The Question of Imāmah

The Second Point

While fulfilling his universal and general task of prophethood, the Noble Messenger (saw) showed immense compassion toward certain specific and individual matters and persons. At first sight, this may not appear to correspond with the tremendous dignity of the prophetic mission. But in reality, such small matters or individuals were the starting point, or the representatives, of a chain through which a universal and general mission of prophethood would be fulfilled. For that reason, immense value was attached to their representatives on behalf of that great chain.

For example, the extraordinary compassion and immense esteem that the Noble Messenger (saw) showed to Hasan and Husayn (ra) in their childhood did not arise merely from familial tenderness or from love due to kinship. Rather, it was because they served as the starting points of luminous chains and as the source, representative, and example of the heirs of the Prophet (saw).

Indeed, when the Noble Messenger (saw), with his perfect compassion, took Hasan (ra) upon his lap and kissed his head, he did so on behalf of the luminous and blessed descendants who would come from Hasan (ra), such as Abd al-Qādir Gīlānī, the greatest Ghawth, who would be heirs of prophethood and would uphold the sacred Sharīah of Muhammad (saw). With the eye of prophethood, he saw the sacred services they would render in the future and he appreciated and praised them. As a sign of his appreciation and encouragement, he kissed the head of Hasan (ra).

Likewise, the extraordinary esteem and compassion that he (saw) showed to Husayn (ra) were on account of the exalted imams such as Zayn al-Ābidīn and Jafar as-Sādiq, and the numerous luminous persons, the true heirs of the Prophet (saw), who would emerge from the radiant line of Husayn (ra). In this way, for the sake of Islam and in the name of the prophetic mission, he kissed the neck of Husayn and showed his perfect compassion and esteem.

Indeed, Muhammad (saw) possessed a penetrating vision with which he looked, from his age upon the earth, toward the place of the Gathering in the world of eternity; from the earth he beheld Paradise; from the surface of the earth he saw the angels in the heavens; he perceived the hidden events lying beneath the dark veils of history from the time of Ādam (as); and he was even honoured with the vision of the Dhāt-i Dhul-Jalāl. It is therefore most certain that, with such an illumined gaze and far-seeing eye, he saw the future aqtāb, the succeeding imams, and the mahdīs among the descendants of Hasan and Husayn (ra), and kissed their heads on behalf of them all. Indeed, Shaykh Gīlānī had a significant share in the kiss placed upon the head of Hasan (ra).