The Clear Statement Regarding What Was Ambiguous in the Case of Imam Al-Mahdi

• The First Article: "Nay, they have denied what they do not comprehend, and its interpretation has not yet come to them."¹

To begin, the sun of the Mahdi, when it shines, is seen by the sharp-sighted and the weak-sighted, and felt by the blind. However, the initial subtle signs of the dawn of the Mahdi appear in the pre-dawn darkness, and the first glimmers of morning are not visible to everyone. Similarly, the Mahdi is like the moon; when it appears as a crescent at the beginning of the month, not everyone sees it on the day of doubt. But after two or three days have passed, many will see it. As for the night of its fullness as a full moon, it is hidden from no one. And if you were in the dark about the people who saw him with their own eyes Then you saw the clear one, you would not doubt And not all proofs are seen by all people; they differ in their obscurity and clarity, in their depth and superficiality. Consider the Almighty's saying: "And if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those of them who are able to deduce it would have known it."² The discovery of the truth and secrets of matters related to security and fear is not known by all those in authority; it is not known by all scholars except those who can deduce it. Deduction is to dive into the depths of the Quranic or Prophetic text to search for meaning. Al-Qurtubi said: "Deduction is derived from the deduction of water when you extract it, and 'nabt' is the water that is deduced, the first to come out from the well when it is first dug."³ Therefore, we said that matters require diving into the depths and prolonged patience for contemplation. The Almighty said: "And thus We have revealed to you a spirit of Our command. You did not know what the Book was or what faith was, but We made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, you guide to a straight path."⁴ However, it was not fully clarified except in the hearts of those who have been given knowledge, as the Almighty said: "Rather, it is clear signs in the breasts of those who have been given knowledge."⁵ That is, it is clear and preserved in the hearts of those who have been given knowledge. As for others, it is not clear.