4. The Ghaybat Kubra
Unlikethe Ghaybat Sughra where the Shi‘as could communicate with
theirImam throughthespecialdeputies,intheGhaybatKubra,thereis
nospecial deputy.The Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.) will appearfrom the Oc-
cultationwheneverAllāhallows himto dosoin ordertoestablish the
Kingdomof Godonearth, andto eradicateinjustice andtyranny once
and for all.
DuringtheGhaybatKubra,thoseShi‘aswhodonothavetheexpertise
to derive the laws from the Qur’an and thesunnaof the Infallibles,
shouldfollowtheguidanceprovidedbythosewhoareexperts.Aperson
known as Ishāqbin ‘Ammār asked in aletter to Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.)
about the guidance duringthe Ghaybat Kubra. The holy Imam wrote:
“And as for the newly occurringcircumstances [which have not been
mentioned in the Qur’ān andsunna], refer to those who narrate our
ahādīth for they are my hujjat upon you as I am Allāh’s hujjat upon
them.” (To refresh your memory, see the lesson
onIjtihād,Taqlīd&Ihtiyāt.)