Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samuri: The Fourth Special Deputy of Imam Mahdi (AS)
- 2 months ago
Prior to his death , Hossein ibn Rouh informed the Shias about appointing Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samuri, one of his trusted assistants and representatives, as the next special deputy by the Imam. Ali ibn Muhammad had a very short period of service, lasting only three years as the fourth and final special deputy. He took control of the network organization of the representatives and managed it from Baghdad.
Prior to his death, Ali ibn Muhammad showed the Shias a letter that he had received from Imam Mahdi. This letter was the last communication between Imam Mahdi and the Shias during the minor occultation. In this letter, the Imam told Ali ibn Muhammad to prepare for his approaching death in six days. The Imam told him not to appoint anyone as the next special deputy, since the major occultation was going to begin soon. The Imam continued that his reappearance would only be by God’s decree, which would occur after a long time, when hearts would harden and the earth would fill with injustice. The Imam mentioned two signs for the time of his reappearance: the uprising of Sufyani (an evil person from the descendants of Abu-Sufyan, Muawiyah’s father, who would rule the Syrian region) and a loud cry in the sky. The Imam then told the Shias that anyone who claimed to have any direct connection to him before the occurrence of these two signs is a liar.
As the Imam had foretold, Ali ibn Muhammad died after six days, on the 15th of Sha’ban, in the year 329 Hijri. When Ali ibn Muhammad was on his deathbed, the Shias asked him about whom they should refer to as the next deputy of Imam Mahdi. He responded that he did not have any instructions from the Imam to appoint anyone after himself. Even at his last moments, he was asked again about whom the Shias should refer to as the next special deputy. He responded that God has a plan, referring to the major occultation, which will prevail. These were his last words before his death. With his death, the minor occultation ended, lasting about 69 years.
Prior to his death, Ali ibn Muhammad showed the Shias a letter that he had received from Imam Mahdi. This letter was the last communication between Imam Mahdi and the Shias during the minor occultation. In this letter, the Imam told Ali ibn Muhammad to prepare for his approaching death in six days. The Imam told him not to appoint anyone as the next special deputy, since the major occultation was going to begin soon. The Imam continued that his reappearance would only be by God’s decree, which would occur after a long time, when hearts would harden and the earth would fill with injustice. The Imam mentioned two signs for the time of his reappearance: the uprising of Sufyani (an evil person from the descendants of Abu-Sufyan, Muawiyah’s father, who would rule the Syrian region) and a loud cry in the sky. The Imam then told the Shias that anyone who claimed to have any direct connection to him before the occurrence of these two signs is a liar.
As the Imam had foretold, Ali ibn Muhammad died after six days, on the 15th of Sha’ban, in the year 329 Hijri. When Ali ibn Muhammad was on his deathbed, the Shias asked him about whom they should refer to as the next deputy of Imam Mahdi. He responded that he did not have any instructions from the Imam to appoint anyone after himself. Even at his last moments, he was asked again about whom the Shias should refer to as the next special deputy. He responded that God has a plan, referring to the major occultation, which will prevail. These were his last words before his death. With his death, the minor occultation ended, lasting about 69 years.