The Mahdi Times February Issue | Page 24

T H E S T R A I G H T P A T H Abdaal/Replacements of Sham By: HussainTheShortcomer Salam alaykum Ansar Allah and everyone that God has guided to reading this fantastic newsletter. Al-Ghaiba by Al-Toosii, page 476: "Al-Qaim is given allegiance between the Corner and the Station by three hundred and some, the same number as the soldiers of Badr, within them are the Precious Ones of Egypt, the Replacements of Al-Sham and the Finest of Iraq, so he stays for as long as Allah wishes for him to stay." Ahlulbayt (a.s) have been very extensive in describing the Companions of the Qaim/Imam Mahdi (a.s) and especially the very first of the 313, the First Mahdi (a.s). We find some labels in these descriptions. One of them is the "Abdaal/Replacements of Sham". To understand what this could possibly mean (or whom are intended), first we must know where Sham is located now, and also the explanation of the First Mahdi Ahmed (a.s). The region Sham consists of the four countries in modern times: Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and Syria. The explanation of Imam Ahmed (a.s) is as follows concerning the Replacements of Sham: "And the replacements are from Al-Sham to demonstrate that those who are replaced are also in it and from it, as those who are replaced are thought by people to be the first ones to support Al-Mahdi at his appearance." Which of these four countries is thought to be supporting Mahdi (a.s)? 24 If we look at these four countries and try to find where the most Shia are (who believe that Imam Mahdi (a.s) is alive, whereas Sunni's believe he is not born yet), then we find the following ratios of Muslims from total population (Shia - Sunni): Lebanon (36% - 22%), Syria (13% - 74%), Jordan (2% - 92%), Palestine Territory (-% - 95%). As for the Chosen/Precious ones of Egypt, Imam Ahmed's (a.s) explanation is as follows: "it is because they were sifted from amongst a nation which is in opposition to the fathers of Al-Mahdi (Ahlulbayt pbut) and they have an essential and major role in the blessed global revolution of AlMahdi." So from these four countries we find that the one with the most Shia is Lebanon. And the Sunni's do not adhere to Ahlulbayt (a.s) and the leaders/rulers who promoted Sunnism have oppressed Ahlulbayt (a.s). Sayyed Khomeini inspired the Hezbollah move Y[