Past eventOther · The Lantern of the Path · Session 22

Introduction to Imamah, Part 2

Wednesday, 23 April 2025

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Imamah, Part 2 For seven years, the Imam of the age sat in a Baghdad prison guarded by only two soldiers — and thousands of his own followers walked past that prison every year without stopping. This session lays out why Imamah exists: after a Prophet dies, a community needs someone to correctly interpret what he left behind, and someone to lead. Both duties sit with the Imam, and neither can be resigned. An analogy makes the point sharply: you may decline a biscuit if you are not hungry, but not medicine a doctor has prescribed for a serious illness. Leadership is treated the same way — a cure the Imam remains obliged to keep administering. The session applies this to Imam Musa al-Kadhim, peace be upon him, the seventh Imam, imprisoned in Baghdad for seven years under only two guards. Each year, pilgrims travelling to Karbala for Muharram and Arbaeen passed within reach of his cell; almost none stopped. Only after his death did mass mourning begin. If mourning arrives only after the Imam is already gone, what has actually been honoured? What the evening covers The two duties of Imamah. Why interpreting the faith and leading the community are one non-negotiable office, not two separate roles. The biscuit and the medicine. The analogy used to explain why an Imam has no personal right to step back from leadership. Seven years, two guards. The imprisonment of Imam al-Kadhim in Baghdad, and how many of the pilgrims passing him each year actually stopped. Mourning without action. Why tears alone, without reform or accountability, are called a betrayal rather than a tribute. This session fell on the occasion of the martyrdom of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, marked in the evening's maqtal and nohe.

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اللَّهُمَّ عَظُمَ الْبَلاءُ وَ بَرِحَ الْخَفَاءُ وَ انْكَشَفَ الْغِطَاءُ وَ ضَاقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا وَسِعَتِ الْسَّمَاءُ وَ إِلَيْكَ يَا رَبِّ الْمُشْتَكَى وَ عَلَيْكَ الْمُعَوَّلُ فِي الشِّدَّةِ وَ الرَّخَاءِ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ الَّذِينَ أَمَرْتَنَا بِطَاعَتِهِمْ وَ عَجِّلِ اللَّهُمَّ فَرَجَهُمْ بِقَائِمِهِمْ وَ أَظْهِرْ إِعْزَازَهُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِكْفِيَانِي فَإِنَّكُمَا كَافِيَايَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا مُحَمَّدُ انْصُرَانِي فَإِنَّكُمَا نَاصِرَايَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا مُحَمَّدُ احْفَظَانِي فَإِنَّكُمَا حَافِظَايَ يَا مَوْلايَ يَا صَاحِبَ الزَّمَانِ يَا مَوْلايَ يَا صَاحِبَ الزَّمَانِ يَا مَوْلايَ يَا صَاحِبَ الزَّمَانِ الْغَوْثَ الْغَوْثَ الْغَوْثَ أَدْرِكْنِي أَدْرِكْنِي أَدْرِكْنِي الْأَمَانَ الْأَمَانَ الْأَمَانَ.

O Allah! The affliction has grown immense, the hidden hardships have become manifest, the veil has been lifted, and the earth has become constricted despite all that the heavens encompass. O Lord! To You alone we bring our grievances, and in hardship and ease we rely upon none but You. O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad, those whom You commanded us to obey. O Allah! Hasten their relief through the advent of their Qa'im (the Awaited One), and make his glory manifest. O Muhammad! O Ali! O Ali! O Muhammad! Suffice me, for you are my sufficiency. O Muhammad! O Ali! O Ali! O Muhammad! Aid me, for you are my helpers. O Muhammad! O Ali! O Ali! O Muhammad! Protect me, for you are my protectors. O my Master! O Sahib al-Zaman (Master of the Age)! O my Master! O Sahib al-Zaman! O my Master! O Sahib al-Zaman! I seek your aid! I seek your aid! I seek your aid! Come to my rescue! Come to my rescue! Grant me refuge! Refuge! Refuge!

Mafatih al-Jinan, Supplications (Duas), Salat of Imam Sahib al-Zaman (AS) and His Dua, Line 1