Religion:Rajʽa

Rajʽa (Arabic: الرجعة) (also spelled rajʽat) in Islamic terminology, refers to the Second Coming, or the return to life of a given past historical figure after that person's physical death. While primarily used in Shia Muslim terminology, variations on the doctrine exist in Sunni Islam and the Baháʼí Faith, and rajʽa is used to describe certain Christian doctrines in Arabic.

Etymology

The Rajʽa doesn't refer exclusively to the theological meaning, but is used in Arabic for other cases such as: remarriage of divorced spouses after a period of waiting, the reappearance of Muhammad al-Mahdi after his occultation, and the reestablishment of an Islamic state in the modern world.

Differing views

In Shia Islam

Twelver Shia Muslims believe that the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is currently living and is removed from access by his followers in a state called the major occultation. In Twelver belief, the 12th Imam is identical with the figure of the Mahdi whose appearance is still awaited by other Muslim sects. It is believed that before the Day of Judgement, Muhammad al-Mahdi will return with a group of chosen companions. This return is more properly known as zuhur or 'appearance', as the Hidded Imam is believed to have remained alive during his occultation since the year 874.

After his reappearance Shia eschatology predicts that the Mahdi will do battle against Dajjal and Sufyani. After this battle it is believed that the Imam Mahdi will be joined by the return of Christ, and of the Imam Husayn, along with other historical figures such as the prophets and saints of the past. The return of these historical figures will herald the beginning of the Last Judgment. The purpose of this return is the establishment of justice for those who were oppressed and died oppressed: the oppressors are punished directly by the oppressed during this future reappearance. Shias base this belief on several verses in the Quran where it is mentioned that some people will die twice and live twice.

In Sunni Islam

After 260 AH, belief in Rajʽa was treated by Sunni authors as a distinctive trait distinguishing Shia and Sunni Muslims, with many books written addressing this distinction. Releasing from Irreversibility with the Proof of Rajʽa (in Arabic: الايقاظ من الهجعة بالبرهان علي الرجعة) was the most extensive book, with reference to more than 670 hadiths, Qurʼanic verses and rationale.

Some Sunni scholars do believe in Rajʽa, believing in the return of number of people such as Seven Sleepers synchronous with the appearance of the Mahdi. Jalaluddin Al-Sayuti wrote about the rajʽa but in a different way from the Shiites. According to his book The Possibility of Seeing the Prophet and the Angels (Arabic: تنوير الحلك في إمكان رؤية النبي والملك,) Suyuti claims to have seen the Prophet Muhammad over 70 times while he was awake. According to him, in contrast to Shiite belief, the return of the Prophet Muhammad is not limited to a specific time in the future. Al-Sayuti did not mention if any other religious figures will return after death before the resurrection. According to Abu ʽAbdullah Al-Qurtubi, rajʽa is understood as the lack of physical presence of a prophet, who marks his apparent death by absence in the physical world but will reappear, from time to time, to those who are pure in heart. The Maliki scholar Ibn al-Arabi, known for his exegesis of the Sunan al-Tirmidhi, stated that seeing and hearing the prophets while awake is possible for the pure believer.

Certain Qurʼanic verses that Sunni and Shia scholars suggest confirm Rajʽa include the following:

1. And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "O my people, indeed you have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf [for worship]. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves. That is best for [all of] you in the sight of your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allah outright"; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on. [2;54-55]
2. And [recall] when you slew a man and disputed over it, but Allah was to bring out that which you were concealing. So, We said, "Strike the slain man with part of it." Thus does Allah bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you might reason. [2;72-73]
3. Have you not considered those who left their homes in many thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, "Die"; then He restored them to life. And Allah is full of bounty to the people, but most of the people do not show gratitude. [2;243]

In the Baháʼí Faith

The concept of periodic return of a Manifestation of God is central to prophetology of the Baháʼí Faith. Baháʼís do not view the return of the prophets and saints of the past as a physical return, or resurrection, but rather a return of spiritual characteristics and archetypal roles. This was developed in a milieu of Shiʽa eschatology, initially by Shaykh Ahmad (1753–1826), considered by Baháʼís to be an inspired predecessor to their own faith. The return of the attributes of God in an individual are expected about every thousand years, and these people are termed Manifestations of God. Jesus and Muhammad are regarded as such, as well as the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh, the two founders of the Baháʼí Faith. Each prophet is described by Baháʼu'lláh as in a sense the return of every previous prophet. The concept of return is further extended to the companions of the Manifestations of God. For example, Aaron, Saint Peter, Ali, and Quddús are all considered equivalent minor prophets that championed and spread the cause of the major prophet.

See also

• Kaysanites Shia
• Second coming
• Last Judgment
• Resurrection of the dead

External links

• Rajʽa or new life(Arabic Book)
• Summary of Proving Rajʽa (Arabic Book)