Question:

Is it permissible to call the Imam (a.) by name before his appearance?

Response:

Dawud ibn Al-Qasim reported that Imam Al-Hadi (a.) said: “The successor after me is Al-Hasan, but what will be your situation concerning the successor after the successor?” I said: “Why? May God sacrifice my life for you!” He said: “Because you will not see his appearance and you will not be allowed to mention his name.” I said: “How do we mention him?” He said: “Say: “The proof from the family of Muhammad (s.).” [Mustadrak-ul-Wasa’il by Al-Mirza An-Nuri, Volume 12 page 281 – 282]

الشيخ الطوسي في كتاب الغيبة: بإسناده عن سعد بن عبد الله، عن محمد بن أحمد العلوي، عن أبي هاشم داود بن القاسم الجعفري قال: سمعت أبا الحسن العسكري عليه السلام يقول: الخلف من بعدي الحسن، فكيف لكم بالخلف من بعد الخلف؟ فقلت: ولم جعلني الله فداك؟ فقال: لأنكم لا ترون شخصه، ولا يحل لكم ذكره باسمه فقلت: فكيف نذكره؟ فقال: قولوا: الحجة من آل محمد عليهم السلام

Rayyan Ibn As-Salt reported that Imam Ar-Rida (a.) said: “The Riser (Qa’im) and Rightly guided (Mahdi) is the son of my son Al-Hasan (a.). Neither will anyone see his body nor will anyone call him by his name after his concealment until he is seen and makes his name public, after which all the creation will call him by his name.” We said to him: “O our master and when we say Owner of the Concealment, Lord of the Time and Rightly guided (Mahdi)?” He said: “All of these are absolutely permitted, for you have been forbidden only the explicit mention of His name, which is concealed from our enemies so that they do not know it.” [Mustadrak-ul-Wasa’il of Al-Mirza An-Nuri, Volume 12 page 285 – 286]

وعن علي بن الحسن بن فضال، عن الريان بن الصلت قال: سمعت الرضا علي بن موسى عليهما السلام يقول: القائم المهدي عليه السلام، ابن ابني الحسن، لا يرى جسمه، ولا يسمى باسمه بعد غيبته أحد حتى يراه ويعلن باسمه فليسمه كل الخلق فقلنا له: يا سيدنا، فان قلنا: صاحب الغيبة، وصاحب الزمان، والمهدي، قال: هو كله جائز مطلقا، وإنما نهيتكم عن التصريح باسمه الخفي عن أعدائنا، فلا يعرفوه

Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan reported that Ibrahim ibn Muhammad said: “When the captain Amr ibn Awf wanted to murder me, which was a strict man and was content with the murdering of the followers (of the Imams), I came to know about it and fell into a great fear. I said farewell to my family and those whom I loved and made my way to the house of the father of Muhammad (a.) to say farewell to him as well, intending to flee. Now when I entered his house, I saw a boy sitting by his side with his face shining like the moon on a full moon night. I became confused at his light and glow and thought to forget what fear and fleeing was to me, whereupon he said: “O Ibrahim, do not flee, for God is sufficient for you concerning the evil thereof.” Thereupon my confusion increased and I said to the father of Muhammad (a.): “O my master, may God sacrifice my life for you, who is this who informed me of what I held within?”He said: “He is my son and my successor after me. It is he who goes into hiding for a long time and appears after the earth is overshadowed by tyranny and injustice, after which he fills it with justice and righteousness.” I asked him about his name and he said: “The Messenger (s.) gave him his name and nickname and it is not permissible for anyone to call him by his name and nickname until God establishes his kingdom and rule. So conceal, O Ibrahim, what you have heard from us today except from those who are his followers!” Thereupon I prayed for them and their fathers (a.) and went out with the grace of God remembering and trusting in what I heard from the Master (a.).” [Mustadrak-ul-Wasa’il of Al-Mirza An-Nuri, Volume 12 page 281]

وقال (الفضل بن شاذان): حدثنا إبراهيم بن محمد بن فارس النيسابوري قال: لما هم الوالي عمرو بن عوف بقتلي، وهو رجل شديد وكان مولعا بقتل الشيعة، فأخبرت بذلك وغلب علي خوف عظيم، فودعت أهلي وأحبائي وتوجهت إلى دار أبي محمد عليه السلام لأودعه، وكنت أردت الهرب، فلما دخلت عليه رأيت غلاما جالسا في جنبه كان وجهه مضيئا كالقمر ليلة البدر، فتحيرت من نوره وضيائه، وكاد أن أنسى ما كنت فيه من الخوف والهرب، فقال: يا إبراهيم، لا تهرب فان الله تبارك وتعالى سيكفيك شره فازداد تحيري، فقلت لأبي محمد عليه السلام: يا سيدي جعلني الله فداك من هو وقد أخبرني بما كان في ضميري!؟ فقال: هو ابني، وخليفتي من بعدي وهو الذي يغيب غيبة طويلة، ويظهر بعد امتلاء الأرض جورا وظلما، فيملاها قسطا وعدلا فسألته عن اسمه، فقال: هو سمي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وكنيه، ولا يحل لاحد ان يسميه أو يكنيه بكنيته، إلى أن يظهر الله دولته وسلطنته، فاكتم يا إبراهيم ما رأيت وسمعت منا اليوم إلا عن أهله فصليت عليهما وآبائهما، وخرجت مستظهرا بفضل الله تعالى، واثقا بما سمعت من الصاحب عليه السلام

Jabir Al-Ju’fi reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said: “Umar Ibn Al-Khattab said to the Commander of the Believers (a.): “Tell me about the Rightly Guided (Mahdi), what is his name?” He said: “As for his name, Prophet Muhammad (s.) instructed me, not to convey it until God raises him up.” [Mustadrak-ul-Wasa’il by Al-Mirza An-Nuri, Volume 12 page 286]

الشيخ الطبرسي في إعلام الورى: عن عمرو بن شمر، عن جابر الجعفي قال: سمعت أبا جعفر عليه السلام، يقول: سأل عمر بن الخطاب، أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام فقال: أخبرني عن المهدي، ما اسمه؟ فقال: اما اسمه فان حبيبي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله، عهد إلي أن لا أحدث به حتى يبعثه الله

Hudhaifah reported that Prophet Muhammad (s.) said about Imam Al-Mahdi (a.): “He is the one, whom no one calls by his name in public before his rising, except someone who disbelieves in him.” [Mustadrak-ul-Wasa’il by Al-Mirza An-Nuri, Volume 12 page 285]

وعن محمد بن زيد، عن عباد الأسدي، عن الحسن بن حماد، عن عباد بن ربيعة، عن حذيفة بن اليمان، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله في خبر في صفة المهدي عليه السلام قال: وهو الذي لا يسميه باسمه ظاهرا قبل قيامه الا كافر به

Hudhaifah reported, that Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “The Lord of the sons of Al-Abbas is killed by a man of my progeny, whose name is not mentioned by anyone except an disbeliever.” [Mustadrak-ul-Wasa’il by Al-Mirza An-Nuri, Volume 12 page 284]

وعنه، عن عباد بن يعقوب الأسدي، عن الحسن بن حماد، عن عبد الله بن لهيعة، عن حذيفة بن اليمان قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله، يقول: صاحب بني العباس يقتله رجل من ولدي، لا يسميه باسمه الا كافر