In Safar, 410 A.H. the following epistle arrived from Imam
Zamana (a.s.) addressed to Shaykh Abi Abdullah Muhammad bin
Muhammad bin Noman and the messenger said that it was from
Hijaz. Its text is as follows:
This letter is for the worthy brother and righteous friend,
Shaykh Mufeed Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibne Muhammad
Noman, may Allah always maintain his honor, it is for the
position achieved due to the covenant taken from the people:
“In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. So to say:
Peace be on you, O friend who is sincere in the religion of Allah
and is successful in certainty in us. We are thankful for our
existence to Allah, except Whom there is no God. And we ask
Allah for blessings and mercy upon our Prophet Muhammad and
the Progeny of Muhammad. And may He always give you divine opportunity to help the truth and increase your rewards for
speaking up in our favor. We announce that we have been
permitted to honor you with our letter and entrust you with
responsibility of our friends, who are present around you. May
Almighty Allah befriend them due to His obedience and may He
suffice them in their important matters. May the Almighty Allah
help you against the pledge-breakers, who have gone out of the
religion of God. Then consider what I am explaining to you and
convey it to those whom you trust, if Allah wills.
We are in a position, away from habitations of oppressors
and it is due to hidden wisdom that Almighty Allah has
considered best for us and the believer followers of us, till the
material wealth is in control of transgressors. Inspite of all this,
we are perfectly cognizant of all your affairs and problems and
nothing regarding you is hidden from us.
We have received information about the disgrace and
humility suffered by you all due to most of you acting in
opposition to the ways of your predecessors, regarding which you
may not have received any information. And that we are
concerned about you and we don’t forget you and if this attention
and favor had not been there, calamities would have befallen you
and your enemies would have destroyed you. Therefore, fear the
Almighty Allah and help us to save you from this mischief.
Anyone, whose death is near shall be killed in this mischief and
one, who has obtained his desire shall remain safe and this
mischief is a sign of distance and proximity of our commands
and prohibitions; although the Almighty Allah would perfect His
light, even if it is detestable to the disbelievers.
Remain attached to dissimulation and keep away from
stoking the fire of ignorance that the bigotry of Bani Umayyah
has created. You should gain lessons from the incidents that
would occur this year in the month of Jamadiul Awwal and you
should wake up from the sleep of carelessness on witnessing that
which occurs immediately after that. A clear sign would be
visible to you in the sky and a similar sign from the earth. In the
eastern lands, there would be disappointing events and an atheist
power would gain control on Iraq. Due to their evil deeds, the
livelihood of the people of Iraq would reduce.
After that the calamities would be dispelled and the evil
ones and the polytheists would be destroyed. Their destruction
would cause happiness among the righteous and people from all
corners of the world would come for Hajj. Each of you should do
that which we like and keep away from that which we dislike.
Because our kingdom shall appear all of a sudden and at that
time, repentance would not be accepted from anyone. No one
would be able to escape punishment. The Almighty Allah has
guided you through divine inspiration and given you the Taufeeq
of guidance through His mercy.”
The following epistle was written in the hand of Imam
Zamana (a.s.):
“This letter is for you, O sincere brother and friend. O loyal
friend. May Allah protect you. Keep this letter in safe custody
and do not show it to anyone. Though you may convey the points
mentioned therein to those whom you trust. And persuade them
to act upon it, if Allah wills. And may Allah bless Muhammad and his Purified Progeny.”
Al-Ehtejaaj, vol. 1, pp. 322-324