IMAM SAHIBUL ASRI WAL ZAMAAN AFS: WONDER OF WONDERS

IMAM SAHIBUL ASRI WAL ZAMAAN AFS : WONDER OF WONDERS In Ziyarah Jami’a Al-Kabir received from Imam Hassan Al-Askari AS, there is the declaration that “only through you we are relieved of calamities and our problems solved”. In Ihtijaj Tabrasi, underTawqi’I Al-Hujjah, our benevolent Imam AFS tells us that “had it not been for our protection, how many calamities would have engulfed you and enemies would have destroyed you”. A human being is a strange species. He can win mighty battles, cross scary jungles and deserts, dive into the depths of oceans and traverse space; yet, when he faces difficulties he becomes weak, vulnerable and fearful. Sometimes his own shadow frightens him and if there is no one to succor him, he becomes pathetic. However, when there is someone to rescue him, he overcomes major hurdles and survives deadly diseases. His heart is tranquil, determination firm and thoughts and senses in check. ALLAH SWT has given believers a formidable blessing to overcome calamities and that is the Wasila/Wasta of The Ahlul Bayt AS. One such Wasila is our Twelfth Imam AFS whose title, among others, is “Al-Ghawth”, “Gawthul Fuqaraa” i.e. a helper in general and helper of the indigent. There is neither constraint nor restriction in the meaning of “Al-Gawth”. Whoever calls him for help in any language from anywhere, he is there for him/her. In fact there are some who do not utter their complaints but are themselves manifestations of complaints. They too are heard and helped by The Imam AFS. How? 1. The Imam AS is capable of hearing more than one person’s plea. So, no matter how many call him, he is available to all. 2. The Imam AS is not confined to just one language, Arabic. He understands every language and there are at least 7000 languages in the world! 3. There is no special time to call the Imam AFS. One can call him at any time of day or night from any time zone. Calamities may befall at any time and the Imam AS helps, irrespective of the recipient’s state: sleeping or wakefulness. The Imam AS’ ghaybah is also no constraint on his ability to help anyone. If he were dhahir at one place, he would still be ghaib at another. So, occultation is no barrier to his hearing or coming to the succour of believers. 4. The Imam AS’ help is not confined to certain types of problem only; rather, it transcends all types and forms. Be it poverty or hunger, sickness or disability, home and house, education and training, dignity and honor, guidance and repentance. No complain is minor or negligible. However, The Imam AS’ help has pre-requisites. If one has been unfair, unkind and ungracious to brethren and hurt his/her sensitivities, then how could s/he expect to receive response from The Imam AS? Therefore, a clear conscious is needed and that can only come through being forgiven by the “victim”. Then can Istigatha to The Imam and other pleas become effective.