Shaykh Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-Ṭūsī · Reason of occultation of the Imam from his followers
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.
قلنا: ليس يجب في التقصير الذي أشرنا إليه أن يكون كفرا ولا ذنبا عظيما لأنه في هذه الحال ما اعتقد في الإمام أنه ليس بإمام ولا أخافه على نفسه وإنما قصر في بعض العلوم تقصيرا كان كالسبب في أن علم من حاله أن ذلك الشك في الإمامة يقع منه مستقبلا والآن فليس بواقع فغير لازم أن يكون كافرا غير أنه وإن لم يلزم أن يكون كفرا ولا جاريا مجرى تكذيب الإمام والشك في صدقه فهو ذنب وخطأ لا ينافيان الإيمان واستحقاق الثواب ولو لم يلحق الولي بالعدو على هذا التقدير لأن العدو في الحال معتقد في الإمام ما هو كفر وكبيرة والولي بخلاف ذلك.
We will say: It is not necessary that the said shortcoming be disbelief (Kufr) or a great sin. He did not believe that the Imam is not his Imam, nor did he threaten his life. He merely failed to understand certain things. Like a cause that this doubt in Imamate will occur from him in future and has not occurred so far. Thus, he is not necessarily a disbeliever, or like a person who considers the Imam a liar or doubts his truthfulness. It is a sin and a mistake that does not negate belief and merits for rewards. The devotee of the Imam does not go into the same category as his enemy in this case, because the enemy holds an opinion about the Imam, which amounts to disbelief and a major sin, and the devotee is opposite to that. We said that what is “like a cause” for disbelief is not necessarily disbelief at this stage, because if one of us believes that he is an independent cause with respect to other objects, it will be ignorance and mistake, but not disbelief (Kufr).
Translation: Sayyid Athar Husain S. H. Rizvi — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.
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