حسن زرنوشه فراهانی

The occultation of Imam al-Mahdī (AS) is a key issue in Mahdavi thought, for which various reasons have been stated in Shia narrative sources. In an article entitled " al-Ghaybah ʻinda al-Shīʻah al-Ithnā ʻAsharīyyah wa Asbābuhā; Dirāsatun Taḥlīlīyyatun Naqdīyyah " written by Ṭāriq ibn Saʻīd ibn ʻAbdullāh al-Qaḥṭānī, " it is claimed, by adhering to these very narrations, that Shia narrations regarding the reason for the occultation are unreliable, contradictory, and irreconcilable. The present study, with the aim of responding to the doubts raised in the aforementioned article regarding the reason for the occultation of Imam al-Mahdī (AS) and using the descriptive-analytical method, first, while stating the claim made, examines the authenticity of the narrations' chains of transmission based on two approaches: "Narrator-centric and evidence-centric authentication." It demonstrates that, with the exception of one narration, the rest are capable of being considered authentic and sound. Then, by examining their implications, it concludes that since all the reasons for the occultation mentioned in the narrations are of the nature of incomplete causes (causa sine qua non) and not complete causes, therefore, a semantic reconciliation can be made between them, and there is no need to prioritize them over each other. In this way, we can consider some of them as the cause of the occurrence of the occultation and others as the cause of the continuation of the occultation, or consider one of the causes as the principle and the rest as its branches.

Shia hadith sources contain numerous narrations indicating the announcement of Imam Mahdi's (AS) birth.  However, other narrations seemingly contradict these, suggesting the concealment of his birth. In an Arabic academic dissertation titled "Narrations Regarding the Mahdi in the Authentic Hadith Books of the Twelver Shia: A Critical Study," Walīd ibn Ṣāliḥ Bāṣmad uses these and similar narrations to argue that Shia narratives on the Mahdi are weak, contradictory, and irreconcilable, thus casting doubt on the Shia concept of the Mahdi itself ". The present study, using a descriptive-analytical method, aims to address the objections raised in the aforementioned dissertation regarding Imam Mahdi's (AS) birth. It first categorizes and reports the claim under two headings: Narrations indicating the announcement of the birth and narrations indicating its concealment.  Then, by examining the chain of transmission ( Isnād ) and text ( Matn ) of each narration, it concludes that while credible narrations exist in both categories, based on both narrator-centered and context-centered approaches to evaluating authenticity, their apparent conflict can be resolved. The concealment of the birth refers to general concealment, while the announcement refers to disclosure to select individuals. This duality in concealment or announcement was necessitated by the oppressive circumstances of Imam Ḥasan al-ʻAskarī (AS) time and was essential for protecting God's proof. Therefore, these seemingly contradictory narrations are theologically reconcilable, and there is no need to prioritize one over the other.