Shaykh Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-Ṭūsī · Objections of the opponents with regard to the birth of Imam Mahdi (a.s)
Shia · narrations
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Hadith reports may differ in authenticity, attribution, context, and interpretation across Islamic scholarly traditions. Inclusion in this library does not constitute authentication or endorsement. Readers are encouraged to consult qualified scholars before drawing religious or legal conclusions.
والجواب أنا نقول أولا أنه لا يلتجئ من يتكلم في الغيبة إلى مثل هذه الخرافات إلا من كان مفلسا من الحجة عاجزا عن إيراد شبهة قوية غير متمكن من الكلام عليها بما يرتضي مثله فعند ذلك يلتجئ إلى مثل هذه التمويهات والتذليقات. ونحن نتكلم على ذلك على ما به فنقول إن ما ذكر من الطريق الذي به يعلم موت الإنسان ليس بصحيح على كل وجه لأنه قد يتفق جميع ذلك وينكشف عن باطل بأن يكون لمن أظهر ذلك غرض حكمي فيظهر التمارض ويتقدم إلى أهله بإظهار جميع ذلك ليختبر به أحوال غيره ممن له عليه طاعة أو إمرة وقد سبق الملوك كثيرا والحكماء إلى مثل ذلك وقد يدخل عليهم أيضا شبهة بأن يلحقه علة سكتة فيظهرون جميع ذلك ثم ينكشف عن باطل وذلك أيضا معلوم بالعادات وإنما يعلم الموت بالمشاهدة وارتفاع الحس وجمود النبض ويستمر ذلك أوقاتا كثيرة ربما انضاف إلى ذلك أمارات معلومة بالعادة من جرب المرضى ومارسهم يعلم ذلك.
We would reply: First, we say that no one who believes in occultation has to take recourse to such nonsense, unless he is deprived of proofs and unable to refute a strong doubt. We will discuss this objection on the grounds it has been articulated and will say that the way mentioned for knowing someone’s death is not always correct, because sometimes all these elements combine, but the lie is revealed, because the person who displayed all this had a smart objective. He pretended to be sick and goes to his family displaying all that to test those who profess obedience and loyalty to him. Cases similar to this have happened many times in the lives of kings and philosophers. Sometimes people consider heart attack to be death; then the mistake is revealed. This is also evident in public behavior. Death is only known through observation of cessation of sensation and suspension of pulse that lasts for a very long time. Many other signs, known through experience, can be included, which someone who has experience with the sick and has treated them knows.
Translation: Sayyid Athar Husain S. H. Rizvi — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.
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