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 The highlight of the month of Shabaan – rather of the entire year - is the birth anniversary of the saviour of all of humanity. This noble personality is one whom the various faiths and traditions of the world are awaiting and expecting to arrive for one main purpose – to establish the kingdom and rule of Allah upon this Earth. Through his rule, all forms of tyranny, oppression, injustice and inequality will be removed. Whereas he may be known by various names and titles in various languages, we know him as Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his return).

Born in the city of Samarrah in the year 255 A.H., his life was immediately in danger. Rather, even before his birth the ruling parties sought to prevent his coming into this world. The `Abbaside rulers knew well the ahaadith of the Prophet of the one who would come in the last days to remove all despotic governments and thus, they did all that they could to prevent his birth. However, they planned and Allah too plans and He is the best of planners and no matter how hard they tried to extinguish the Light of Allah, they were not able to!

We as the Shia and followers of this Imam have many responsibilities on our shoulders in regards to him – the foremost being that of having a Marifat of the Imam. The Prophet has told us that, “The person who dies and does not have a Marifat of the Imam of his time has died the death of those of the days of Ignorance (those who did not accept the message of the Prophet).” However, what does Marifat entail – is it not the same as having “Ilm” or knowledge of the Imam?

To sum this discussion up in one sentence “Ilm” and “Marifat” are two different things. The teachers of ‘Irfan tell us that “Ilm” or knowledge refers to the removal of our ignorance in regards to something through understanding the ‘essence’ of that thing. Thus, to have “Ilm” of the Imam would mean to know his physical being, creation and all other incidental features of the Imam – something which really has no benefit to us. However, to have “Marifat” of the Imam means to know his mission, how he will carry it out, what our responsibilities are and other such topics.

Thus, as we gear up to celebrate his 1,170 birth anniversary this week, let us try and gain maximum knowledge of what he expects from us and what we need to do to live up to the title of being a Shia or follower of Imam al-Mahdi.

Imam Al-Mahdi has said:
"I am Al-Mahdi and I am the still-living one who will establish justice throughout the world the same as it has been filled with oppression. Surely the earth will never remain without a witness, and people will not live in lack of a leader. Thus, do not retell this deposit except for your (Muslim) brothers who are Men of God." Kamal-ud-Din, p 445

Keep prayers to Allah for hastening the reappearance, hence it is your victory.

We pray to Allah (SWT) to keep us firm on His path, and to always protect us from negligence in discharging our duties towards Him and our Living Imam (A.J), and to also include us among the Imam (A.J) helpers and companions –Ameen

O Allah! Hasten the reappearance of our master Imam-e-Zamaana (a.t.f.s.) and enlist us among his helpers and soldiers! Aameen

Birth

The Sun of the existence of the twelveth Imam (A.S.) cast its reflection and enlightened and brightened the hearts of the Shias with its light.

The Abbasade caliphs and government functionaries had heard that the Imams are twelve people and that the last and final of them is the son of eleventh Imam Hassan Askari (A.S.) whose occultation will prolong, and he is the one who will form the world government.

The tyrant rulers were greatly and extremely alarmed and scared and wanted to stop it. But they were not aware that Pharos with his might and power and with all that barbaric massacre of the children and newly born babies could not stop the God's will to materialize. He was looking for and searching Musa/Moses [A.S.] from house to house but was bringing up; his wanted one in his own lap. Motamid, the Abbasade caliph, who was the Pharos of his age, was extremely vigilant and watchful about the Imam's house. When eleventh Imam (A.S.) was poisoned and taken from the prison to his house, in a feeble condition, he sent five of the courtiers along with him so that they may be vigilant and alert and inform him about any occurrence or incident taking shape at his house.

Then he sent a group of mid wives to the house of eleventh Imam (A.S.) so that they keep an eye upon the wife of Imam (A.S.).

Samarah immersed into disturbance and lamentations upon the martyrdom of eleventh Imam (A.S.). All the people by closing their places of work moved towards Imam's (A.S.) house. They carried the corpse upon their hands for the burial ceremonies in a much grand, splendid and magnificent way.

The Abbasade caliph got much harassed and bewildered at such movement of the masses. He was trying hard to cover up his crime and manifest the martyrdom of Imam (A.S.) as a natural death.

Motamid sent his brother to attend the burial rituals and take evidence, and make people a witness that nobody had killed the Imam (A.S.). On the other side, he took up the work of distributing the wealth of Imam (A.S.) so as to show that Imam (A.S.) has left over no son who could offer the funeral prayer and be the heir to his property.

But inspite of the entire efforts God's behest took place and the son of Imam (A.S.) was five years old when his father was martyred. He achieved the station of Imamate in that age, just as the Christ (A.S.) was appointed Prophet while he was in the cradle.

He, in the same age, when they laid the corpse of his father, and his uncle who was not a good man wanted to lead the funeral prayers, pushed his uncle aside and led the prayer assembly himself.

After the prayers he disappeared from the sights. From the very age of Imam Hassan Askari (A.S.), the Shias had seen him in his father's house and had heard the recommendations he did about his son. After the martyrdom of his father they kept in contact with him for a long time.

Circumstances of Imam's (A.S.) Birth

Hakima, the aunt of Imam (A.S.) says, "I had gone to the house of my nephew, on Thursday in the mid of shabaan's month. When I wanted to say good-bye and ask for permission to leave. Imam (A.S.) said, "Oh aunty do stay tonight with us because our son will come to the world." I was much overjoyed and happy and went to Narjis (mother of Imam-e-Zaman) but I did not find any clue and sign of pregnancy in her. Astonished and surprised as I was, I said to myself, I do not see any sign of child's birth. At this moment Imam (A.S.) came to me and said, "Oh aunty don't be sad Narjis is like the mother of Musa (A.S.) and the baby is like Musa (A.S.), who was born secretly and without any signs and symbols. Go to Narjis she will (bear) bring her child to the world at morning (Azzan time [dawn time]). I became glad and stayed with Narjis and the way Imam (A.S.) had said the signs of pregnancy appeared before sunrise. A sphere of light came into existence in between her and myself so that I could not see Narjis any longer. I got scared and came out of the room and contacted Imam (A.S.) and told him about the matter. He smiled and said, "Turn back, after a few moments so you will see him."

I returned to the room and saw that newly born baby was prostrating whereas he had raised his finger towards the sky, calling remembering his God with graciousness, grandeur and oneness and praising Him.