Shab-e-Barat SpecialEdition 

Title:- "Importance of Shab-e-Barat". OR World is waiting for Justice".

The Blessing Night between 14 and 15 shaban is also known as shab-e-barat(the night of mercy) celebrated all over the globe by muslims.According to some traditions on this night the timetable of work of the believers comes for whole year.While according to one of the prominent traditions according to muslim history this night is also related to awaited global saviour Hazrat Imam Mahdi(a.s) for whom the whole of world is waiting.According to Poet

WORLD is waiting for justice

JUSTICE is waiting for Mahdi

Anyhow this blessed night of mid shaban also known as neema shaban & Shab-e-barat is very important for all sects of islam either sunni or shia muslims

The Holy Prophet (SAWW) said: "One who dies without recognizing the Imam of his time dies the death of the Age of Ignorance (before the advent of Islam)"......If any one want to know more information about the idealogy of awaited global Saviour Hazrat Imam Mahdi(a.s), can watch and visit this website in more than forty international languages including english.   www.imamalmahdi.com

The belief in the Mahdi(a.s) is not only an essential doctrine deep-rooted in Islamic faith but rather it is an embodiment of human nature regardless of one’s religious affiliations. For it is the universal desire of humans as a whole to try to achieve or at least witness the realization of the ultimate objective of their existence, through which they will achieve perfection and social happiness in their entirety. Therefore by reason of inner necessity and inspiration, humans will see a day when society will be replete with justice.

More importantly, from a religious perspective the concept of the Mahdi is the culmination of human struggle in their path towards God the Almighty. It is when true Justice will be established through human hands but with Divine succour resulting in the prevalence of truth over falsehood and all its offshoots.

And say: Truth hath come and falsehood hath vanished away. Lo! falsehood is ever bound to vanish. [Holy Quran: Chapter 17, Verse 81]

Having identified that the need for the Mahdi is a subject of inner necessity that is instilled into the hearts of human beings, it is essential to outline the duties of the human race as a whole in trying to achieve a purgatory state of social felicity in the outward absence of the Mahdi that would lay a foundation for his imminent reappearance.

This goal and its realisation however, prompts one to question the fundamental motive behind the concealment of the Mahdi despite when social and political factors are welcoming to his presence and his precepts. To this we say: Indeed, this is exactly where the problem lies! The principle reason for the delay in the reappearance of the Mahdi is that his followers are not ready to acknowledge the perfect leader and the perfect ideology, rather more correctly they have not prepared themselves for his coming and the system that is to be established by him. This is clearly mentioned by the Imam himself in one of his narrations:

‘If our (followers), may Allah help and succeed them to His obedience, were united in wholeheartedly honouring the promise and obligation that is upon them, there would have been no delay in meeting us (i.e. in our reappearance), and bliss and felicity for them would have hastened by seeing us with full knowledge and certainty of testifying to our (leadership)’ - [Bihar Al-Anwaar, Ch. 53, Pg. 177]

Therefore, each and every one of us has to be very cognisant of their acts in relation to the part we play during the occultation of the Mahdi. This period has been like none other before nor is the test set upon the Muslim Ummah and humanity at large like any before. With lack of direct contact with the divine leader of the time and the many injustices that have overwhelmed today’s society resulting in moral demise and social injustice, the resort of the believers is in seeking the help of Allah (SWT) and beseeching Him to hasten in the reappearance of the Mahdi and his promised victory.

Strong faith in the promised triumph in the midst of injustice and darkness is a means of separating the true believers from the rest. A brief look into history shows endless of these so-called followers who eventually betrayed their leaders and thus put eternal shame and disgrace on themselves. A perfect example being the story of the inhabitants of Kufah at the time of the great ancestor of the Mahdi, Husayn son of Ali, for whom he weeps blood each day until the day of his reappearance.

The world will not come to an end," said the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), " until a man from my family (Ahlulbayt) and of my name shall be master of the world, When you see a green ensign coming from the direction of Khorasan, then join them, for the Imam of God will be with the standards who will be called Al-Mahdi."

"The Mahdi will be descended from me; he will be a man with an open countenance and a face with a high nose. He will fill the earth with equity and with justice, just as it has been filled with tyranny and oppression." (Biharul Anwar, Majlisi)

Imam Muhammad Abul Qasim (Al-Mahdi)(AS), the last in the line of the Twelve Ithna Ashari Imams was born on 15th Shabaan 255 Hijri in Samarra, Iraq. His father was the Eleventh Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) and his mother was Nargis Khatoon, grand daughter of the Emperor of Rum.

It was 8th Rabi ul-Awwal 260 Hijri when our Twelfth Imam led the funeral prayer of his father Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS). He was only Five years old, yet the whole crowd of Muslims including the Abbasid caliph of that time Al-Mu'tamid followed the young Imam without question. Once the prayers were over and the Imam went inside the house, that the Caliph realized the full implication and significance of the occasion and he immediately ordered his soldiers to enter the house and search for the young Imam. They did not find any one inside the house. The Caliph was very angry at this incompetence of ministers and other officials who were unable to find a boy of five who had just led the prayers and had just disappeared. The caliph had no inkling of the secrets that God did not want to reveal. He went back to his palace and into the luxurious life of a playboy king while the world around him squeezed his empire into oblivion.

The Imam's period of lesser concealment began immediately after he led the funeral prayers and disappeared inside the house. This was in the year 260 Hijri.

The doctrine of 'Ghaiba' or concealment, declares simply that the Imam has been withdrawn by God from the eyes of people, that his life has been miraculously prolonged, that he has been seen from time to time, has been in correspondence with others, and has maintained a control over the guidance of the followers and the believers and the safety of Islam from its enemies.

In the following we shall try to bring some evidence from the Qur'an and the authentic Hadith of the Prophet to prove the point to interested readers.

This is an essential belief that Imam Muhammad Al-Mahdi (AS) Sahibuz zaman, is alive and guide's his followers whenever such need arises. This is based on the verses of the Holy Qur'an that express the idea of Divine Guidance through the Prophets and Imams. "And among those whom we have created are a people who guide others with truth and in accordance therewith act justly". (Sura vii V 180)

"We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. (Sura 2, V.155)

A great Hanafi scholar Muhammad Ibn Muslim cites Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq (AS) explaining the meaning of the above Verse. Imam indicated that there would be signs indicating the coming (reappearance) of Al-Mahdi (AS) which are the means whereby God tests the faithful. "Something of fear" is a reference to masses perishing by contagious diseases; "hunger" is a reference to high prices of foodstuffs; "Some loss in goods" is a reference to scarcity and famines; "Lives" is a reference to mass destruction of human lives, probably global wars; "Fruits" is a reference to lengthy periods of droughts; so when all that happens, then give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere."

"This is its interpretation," continued the Imam , quoting Verse 7 of Sura 3, which indicates that "only those who are firmly grounded in knowledge are capable of interpreting the verses of the Holy Qur'an", adding, " We the Ahlulbayt are the ones firmly grounded in knowledge".

In the book "Yanabi Al-Muaddah", the Hanafi scholar and Mufti of Istanbul during the Osmani Caliphate in Turkey writes on page 321, quoting Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq (AS) interpreting Verse 83, Sura III of the Holy Qur'an comments as follows:- " When the Qa'im Al-Mahdi reappears, there will be no land on earth where the Kalima is not said. "This could be a reference to the fact that by the time Al-Mahdi reappears, all continents of the world will have Muslim populations. They already do now.

After presenting the above proofs from the Qur'an, the following are authentic traditions from the Prophet of God regarding Imam Mahdi (AS).

At the end of Vol.2 of Fara'idh Al-simtain and on page 269 Ibn Khaldun's 'Mukaddimah' , it is related from Ibn Abbas, that the Holy Prophet (SAW) said, " Ali is Imam of my nation and my successor therein after me, and among his offspring is the awaited Qa'im who shall fill the world with justice and equity as it was filled with injustice and oppression. The Prophet further elaborates, "Beware of doubting, for to doubt the order of God, the Mighty, the Sublime, is apostasy (Kufr). Ibn Khaldun also states that "When imprisoned with his mother in the house, he entered a sort of well or pit in the house that his family occupies at Samarrah, Iraq, and there he disappeared, but he is to come forth at the end of the age to fill the earth with justice".

Allama Jalaluddin Suyuti quotes in his book Jalalul-Oyun Vol.6 page 50. "The Hour shall not come till Al-Mahdi takes charge on earth on my behalf," said the Messenger of God. Allama Suyuti also quotes Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal that famous companion Abu Said Khadhri quoting the Messenger of God saying, "I bring you glad tidings of Al-Mahdi, God shall send him to my nation, in a time different from your own, and after a series of earthquakes, and he shall fill the earth with justice and equity as it was filled with injustice and oppression. He shall distribute the wealth equitably among the inhabitants of the earth. In the manual in which he sets forth the many duties and privileges of pilgrims, Majlisi has given an accepted form for a short letter in Arabic, which anyone can write, and sent to his Imam of the age. It may be placed on the tomb of any of the Imams, or it may be fastened and sealed, and covered with clean earth and cast into the sea or river or a deep well. In any case it will reach the Hidden Imam and he will give his personal attention.

There is a famous saying of Imam Hussain (AS) about the twelfth Imam. "The Ninth of my descendants is the Imam who will rise with the Truth. God will grant life to earth through him after its death. The true faith will supersede all religions through him. His absence shall be lengthy during which many people will go astray. Only a few will remain on the Right Path. They shall suffer pains; people will put pressure on them, saying," let us know when this promise of the Return of the Mahdi is fulfilled". Those who will bear the pains and denials patiently will get the same rewards as those who accompanied the Prophet during his expeditions for Jihad."

Imam Zainul Abedeen (AS) has said, " Of us one will be born whose birth will remain secret so much so that the people will say that he was not born at all."

Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (AS) is quoted by Kulaini in Al-Kafi, "Nine Imams after Hussain are destined, and the last of them will be Al-Qaim."

Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (AS) is quoted in Ilal al-shaa'i saying, "The fifth of the descendants of my son Musa will be the Qa'im a descendant of the Prophet (SAW).

Imam Musa Ibn Ja'afar (AS) was asked once, "Are the Qa'im with the truth?" The Imam replied, "I also rise truthfully, but the real Qa'im is he who will remove the enemies of God from earth and will fill it with justice. He shall be my fifth descendant. His absence will be lengthy during which multitudes will turn away from the faith while only a few will uphold it".

Imam Ali Al-Reza (AS) in the above saying of Imam Hussain (AS) that due to the excessive the length of the concealment of the 12th Imam many believers will have doubts about his existence. Many will question the very longevity of his life and the usefulness of his presence as an Imam. Reza said, "O Da'bil, my son Muhammad (AS) will come when I am gone. After him, his great grand son will be named Muhammad (AS) who will be the Qa'im. He will be awaited during his absence. When he appears, the world shall bow down before him."

Imam Muhammad Taqi (AS) has said "The Qa'im will be from amongst us the third of my descendants".

Imam Ali Naqi (AS) said, "My successor will be my son Hasan; but what will be your condition during the reign of Hasan's successor"? Those who were present asked, "Why, what do you mean by that"? Imam replied, "You will not have the chance to see him, later you will not be allowed to mention his name". Then the Imam was asked as to how they should mention him. Imam replied, "You may say that he is the last of Muhammad's (infallible) descendants."

Some people asked Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS), "Your forefathers have said that the earth would never be without knowing the sign of Allah (Hujjatullah) till Doomsday, and he who dies without knowing the Imam of his time will die the death of ignorance". Imam replied, "That was as true as the shining day. They inquired as to who would be the Imam who would be the sign of the Mercy of God after his death, Imam replied, "He will be my son, the name sake of the Holy Prophet (Muhammad Abul Qasim). He who died without knowing him will die the death of ignorance. His absence will be so lengthy that the ignorant will wander puzzled and would surely stray from the Right Path. But the Righteous shall remain steadfast and pray for their Imam to appear within their life time".

All these predictions were recorded since the time of the Holy Prophet who himself prophesied the advent of the Mahdi.

As in the above saying of Imam Hussain (AS) that due to the excessive length of the concealment of the 12th Imam many believers will have doubts about his existence. Many will question the very longevity of his life and the usefulness of his presence as an Imam.

To the question of existence, we have seen above the many Verses from the Qur'an and Hadith of the Prophet and all the Eleven Imams. We have also read quotations from the Books of Ahlul Sunna wal Jama'a and many scholars and philosophers from the earliest times to the present.

As far as the longevity of his life, in Qur'anic terms it is not difficult to explain. Prophet Jesus is alive and will come out with the 12th Imam. Prophet Sheeth and Prophet Khidhr are still alive according to the Verdict of the Qur'an. If God keeps his guided ones alive for a certain purpose there should not be any doubt.

As for the usefulness of his concealed existence, there are numerous occasions when the Imam miraculously helped those who called him for help.

During the period of Ghaibat-e-Sughra (the period of lesser concealment) from the time of the death of his father Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) in the year 260 Hijri, our 12th Imam was seen only by a few people who were appointed his ambassadors (Safeer) on his behalf to convey his teachings to the believers. These Four Ambassadors were as follows:

1. Abu Amr Uthman Ibn Sa'id Al-Asadi. He was a deputy of 10th Imam Ali Naqi (AS) and after his death, of the 11th Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) and after his death, of our 12th Imam.

Having performed these duties of conveying the messages from the Imam to the believers and the teachings of Ahlulbayt, he died in Baghdad and was buried there.

2. Abu Ja'afar Muhammad Ibn Othman Al Amri, the son of the first Ambassador was appointed the 2nd Safeer of our 12th Imam. He died in 305 Hijri (917 AD).

3. Abul Qasim Hussain Ibn Rauh Nawbakhti was appointed the Imam's 3rd Safeer. He was a top ranking scholar and Faqeeh, renowned for his knowledge of all Islamic sciences. He was also a very pious man. Under the directions of the 12th Imam, his 3rd Safeer Hussain Ibn Rauh performed his duties as Safeer for the next 15 years. He died in the year 320 Hijri.

4. Abul Hasan Ali Ibn Muhammad Al-Samari. He was the last Safeer of the 12th Imam, succeeding Hussain Ibn Rauh as directed by the Imam. He performed his duties for 9 years and died on the 15th Shabaan 329 Hijri (May 15, 941 AD). Having being asked on his deathbed as to who would succeed him, he replied: Providence now wishes to give the matter another shape the duration of which is known to God alone."

After Abul Hasan there was no Safeer. In this sorrowful year, i.e. 329 Hijri, many scholars such as Ali Ibn Babwayh Qummi and Muhammad Ibn Yaqub Kulaini, the learned compiler of al-Kafi also died. Besides these events, an extra ordinary phenomenon was also witnessed. In the sky so many stars did shoot that it seemed as if Doomsday had come. That year was named as the year of the dispersal of stars. After this, followed a dark period because no saffeer was left to directly approach the Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). It is also related that Imam himself told his last Safeer that there will not be any more appointments of Sofara. When asked what the believers would do, the Imam replied, "Follow the Foqaha of our Deen, those who have knowledge of Qur'an, who protect Deen and would not follow their own desires".

It is therefore necessary for everyone to work tirelessly for this objective and to remember that this mission is the only legitimate solution to the problems faced by mankind at large. It is the responsibility of everyone to remind those around them of this sacred mission and it is likewise their responsibility to sacrifice their time, efforts and even their finances for the cause of the awaited Imam(Global saviour Hazrat Imam Mahdi(a.s).

It is a frequent saying amongst many Muslims, when they remember the martyrs of Karbala to chant: "If only we were with you, for surely we would have been victorious." We today have that option, we have an Imam in occultation waiting for us to reach out towards him. He is patiently waiting for that time to come where a small group of people would truly be of his followers such that he may appear and lead this Ummah towards salvation, and yet we as a people sit and do nothing.So it is responisibilty of all muslims on occasion of shab-e-Barat to be prepare for the awaited saviour Inshlal who will defeat the world imperialisim & oppressors like Shatan-e-bozorg USA & its illegal son Israel.May almighty Allah give us energy to work for the revolution of awaited global saviour hazrat Imam Mahdi(a.s).

IMPORTANT SYMPTOMS OF THE ARRIVAL OF IMAM AL-MAHDI(A.S):-

There are copious traditions, narrated by Shias and Sunnis, to the effect that Imam Al-Mahdi [atf] will reappear when the earth is filled with injustice and oppression, and he will come to fill the earth with justice and equity. No one knows that exact timing of his reappearance, as this knowledge is reserved solely to Allah [swt]. However, in the narrations of Ahlul Bayt [a], many signs of his reappearance have been mentioned. These signs indicate that his reappearance is drawing closer and closer. Some of these signs are definite and indicate that he will reappear within a number of years or months only, while others are indefinite and generally state the pervasive condition of the world as his reappearance draws closer.

These signs first serve to corroborate the veracity of the holy Prophet [s] and the infallible Imams [a], and second to prepare us and raise awareness amongst us so that once they do occur we are alert to them and know how to react. When one knows what to expect, he or she will generally be confronted with less problems, and matters will go as planned.

FIVE Definate Signs of Arrival
1- al-Yamani
2- al-Sufyani
3- al-sayha or the heavenly call
4- murder of nafs alzakiyaa or pure soul
5- sink into al-Baydaa

NOTE:- al-yamani is character of good which will be with army of Imam Mahdi(a.s) while al-sufyani is character of evil and it will

be from sons of abu sufyan the worst enemy of Islama. The current ongoing conflict in Midlle East have also symptoms like.

The Signs of the Appearance (Zuhur) of the Mahdi

" What Remains with Allah is better for you if you are believers (11:86)"

1-The Teachings of Islam Will Be Proclaimed to the World from Qumm:

Imam Sadiq(a.s) says:

Very soon Kufa Iraq will be empty of the believers. [Religious] knowledge will disappear from that region the way a snake disappears from its abode into a hole in the earth, [without leaving any trace]. Then it will reappear in the city known as Qumm. That city will become the treasure of religious knowledge and excellence. From there it will spread throughout the world, thoroughly eliminating ignorance in matters of religion among the destitute, including women [who will participate in this process of learning anew about Islam].
This will happen close to the appearance of our Qa'im. In this way, God will make Qumm  Iran and its inhabitants a substitute for His proof. If it does not happen so, the earth will sink, engulfing its inhabitants, and there will remain no proof. Religious knowledge will spread across nations from Qumm and God's proof will have been provided to all people in such a way that there will not be a single person on earth who will not have heard about the religion and its wisdom. It will be following this event that our Qa'im will appear. God's punishment and tribulation will be ready for execution, because God exacts His revenge only when the people have rejected His proof.(Safinat al-bihar, hadith related under 'Qumm.' )

Imam 'Ali b. Abi Talib predicted the following about Qumm:

There will be a man from Qumm(Insha Alla the man is Imam Khomainii) who will call people towards truth. Some will respond to his call and will rally around him like pieces of iron [that are drawn towards a magnet]. Strong winds will not be able to move them from their place. They will not be tired of warfare and will be fearless. They trust in none but God. At the end the victory is for those who are godfearing. (Bihar al-anwar, Vol. 60, p. 216. )

Imam Baqir says:

The Master of the Command was named as the Mahdi because he will dig out the Torah and other heavenly books from the cave in Antioch. He will judge among the people of the Torah according to the Torah; among the people of the Gospel according to the Gospel; among the people of the Psalms in accordance with the Psalms; among the people of the Qur'an in accordance with the Qur'an.(Nu'mani, Kitab al-ghayba, p.237.)

More Symptoms & DETAILS can be find at by watching and visit this website in more than forty international languages including English.   www.imamalmahdi.com

(The end)

Essay Written Compiled & Contributed By:-   S  H  Bangash