The signed letter of Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdi

This is about the signed letter of Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdi to Abul Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri informing him about beginning of the major occultation. He was believed by the Twelver Shia to be the expected Mahdi, an eschatological redeemer of Islam and the final Imam of the Twelve Imams. Tawqee (Arabic: تَوْقِيع‎) refers to letters that were signed by the Twelve Imams in Shia tradition.[1]

Part of a series on Islam
Shia Islam
Beliefs and practices
Holy days
History
Branches and sects
Ahl al-Kisa
Holy women
 Shia Islam portal
Not to be confused with the Tawqi‘ script.

Etymology

Etymology of Tawqee is from the verb waqaʿa (Arabic: وَقَعَ‎), which relates to throwing. Other meaning of it is a sign of camel’s saddle on its body. According to this meaning, Tawqee was a signature of Caliph or rulers on the letter of complaint.[2]

History

For first time, the word of signature was seen in narration of Musa al-Kadhim that was a signature of him at end of the letter. Also, Tawqee with this meaning was seen in some narrations of Ali al-Ridha. There is signature that related to Muhammad al-Jawad such as written answer of Imam to Ali al-Hadi question, detailed letter of Imam to Ali ibn Mahziar Ahvazi about religious law, khums and zakat. Also, Ali al-Hadi sent the signed letter to Ali ibn Mahziar Ahvazi. Between signatures of Hasan al-Askari had been nominated to answer of him to Suhail ibn Ziyad about Tawhid and difference of Shiites in matter of body. The using of Tawqee was expanded for Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdi. It was not to be limited to only his answers to questions.[3]

The signed letter of Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdi

At the end of The Minor Occultation, Imam wrote a letter to Abul Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri and informed him about beginning of the major occultation.[4] The signed letter by Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdi was shown in The book Kamāl al-Din by Ebn Bābuya for the first time.[1] During the Major Occultation, the only one who alleged that they received any taqees from Imam al-Mahdi was al-Shaykh al-Mufid.[5][3]

1. The supplication of Rajabiyah: According to narration of shaykh Tusi, this supplication is conveyed to the Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Uthman from Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdi.[6][7]

2. Ziyarat Al Yasin: According to narration of Shaykh Tabarsi in al-Ehtijaj, this Du'a is conveyed to the Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Haumeiri who was coeval of two people of the four deputies, from Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdi.[8]

3. Ziyarat al-nahiya al-Muqaddasa: It was one of the Husayn ibn Ali’s Ziyarat in Day of Ashura that narrated from Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdi. Al-Tabari and Tusi are some of scholars who confirmed the authenticity of Tawqee. Also, Sayyed Ibn Tawus in his book that named al-Iqbal li salih al-a'mal narrated it.[9][10]

See also

References
  1. Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (2007). ISLAM IN IRAN vii. THE CONCEPT OF MAHDI IN TWELVER SHIʿISM. Iranicaonline.
  2. Zobayi, Muhammad. Thesaurus. Islamic Knowledge Publication.
  3. Hadad Adel, Gholam Ali (1375). The Islamic world encyclopedia (in Persian). 3 (second ed.). Tehran: Islamic Encyclopedia Foundation. p. 577.
  4. ʻAbd al-Hādī Ḥāʼirī (1977). Shīʿīsm and Constitutionalism in Iran: A Study of the Role Played by the Persian Residents of Iraq in Iranian Politics. Brill Archive. pp. 58–. ISBN 90-04-04900-2.
  5. Klemm, Verena (15 December 2007). ISLAM IN IRAN ix. THE DEPUTIES OF MAHDI. Iranicaonline. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  6. Rajab, Sha'ban Ramadan. Sohale Sizar. pp. 55–. GGKEY:8QWR009T8F1.
  7. Seeking the Absolute. Sohale Sizar. pp. 28–. GGKEY:ACSQS74D624.
  8. Shahedi, Rohollah; Hoseini Kohsari, Seyyed Eshagh (2011). "Introduction of Al al-yasin Ziyarat". Entezare Maood (34): 35–54.
  9. Ehsanifar Langorodi, Muhammad (2003). "Validity of Ziyarat al-nahiya al-Muqaddasa". Hadith Sciences (30): 32–67.
  10. "ZIYARAT AL-NAHIYA AL-MUQADDASA". Retrieved 30 August 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.