Setting-up a Time Limit for the Reappearance of the Twelfth Imam (a.s.) an Antipathetic Issue

1. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa all from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from abu Hamza al-Thumali who has said the following. “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) say, “O Thabit, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, had set up a time limit for it in the year seventy but when al-Husayn (a.s.) was murdered Allah’s anger became more intense on the people on earth. He delayed it until one hundred forty. When then spoke to you about it and you publicized this hadith and disclosed the secret. Allah thereafter has not set up a time limit for it available with us. Allah deletes whatever He wants and establishes whatever He wants, with Him is the original book. Abu Hamza has said, “I narrated the above Hadith to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and he said, “It was as you said.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Zur’ah ibn Muhammad from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about Salah (prayer) on a journey. He (the Imam) said, ‘ It is a two Rak‘at without anything before or thereafter, except that it is appropriate for a traveler to perform four Rak‘at after al-Maghrib and optional Salah (prayer) during the night as much as he wants, if a traveler on foot; but if riding he can perform Salah (prayer) on his stumper. His Salah (prayer) is in the form of making gestures and bowing down his head for Sujud (prostrations) lower than that for Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salma ibn al-Khattab from Ali ibn Hassa’n from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Kathir who has said the following. “Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that Mihzam came in and to The Imam (a.s.), ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, enlighten me about this matter that we wait for (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine authoriiity). When it will take place?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Mihzam, those who give it d definite time have lied, the expediting ones perish and salvation is for those who are submissive.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al- Halabiy from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There are four Rak‘at after al-Maghrib. You must not omit them, regardless of being on a journey or while at home.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father form al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) , ‘I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about al-Qa’im ((the one who will rise with Divine Authority) with divine power).’ He said, “Those who give it a definite time have spoken lies. We, Ahl al-Bayt, do not set a definite time.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Salah (prayer) on a journey is of two Rak‘at and there is nothing before or thereafter except al-Maghrib after which there are four Rak‘at which you must not omit on a journey or while at home. You are not required to perform the compensatory Salah (prayer) during the day but you should perform the compensatory prayer, those missed during the night (optional Salah (prayer).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ahmad has narrated through his chain of narrators from the Imam (a.s.) the following. “Allah disdains to make the people’s time set for it (reappearance of the one who will rise with Divine Authority) to come true.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya from Dharih who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about nightly optional Salah (prayer) which are missed. Can I perform the compensatory prayer for them during the day? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so, if you are able to bear it.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Al-Husayn ibn mmd has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Khazzaz from ‘Abd al-Karim ibn ‘Umar al-Khath‘ami from al-Fadl ibn Yasar who has said the following. “I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘Is there a definite time for this matter (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority)?” He said, “Those who set a definite time have lied, those who set a definite time have lied, those who set a definite time have lied. When Musa (Moses) came out to delegate before his lord and gave the people a definite time for his return and Allah added an other ten days his people said, ‘He has broken his promise.’” They then did what they did. When we say a hadith (make a statement to you) and if our hadith comes true you should say, “Allah has spoken the truth.” If we say a hadith to you ( make a statement) and if doe not come true, you should say, “Allah has spoken the truth.” You will be rewarded twice.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ibn Muskan from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about performing optional Salah (prayer) on the back of camel or stumper. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so as your face is.’ I then asked, ‘Am I required to face al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) when saying Takbir (Allah is great beyond description)? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, you are not required but say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) as your face is and that is how the Messenger of Allah of had done.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ’Idris have narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from al-Sayyari from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Yaqtin from his brother from his father Ali ibn Yaqtin who has said the following. “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said to me, ‘The Shi‘a have live on hopes for two hundred years.’” The narrator has said that Yaqtin said to his son, Ali ibn Yaqtin, “We did not have to worry. What was said to us came true. What is said to you has not come true yet” Ali then said to him, “What was said to you and what is said to us all come from one source except that good news for you have come true and you received it pure. It was just as was said to be. The good news for us has not yet come true. We thus, entertain ourselves with hopes. If we would be told that it will take place after two or three hundred years our hearts will harden and the masses will turn back from Islam. However, they have said that it will come very soon and in near future to encourage people about the coming of the relief.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

6. Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mansur ibn Hazim from Aban ibn Taghlib who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I journeyed between Makkah and al-Madinah and he would say, ‘You, however, are young people, thus you delay. I am old so I hurry up.’ He (the Imam) would perform the nightly optional Salah (prayer) in the beginning of the night.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

7. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from al-Qasim ibn ’Isma‘il al-Anbari from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Ibrahim ibn Mihzam from his father who has said the following. “We mention before abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the Kings from the descendants of so and so. The Imam (a.s.) said, “People have perished due to their haste for this matter ((the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority). Allah does not expedite it because of the haste of people. For this matter (the rise of al-Mahdi with Divine Authority) there is a goal towards which it proceeds, Once they will reach that goal they then will not be able to move it forwards or backwards even by one hour.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb who has said the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) on his stumper. He (the Imam) said, ‘He makes gestures for Sujud (prostrations) lower than the gesture for Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees).’ I then asked, ‘Can he perform Salah (prayer) while walking? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, but in the form of gestures and make the one for Sujud (prostrations) lower than that for RukuV”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from ’Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs optional Salah (prayer) in the cities while on the stumper and to whatever direction it faces. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is not harmful.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from those whom he has mentioned who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), did not consider it harmful to perform Salah (prayer) while walking, but he must not be driving a camel.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ibn Muskan from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about nightly Salah (prayer) and al-Witr in the beginning of the night on a journey if one is afraid of cold or not feeling well. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful and I do it so.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Sulayman from Sa’d ibn Sa’d from Muqatil ibn Muqatil from abu al-Harith who has said the following: “I once asked him (Imam al-Rida’) (a.s.), about the four Rak‘at after al-Maghrib on a journey, because camel man is in hurry and I am not able to perform on the ground. Can I perform Salah (prayer) in the carriage on the camel’s back? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can perform it in the carriage.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Najran from Safwan who has said the following: “Al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘You can perform the two morning Rak‘at in the carriage.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.