THE MIRACLE AND THE LONG LIFE

In The Name Of God

---

THE MIRACLE AND THE LONG LIFE

 

Up to now we have seen that the prolongation of life is scientifically possible. But let us suppose that it is not, that the process of old-age and decrepitude is

quite rigid, that it cannot either now or in the long run overcome nor alter its conditions or

circumstances - what will this meanۀ

It will mean that the prolongation of human life - as is the case of Noah, or al-Mahdi - runs contrary to the natural laws which science confirmed thanks to modern instruments of experimentation. Thus this condition becomes a miracle that has hindered the applicability of a natural law under a certain circumstances, in order to preserve the life of a particular individual whose role is to cherish the Divine message.

Yet this is not the only miracle of its kind, nor is it remote from a Muslim's faith, which derives from the Quran and the sunnah. Moreover the process of old-age is no more rigid than is the process of the passage of heat from a body of higher temperature to another of lower temperature until both of them become equal. This had occurred in the case of lbraheem (peace be upon him) when the only way to preserve his life was by hindering that process, when it was said to the fire in which he was thrown:

"ۀۀۀۀ ۀۀۀۀۀ ۀۀۀۀ ۀۀۀۀۀ ۀۀۀۀۀۀ ۀۀۀ ۀۀۀۀۀۀۀ".

"We said: O fire! be a comfort and peace to Ibraheem" (Quran,21:69)

So, he emerged from it safe and unharmed. There. are also other cases where natural laws were hindered to protect some of the prophets or Proofs of Allah on earth. When the sea was split for Musa (Moses), when the Romans were misled in thinking they had caught Isa (Jesus) or when Mohammed (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him and his progeny) left his house, while it was surrounded by the troops of Quraysh who were waiting for hours to attack him but Allah, the Exited, hid him from their eyes while he was walking in their midst. All of these cases show a hindrance of the laws of nature to protect an individual, whom the Divine wisdom wished to preserve. Therefore, why not include here the process of old-age and decrepitudeۀ!

From this we can deduce a general notion, which is that whenever the preservation of the Prophet's life (the Proof of Allah on earth) depends on the hindrance of a natural law, and the prolongation of his life comes to be necessary for the performance of his task, Divine care then intervenes by delaying the process so that the task of that individual can be accomplished. On the other hand, once the Divine mission of that individual has been fulfilled, he either dies naturally or as a martyr depending on what is determined by natural laws.

Thus we find ourselves confronted with the present question in connection with this general notion:

How can the process be obstructedۀ

How can the necessary correlation that exists between natural phenomena, be sunderedۀ

Does it not contradict science, which discovered the existence of that natural law or process and defined that necessary correlation on experimental and deductive basesۀ

Science has already solved the problem by giving up the idea of necessity as far as natural laws are concerned. To clarify this we can say that science discovers natural laws through systematic observations and experiments. For example, when the occurrence of a natural phenomenon is followed by another one, we deduce from this a natural law that whenever the first phenomenon comes into existence it is automatically followed by another phenomenon.

However, science does not propose a necessary correlation between the two phenomena stemming from their nature, since necessity is an invisible condition that experimentation and the instruments of scientific and inductive inquiry cannot demonstrate. Therefore, the logic of modern science emphasizes that natural law as it is defined by science- does not indicate a necessary correlation, but an uninterrupted connection, between two phenomena. But when the miracle occurs and separates one from the other, it does not mean that their correlation was sundered.

The truth of the matter is that the miracle, in its religious sense, has become, in the light of modern scientific logic, more understandable than before, under the classical view of causal correlation. This old view assumed that every two phenomena, in which one is followed automatically by the other must have a necessary correlation, which means that it is impossible to separate one from the other. However, this correlation has been transformed thanks to modern scientific logic into a law of correlation or of consecutive succession between two phenomena without the hypothesis of invisible necessity.

Thereby the miracle becomes an exceptional condition with regard to this connective succession without running against a necessity or leading to an impossibility.

So, in the light of the logical foundation of induction we agree with the modern point of view which says that induction does not demonstrate the existence of a necessary correlation between two phenomena. We find that it shows that there is a common interpretation for the consecutive connection between the two. Since this common interpretation can be formed on the basis of the assumption of subjective necessity, it can also be formed on the assumption of a wisdom that made the Creator of the universe to continuously combine some particular phenomena with others. The same wisdom sometimes calls for exception; thus a miracle occurs.

 

WHY ALL THIS DESIRE TO PROLONG HIS LIFE
Why should Allah, the Exalted, show all this desire for this person in particularۀ

Why should the natural laws be hindered just to prolong his lifeۀ

Why should the leadership of the appointed day not be left to a person born in the future, who will appear then and assume his expected roleۀ In other words: What is the use of this long absence and what is the motive behind itۀ

Indeed many people ask these questions, yet at the same time none of them is prepared to accept the Divine answer for them. However we believe that the twelve Imams form a unique group of individuals, none of whom could be substituted. But these people require a social interpretation of the situation, in the light of tangible realities, for the great operation of change and the understandable requirements for the appointed day.

On these bases, we will temporarily disregard the characteristics that we believe should be fulfilled in the infallible Imams and ask the following questions:

As far as the expected operation of change, of the appointed day, is concerned and as far as it is understandable in the light of the norms and the experiences of life, can we consider the prolonged age of its preserved leader as one of the factors for its success, and of his ability to lead it in a better wayۀ

We can give an affirmative answer to this question because of many reasons among which are the following:

First, that the great operation of change requires from its leader a unique psychological attitude, filled with a sense of success and a sense of the insignificance of the mighty existence which he has been prepared to struggle against and transform into a new civilized world.

Thus the more the leader's heart is filled with the triviality of the civilization he is fighting, and the clearer is his sense that it is no more than a speck of dust on the long path of human civilization, the more he is ready from a psychological angle, to oppose, resist and persevere in his efforts against it until victory is achieved.

It is clear, therefore, that the scope required from this psychological attitude ought to be proportionate to the size of change to be brought about and what needs to be rooted out of civilization and existence. So, whenever the opposition is to a mightier existence and a loftier and deeply rooted civilization, the greater is the thrust required from this psychological attitude.

Since the message of the appointed day is to change, in a comprehensive way, a world filled with injustice and tyranny, it is therefore natural that it is looking for an individual whose psychological attitude is superior to that whole world; a person whose age exceeds those who were born in that world and who were brought up in the shade of its civilization which he is to destroy and replace with one based on justice and truth. For whoever

is brought up in a deeply-rooted civilization, that

dominates the world with its values and modes of

thinking, would be overwhelmed by it, since he would

have been born while it had been in existence, and

opened his eyes just to see its different aspects, and

would have been brought up under its power and

influence. Unlike that is a person who has deeply

penetrated history, who has come to life long before that

civilization which completes the cycle of the story of

humanity before the appointed day saw the light. He

sees it as little seeds, hardly visible, then gradually

growing and taking roots within human societies, waiting for the

right moment to blossom and appear.

Then he witnesses it, as it starts to grow and advance,

sometimes relapsing, sometimes meeting with success,

then when it begins to prosper and become gigantic,

gradually dominating the destinies of the world, such a

man who has lived through all these stages with sagacity

and caution, watching this giant - against which he has

to struggle - under that long historical perspective

which he has lived in reality, and not just read about in

books of history, such an individual would consider it as

a definite destiny, unlike Jean Jacques Rousseau's

consideration of the monarchy in France, when he was

terrified at the mere imagining of France without a king

in spite of the fact that he was one of the heralds, both

intellectually and philosophically, of the evolution of the

political situation that existed in those times. That was because Rousseau lived in the shade and under the influence of the monarchy.

On the other hand this individual who has thoroughly penetrated history, would have the dignity and strength of history and a powerful sense that all that surrounds him of civilization and existence was born at a certain time in history, when the way was paved for its existence, that it would disappear to the extent that nothing of it would remain as when there was nothing of it before it came into existence in the distant or near past, that the historical life spans of any civilization, however long they may be, are only limited days in the long era of history.

Have you not read the chapter of the cave in the Quran (surah al-Kahf)ۀ! Have you not read of those youths who believed in their Lord, whom Allah increased in guidance, who opposed a ruling pagan existence that was ruthless and did not hesitate to suppress every single seed of at-Tawheed (Unity of Allah) so that it might not rise above the level of idolatry. So these youths became depressed to the point of despair, once the windows of hope had been closed before their eyes; so they sought refuge in the cave, where they begged Allah for a solution to their problem after having exhausted all the possibilities. For they could not tolerate the fact that falsehood was ruling, transgressing and subjugating the truth and suppressing anyone whose heart showed an inclination towards the truth. Do you know what Allah did to themۀ He made them sleep for three hundred and nine years in that cave and caused them to rise up from their long sleep and sent them to the outside world, after that the existence which had bewildered them with its power and transgression had collapsed and became a chapter in history that could frighten no one nor activate anything. They were brought out so that they could see all this with their own eyes and learn that falsehood is insignificant.

Indeed if this clear vision had been true in the case of the people of the cave, with all that it bore of psychological loftiness and thrust out of that unique event which prolonged their age by three hundred years, then the same event could occur in the case of al-Mahdi, the Expected Leader, whose extended age would make him see the giant as a dwarf, the tall tree as a seed and the hurricane a breeze.

Add to this that the experience that is granted by the concomitants of those consecutive civilizations and the direct confrontation with all their movements and changes, has a great influence on the intellectual preparation and the deepening of experience of the Expected Leader, since it puts him face to face with the many various practices of others, with all they contain of weakness and strength, and the different aspects of their errors and accuracy. And this enables him to classify the social symptoms with a complete awareness of their causes and their historical circumstances.

Moreover the preserved operation of change, which is the task of the Expected Leader, is founded on a particular message, namely the message of Islam. Therefore, it is natural that in this case, the required

leadership should be more proximate with the original

sources of Islam, that his personality be fully shaped in

an independent way, free from the influence of that

civilization which is subject to his struggle on the

appointed day, unlike that individual who would have

been born and brought up in its atmosphere, whose

intellect and feelings would have blossomed within its

frame. Quite often such a person cannot free himself

from the effects and residues of that civilization, even if

he were to lead a movement of change against it.

Thus, in order that the preserved leader be not influenced by the civilization he has been prepared to transform, it is necessary that his personality should be fully shaped during a previous stage of civilization, as near as possible to the universal spirit, and in terms of the principles of that civilized condition, which the appointed day is aiming at realizing under his leadership.

---

Ghafer....

The Signs of the Appearance (Zuhur) of the Mahdi

«In The Name Of GOD»

---

- The Signs of the Reappearance (Qiyam) of the (Imam) who undertakes the Office (al-Qa'im), Peace be on him, the Period of Time of his Appearance, an Explanation of his Life and an Extract of what is revealed about his State.
Traditions have been reported mentioning the signs for the time of the appearance of the Imam who will arise (qa'im), peace be on him, and the events which will take place before his appearance, together with the indications and features of it.

Among them are: The Sufaini will come out in revolt; the Hasani will be killed; the `Abbasids will dispute over worldly kingdom; there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan; there will be an eclipse of the moon at the end of that month in contrast to ordinary happenings; the land will be swallowed up at al-Bayda'; it will be swallowed in the east; it will be swallowed up in the west; the sun will stay still from the time of its decline to the middle of the time for the afternoon prayer; it will rise from the west; a pure soul (nafs zakiyya) will be killed in the outskirts of Kufa with seventy righteous men; a Hishimite will be slaughtered between the corner (of the Ka'bah) and the station of Abraham); the wall of the mosque of Kufa will be destroyed; black standards will advance from Khurasan; al-Yamani will come out in revolt; al-Maghribi will appear in Egypt and take possession of it from Syria; the Turk will occupy the region of al-Jazira; the Byzantines will occupy Ramla; the star will appear in the east giving light just like the moon gives light; then (the new moon) will bend until its two tips almost meet; a colour will appear in the sky and spread to its horizons; a fire will appear for a long time in the east remaining in the air for three or seven days; the Arabs will throw off the reins and take possession of their land, throwing out the foreign authority; the people of Egypt will kill their ruler and destroy Syria; and three standards will dispute over it (Syria); the standards of Qays and the Arabs will come among the people of Egypt; the standards of Kinda (will go) to Khurasan; horses will come from the west until they are stabled in al-Hira; the black standards will advance towards them from the east; the Euphrates will flood so that the water comes into the alleys of Kufa; sixty liars will come forward, all of them claiming prophethood, and twelve will come forward from the family of Abu Talib, all of them claiming the Imamate; a man of important rank of the supporters of the `Abbasids will be burnt between Jalula` and Khaniqin; the bridge next to Karkhin the city of Baghdad will be established; a black wind will raise it at the beginning of the day and then an earthquake will occur so that much of it will be swallowed up; fear will cover the people of Iraq and Baghdad; swift death (will occur) there and there will be a loss of property, lives and harvests; locusts will appear at their usual times and at times not usual so that they attack agricultural land and crops and there will be little harvest for what the people planted; two kinds of foreigners will dispute and much blood will be shed in their quarrel; slaves will rebel against obedience to their masters and kill their masters (mawali); a group of heretics (ahl al-bida`) will be transformed until they become monkeys and pigs; slaves will conquer the land of their masters; a cry (will come) from the sky (in such a way) that all the people will hear it in their own languages; a face and a chest will appear in the sky before the people in the centre of the sun; the dead will arise from their graves' so that they will return to the world and they will recognize one another and visit one another; that will come to an end with twenty four continous rainstorms and the land will be revived by them after being dead anll it will recognize its blessings; after that every disease will be taken away from those of the Shi`a of the Mahdi, peace be on him, who believe in the truth; at that time they will know of his appearance in Mecca and they will go to him to support him.

(These signs) are as the reports have mentioned. Among the total of these events are some which are bound (to happen) and other which are conditional. God knows best what will take place. We have only mentioned them on the basis of what is recounted in basic sources of tradition (usul) because of their inclusion in traditions which have been handed down. From God we seek help and Him do we ask for success.

[Abu al-Hasan `All b. Bilil al-Muhallabi informed me: Muhammad b. Jafar al-Mu'addib told me on the authority of Ahmad b. Idris, on the authority of `All b. Muhammad b. Qutayba, on the authority of al-Fadl b. Shidhan, on the authority of Ismail b. al-Sabbih, who said: I heard an old man among our colleagues mention on the authority of Sayf b. `Umayra, who said:]

I (i.e. Sayf b. `Umayra) was with Abu Ja`far al-Mansur and he said to me of his own accord: "There will certainly be a voice calling from the sky the name of a man from the descendants of Abu Talib."

"May I be your ransom, Commander of the faithful," I said, "do you relate thatۀ"

"Indeed, by Him in Whose hands is my life," he replied, "because my own ears have heard it."

"Commander of the faithful," I said, "this tradition which you have heard is before my time."

"Sayf, it is the truth," he told me. "When it happens, we will be the first to answer it. Indeed the call will be for a man from the descendants of our uncle."

"A man from the descendants of Fatima, peace be on herۀ" I asked.

"Yes," he replied. "Sayf, if it was not for the fact that I have heard from Abu Ja`far Muhammad b. 'Ali (al-Baqir), who told me about it, even though all the people of the earth have told me about it, I would not accept it from them. However it was Muhammad b. `Ali (al-Baqir), peace be on them, (who told me)."

[Yahya b. Abi Talib reported on the authority of `Ali b. `Asim, on the authority of `Ata' b. al-Sa'ib, on the authority of his father on the authority of `Abd Allah b. `Umar, who said:]

The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, said: "The hour (of the end of the world) will not arise until the Mahdf from my descendants comes forth. The Mahdi will not come forth until sixty liars come forward, all of them declaring: `.I am a prophet.' "

[al-Fadl b. Shadhan reported on the authority of one who reported it on the authority of Abu Hamza al-Thumali, who said:]

I (i.e. Abu Hamza al-Thumali) asked Abu Ja`far (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "Is the revolt of the Sufyani one of the things which must happenۀ"

"Yes," he replied. "The call is one of the things which must happen as is the rising of the sun from the west one of the things which must happen. The dispute of the `Abbasids over the state is also one of them and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya). The appearance of the one who will arise (al-qa'im) from the family of Muhammad, may God bless him and his family, is another of the things which must happen."

"How will the call beۀ" I asked.

"There will be a call from the sky at the beginning of the day indeed the truth is with `Ali and his Shi'a," he said. "Then at the end of the day, Satan will call from the earth - indeed the truth is with 'Uthman and his supporters. At that the false one will feel doubt."

[al-Hasan b. `Ali al-Washsha' (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. `A'idh, on the authority of Abu Khadija, on the authority of Abu `Abd Allah (Ja`far al-Sadiq, peace be on him:]

(Ja'far al-Sadiq) said: "The one who will arise (al-qa'im) will not come forth until twelve of the Banu Hashim come forth before him, all of them summoning men to themselves."

[Muhammad b. Abi al-Bilad (reported) on the authority of `All b. Muhammad al-Azdi, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, who said:]

The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, said: "Before the one who will arise (al-qa'im), there will be red death and white death; there will be locusts at their usual time and at their unusual time like the colours of blood. As for red death that is (from) the sword,while white death is (from) plague."

[al-Hasan b. Mahblib (reported) on the authority of `Amr b. Abi Miqdam, on the authority of Jabir al-Ju`fi, on the authority of Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him:]

(AI-Baqir) said: "Stay close to the ground. Don't move an arm or a leg until you see the signs which I will mention to you - I don't think that you will live until that time. The `Abbasids will dispute; a voice will call from the sky; one of the villages of Syria called al-Jabiyya will be swallowed up; the Turks will occupy the region of al-Jazua; the Byzantines will attack al-Ramla; at that time there will be much conflict throughout the land until Syria is destroyed. The cause of its destruction will be the meeting of three standards there: the standard of the Red, the standard of the Spotted and the standard of the Sufyani."

[`Ali b. Abi Hamza (reported) on the authority of Abu al-Hasan Musa, peace be on him:]

Concerning the words of Him, the Mighty and High: We will show them our signs on the horizons and in themselves so that it will become clear to them that it is the truth (XLI 53), (Musa) said: "(There will be) a disturbance on the horizons and the enemies of truth will be changed in form."

[Wahb b. (Abi) Hafs (reported) on the authority of Abu Bajr, who said:]

I (i.e. Abu Basir) heard Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir) speak concerning the words of Him, the Exalted: If We wish, We will send down on ahem signs from the sky, and their necks will remain bent submissively to them (XXVI d). He said: "God will do that to them."

"Who are theyۀ" I asked.

"The Umayyads and their supporters," he answered.

"What is the signۀ" I asked.

"Between the decline of the sun (at noon) and the time of the afternoon prayer, the sun will remain still," he said. "The chest and face of man will appear in the centre of the sun, who will be recognized by his standing and genealogy. That will occur in the time of the Sufyani. At that moment his destruction will occur and the destruction of his people."

[`Abd Allah b. Bukayr (reported) on the authority of `Abd alMalik b. Isma'il, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Said b. Jubayr:]

(Sa'id b. Jubayr) said: "In the year in which the Mahdi will rise, twenty rain storms will rain on the earth. You will see their effects and benefits."

[al-Fadl b. Shadhan (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Abi Nasr, on the authority of Tha'laba al-Azdi, who said:]

Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him, said: "Two signs will come before the one who will arise (al-Qa'im), peace be on him: there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan and an eclipse of the moon at the end of it."

"Son of the Apostle of God," I said, "usually the eclipse of the sun occurs at the end of the month and the eclipse of the moon occurs in the middle of itۀ"

"I know what I have said," replied Abu Ja`far (al-Baqir), peace be on him. "They are signs which have not occurred since Adam came down."

[Tha'laba b. Maymun (reported) on the authority of Shu'ayb alHaddad, on the authority of Salih b. Maytham, who said:]

I (i.e. Salih b. Maytham) heard Abu Ja`far (al-Baqir), peace. be on him, say: "There is no longer than fifteen nights between the appearance of the one who will rise (al-qaim), peace be on him, and the killing of the pure soul (al-nafs al-zakiyya)."

[`Amr b Shamir (reported) on the authority of Jabir (al-Ju`fi), who said:]

I (i.e. Jabir al-Ju`fi) said to Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him: "When will this event occurۀ"

"Jabir, that will occur at a time when the killing between al-Hira and Kufa is considerable," he replied.

[Muhammad b. Sinan (reported) on the authority of al-Husayn b. al-Mukhtar, on the authority of Abu `Abd Allah (Ja`far al-Sadiq),peace be on him:]

(Ja'far al-Sadiq) said: "When the wall of the mosque of Kufa, which adjoins the house of `Abd Allah b. Mas'ud is destroyed, then at that time the ruler of the people will disappear. At his disappearance, the one who will rise (al-qa'im), peace be on him, will come forth."

[Sayf b. `Umayra (reported) on the authority of Bakr b. Muhammad, on the authority of Abu `Abd Allih (Ja'far al-Sadiq), peace be on him:]

(Ja`far al-Sadiq) said: "There will be three appearances in one year, one month and one day - the Sufyani, the Khurasani and the Yamini. The standard of guidance will not be among them, except the standard of the Yamani, because he will summon (people) to the truth."

[al-Fadl b. Shadhan (reported) on the authority of Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Abi Nasr, on the authority of Abu al-Hasan al-Rida, peace be on him:]

(Al-Rida) said: "What you stretch your necks for will not occur until you are able to discern and to be tested. Only a few of you will remain."

Then he recited: Alif Lam. Do the people consider that they can abandon saying "We believe whenever they are temptedۀ (XXIX, 1-2). He said: "Among the signs of the relief is an event which will occur between the two mosques (of Mecca and Medina). So-and-so from the descendants of so-and-so will kill fifteen leaders of the Arabs."

[Al-Fadl b. Shadhan (reported) on the authority of Mu'ammar b. Khallad on the authority of Abu al-Hasan (al-Rida), peace be on him:]

(Al-Rida) said: "(It is as if I see) standards, dyed green, coming from Egypt until they come to the Syrian (standards). Then they will be guided to the descendant of the one who gave the testamentary bequests of authority (to the Imams)."

[Hammed b. `Isa (reported) on the authority of Ibrahim b. `Umar al-Yamani on the authority of Abu Basil, on the authority of Abu `Abd Allah (Ja`far al-Sadiq), peace be on him:]

(Jafar al-Sadiq) said: "The kingdom of these men will not disappear until they slaughter people in Kufa on Friday. It is as if I was looking at heads falling between the Gate of al-1711 and (the place of) the soap-sellers."

['Ali b. Asbat (reported) on the authority of (Abu) al-Hasan b. al-Jahm, who said:]

A man asked Abu al-Hasan (Musa), peace be on him, about the relief. He asked: "Do you want most of it or shall I give you a summaryۀ"

"Would you give me a summaryۀ" he said.

"(It will be) when the standards of Qays are carried in Egypt and the standards of Kinda in Khurasan," he replied.

[AI-Husayn b. Abi 'Ali' (reported) on the authority of Abu Basir, on the authority of Abu `Abd Allah (Ja'far al-Sadiq), peace be on him:]

(Ja`far al-Sadiq) said: "Because of the sons of so-and-so there will be a battle at your mosque - meaning the mosque of Kufa. On one Friday four thousand will be killed between the Gate of al-Fil to (the place of) the soap-sellers. Beware of this street. Avoid it. Those who are in the best situation will take the street of the Ansar."

[`Ali b. Abi Hamza (reported) on the authority of Abu Basir, on the authority of Abu `Abd Allah (Ja'far al-Sadiq), peace be on him:]

(Ja`far al-Sadiq) said: "Before (the coming of) the one who will rise (al-Qa'im), peace be on him, there will be a year of abundant rain in which the fruits and the dates on the palms will be destroyed. But don't complain of that."

[Ibrahim b. Muhammad (reported) on the authority of Ja'far b. Sa'd, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abu `Abd Allah (Ja'far al-Ssdiq), peace be on him:]

(Ja'far al-Sadiq) said: "In the year of the Conquest (by the Mahdi) the Euphrates will flood so that the water goes into the alleys of Kufa."

[It is reported in the account (hadith) of Muhammad b. Muslim, who said:]

I (i.e. Muhammad b. Muslim) heard Abu `Abd Allah (Ja'far alSadiq), peace be on him, say: "Before (the coming) of the one who will rise (al-qa'im) there will be a trial from God."

"May I be your ransom, what is thatۀ" I asked him.

He recited: Let Us test you with fear, with hunger, and with lack of money, of lives and of harvests. Good news will come to those who are steadfast (11155). Then he said: "The fear will be from the kings of the Banu so-and-so; the hunger will be as a result of exorbitant prices; the lack of money will be due to the failure of trade and the scarcity of surplus (goods) in it; the lack of lives will be because of swift death; the lack of harvest will be due to the great rains and the little benefit they bring to the crops." Then he continued: "The good news for those who are steadfast is that the one who will rise (al-qa'im) will soon come forth."

[AI-Husayn b. Said (reported) on the authority of Mundhir alJawzi, on the authority of Abu `Abd Allih (Ja'far al-Sadiq), peace be on him:]

(Mundhir al-Jawzi) said: I heard (Ja'far al-Sadiq) say: "Before the coming of the one who will rise (al-qa'im), peace be on him, the people will be chided for their acts of disobedience by a fire which will appear in the sky and a redness which will cover the sky. It will swallow up Baghdad, it will swallow up Kufa. There blood will be shed and houses destroyed. Death (fans) will occur amid their people and a fear will come over the people of Iraq from which they shall have no rest."

---

Don't forget us in your praying...

...Ghafer...