Reason of occultation of the Imam from his followers
Kitāb al-Ghayba|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 22
وهذا كما نقول إن من علم نبوة موسى عليه السلام بالمعجزات الدالة على نبوته إذا لم ينعم النظر في المعجزات الظاهرة على عيسى ونبينا محمد صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم لا يجب أن يقطع على أنه ما عرف تلك المعجزات لأنه لا يمتنع أن يكون عارفا بها وبوجه دلالتها وإن لم يعلم هذه المعجزات واشتبه عليه وجه دلالتها.
This is as we say. If someone who believes in the prophethood of Musa عليه السلام due to his miracles, which prove his Divine mission, does not properly view the miracles shown by Isa عليه السلام and our Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, it is not necessary to believe that he did not view these miracles, because it is possible that he may be aware of them and how they indicate their purpose, though he may not know that these are miracles and their indication of their purpose has been unclear to him.