A description of the collection (Mawsu’ah/Encyclopedia):

Kalimah al-Imam al-Mahdi al-Hujjat ibn al-Hassan al-‘Askari (‘Alayhima al-Salaam)

Words of Imam Mahdi, Hujjat son of ‘Askari (Salaam Be Upon Them, SBUT) 

[7 volumes in Arabic and Persian, 640 pages per volume]

Corrector-Researcher: Hassan Tajeri

Publisher: Afagh publishing company, Tehran, Iran

www.afaghbook.com 

Main pillars of Religion comprehension

Comprehension of the Divine Religion of Islam and finding the Path of growth and guidance are founded upon two main pillars, i.e. the Book and the Sunnah: The Book is the Word of Allah And the treasure and fountainhead of beliefs, rites and rules; the same Qur’an which is light and guidance, knowledge and wisdom, grace and mercy, proof and exhortation, healing and blessing, and reminder and insight; the Book which is universal and eternal and in all times and places, it answers all needs and separates the Truth from falsehood; but it is not self-teaching and teacherless. Its vital and priceless heritage is with the Seal of Prophets, Hazrat Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah (SBUH & HP). All particularities and excellences and limpid fountains of doctrinal guidances and cognitional  foundations and Holy graces are manifested at the capable hands of the noble Messenger of Allah with whom is the Knowledge of the Book [*], which comprises the sayings and doings and confirmations of the Holy Messenger of Allah (SBUH & HP), having been named the Sunnah. By that Allah’s beloved, the Muhkamat and the Mutashabihat and the Mujmalat and the Mubhamat and the Ta’wil and the Tafsir of Verses of the Qur’an are presented.

[*] Qur’an 13:44

Teachers of Qur’an

The Infallible Successors of the Seal of Prophets (SBUT), by seeking assistance from Qur’an and Sunnah, are the teachers of the continuation of the Path of the Prophet and have the responsibility of the clarification, fulfillment and continuity of those two pillars (i.e. the Book and the Sunnah) so that Religious teachings regarding cognitional  foundations, doctrinal issues and hidden Truths of the Word of Allah- which the Ummah needs for correct and deep understanding of the Religion- do continue and humans- at the most complete manner- do realize Islam’s doctrinal, jurisprudential and practical obligations, moralities and social rules. The secret behind the Word of Allah remaining immune and being the Proof- that contains all the Truth of existence and clarification of all things and is living and lasting- is because of these Infallible personalities who are the Ahl of al-Dhikr and whose hearts are the original place for Descent of Divine Revelation and Knowledge. These Holy personages are the most qualified individuals for teaching, interpreting and explaining the Truths of the Divine Book and they have been appointed by the Sublime Allah and they are the followers and the manifestation of the Book and they are the Speaking Word of Allah and the ‘Itrat of the Prophet.

The two precious and lasting Prophetic heritage: Qur’an and ‘Itrat, are two inseparable bases to which the Ummah, in absence of the Prophet of Allah, must cling to, for moving in the Path of guidance and salvation and not falling in the path of perdition. They- who do not refer to these two inseparable heritages and do not obey and follow the Infallible Successors of the Prophet (SBUT)- part from the True Islam and the Word of Allah too remains forsaken in their hands; for, obedience of the Successors of the Prophet is the obedience of Allah and His Messenger.

Worth of words

The precious words of those suns of guidance- whom Allah has chosen for clarification of the eternal Religion of Islam and for leading humankind in dangerous life paths- in comprehension of the Religion, beliefs, moralities, obligations and hidden Truths of the Word of Allah, is a luminous light guiding humans towards Allah and the servitude and worship of the All-Loving and Ever-Independent Creator; words which stem from Allah-Bestowed Knowledge and clear darknesses of ignorance, polytheism, hypocrisy and disbelief, and illuminate human paths in life, and show the path of felicity, and express human duties.

The brilliant soul, inner limpidity, pure and ocean-like innate and heart of these unique lofty men coupled with Allah-Bestowed celestial Knowledges, purify their words- which possess the firmness of mountains, limpidity and height of sky and harmony of ocean waves- from all imperfections of words, and  place them, unrivaled, on the throne of eloquence, articulacy and meaningfulness; words like graceful and meaningful chants- which, while being fluent and simple- are moving, guiding and aimful, and in which life, purity and sacredness sparkle. Said so beautifully the fifth of them, Hazrat Baqir al-‘Ulum (SBUH):

“Indeed our words vivify hearts.”

Now during the Imamate of the twelfth Imam of Guidance- which the sustenance of existence and the stability   of the earth and the heavens are from the blessing of his existence- we have become deprived of meeting that world-brightening sun and we are not like the people of the past who used to see their Imam present in the society and hasten to meet with him and benefit from his Divine Knowledge and find the Path of Guidance. Of course the life of the Disappeared Imam (May Allah Hasten his Appearance, ATFS) during Occultation is not a personal, private and trouble-free life; rather he has a social and full life as an Imam and Hujjat of Allah, and not knowing his whereabouts does not nullify the sustainment and continuity of that beloved’s Positions. When problems, so to speak, bend one’s back and hopelessness casts its shadow on the person, the living Imam does not withhold his Guardianship from him and helps in times of distress; he writes letters; shows the way; resolves doubts; kindles the candles of hearts with the light of Guidance; manifests Divine Knowledges in the form of prayers and pilgrimage supplications; eliminates material and spiritual, worldly and otherworldly, individual and social needs; he sometimes delivers a lost person to his destination; other times he guides scholars; another time he teaches a high level scholar the method of debating; … and he (SBUH) performs his Imamate responsibility in the best manner. Although that magnanimous and munificent Imam, to protect his life, lives unrecognized in the society, he does, by Allah’s Permission, what he considers wise, advisable and duty, and he has beneficences, blessings, hidden favors, Divine graces and bounteous effects for the entire existence, and every year he is present during the Hajj season. That Hazrat is the Channel of Grace between the beings and the Creator of the world, and he is the soul of the world, and the safety and security of the earth, and the protector of Allah’s Religion, and the guardian of people. The Position of being Proof, Position of Knowledge, Position of Guidance, Position of Wilayat, Position of resolving differences, Position of helping and redressing, Position of fatherhood and other Positions of the Imam (SBUH) are standing and continuous, and the earth is not void of him.

Amir al-Mo’menin has asserted:

“The earth is not void of the Rising (Qa’im) Hujjat of Allah, whether manifest and known or concealed and fearful, so that His clear proofs and signs would not become extinct …”

Gathering the priceless heritage of the Infallible Imams’ (PBUT) words, and specifically Hazrat Mahdi (ATFS)’s, during almost twelve centuries- which have been in authentic sources and documents and have been a main pillar in understanding and cognition of the Religion of Islam- has not been an unprecedented work among scholars. The elite of the Shia, and the foremost of them all: Shaykh AbuJa’far Saduq, Shaykh al-Ta’ifah abuJa’far Tusi, Shaykh AbuMansur Tabrisi, ‘Allamah Muhammad Baqir Majlisi and … have devoted sections in their Narrational books to Tawqi’at (signed letters), written communications, prayers, pilgrimage supplications, Tasharrufat (meetings), statements, messages and dreams related to Hazrat Mahdi (ATFS).

Words of Hazrat Mahdi (ATFS) are a cognitional treasure containing the expanse of many needs of the Occultation Era of the twelfth Imam of Guidance, with various contents in clarifying beliefs and rules of worship, teaching prayers and pilgrimage (Ziyara) and Salahs and Dhikrs, exegetic points, historical facts, ethical exhortations, benefits of the Imam’s existing, introducing false Mahdi Claimants and deviated sects, rebuking traitors and exaggerators, appointing Nuwwabs, praising and authenticating deputies, anticipation of Faraj (Appearance …), Position of the AhlulBayt (SBUT), duties of the Shi’a during the Era of Occultation, meeting needs and solving problems and healing diseases, guiding the Shi’a and representatives, warding off dangers, ultimate victory of the Truth, defending and supporting followers, financial aids and helps, prophesying future events and times of death, choosing traveling companion, paying religious dues, condolence message for mourning families, permission for Hajj, declaring wealth impurities, praying for childbearing, fetal gender determination and name assignment, redressing and many more cases … which although each has been issued for specific instances; yet they are useful and educational for all followers.  

It is noteworthy to mention that words and writings of Hazrat Wali ‘Asr (ATFS) during over one thousand and one hundred eighty years of Occultation are not limited to these which have reached us; there have most probably been many who have received blessed handwritings of the Hujjatullah and said nothing until their last breaths and history has not recorded those words or letters, and there have most probably been many who have hearkened to his statements and messages and have not informed anyone!

To be continued …