Why do we put our hand on our head while greeting to” Imam Mahdi ” [AS] ?
DESCRIBTION :
Why do we put our hand on our head when we want to greet “ Imam Mahdi” [AS]? Is there any narrative or particular order in this regard ?
Response:
There isn’t particular narrative from Shiite imam [AS] in this regard , unless the narrative that “Mamghany Allama” has quoted in the book of “tanqih al-maqal” v,1 p,418 ,in the translation of “ De,bel quzaeii “ from the book of“mashkat al 'anwar”. Narrative is as fallow
لما قرأ دعبل قصيدته المعروفة التي أولها ( مدارس آيات ) علي الرضا عليه السلام وذكره عج الله تعالي فرجه وضع الرضا عليه السلام يده علي رأسه وتواضع قائما ودعا له بالفرج .
When “ De,bel” sang his famous ode begin with [madares Al-ayat] for “Imam Reza” [AS] and “Imam Mahdi’s name was brought in that ode , “Imam Reza” stansed humbly, put his hand on the head and prayed for hastening of his appearance.
Late “ Muhaddith nuri” writes about standing and putting hand on the head:
هذا القيام والتعظيم خصوصا عند ذكر ذلك اللقب المخصوص سيرة تمام أبناء الشيعة في كل البلاد من العرب والعجم والترك والهند والديلم وغيرها ، بل وعند أبناء أهل السنة والجماعة أيضا
Al-Najm Al-saqeb, Page 605
This type of standing and bowing after citing the particular title of “Imam Mahdi” [AS] has been customary from long time ago, among all Shiite including, “Arab”, “ non-Arabs”, “ Turks”, “ Daylam” in all cities and countries, even among Sunni.
Of course , there are some other narratives about standing ,while citing the name of “Imam Mahdi” but because question was about putting hand on the head, we just mentioned to this narrative.
Good luck