FRIDAY NOTES (17/07/26) FROM THE QURAN - "EVERYTHING ON EARTH SHALL PERISH"

 Among the Shias the doctrine of the Twelve Imams (Ithna 'Ashariyyah) is the central belief of Twelver Shi'aism,  the largest branch of Shi'iasm. 

The Twelfth Imam -  According to Twelver Shi'a tradition  the twelfth Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan was born around 869 AD in Samarra. His father, Hasan al-Askari, died in 874 AD.   At that time, the Twelfth Imam is believed to have been about five years old.

Twelver Shias believe the five year old Imam entered occultation (ghaybah).   There is a shrine in Samarra known as the Sardab (cellar) beneath the house where the eleventh Imam lived. I have been to Samarra in Iraq and climbed up that famous spiral minaret at the Great Mosque of Samarra but I did not visit the  Shia shrine.  Twelver Shi'a generally revere the site because it is associated with the Imam. Here is a picture of the cellar. 

The Two Occultations - or period of ghaybah.

1. Minor Occultation (874–941 AD)

This lasted about 69 years.  During this period, the Hidden Imam communicated through four successive deputies (sufara').   The fourth deputy received a final letter stating there would be no further deputies.

2. Major Occultation (941 AD until today).   Since 941 AD, the Twelfth Imam has had no official representative.  Shi'a believe he remains alive until his return in the future.  This period has now lasted approximately 1,085 years.

Twelver Shi'a believe that near the end of time the Imam will reappear publicly,

Here are some verses from the Quran that may be of interest:

1.  Qur'an 2:96  (partial)   ۚ يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ ۖ   
Each one of them wishes that he could be granted a life of a thousand years..

(OSTB: Meaning no one can live forever, or for a thousand years). 

2.   Qur'an 55:26–27    كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ ۝ وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Everyone upon the earth will perish, and there will remain only the Face of your Lord, Possessor of Majesty and Honor.

(OSTB: Meaning no one can last forever. We will all perish). 

3.   Qur'an 3:185  (partial)   كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْت
Every self shall taste death. 

4.  Qur'an 21:34   وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ الْخُلْدَ ۖ أَفَإِي۟ن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ الْخَالِدُونَ
We did not grant everlasting life to any human being before you. If you will die, will they live forever?

5.  Qur'an 21:35 (partial)   كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ  
Every self shall taste death. 

6.  Qur'an 29:57    كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
Every self shall taste death. Then to Us you will be returned.

7.  Qur'an 39:30  إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ
Indeed, you will die, and indeed, they too will die.

8.  Surah Al-Ahzab 33:62 (partial)   وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا
" And you will never find any change in the SUNNAH (way) of Allah."    

9. Surah Ar-Rum 30:30 (partial):     لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ
There is no changing the creation of Allah. 

(OSTB: Humans live a normal lifespan. No one lives forever). 

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.