Imam-e-Zamana (as)

By: Roohul Ameen Sayed
Courtesy: go5pak

A well-known tradition narrated both by Aamah and Khassah in 92 different books proclaims: Anyone who dies without having recognized the Imam-e-Zamana (as) (the contemporary Imam) will die the death of ignorance.

We must try to know our Imam. Our Imam-e-Zamana (as) always assists us! Imam-e-Zamana (as) said, " I will be like the sun veiled by the clouds and people will benefit from me just as they do from the sun behind the clouds." There are striking parallels between the roles of the sun and an Imam in sustaining the world. As we all know, sun keeps all the planets including earth in their orbits. If the sun was displaced for a single moment, our whole solar system would be obliterated. Imam-e-Zamana (as) is like the sun. Earth would be destroyed if he departed.

In 1280 HIjri, Sayed Hashim Rashti decided to perform Haj. Sayed relates that when we arrived at Vazantalrome and were planning to leave for Tarabazoon, another pilgrim called Haji Jabbar came to us and warned that the area was very unsafe and that we must try to stay with a larger group of people who were leaving two or three hours before namaz-e-Fajr.

We followed the advice and departed with a larger group of people the next night. We hadn't gone very far when the air became very misty and heavy snowfall began. I tried very hard to stay with my friends but all my efforts proved futile and I soon realised that I was left all alone. Terrified, I dismounted the horse and began wondering what I should do. Finally I decided to find a place and sit till sunrise so that in daylight I may find my way back to the place we had departed from. I began walking and soon found a man shoveling snow off the trees in a garden. He came up to me and asked me in Farsi, " Who are you?" I answered, " I have lost my friends and I am not familiar with this route." That man stated: Say Namaz-e- Shab so that you may find the way. Sayed says, I obeyed, when I finished praying, that man came back to me and said: You still haven't left! I replied: I still haven't found the way. He told me to recite Ziarat-e-Jamea.

Sayed recalls that despite having recited the ziarat regularly he did not know the ziarat by heart. He was never able to memorize it. However, that particular night, he stood up and recited the whole ziarat by heart. He relates that the man came back in a little while and said: You still haven't left and are still sitting here. Sayed Rashti admits that I could not control my tears and cried out in sheer disappointment: I still haven't found the way. This time the man told Sayed to recite Ziarat-e-Ashoora. He recalls that like Ziarat-e- Jamea, I didn't know Ziarat-e-Ashoora either but I recited the whole ziarat with dua-e-Alqama. The man returned again and said: You're still here! I answered: No I'll stay here till sunrise."

The man said: Come I'll take you to your friends. The man mounted his horse and asked me to sit behind him. I took the reins of my own horse and tried to pull it behind us but it didn't move an inch. He took the reins from my hand and the animal began walking. On the way, the man placed his hand on my lap and asked me: "Why don't you recite Namaz-e-Shab?" and then he said ,"Namaz-e-Shab, Namaz-e-Shab, Namaz-e-Shab!" Then he asked: "Why don't you recite Ziarat-e-Ashoora?" He repeated " Ashoora, Ashoora, Ashoora" three times. Finally, he said, "Why don't you recite Ziarat-e-Jamea?" and repeated, " Jamea, Jamea, Jamea!" In a little while he pointed out, " Look your friends are performing wuzu for Namaz-e-Fajr.

I got off his horse and tried to mount my own but failed to do so. He helped me and turned my horse's head towards the stream. I began wondering who this man is? How does he know Farsi? Most of the people living in that area were Christian Turks. I was amazed that he managed to reunite me with my companions in such a short period of time. I turned around to find him gone. There were no traces of him anywhere.

END