THE TREMENDOUS ISSUE

Sometime it is refer to what the great remainder of Allah's proof (May Almighty Allah hasten his relief) will do for the inhabitant of the world as the tremendous issue and another time it is refer to as new issue.

«يقول أبي سعيد الخراساني: قلت للإمام الصادق علیه السلام: المهديّ والقائم واحد؟

فقال: نعم.

فقلت: لأيّ شيء سمّي المهدي؟

قال: لأنّه يهدي إلى كل أمر خفي، وسمّي القائم لأنه يقوم بعد ما يموت، إنّه يقوم بأمر عظيم».

Abi Saeed Khurasani said: I inquire from Imam al-Sadiq (Peace be upon him): "Is al-Mahdi "the guide" and al-Qa'im "the riser" has one meaning? Yes he answered. I said: why was he named al-Mahdi? He said: because he will guide towards all the concealed issue and he was named as al-Qa'im because he will be alive after his name is forgotten and he will rise with tremendous issue.[1]

As you have seen, it is stressed in this narration that the honourable riser (May our souls be sacrifice for him) will stand base on tremendous issue.

The tremendous duty which shall be carried out by the honourable Imam will be very great that made the great man to be named as al-Qa'im "the riser".

Did this tremendous issue that is the rising of the honourable leader of the time (May Almighty Allah hasten his relief) same program that was sent to the people through the holy Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him and his family) and the pure Imams (Peace be upon them) and it was forgotten due to the usurpation of the post of caliphate and apparentness of innovation due to past of time? Or in addition to that, there is another tremendous issue that the holy household of the holy Prophet (Peace be upon them) has not expounded to the people but it was explained to the greater remainder of Allah's proof (May our souls be sacrifice for him) in order to make it obvious to the entire people?

Before answering this question, you should be attentive to this narration that was narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (Peace be upon him): he said:

«إذا قام القائم علیه السلام جاء بأمر جديد، كما دعى رسول الله صلی الله علیه وآله في بدو الإسلام إلى أمر جديد».

"If the riser stand (Peace be upon him) he will come with new issue like the call of the holy Prophet (Peace be upon him and his family) for a new issue during the advent of Islam"[2]

Imam al-Sadiq (Peace be upon him) in this narration has liken the mission of the leader of the time (May Almighty Allah hasten his relief) with the mission brought by the holy Prophet (Peace be upon him and his family) during the advent of Islam.

Even though from this narration the new issue that will be brought by Imam (May our souls be sacrifice for him) is not clearly stated but it is obvious from it.

Possibly some people never pay attention to the comparative and the clear statement made by Imam al-Sadiq (Peace be upon him) or never accepted its obviousness, they may also say that a lot of Islamic laws never reach the inhabitant of the world and after their explanations, it is new before them and in this respect it is explained to them as the new issue.

In answering them we say: if we compromise with them and give up the clear and obviousness of this narration we shall title another point i.e. do the holy Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him and his family) never said:

«إنّا معاشر الأنبياء نكلّم الناس على قدر عقولهم».

"We groups of the Prophets talk to the people according to their level of understanding"[3]

By observing this narration and perfection of people's knowledge during the luminous period of reappearance of the holy Imam, we will be heedful that the remainder of Allah's proof (May Almighty Allah hasten his relief) in order for the perfection of people's knowledge has new issue to expound of which the other holy household of the holy Prophet (Peace be upon them) might have only explained to their special companions.

Base on this, there is no problem that the honourable Imam is with new issue, new orders and new important point to explain to the people that they don't previously in any way has its information.

Surely we must be attentive that every new issue and new order will be in the direction of life-giving to the religion of Islam and not that the honourable leader of the time (May Almighty Allah hasten his relief) shall present new religion upon the people.

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