The Philosophy of Celebrating Milad of Imam-uz-zaman

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ

'We have encompassed all things within a clear Imam.'

(Surat Yaseen: 12)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin. Click play to listen to audio of this article.

The core of our faith is that in every age there is an Imam, a representative of Allah Ta’ala on earth, who guides mumineen to the Right Path, Siraat-e-Mustaqeem. Recognition and ma’rifat of this Imam is necessary for salvation and najaat. Rasulullah SA has said, “one who dies without knowing the Imam of his age, dies a death of ignorance (jahiliyyat).” The first pillar of Islam is walaayat, which includes the recognition and obedience of the Imam-uz-zaman. The Qur’anic ayat quoted above states that all things, all knowledge and the essence of creation, is encompassed in the Imam.

Though the Imam is in seclusion, it is our firm belief that an Imam in the progeny of Mohammed SA and Ali AS is present on the face of the earth at all times. The Imam is the spiritual sun whose light shines in the night of seclusion through his Dai, the spiritual moon. As the physical moon reflects the light of the sun, the spiritual moon, the Dai, reflects the light of the spiritual sun, the Imam. The existence of the Dai is in itself proof of the existence of the Imam. Allah’s wisdom dictates that night follows day, yet no sane person claims that the sun has ceased to exist when it sets every evening. It is also Allah’s wisdom that dictates that the Imam enters the ‘cave of seclusion’ during certain periods. Those with sound minds and strong belief do not doubt for a second that the Imam is existent even though he is in seclusion.

The celebration of the Milad of Imam-uz-zaman AS, the Imam of our age, on the 4^th of Rabiul-Akhar is a day for us to rejoice and remember the Imam to whom we pay allegiance and through whom we will achieve salvation and najaat. It is the day to remember and acknowledge that an Imam in flesh and blood graces the face of this earth today.

The reason the Milaad of Imam-uz-zamaan AS is celebrated on the 4^th of Rabiul Akhar is that it is the birth anniversaryof the 21^st Imam, Imam Tayyib AS. The 21^st Imam was born in the time of zuhoor and he then entered into seclusion. When he entered into seclusion, his father Imam Aamir AS, the 20^th Imam, appointed a Da’i to represent him and establish his Da’wat, at the hands of Maulatuna Hurratul Malika. The Da’wat during the time of the Imams’ seclusion is known as the Da’wat of Imam Tayyib AS, Tayyibi Da’wat. We know the Imam of our Age by the name of his forebear the 21^st Imam Tayyib AS. Just as we address Imam-uz-zaman AS (the Imam of our age) as Tayyib al-Asr (Tayyib of our age) our hudaat made it a practice to celebrate the Milad of Imam-uz-zaman AS on the day of the Milad of Imam Tayyib the 21^st Imam AS. Thus, 4^th Rabiul Akhar is known as the Milad of Imam Tayyib AS and also the Milad of Tayyib-ul-Asr AS, Imam-uz-zaman.

We offer thanks to Allah Ta’ala on this day that he has guided us to the recognition of the Imam of our through his Dai in our midst. Those with the eyes of baseerat and faith see the light of the Imam shining in him.