Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Musawi Isfahani

In the year 1330 A.H. the author traveled to the Holy Mecca to perform the Hajj. At that time there was a terrible epidemic of plague in Mecca and innumerable Hajis and pilgrims succumbed to it. The author made a vow that if he reaches his hometown safely he would write this book. Upon returning home he fulfilled his vow.

If at this point someone says: What is the difference between ‘no Imam’ and ‘an Imam who is out of the sight of the people’? We would say: first of all since the obstacle for the reappearance of His Eminence is from the side of the people themselves it is not having contradiction against divine grace and it does not prove that there is no need of His Eminence. Rather it is incumbent on the people that they must remove the obstacles to reappearance so that they may benefit from his holy presence and that they may gain from his various sciences and recognitions.

Secondly: The occultation of His Eminence is not in all the times and from all the people. Rather a large number of senior believers had the chance to meet the Imam and had access to him. Their incidents are mentioned in books of senior scholars but quoting them right now is beyond the scope of this topic and since the incidents are narrated by a large number of people we can be certain of their authenticity.

Thirdly: The benefits of the blessed being of His Eminence are not restricted to explanation of the sciences, rather all the benefits and divine graces that reach the creatures are through the Barakat of his being as will be explained in Part Three of this book, if the Almighty Allah wills.

(as) wrote in reply: If you have a need, move your lips (in speech) and you shall get the reply of all of them.”21

Holy Prophet (S) that he said:
“Mahdi is from my progeny. His name is same as mine and his patronymic is same as mine. He is most closely resembling me in manners and behavior. There is an occultation and perplexity for him, during which period, communities will deviate. Then he would reappear like a brilliant (shooting) star and fill up the earth with justice and equity as it would be fraught with injustice and oppression.”1

His Eminence also said:
“Blessed be those who are fortunate to live in the time of Qaim of my Ahle Bayt. Those who would believe in him during his occultation and before his advent, who would love his friends and remain aloof from his enemies. Such people would be my closest ones and my friends on the Day of Judgment.”