Exegesis of the axiom ‘sun behind the clouds’
His Eminence, the Baqiatullah (a.s) has himself mentioned a benefit of his occultation and said:
“Taking benefit from me during my occultation is like getting benefit from the sun while it is hidden from the view.”
Sulaiman Amash bin Mehran asked His Eminence, Imam Sadiq (a.s): How do the people benefit from His Eminence, the Proof (Hujjat) (a.s) when he is concealed from the viewa His Eminence, Imam Sadiq (a.s) replied:
“Just as they benefit from the sun when a cloud comes over it.”
Allamah Majlisi (r.a.) explains this tradition and says:
a. Effulgence, generosity, knowledge and guidance reaches the people through His Eminence because it is proved from traditions that His Eminence is the cause of the creation of the creatures. Thus if he had not been there no one else would have come into existence. Rather, sciences and recognition is due to his blessings and cure and mediation of His Eminence becomes apparent on the people and calamities are repelled through him. It is so because if they had not been there, people would have been involved in various chastisements due to their evil deeds. As the Almighty Allah has said: “Allah would not punish them till you are among them.”
And we have often experienced that when we are in difficulties and our avenues are closed and we are distanced from the Almighty and we have closed the doors of mercy due to our deeds. Yes! At that time we have made those noble personages as our mediums. And we pray through the holy effulgence of those personages in proportion to our proximity with them. Our complicated problems are solved and whosoever’s heart Allah has illuminated with faith realizes this fact and is not able to deny it.
b. Just as people gain benefit from the sun hidden behind clouds and wait for the cloud to move away so that they could gain more benefits, in the same way the real awaiter and the sincere Shias wait for His Eminence during the occultation every moment that when His Eminence reappears there may be greater benefit from him.
c. One who denies His Eminence during the period of occultation is like one who has denied the sun when it is behind the clouds.
d. Sometimes, when the sun is behind the clouds, it is for the good of the people. In the same way the occultation of His Eminence is better for the people rather than his reappearance due to the condition of the people (who are not capable or deserving).
e. It is ordinarily not possible to see the sun directly when it is not behind a cloud. It can lead to blindness if one sees the sun with naked eyes. In the same way the sun of the existence of His Eminence may cause the incapable people to be blinded of truth.
f. Sometimes the sun comes out from behind the clouds and some people see it. In the same way during the period of occultation some people see His Eminence and are honored to be in his service.
g. His Eminence, like the sun, gives benefit to all, although one who is blind is not able to take benefit from him. As the Almighty Allah says:
“And whoever is blind in this, he shall (also) be blind in the hereafter, and more erring from the way.” Surah Bani Israel 17:72
It is explained in this way:
h. Just as the rays of the sun enter the house according to the space of the slits and windows and by it gives light and energy, in the same way are the hearts of the people. As much as they remove the curtains of sensuality and physical attachments and open up the slits and windows of the heart for the recognition of Allah, the same proportion of the light of guidance of those great personages would benefit them. In the same way they must remove from them the obstacles and curtains like one who stands below the shining sun and the rays of the sun surround him. By this eight doors of Paradise of spirituality are opened up for him and the rays of guidance and guardianship (Wilayat) cover him…
