The Short Ghaibat (Ghaibat-e-Sughra)
This Ghaibat was for a period of 69 years from 260A.H. to 329 A.H. During this ghaibat though Imam (a.t.f.s.) was hidden from the common people, but he was always available to some of his special deputies. These special deputies were the connection between Imam (a.t.f.s.) and the common people. They used to convey the questions of the people
to Imam (a.t.f.s.) and communicate Imam’s (a.t.f.s.) replies to the people.
There were four special deputies of Imam (a.t.f.s.) in this period:
- Hazrat Usman ibne Saeed-al-Amri (r.a.)
- Hazrat Mohammad ibne Usman-al-Amri (r.a.)
- Hazrat Husain ibne Rauh-e-Nawbakhti (r.a.)
- Hazrat Ali ibne Mohammad-e-Saimuri (r.a.)
The Long Ghaibat (Ghaibat-e-Kubra)
In this ghaibat Imam (a.t.f.s.) is hidden from all and no one can claim to meet Imam (a.t.f.s.) at will. However, Imam (a.t.f.s.) can meet whomsoever he pleases. There are many incidents of Imam (a.t.f.s.)
meeting both scholars and the common people.
In this period he has generally instructed us to follow the religious scholars for all our religious problems.
Only Allah knows when the Longer Ghaibat will end and Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) will reappear. When he reappears, he (a.t.f.s.) will distribute all wealth equitably and establish truth and justice everywhere.
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