Doubt: Does the Simultaneous Emergence of Yamani, Khorasani, and Sufyani Refer Only to Their March Toward Iraq?

Dar al‑Hidaya | Yamani uprising  Followers of Ahmad al‑Basri, in their attempt to justify Ahmad Isma‘il al‑Basri’s claim to be Yamani, have resorted to incorrect arguments and tried to validate the matter through distortions.

The Followers’ Justification Regarding Yamani’s Uprising

They argue incorrectly:

“The meaning of the simultaneity of the three signs is the uprising toward Iraq, and the simultaneity of Yamani, Khurasani, and Sufyani occurs six months after the beginning of the Sufyani’s uprising.” (Dirāsa fī Shakhṣiyyat al‑Yamānī al‑Mawʿūd, p. 286)

Response

• There is no evidence for Nazim al‑ʿUqayli’s statement. The narration is absolute, and nowhere is such a restriction mentioned.
• The reason for denying the simultaneity of the three signs is clear: it exposes Ahmad al‑Basri and his followers. They are forced to cling to such distortions and absurd interpretations to find a way around the fact that the Sufyani and Khurasani have not yet emerged.
• If Yamani’s uprising before the Sufyani were possible, the Imam (peace be upon him) would not have suspended the Sufyani’s uprising upon Yamani’s uprising in the narration of Kāsir al‑ʿAyn.
• If supporting Yamani were obligatory and his uprising occurred before the Sufyani, then the Imam (peace be upon him) would not have instructed the Shi‘a to remain in their homes until they heard news of the Sufyani’s uprising.

The Narration of Imam al‑Sadiq (peace be upon him)

Sadir narrates from Imam al‑Sadiq (peace be upon him):

“O Sadir! Remain in your house and be like one of its mats. Stay calm as long as the night and day are calm. When you hear that the Sufyani has risen, then hasten to us—even if on foot or crawling.” (al‑Kāfī, vol. 8, p. 264)

In this narration and others, the Imam instructs the Shi‘a to remain in their homes and not to support anyone—whether Yamani or otherwise—until the Sufyani emerges.

Thus, if we accept that Yamani rises before the Sufyani, then according to this narration, supporting him before the Sufyani’s uprising is not only not obligatory but impermissible, since aiding him would contradict the Imam’s command to remain still.