Raj’at will be after the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) and before Qiyamat. It will not be for everyone but only for a few selected people.
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates:
وَ إِنَّ الرَّجْعَةَ لَيْسَتْ بِعَامَّةٍ وَ هِيَ خَاصَّةٌ لَا يَرْجِعُ إِلَّا مَنْ مَحَضَ الْإِيمَانَ مَحْضاً أَوْ مَحَضَ الشِّرْكَ مَحْضاً
Surely Raj’at will not be general rather it is specific. None shall return (in it) except a true believer and a true polytheist.
Tasheeh al-E’teqaad, p. 40; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 53, p. 39, H. 1
Moreover, it will not just be a spiritual Raj’at but physical in every sense i.e. this physical body will be resurrected again. We will now briefly mention some of those who, according to traditions, will be resurrected in Raj’at.
Raj’at of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and his progeny (a.s.)
Abu Khalid Kabuli inquired from Imam Zain al-Aabideen (a.s.) about the verse:
إِنَّ الَّذِي فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لَرَادُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ
Most surely He Who has made the Quran binding on you will bring you back to the destination.
Surah Qasas (28): Ayat 85
Imam Zain al-Aabideen (a.s.) said:
قَالَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْكُمْ نَبِيُّكُمْ (ص) وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْأَئِمَّةُ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ
Your Prophet (s.a.w.a.), Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and Imams (a.s.) shall return unto you.
Tafseer al-Qummi, vol. 2, p. 147; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 22, p. 99, H. 53
Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said:
إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (ص) وَ عَلِيّاً سَيَرْجَعَانِ
Surely the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and Ali (a.s.) will indeed return.
Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 53, p. 39, H. 2
Moalla Ibn Khonays narrates the following tradition from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.):
أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ
The first one who will return to this world will be Husain Ibn Ali (a.s.).
Mukhtasar Basaaer al-Darajaat, p. 24; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 53, p. 46, H. 19
Raj’at of Prophets and their vicegerents (a.s.)
Jameel Ibn Darraaj inquired from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) about the verse:
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ
Most surely We help Our apostles, and those who believe, in this world’s life and on the day when the witnesses shall stand.
Surah Mo’min (40): Ayat 51
He (a.s.) replied:
قَالَ ذَلِكَ وَ اللَّهِ فِي الرَّجْعَةِ، أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ أَنْبِيَاءَ كَثِيرَةً لَمْ يُنْصَرُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا- وَ قُتِلُوا وَ الْأَئِمَّةَ بَعْدَهُمْ قُتِلُوا- وَ لَمْ يُنْصَرُوا ذَلِكَ فِي الرَّجْعَةِ
By Allah! This would be during Raj’at. Do you not know that most of the Prophets (a.s.) did not receive any assistance in this world? (In fact) They were killed and the Imams (a.s.) after them were also martyred and none of them were helped. This is concerning Raj’at.
Tafseer al-Qummi, vol. 2, p. 258; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 53, p. 65, H. 58
It means that Prophets and Vicegerents (a.s.) would be brought back to life during Raj’at. They will not just be enlivened again but will also be helped and assisted. Allah has promised help and assistance twice in this verse, once in the ‘life of this world’ and the other ‘on the day when witnesses shall stand’ i.e. on the day of Qiyamat. Promise about Qiyamat will be fulfilled only at that time but first the promise of this world should be fulfilled. Since Allah does not breach His promise, hence before Qiyamat and in this worldly life He will most surely fulfil the covenant made to His Prophets and Messengers (a.s.). Raj’at is essential in order to fulfil this covenant.
Abdullah Ibn Muskaan inquired from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) regarding the verse:
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ
And when Allah made a covenant through the prophets: Certainly what I have given you of Book and wisdom then an apostle comes to you verifying that which is with you, you must believe in him, and you must aid him.
Surah Aale Imraan (3): 81
Imam (a.s.) replied:
قَالَ: مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً مِنْ لَدُنْ آدَمَ إِلَّا وَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا فَيَنْصُرُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ قَوْلُهُ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ يَعْنِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ وَ لَتَنْصُرُنَّهُ يَعْنِي أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Allah did not raise any Prophet from Adam except that he will return to this world and assist Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and the statement ‘you must believe in him’ refers to Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and ‘you must aid him’ refers to Ameerul Momineen (a.s.).
Tafseer al-Qummi, vol. 1, p. 25, Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 53, p. 61, H. 50
Buraid Ibn Moawiyah al-Ijli states that he asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.), ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)! Please enlighten me about Ismail who has been mentioned in the Holy Quran thus:
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا
And mention Ismail in the Book; surely he was truthful in (his) promise, and he was an apostle, a
Surah Maryam (19): Ayat 54
prophet.
Was he Ismail, the son of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.)? People think that he is Ismail Ibn Ibrahim.
Imam (a.s.) replied:
Kaamil al-Ziyaaraat, p. 65, H. 3
“Prophet Ismail (a.s.) passed away during the time of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.). Besides, Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) was Allah’s proof and had brought a Shariat. So why would Ismail (a.s.) be raised (as a Prophet)?
He further asked: May I be your ransom! Then who is this Ismail?
Imam (a.s.) responded:
“He is Ismail Ibn Hizqeel (a.s.), a Prophet. Allah sent him to his nation but the people denied him (as a Prophet), killed him and injured his face as well. Allah was enraged at them and sent His angel of divine wrath ‘Astaataaeel’ who said to Prophet Ismail (a.s.), ‘I am Astaataaeel’, the angel of divine wrath. By the Lord of Esteem! Allah has sent me to you so that I engulf your nation in a divine chastisement that you decide.’ Ismail (a.s.) replied, ‘I am in no need of it.’
Allah asked him via a revelation, ‘Ismail, what do you wish for?’
He (a.s.) replied: O Lord! You took an acceptance for Your Lordship, the Messengership of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), the Mastership of his successors, You informed Your best creation (Muhammad (s.a.w.a.)) that after him his nation will kill Husain Ibn Ali (a.s.) and You have indeed promised Husain (a.s.) that You will surely send him back into this world (i.e. Raj’at) so that he could avenge his own martyrdom from his own killers and oppressors. My Lord! My only plea to You is that just like You would enliven Husain (a.s.), at that time You also bring me back into this world so that I too can seek revenge from those oppressors.
Allah promised Ismail Ibn Hizqeel (a.s.) that He would bring him back into this world along with Imam Husain (a.s.).
Raj’at of Martyrs
Mufazzal inquired about the following verse from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.)
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ فَوْجًا
And on the day when We will gather from every nation a party
Surah Naml (27): Ayat 83
Imam (a.s.) replied:
لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قُتِلَ إِلَّا يَرْجِعُ حَتَّى يَمُوتَ وَ لَا يَرْجِعُ إِلَّا مَنْ مَحَضَ الْإِيمَانَ مَحْضاً وَ مَنْ مَحَضَ الْكُفْرَ مَحْضاً
There is none from among the believers who was killed except that he would be brought back (to life) until he dies (a natural death) and none shall be brought back except the one who was a sheer believer and the one who was an absolute disbeliever.
Tafseer al-Qummi, vol. 2, p. 131
Believers will be raised to witness the superiority of Islam whereas the disbelievers will be brought back to see all of their efforts go in vain
Raj’at of Believers
Buraid Ibn Moawiyah al-Ijli narrates, I heard Imam Sadiq (a.s.) say:
O Buraid! Allah’s honour has not been upheld, His sanctity has been violated entirely. Neither is His Book being followed nor the sunnah of His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is being adhered to in this world. No (correct) judgement was established ever since Allah captured (the soul of) Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and nothing from the right is being acted upon till date.
Imam (a.s.) then continued:
But, by Allah! Days and night will not pass until Allah enlivens the dead and causes death to those
Al-Kaafi, vol. 3, p. 538; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 41, p. 127, H. 36
who are alive and Allah shall return the right to those who deserve it and He will establish His religion
which He and His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) are satisfied with. Then glad tidings unto you, glad tidings unto
you and glad tidings unto you. By Allah! Truth is not but with you.
Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.), through three glad tidings, is conveying that although the condition of religion has worsened currently, religious laws have been completely violated but a day will surely come when there would be Raj’at. The dead ones shall be brought back to life and the religion which Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.a.) are pleased with, which was endorsed on the day of Ghadeer after the announcement of the Mastership and Imamate of Ameerul Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), that very religion will be established across the world.
Mufazzal Ibn Umar narrates from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.):
Qaim (a.s.) will rise from behind the Holy Kaaba and 27 people will accompany him. 15 people from the nation of Prophet Musa (a.s.) who were guided with truth and used to administer justice based on it, 7 from the people of the cave (Ashaab Kahf), Prophet Yusha Ibn Noon (a.s.), Salmaan, Abu Dajjaanah Ansaari, Miqdaad and Maalik Ashtar. They will accompany him and will be appointed as his governors.
Al-Irshaad, vol. 2, p. 286
It is evident from this tradition that such great personalities yearn for being aides and companions of Hazrat Vali-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.). All of them are Allah’s chosen and loved ones. May Allah include us among their servants so that even we get the opportunity to witness the rule of Ahle Bait (a.s.).
The inclusion of great companions of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) in the noble tradition above is perhaps indicative of the desire for the establishment of a just rule embedded in their hearts. Their craving to witness the rule of the Islam of Ghadeer was not actualised. They will be brought back to life during Raj’at to witness the Islam of Ghadeer reach its zenith. Since the government of the Islam of Ghadeer would be established during Raj’at, those who are against that Islam deny Raj’at and reject its concept. But will reality not unfold just because people deny it?
Raj’at of Disbelievers
We have previously discussed that everyone will not return during Raj’at. Only those believers will be brought back with Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.), who were pure and perfect in their faith and those disbelievers will be enlivened who were staunch in their infidelity and polytheism.
Abu Baseer inquired from Imam Baqir (a.s.) or Imam Sadiq (a.s.) regarding the following verse:
وَمَن كَانَ فِي هَٰذِهِ أَعْمَىٰ فَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَعْمَىٰ وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
And whoever is blind in this, he shall (also) be blind in the hereafter; and more erring from the way.
Surah Bani Israel (17): Ayat 72
Imam (a.s.) replied:
فِي الرَّجْعَةِ
This is concerning Raj’at
Mukhtasar Basaaer al-Darajaat, p. 28; Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 53, p. 67, H. 61
It is obvious that in this verse blindness does not mean physical blindness of the eye rather it refers to deviation. The last part of the verse clearly states and more erring from the way. Those people will be enlivened during Raj’at who, despite having intellect, understanding and truth being clear for them, they not just denied the truth but on the contrary vehemently opposed it and tried to completely suppress it. Such people will be brought back and shown the excellence and glory of truth and truthful ones.