Various objections have been raised regarding the birth of Imam Mahdi (as). Keeping in mind the necessity for brevity, this this article we shall discuss two objections.
Objection 1: Why the Date of Birth of Imam Mahdi (as) is not
mentioned in Sahih Bukhari or Sahih Muslim?
Sceptics are willing to believe only after seeing such a tradition. Actually this objection is based neither on Shariah nor on reasoning and understanding. Rather, by refusing to believe in the birth of Imam Mahdi (as) they have doubted the power of the Almighty Allah.Why should Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim be considered the touchstone for proving the veracity of every fact? This objection could be replied to in numerous ways but here the following replies should suffice.
Firstly, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim have never been used as a source for the date of birth of any historical personality. So much so that these two books are not depended upon even for determining the date of birth of the Holy Prophet (sawa) and the Khulafa-e-Rashedeen (the four Caliphs). Then why should it be demanded to prove the birth of Imam (as) from Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim?
Secondly, the date is not mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Imam Bukhari had not even come into existence in the year 255 AH or 256 AH, so how could he report the birth of Imam Mahdi (as). Although the two authors have compiled in their books the prophecies of the Holy Prophet (sawa) regarding the various aspects of Imam Mahdi (as) that the Mahdi shall be from the progeny of Hazrat Fatemah (sa), from the descendants of Imam Husain (as), and he shall fill the earth with justice and equity.
Thirdly, if today we want to confirm the date of birth of a particular person, we have to either refer to the Municipality records or the registers of Tehsil or Gram Panchayat. In the same way, to find out the date of birth of Imam Mahdi (as) we have to seek the assistance of the historical registers or in other words, the history books. So if anyone wishes he is requested to peruse the books of any of the unbiased Islamic historians. If he wishes to read the statements of many historians he could refer to the book titled, “Danish Mandaan Aammah wa Mahdi-e-Maood.” This book has 120 historians whose statements have been recorded.
Objection 2: Very Few Reports Regarding the Birth of Imam Mahdi (as)
The second objection raised by the enemies of Islam and especially the enemies of Imam is that in the Shiah books of traditions, there are only two reports with regard to the birth of Imam Mahdi (as). One of the report is of the daughter of Imam Mohammed Taqi (as), Janabe Hakima Khatoon, and the second report is by the servant of Imam Hasan Askari (as) named Oqaid. The opponents allege that these two witnesses are insufficient because the first narrator is a woman and the testimony of a woman is considered only half in Islam. Secondly, the other narrator is a servant and the poor fellow might have had some misunderstanding.
This objection can only come from someone who has not seen the books of the Shiah or even the books of the Ahle Sunnah. To quickly reply to this objection, we have taken traditions only from Beharul Anwar. If only the first chapter of volume 51 of Beharul Anwar is studied, we will find at least 18 narrators of the birth of Imam. Allamah Majlisi has brought these narrations from several books including Kamaluddin and al-Ghaybah of Shaykh Tusi (as). From the many narrations in Beharul Anwar, only ten narrations are taken and reported in this article. (Ten Narrations from Beharul Anwar)
Apart from these testimonies there are various things which point towards the birth of Imam Mahdi (as). But they have not been mentioned for the sake of brevity. After reading this short article the readers must have understood that the testimony regarding the birth of Hazrat has not come to us only from Hakima Khatoon (ar) and the slave Oqaid. But even without the testimony of these two, the birth of Hazrat could have been proved beyond any doubt.
The birth of Imam Mahdi (as) has also been reported in many books of the Ahle Sunnah. For more details, readers can refer to these articles
For more details on the birth of Hazrat Imam Mahdi (as), readers can refer to the following articles –
- Birth of Imam Mahdi (as)
- Events at the Martyrdom of Imam Hasan Askari (as)
- Circumstances of the Mother of Imam Mahdi (as)
- Janabe Hakima Testifies to Birth of Imam Mahdi (as)
- Another Report from Janabe Hakima Khatoon (sa)
- Hidden Birth of Hazrat Musa (as): A Proof for Imam Mahdi (as)
- Ten Reports for Birth of Imam Mahdi (as) from Beharul Anwar
- Why Ahle Sunnah Deny Birth of Imam Mahdi (as)
- Birth of Imam Mahdi (as) as per Ahle Sunnah
- Two Objections For the Birth of Imam Mahdi (as)
- Witnesses For Birth of Imam Mahdi
