علي بن حسان

“Once I was with Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) when Muhzim came to him. Muhzim said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “May I die for you! Please tell me when this matter, which we are waiting for, occurs!” Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) said: “O Muhzim, the diviners often tell false things, the hasteners perish and only the submissive believers are saved.”

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, “The in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) will disappear from the public sight twice. From one them he will return to his family but in the other one it will be said that he is dead or no one knows in which of the valleys has he traveled.” I then asked, “What shall we do in such conditions?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “If any one would claim to have such authority you then should ask him about several things in which he must answer like him (Leader with Divine Authority).”

One day I was with Abu Abdullah (as) and Muhzim al-Asadi was there too. Muhzim said, “May I be sacrificed for you! When will this matter, which you are waiting for, take place? It has been delayed too much.” He (as) responded: “O Muhzim, the ill-whishers have told lies, the hasteners will perish and the submitters will be saved and will be with us.”

Even as your Lord caused you to go forth from your house with the truth.”

Even as your Lord caused you to go forth from your house with the truth, though a party of the believers were surely averse.”

I heard Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) saying: “The man of this matter disappears twice. After one of his disappearances, he comes back to his family and in the other one it is said that he has perished or (it is unknown that) which valley he has followed.” I said: “If that takes place, then what will we do?” He said: “If someone pretends that (he is al-Qa’im), you are to ask him about the great matters, which no one will answer except him (al-Qa’im).” These traditions mention that al-Qa’im (as) disappears twice. Allah has confirmed the sayings of the infallible imams (as). The first disappearance was the one, during which the deputies between Imam al-Mahdi (aj) and the people were apparent in persons and positions. By them the obscure matters of knowledge and vague judgments were cleared. The answers to all questions and problems, which were asked about, were given by these deputies. This was the short disappearance, whose period had elapsed. In the second disappearance there were no deputies or mediators. It was the will of Allah to try His people and to sift them after letting confusion spread among them. Allah said: “On no account will Allah leave the believers in the condition which you are in until He separates the evil from the good; nor is Allah going to make you acquainted with the unseen.” The second disappearance has taken place. We pray Allah to make us from among those, who keep to the truth and not among those, who slip away after the sifting of seditions. It is this that has been meant by “two disappearances” or “disappears twice”.