The period of ghaybah (occultation) of the 12th Imam of the Shi’a school of thought has been addressed in many narrations of the Ahlul-Bayt. It has been described as a time of confusion, trials and tribulations. At the same time, the Shi’a have been promised great rewards for being patient during this time and persevering in practicing their faith, while they await the reappearance of the saviour.

In this 7 hour course, titled “The Mahdi, Part 2: Minor and Major Occultations”, Shaykh Mahdi Rastani discusses the following topics:

– The Start of Minor Occultation
– The Wisdom Behind Occultation
– The Practice of Wikalah
– The Lives of The Four Representatives and Their Virtues
– Exploring The Letters Written By Imam Mahdi
– Notable Events Following – The Start of Occultation
– The Role of The Imam During Occultation
– Preparation for The Reappearance 
– Seeing The Imam During Occultation
– Duas Prescribed For The Occultation
– Ziyarahs Addressed To The Imam

Shaykh Mahdi will also answer the following questions amongst many others:

1 – Why did Allah decree the occultation and how many answers are provided to this question in our narrations?
2 – When did the system of wikalah begin and what areas had their own representatives?
3 – What lessons can we learn from the personal lives of the four representatives?
4 – How did the Shi’a communicate with Imam Mahdi during this time?
5 – Is it possible to see the Imam during the major occultation?
6 – Should we believe the stories we hear about people who meet the Imam or claim to be in touch with him?
7 – What duties are mentioned for the Shi’a during the time of ghaybah?
8 – What duas and ziyarahs are prescribed for these troubling times?