In this chapter Janab Muhaddis Noori (ar) brings 71 traditional proofs(31 from the Ahle Sunnat sources and 40 from the Shia sources) proving that Hazrat Hujjat (atfs) who is the son of Imam Hasan Askari (as) is the Promised Mahdi(atfs).

While bringing the Ahle Sunnat sources he has concentrated on those traditions which talk about and name each of the 12 Imams.

While bringing the shia references he acknowledges that they are more numerous than that they can be calculated. He also specifically mentions the Book of Behar ul Anwar by Allama Majlisi(ar) as a major source for shia narrations. The 40 shia references which he presents are those which Allama Majlisi (ar) has not referred in Behar ul Anwar.

In our excerpts we will be bringing only 5 of these 71. Today we present the 2nd narration which is 23rd narration from the Ahle Sunnat sources.

Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari r.a. asked the Holy Prophet (sawa) about those whose obedience is enjoined with the obedience of Allah and the Prophet in the 59th verse of Surah Nisa:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْۖ

“O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those in authority from among you.”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said: They are my Caliphs after me. The first of them being Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.), then Hasan, then Husain, then Ali Ibnul Husain, then Muhammad bin Ali, alias Baqir; you will meet him in the near future, O Jabir.

When you meet him, convey my greetings to him. Then Sadiq, Ja’far bin Muhammad, then Moosa bin Ja’far, then Ali bin Moosa Reza, then Muhammad bin Ali, then Ali bin Muhammad, then Hasan bin Ali and then the Proof of Allah on His earth and the Remnant of Allah among the people, Muhammad bin Hasan bin Ali (peace be upon them all).

He is the one at whose hands Allah, the Mighty and Sublime will conquer the easts of the earth and its wests; and he is one, who will go into occultation from his followers, an occultation, during which no one will remain steadfast on the belief of his Imamate, except those, whose hearts the Almighty Allah has tested for faith.

Jabir said: I said: O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), would his followers gain benefits from him during his occultation?

He replied: Yes, by the one, who sent me as a prophet, they will benefit from his light like people gain from the sun even though it is covered by clouds.

May the blessing of Allah be upon all our Imams and may the Almighty enumerate us amongst those who get intercession from Hazrat Mahdi (atfs).