The Minor Occultation:

When Imam Hassan al Askari (AS) martyred the office of divine leadership (Imamate) was transferred to the last luminous pearl of the household of the Holy Prophet Imam al-Mahdi (AS) although His Eminence did not appear amongst the people, some persons in whom the he had trust the confidence were allowed to visit him and present him the problems and questions of the Shiites. And in due time they conveyed the guidance of his eminence to the people.

Among the companions of Imam-e-Zaman , four became his most famous and confidential deputies who acted as mediators between the Imam and the people, and they are known as the as-Nawab-e-Arba'a (the four deputies).

1.Otham bin Saeed Omari

2.Abo Jaffar Muhammad bin Othman

3.Abol-Qasim hossain bin Roh Nawbakhti.

4.Abol-Hassan Ali bin Muhammad Saimari.

This honorable figure was the last special deputy (Naibol-Khass) of the holy Imam-e-Zaman (AS). Imam announced the death of Ali bin Muhammad and the end of the deputation.

The last letter of Imam-e-Zaman to Saimari:

In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful.

You are going to die in six days, may Allah grant patience to your brother's in faith on your departure. So, be prepared, but appoint no one in your place, because from the day of your death the period of my major occultation (al ghaybatul kubra) will begin. Hence forth, no one will see me, unless and until Allah makes me appear.

My reappearance will take place after a very long time when people will have grown tired of waiting and those who are weak in there faith will say: What! Is he still alive?

When will men become cruel and inconsiderate, and the world will bi full of injustice and violence. Very soon some men will claim to have see me. Beware! Anyone who makes such a claim before the coming out of Sufyani and the sound from heaven announcing my reappearance is a liar and impostor. There is no might or strength except in Allah.

As can be seen from this, it is the last order, in which the door of special deputation is closed by the death of Ali bin Muhammad; Hence, any one who claim to be a mediator, or claims that the Imam can be seen, is a lair.

Yes, the four deputies who were at the highest level of faith and confidence for many years were the blessed mediators between the Imam and the people till in the year 329 A.H. when the deputation was closed, and on the basis of the Divine Will the major occultation of Imam-e-Zaman, commenced. This was the very occultation, which was prophesied a log time previously by holy prophet and the Shiites Imam and Muslims keep patient in this period of test, till by the order of Almighty Allah, the awaited Imam will appear, and the Divine Aim will reach its fulfillment.

The Major Occultation

In the holy Imam traditions, the purpose of the Imam's going in to occultation is compared to the sun being behind the clouds yet being a source of vitality and life for living creatures, likewise; while the Imam is behind the curtain of occultation he is still a source of the existence and remaining of the world.

I asked Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A.S): How will people benefit from the hidden proof in the occultation? He replied: They will derive benefit when the sun is behind clouds.

In the Islamic tradition when the subject of occultation of the Twelfth Imam is discussed, reference is made to the complex nature of the Divine test, in this Divine test the faithful Shiites are distinguished from the others" and become as pure as a pure gold.

In Islamic tradition, a comparison is drawn between the sincere faithful of the Shiites and faith of a few followers of the prophet Nuh (AS), who remained faithful despite their very difficult, and who, by boarding the ark with prophet Nuh (AS), were save from the deluge.

Therefore, blessed are those who have passed this Divine test; we hope to be among their rank.

The Shiites During The Imam's Occultation

So now what is a duty of Shiite?

What responsibilities does he have?

Truly, are we reckoned among the real followers of His Eminence (Imam al Mahdi (AS))?

If we study the lives of the devout Shiites (followers) of the Holy Imams before the Twelfth Imam and consider their sacrifices without the slightest hesitation, we shall at once awake from our neglectful slumber and realize our weakness and guilt.

Were not Salman al-Farsi, Abo Zar al-Ghaffari, Ammar bin Yasir and Malik-e-Ashtar the followers of Imam Ali, Ameer al Momineen (AS), and are we too the followers of Imam of our Age?

Were not the martyrs of Karbala, who with love strove in the way of defending the Imam of their time, Hussein (AS), and were martyred, the followers of His Eminence, and are we too, who refuse to give our wealth, lives and other mean in the way of the Imam of our time, His Eminence's followers?

Is a person like Hisham bin Hakam, who in his extraordinary and valuable debates crushed and defamed the opponents of the Devine Leadership (Imamate) in such a way that he was called the "assistant of the Imam" by Imam as-Sadiq (AS), a Shiite? And are we too, who are sluggish in fulfilling our foremost duty to recognize the Imam of our time, Shiites?

From what we read of the glad tiding in the Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet and the infallible Imam, the Imam of the Age (Imam-e-Zaman) has special responsibilities that other Imams did not have Imam-e-Zaman will establish Universal Government. He will fill the earth with righteousness and justice, He will exploit the earth's treasures and natural resources, He will improve and develop the land, and in this way people's awareness and understanding will improve.

The duty of Shiites during the major occultation, is the Holy Imam have alluded to, so the question of being ready for the savior.

One who is waiting and preparing himself for the appearance of the Imam must have characters and merits of the companions of Imam al-Mahdi (AS). So, we should pray to Allah that He may include us among those who are waiting for the Imam of the age, and that our acts and conduct may also symbolize the truth of our claim.

Shiites must have a devout link with His Eminence during the occultation. Their prayers should be to ask for blessing of Allah to be showered on His Eminence, and their supplication should be of salvation. Their existence should be one welded and fused unit, and their life should blaze with love for him.