Question 271 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 3

Supporters Response:

Where are these narrations that mention that the Yamani does not call to himself, does not say that he is the Yamani, and that rather the people will come to know his true reality and say that he is the Yamani? Then how can turning away from him lead one into the Fire while he does not say that he is the Yamani? Is this not imposing what cannot be borne? Have you ever heard of one of Allah’s proofs who does not identify himself to the people? Then in what capacity does he demand that the people gather around him so that he may prepare the way for Imam al-Mahdi? He is the bearer of a banner, and the bearer of a banner must have an army under his command. So how can this army be gathered without a doctrinal call in which that army believes and for which it fights? As for the phrase “he calls to Imam al-Mahdi (a),” it does not conflict with the Yamani identifying himself to the people. Then how does he call to him while the people do not know who he is or what their duty toward him is? Here is the narration of the Yamani so that you may examine it carefully and nothing in it remains hidden from you: As for the defining limits of the Yamani’s identity, it was narrated from al-Baqir (a): “Among the banners there is no banner more rightly guided than the banner of the Yamani. It is a banner of guidance because he calls to your companion. When the Yamani rises, selling weapons to the people and to every Muslim is forbidden. When the Yamani rises, rise to him, for his banner is a banner of guidance, and it is not lawful for a Muslim to turn away from him. Whoever does that is among the people of the Fire, because he calls to the truth and to a straight path” (^[134]). In it: First: “It is not lawful for a Muslim to turn away from him; whoever does that is among the people of the Fire.” This means that the Yamani possesses divine authority. A person cannot be a proof over the people such that their turning away from him admits them into Hell, even if they pray and fast, unless he is among Allah’s vicegerents upon His earth. They are the possessors of divine authority from among the prophets, messengers, Imams, and Mahdis. Second: “He calls to the truth and to a straight path.” Calling to the truth and the straight path-or the Straight Path-means that this person does not err and thereby lead the people into falsehood or take them out of the truth; that is, he is infallible and his infallibility is designated by a text. With this meaning, this qualification or defining limit serves a purpose in identifying the Yamani. But assuming any other meaning for their statement (a), “he calls to the truth and to a straight path,” would render their statement without purpose, so that it would be neither a qualification nor a defining limit of the Yamani’s identity. Far be that from them (a). The conclusion from the first and second points above is that the Yamani is one of Allah’s proofs upon His earth and is infallible, with his infallibility designated by a text. It has been established by mass-transmitted narrations and texts of definitive indication that the proofs after the Messenger Muhammad (s) are the twelve Imams (a), and after them the twelve Mahdis. There is no other infallible proof of Allah upon the earth besides them. Through them the blessing is completed, the religion is perfected, and the heavenly messages are sealed. Eleven Imams (a) have passed, and Imam al-Mahdi (a) and the twelve Mahdis remain. The Yamani calls to Imam al-Mahdi (a), so the Yamani must be the first of the Mahdis, because the eleven Mahdis after him are from his progeny: “Descendants, one from another; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing” (^[135]). They come later than the time of the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a); indeed, they are in the State of Divine Justice. It is established that the first of the Mahdis is present at the time of the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a), and is the first to believe in Imam al-Mahdi (a) at the beginning of his appearance and movement, in order to prepare the base for the uprising, as stated in the will of the Messenger of Allah (s) (^[136]). Hence, the identity of the Yamani is confined to the first Mahdi from among the twelve Mahdis. The narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) explained in detail the name, attributes, and residence of the first Mahdi. His name is Ahmad and his kunyah is Abdullah-that is, Israel-meaning that the people will call him an Israelite, despite themselves and in spite of them. The Messenger of Allah (s) said: “My name is Ahmad, and I am Abdullah. My name is Israel. Whatever He commanded him, He commanded me; and whatever He meant by him, He meant me” (^[137]). The first Mahdi is the first of the three hundred and thirteen. He is “from Basra” (^[138]); “there is a mark on his right cheek”; “there is dandruff on his head”; “his body is like the body of Moses ibn Imran (a)” (^[139]); “on his back is the Seal of Prophethood”; “the will of the Messenger of Allah (s) is with him”; “after the Imams, he is the most knowledgeable of creation concerning the Quran, the Torah, and the Gospel”; and “at the beginning of his appearance he will be a young man.” The Messenger of Allah (s) said: “… Then he mentioned a young man and said: When you see him, pledge allegiance to him, for he is the vicegerent of the Mahdi” (^[140]). From Abu Abdullah (a), from his forefathers, from the Commander of the Believers (a), who said: The Messenger of Allah (s) said to Ali (a) on the night of his death: “O Abu al-Hasan, bring a sheet and an inkwell.” The Messenger of Allah (s) dictated his will until he reached this point, then said: “O Ali, after me there will be twelve Imams, and after them twelve Mahdis. You, O Ali, are the first of the twelve Imams”-and he continued the narration until he said-“and al-Hasan (a) is to hand it over to his son M-H-M-D, the Preserver from the family of Muhammad (s). These are the twelve Imams. Then after him there will be twelve Mahdis. When death comes to him, he is to hand it over to his son, the first of the Mahdis. He has three names: a name like my name and my father’s name, and it is Abdullah and Ahmad; and the third name is al-Mahdi. He is the first of the believers” (^[141]). The Scientific Committee Supporters of Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah establish him upon the earth)