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Signs of the Promised One given by Siyyid Kázim
Siyyid Kázim’s teachings evolved over time, as he endeavored to prepare his disciples for the imminent advent of the Promised One. His guidance grew increasingly direct, emphasizing the immediacy of the Qá’im‘s arrival.
Contrary to Shí’a belief, Siyyid Kázim asserted that the Qá’im would not emerge from the mythical underground cities of Jábulqá or Jábulsá, but rather from among the people themselves. Describing the characteristics of the Promised One, Siyyid Kázim taught that the Qá’im would be:
- a descendant of the Prophet (that is, a Siyyid),
- between 20 and 30 years old,
- of medium stature,
- devoid of bodily imperfections,
- abstaining from smoking,
43 The Shí’a have many titles for the Qá’im [He Who Ariseth] including: the 12th Imám, Sáhib-u-Zamán [Lord of the Age], Hujjatu’lláh [Proof of God], Bagiyyatu’lláh [Remnant of God], Imám-Mahdí [the Rightly Guided One], Qá’im-i-Ál-Muhammad [He who shall arise of the family of Muhammad] and many more. To the Shí’a, the Qá’im is the return of the 12th Imám who had disappeared [they say gone into occultation]. The 11th Imám was Hasan-al-Askarí who died in 260 AH, and at that point his son, named Muhammad who was 5 years old becomes the 12th Imám. Immediately after Hasan-al-Askari’s death [it is believed he was poisoned], his main representative said that to keep the 5-year-old 12th Imám safe, the child was going to go into hiding, and would only communicate with everyone through this representative, who was given the title of Gate to the Imám. Before this 1st Gate died, he appointed another “Gate”, and this continued until the 4th Gate. This period is known as the “Minor Occultation” of the 12th Imám, when the only communication with the Imám was via the Gate. The 4th Gate on his deathbed did not appoint anyone else and said that the 12th Imám is now going to go away from the world [called the “Greater Occultation”] until the Last Days. According to Shí’a historians the 12th Imám went down an underground tunnel in the town of Surra-man-Ra’á [Sámarrá] in 329 AH to the hidden cities of Jábulqá and Jábulsá and still lives there. Surra-man-Ra’á [Sámarrá] is an ancient city north of Baghdad. The Shí’a believe that on the Day of Resurrection/Arising [Yawm al- Qiyámah], the 12th Imám or Qá’im will return together with a force of warriors. Then there will ensue a great battle, mountains will crumble, the stars will fall and the Qá’im will be victorious. Then Imám Husayn will come [together with the other Imáms] and the dead will arise, and God’s Day will finally be established on the whole earth forever.
44 The Sunní also expect a cataclysmic Day of Resurrection/Judgement and the coming of two Great Figures. For the Sunní, they await the appearance of the Mahdí [means the “Rightly Guided One”] together with the return of Jesus Christ on the Last Days.