ZIKR AS OBLIGATION

In short a commandment of lmam Mahdi (AHS) is like the commandment of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Imam's (AHS) making remembrance (zikr) an obligation (farz) does not repeal or overrule earlier commandments of Shar'iat.

If the above discussion gives use to an argument that had the Imam's (AHS) commandments been the commandments of Shar'iat, why were they not revealed earlier and that no companion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had reported them. This being the situation, the commandments (of Imam Mahdi (AHS)) are not reliable, it is argued.

Our reply to this argument is that some of the commandments, which gained importance under specific principles, Quranic texts and well-known traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), were not commonly known in the first century of Islam (for instance, gargling and taking water in the nose in the course of wazu). These two acts are farz according to some fuqaha (legists). But these were not treated as farz during the life of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The reason is that making these two acts obligatory was based on Arabic lexicography, grammar and literature and grammar was not in vogue in times of the Prophet's (PBUH) companions..... .

In short, remembrance (zikr) also is basic, which is proved by Quranic Verses, Prophet's (PBUH) traditions and the opinions of the mujtahideen (religious directors). However, making zikr obligatory was proved by the commandment of Imam Mahdi (AHS). It is immaterial if it was not in common knowledge during the early period of Islam. Besides, the absence of a commandment in the common and open knowledge of the people does not prove that the commandment was never issued.

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