Twelver Occultation (Islam)

1 twelver

1.1 minor occultation

1.1.1 system of deputy


1.2 major occultation

twelver

in twelver shia islam, largest branch of shia faith, twelfth imam, muhammad al-mahdi, went occultation in 874. occultation split minor occultation , major occultation. according shia, there reasons occultation: imam being afraid of being killed, not under oath of tyrant rulers, shia examined god.

minor occultation

the minor occultation (ghaybat al-sughra) refers period when twelver shia believe imam still maintained contact followers via deputies (arab. an-nuwāb al-arbaʻa). during period, 874-941, deputies represented him , acted agents between him , followers.

shia believe in 873, after death of father al-`askari, eleventh imam, 12th imam hidden authorities of `abbasid caliphate precaution. whereabouts disclosed select few. 4 close associates of father became mediators known saf’ir, or between imam , followers, until year 941. period considered twelvers first, or minor occultation (al-ghayba).

when believers faced difficulty, write concerns , send them deputy. deputy receive decision of imam, endorse seal , signature, , return concerned parties. deputies collected zakat , khums on behalf. shia, idea of consulting hidden imam not new, because 2 prior shia imams had, on occasion, met followers behind curtain.

system of deputy

according twelvers, under critical situation caused abbasides, ja afar al-sadiq first base underground system of communication in shia community. time of al-javad, agents took tactic of al-taqiyya take part in government. time of al-reza, imams under direct control of authorities , direct contact between imam , community disconnected. situation led increase in role of deputies. deputies undertook tasks of imams release them pressure of abbasids. shi tradition holds 4 deputies acted in succession:

in 941 (329 ah), fourth deputy announced order muhammad al-mahdi deputy die, deputyship end, , major occultation begin.

the fourth deputy died 6 days later, , twelvers continue await reappearance of mahdi. in same year, many notable shi scholars such ali ibn babwayh qummi , muhammad ibn yaqub kulayni, learned compiler of al-kafi died.

major occultation

the major occultation denotes second, longer portion of occultation, continues present day. shia believe, based on last saf’ir s deathbed message, twelfth imam had decided not appoint deputy. thus, al-samarri s death marked beginning of second or major occultation. according last letter of muhammad al-mahdi ali ibn muhammad al-samarri,

from day of death [the last deputy] period of major occultation begin. henceforth, no 1 see me, unless , until allah makes me appear. reappearance take place after long time when people have grown tired of waiting , weak in faith say: what! still alive?

rest assured, no 1 has special relationship god. whoever denies me not (community). appearance of relief depends solely upon god. therefore, propose time liars. benefit of existence in occultation, benefit of sun behind clouds eyes not see it. - kitab al-kafi, muhammad ibn ya qub al-kulayni

with regard advice followers during absence, reported have said: refer transmitters of our traditions, hujja (proof) unto , god’s proof unto them.