The Methodology of the Book  al Imamah wa al Tabsirah min al Hayrah Regarding the Problem of Mahdawiyyah (a)

The following paper is an examination and description of the discussions and traditions contained in the valuable book al Imamah wa al Tabsirah min al Hayrah¡ written by Abu al Hasan Ali ibn Babaway Qummi (329 a.h.) who was the father of Sheikh Saduq. The distinction of this book is that its author lived in the era of the minor occultation and this book seeks to answer some of the queries of some Shias who lived at that time. The text of the book is a conglomeration of discussions¡ a theological analysis as well as the relation of traditions regarding this subject. This shows the extreme fondness of the author with respect to intellectual and theological analysis regarding the subject of Imamah. The book discusses four important problems: the necessity of the Imam (a)¡ the occultation of the last Imam (a)¡ the wisdom behind awaiting the Imam (a) and answering questions surrounding the occultation. In the valuable introduction of this book the author has answered many of the objections regarding the occultation. Aside from this¡ he has attempted to resolve the apparent contradictions that exist in many of the traditions regarding Imam Mahdi (a).