- Shia says that the father of Imam Zaman ordered to hide the news of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) and not to tell except the trusted people. Even now, the Imam of their time is behind the veil of occultation. On the other hand, they say: If someone does not recognize the Imam of his time, he has died the death of ignorance (disbelief). How can this contradiction be resolved?!
The Promised Mahdi (A.S)
The Secrecy of the Promised Mahdi and the Necessity of knowing the Imam of the time in Shia:
Imam Hassan Askari (peace be upon him) also promised the birth of his child in the company of special and trusted companions by reciting verse 8. Surah al-Saf: “They want to extinguish God's light with their mouths; but God completes His light even if the disbelievers are not happy!”[1] He gave them the good news that no plan or trick can stop this power and wisdom of God. One day this promise will come true.[2]
The pressures and strictures of the Abbasid government were not limited only to the lifetime of Imam Hassan Askari (peace be upon him). The ruling apparatus of that time, fearing the birth of his son, even after the martyrdom of Imam (a.s.), surrounded his house and searched for his child. Historical sources testify that the Abbasid government increased the presence of its agents in Imam Hassan Askari's house from the last days of his blessed life. After his martyrdom, they began to inspect, record, and seal everything in the house. After that, persistent efforts were made to find a child from that Imam. Even the Imam's maidservants were monitored by the government officials to find out which one of them was pregnant. One of them who was suspected of being pregnant was kept in a cell until it was confirmed that she was not pregnant.[3]
All these historical evidences show that Imam Hasan Askari (peace be upon him) was under pressure and had to hide the birth of his child. The hiding of Hazrat Mahdi (peace be upon him) was a fully documented and reliable issue. But this has nothing to do with the need for the Imam to be known to the Ummah at all times. [4]
[1] Quran, Surah al-Saf, V.8: يُريدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْواهِهِمْ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْكافِرُون
[2] Ethbat al- Wasilah, Masoudi, p. 255.
[3] Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Nim`ah, Ibn Babawayh, vol. 2, p. 474
[4] Translated: https://makarem.ir/maaref/l/0428993