al-ghayba occultation

275 Pages·2013·1.32 MB·English

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Chapter
DEDICATION
As long as the powers of corruption, evil and deviation try the best to
raise stumbling blocks to close the path of the mission with obstacles;
therefore the Divine Will has determined the necessity of
al-Hujjah,[1] who will fix the truth and spread justice allover the world
to achieve the aims of the prophets and the messengers of Allah and to
realize the hopes of persecuted and oppressed people.
Yes! It is the long-sought hope. It is the expected Mahdi; the natural
extract of all the successive Divine Missions and the fruit of all the efforts
of the prophets and their guardians. May our souls be the sacrifice for his
coming!
This little work before the great blessing of Him is not but as evidence
of belongingness. We pray Allah the Almighty to light our eyes with see-
ing him and to gift us with the great grace by virtue of him!
[1] It means proof or authority. It refers to Imam al-Mahdi (s).
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Part 1
PREFACE BY THE VERIFIER
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR - HIS NAME
His full name is Abu[1] Abdullah Muhammad bin Ibraheem bin Ja'far al-
Katib al-Nu'mani al-Baghdadi. He is known as Ibn Abu Zaynab.[2]
[1] Abu: means the father of, bin or ibn: means the son of, bint: means the
daughter of.
[2] In some books it is mentioned as Ibn Zaynab. Refer to Rijal an-Na-
jashi, Rijal ibn Dawood, Majma’ul Rijal, Manhajul Maqal, Jami’ul Ruwat,
Muntahal Maqal, Kashful Hujub wel Astar, Mustadrakul Wassa’il, A’yan ash-
Shia, ath-Tharee’a, Tanqeehul Maqal, Hadiyyatul Aarifeen, Qamoos ar-Rijal
and Mu'jam Rijalul Hadith.
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HIS OFFSPRING
An-Najashi said: “The vizier Abul Qassim al-Husayn bin Ali bin al-
Husayn bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Yousuf al-Maghribi was the son of
his (the author’s) daughter Fatima.”
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PRAISING HIM
An-Najashi said about him: “He is a sheikh (teacher) from among our
companions. He is great in position, noble in rank, loyal in faith and he
has narrated many traditions.”
Al-Mahoozi said: “He is praiseworthy, lofty and one of the sheikhs,
who give permission (who evidence others’ knowledge or works).”
Kahhala said: “He is an interpreter, a good speaker and a good
theologist.”
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HIS TRAVELS
He traveled to Shiraz in 313 AH. Then he traveled to Baghdad. After that
he traveled to Sham[1] and taught in Tabariya in Jordan then he entered
Damascus. At the end of his age he traveled to Halab (in Syria), in which
he narrated his book al-Ghayba (the Sacred Disappearance).[2]
[1] Nowadays Damascus. But then, Sham encompassed the present
Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine.
[2] The disappearance of Imam al-Mahdi; in Islamic eschatology, Imam
al-Mahdi (s) is the expected deliverer who will fill the Earth with justice
and equity, restore true religion, and usher in a short golden age lasting
some years before the end of the world.
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HIS TEACHERS (SHEIKHS)
Abul Abbas Ahmad bin Sa’eed bin Oqda al-Kufi, in Baghdad 327AH.
Abu Sulayman Ahmad bin Nasr bin Hawtha al-Bahili.
Abu Ali Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Ya’qoob bin Ammar al-Kufi, in
Baghdad 327AH.
Abul Qassim al-Husayn bin Muhammad al-Bawari.
Salama bin Muhammad bin Isma’eel al-Arzaniy in Baghdad.
Abul Harith Abdullah bin Abdul Melik bin Sahl at-Tabarani, in
Tabariya.
Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Younus al-Mossiliy.
Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah bin Younus al-Mossiliy.
Ali bin Ahmad al-Bandaneeji.
Ali bin al-Husayn al-Mass’oodi, apparently in Qum.
Muhammad bin al-Husayn bin Muhammad bin Jumhoor al-Ammiy.
Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Ja’far al-Himyari.
Muhammad bin Abdullah bin al-Mo’ammar at-Tabarani, in Tabariya
333AH.
Muhammad bin Uthman bin Allan ad-Duhni al-Baghdadi, in
Damascus.
Abu Ali Muhammad bin Hammam bin Suhayl bin Bayzan al-Katib al-
Iskafi, in Baghdad 327AH.
Muhammad bin Ya’qoob bin Iss~haq al-Kulayni, from whom he took
the most of his knowledge and for whom he worked as clerk.
Abul Qassim Musa bin Muhammad al-Ash’ari al-Qummi-the son of
Sa’d bin Abdullah’s daughter-in Shiraz 313Ah.
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HIS STUDENTS
An-Najashi said: “I have seen Abul Husayn Muhammad bin Ali ash-
Shuja’iy the clerk learning the book al-Ghayba written by Muhammad bin
Ibraheem an-Nu’mani in Mashhadul Ateeqa. He recommended his son
Abu Abdullah al-Husayn to give me this book and the rest of his books.
The copy of the book, which he read, is now with me.”
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HIS WORKS
At-Tassalli; about the punishment of Allah that afflicted those, who parti-
cipated in killing Imam Husayn (s), in this life.
At-Tafseer; one tradition narrated from Imam Ali (s), in which he has
classified the Qur’an into sixty kinds and has given each kind a certain
example.
Jami’ul Akhbar.
Ar-Radd ala (answering) al-Isma’eeliyya.[1]
Al-Ghayba (this book).
Al-Fara’idh.[2]
Nathrul La’ali’; about the Hadith.
[1] Ath-Tharee’a, vol.10 p.183.
[2] Ibid. vol.16 p.147.
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