The Minor Occultation begins: After Imam al-Askari (as) passed away in 260 AH, the Minor Occultation (Ghaybat al-Sughra) began. It lasted about 69 years, until 329 AH.
Hidden, but reachable: During this time, Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf) was alive but hidden from public view. The Shia could not meet him directly, but they could still reach him through four special deputies, one after another. These four are known as the Nuwwab al-Arba'a — the Four Deputies.
The four deputies: The deputies were:
- Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Amri
- His son, Muhammad ibn Uthman al-Amri
- Husayn ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti
- Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samari
Questions through the deputy: People wrote their questions and gave their religious dues to the deputy, and the deputy passed them on and brought back the Imam's answers. In this way, guidance continued even though the Imam (ajtf) was hidden.
Example
A trusted assistant: When a manager is away, a trusted assistant carries messages between the manager and the team. The Four Deputies were like those trusted assistants — they kept the connection alive between the Imam (ajtf) and his followers.
Key Terms
- Ghaybat al-Sughra (غیبت صغریٰ) — the Minor Occultation, 260–329 AH
- Nuwwab al-Arba'a (نواب اربعہ) — the Four Deputies of the Minor Occultation
- Na'ib (نائب) — a deputy, one who acts on behalf of another
Quran or Hadith
No specific Quran verse or Hadith is quoted in this topic. The names of the Four Deputies and the dates of the Minor Occultation follow common Shia sources, to be verified in detail before publication. — to be checked.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Timeline — 260 AH to 329 AH, with the four deputies shown in order along the line.
- The Minor Occultation lasted about 69 years, from 260 AH to 329 AH.
- Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf) was alive but hidden; the Shia reached him through the Four Deputies.
- The deputies carried questions and answers between the Imam (ajtf) and his followers.