The Four Ambassadors of the Awaited Imam

Question

Who are the four ambassadors of the Awaited Imam, and is there any disagreement about them? [AR_ID:5689]

Answer 1

Peace be upon you.

We have not found any disagreement among the scholars of the Imami sect regarding these great figures. The four ambassadors are those who held a special agency on behalf of Imam Al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) during the period of his minor occultation, known as the 'Ghaybah al-Sughra'. They are:

1. Uthman ibn Sa'id al-‘Amri.

2. His son Muhammad ibn Uthman al-‘Amri.

Our master Imam Al-‘Askari (peace be upon him) described them saying: 'Al-‘Amri and his son are trustworthy; whatever they convey is from me, and whatever they say is from me. Listen to them and obey them, for they are the trustworthy and reliable ones.'

3. Al-Husayn ibn Ruḥ al-Nubakhti.

4. Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samari.

Their presence constituted a significant advantage during this period, and the time of the minor occultation ended with the death of the fourth ambassador.

The documentation of these ambassadors in this manner is clear and evident, and some researchers consider it a necessity of the Twelver Imami doctrine and a clear aspect of their specific history, making it unnecessary to prove this matter further. Below are their names:

First Ambassador

Uthman ibn Sa'id ibn ‘Amr al-‘Amri al-Asadi, known as Abu ‘Amr al-Samman. He met Imam Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi (peace be upon him) and is said to have served him for eleven years. He then met Imam Abu Muhammad al-‘Askari (peace be upon him) and heard hadith from both of them, and he was of high status with them. He also met the Awaited Imam Al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) and held the agency for him for a short time. He was a great and esteemed figure, and many narrations praise him, including one narrated by Sheikh Al-Tusi from Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Ishaq, where he asked Imam Abu Muhammad al-‘Askari: 'Whom should I deal with, and from whom should I take, and whose words should I accept?' The Imam (peace be upon him) replied: 'Al-‘Amri and his son are trustworthy; whatever they convey is from me, and whatever they say is from me. Listen to them and obey them, for they are the trustworthy and reliable ones.'

He passed away around the year 265 AH and was buried in the western side of Baghdad, where his grave remains to this day in the western part of the city on Al-Midan Street.

Second Ambassador

Muhammad ibn Uthman ibn Sa'id al-‘Amri al-Asadi, known as Abu Ja'far al-Samman. Imam Al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) praised him and his father. He authored books in jurisprudence based on what he heard from Imam Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-‘Askari (peace be upon him) and the Awaited Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance). He passed away in the year 304 or 305 AH.

He held the agency for a long time, which was determined by Sayyid Hashim Ma'ruf al-Husaini (may Allah have mercy on him) to be forty years. He was aware of the time of his death, which was informed to him by Imam Al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance), so he prepared a grave for himself and would go down to it and recite the Quran. His grave is now located in Al-Khalani Square in Baghdad.

Third Ambassador

Al-Husayn ibn Ruḥ al-Nubakhti, known as Abu al-Qasim, and nicknamed al-Baghdadi. He was a jurist, a mufti, eloquent, and highly respected, with great dignity and intelligence. The Shia relied on him for their affairs and brought him funds, and his followers were numerous, including princes, ministers, and dignitaries who would visit him. People praised his intellect and understanding.

He held the agency from the year 304 or 305 AH, following the death of Abu Ja'far al-‘Amri (may Allah have mercy on him), until his death in Sha'ban of the year 326 AH, which is more than twenty years. He was buried in the Nubakhtiyah, which was the house of Ali ibn Ahmad al-Nubakhti in Baghdad.

Fourth Ambassador

Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samari, known as Abu al-Hasan, and nicknamed al-Baghdadi. He was the last of the four ambassadors, taking over the agency after the death of the third ambassador, Al-Husayn ibn Ruḥ al-Nubakhti, in the year 326 AH until his death in 329 AH. He was buried (may Allah have mercy on him) on a street known as Al-Khalanji near the banks of the Abu ‘Aqab River, and his shrine is now well-known in Baghdad.

May you be successful in all good.