لِذِکْرِکُمْ وَ لَوْ لاَ ذَلِکَ لَنَزَلَ بِکُمُ اَللَّأْوَاءُ وَ اِصْطَلَمَکُمُ اَلْأَعْدَاءُ فَاتَّقُوا اَللَّهَ جَلَّ جَلاَلُهُ.
For indeed, our knowledge encompasses your affairs, and nothing of your news is hidden from us, along with our awareness of the slips that have afflicted you since many of you inclined towards what the righteous predecessors were… Indeed, we are not neglectful of your care, nor are we forgetful of your remembrance. Were it not for that, hardships would have descended upon you and enemies would have exterminated you. So fear Allah, Exalted is His Majesty.
(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.53, p.174)
Denial of Those Claiming Connection with the Imam
In a letter to Ali bin Muhammad al-Samarri, the Imam informs about those who claim to have met him and hold deputyship, and states:
وَ سَیَأْتِی شِیعَتِی مَنْ یَدَّعِی اَلْمُشَاهَدَةَ أَلاَ فَمَنِ اِدَّعَی اَلْمُشَاهَدَةَ قَبْلَ خُرُوجِ اَلسُّفْیَانِیِّ وَ اَلصَّیْحَةِ فَهُوَ کَاذِبٌ مُفْتَرٍ.
And soon, some of my Shia will claim to have seen me. Beware, whoever claims to have seen me before the emergence of the Sufyani and the heavenly call, he is a liar and a fabricator.
(Kamal al-Din, Vol.2, p.516)
Removing Doubts Regarding the Imams (pbut)
In response to a group of Shia who assumed Imam Hasan al-Askari (pbuh) had no successor, the Imam issued a tawqi’ and stated:
أَنَّهُ أُنْهِيَ إِلَيَّ ارْتِيَابُ جَمَاعَةٍ مِنْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ، وَمَا دَخَلَهُمْ مِنَ الشَّكِّ وَالْحَيْرَةِ فِي وُلَاةِ أَمْرِهِمْ، فَغَمَّنَا ذَلِكَ لَكُمْ لَا لَنَا، وَسَاءَنَا فِيكُمْ لَا فِينَا، لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا.
It has been reported to me that a group among you has fallen into doubt regarding the religion, and that doubt and bewilderment have entered them concerning the masters of their affairs (their Wali). This has grieved us for your sake, not for ours, and it has upset us concerning you, not concerning us, because Allah is with us.
(Al-Ihtijaj, al-Tabarsi, Vol.2, p.278)
Endorsement and Praise of the Shia Elites
In a tawqi’ addressed to the honorable Sheikh Mufid, the Imam introduces him as such:
لِلْأَخِ اَلسَّدِیدِ وَ اَلْوَلِیِّ اَلرَّشِیدِ اَلشَّیْخِ اَلْمُفِیدِ … سَلاَمٌ عَلَیْکَ أَیُّهَا اَلْوَلِیُّ اَلْمُخْلِصُ فِی اَلدِّینِ اَلْمَخْصُوصُ فِینَا بِالْیَقِینِ… .
To the steadfast brother and rightly guided friend, Sheikh Mufid… Peace be upon you, O sincere friend in religion, distinguished in your belief in us with knowledge and certainty.
(Al-Ihtijaj, Vol.2, p.495)
Teaching Supplication and the Method of Tawassul
It is reported that Abdullah bin Ja’far al-Himyari asked about the method of directing attention and seeking tawassul toward the Imam. The Imam replied via a tawqi’:
…بَعْدَ صَلَاةِ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً تَقْرَأُ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ فِي جَمِيعِهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ تُصَلِّي عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ، وَتَقُولُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ جَلَّ اسْمُهُ: سَلَامٌ عَلَى آلِ يَاسِينَ…
(When directing attention to the Imam Mahdi), after performing twelve rak’ahs of prayer (six two-rak’ah prayers) in all of which the surah “Tawhid” (Al-Ikhlas) is recited, say as the Exalted and Great Allah said: Peace be upon the progeny of Yasin. “(Peace be upon the progeny of Yasin, peace be upon you O Caller of Allah and the divine guide of His signs, peace be upon you O Gate of Allah and the administrator of His religion… This supplication is known as ‘Ziyarat Aal Yasin’.)
(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.53, p.174)
Requesting Prayer for his Rise and Relief
The Imam, in a tawqi’ addressed to Ishaq bin Ya’qub, stated:
إِنِّی لَأَمَانٌ لِأَهْلِ اَلْأَرْضِ کَمَا أَنَّ اَلنُّجُومَ أَمَانٌ لِأَهْلِ اَلسَّمَاءِ فَأَغْلِقُوا بَابَ اَلسُّؤَالِ عَمَّا لاَ یَعْنِیکُمْ وَ لاَ تَتَکَلَّفُوا عِلْمَ مَا قَدْ کُفِیتُمْ وَ أَکْثِرُوا اَلدُّعَاءَ بِتَعْجِیلِ اَلْفَرَجِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِکَ فَرَجُکُمْ.
I am a security for the inhabitants of the earth, just as the stars are a security for the inhabitants of the sky. Therefore, close the door to questioning about matters that do not benefit you, and do not trouble yourselves with learning what has not been required of you. And pray abundantly for the hastening of the Relief, for indeed that is your relief.
(Kamal al-Din, Vol.2, p.483)
Refuting and rejecting opponents and innovators,
Responding to doubts and jurisprudential rulings,
Advising on piety and the love of the Ahlul-Bayt,
etc.,
are among matters found in these tawqi’s.
This discussion continues…
Adapted from the article “The Nature of the Tawqi’s of Hadhrat Mahdi (PBUH)” by Gholamreza Salehi with slight modifications.
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