In the book "Kamaluddin"...

In the book "Kamaluddin", Shaikh Saduq has narrated from Ammar Sabaaty a lengthy tradition where Imam Sadiq (A.S.) says: 'Ibadat' (worship) during the rein of a wicked Government is better and more virtuous than worship during the rein of a right Government. Moreover, reward of worship is much more under a wicked Government than under a right Government. Ammar says: I told Imam: May my life be sacrificed for you.

Is it that we should not desire to be amongst the Qaem's companions at the time of the emergence of truth? Is it that our actions under the bond of your leadership and obedience are more virtuous than the actions of companions during the true Government!? Imam Sadiq (A.S.) replied: Glory be to Allah! Do we not wish that Allah, the Blessed, the Sublime should make the Truth and Justice appear in the lands? That the common condition of the people improves?

That Allah should cause (people's) speech to harmonize and that Allah should invite the diverse hearts of people? That they should not disobey Allah on the earth?

That His restrictions should apply among His creatures and that Allah should return the rights to His people so that it may become manifest, so that nothing of the truth might be concealed through fear of any one of (His) creatures… Forsaking the Matter of Fixing the Time of Emergence The author of "Yanabi-ul-Muwadda" (on page 456) has narrated from the author of Fara'ed-ul-Semtain who has narrated from Ahmad-ibn-Ziyad who has narrated from Debel-ibn-Ali Khuza'ee a tradition wherein Debel approaches Imam Ridha (A.S.) and recites his ?????

ode and refers, in some places of his ode to Mahdi and Imam's reply to Debel is as such: Gebriel has spoken through your tongue. Do you know who that Imam is? He is the one for whom people will await and they will be submissive to him at the time of his emergence...107 Regarding the time of Mahdi's emergence, my father has narrated from his father and they from the Messenger of Allah as such: The example of Mahdi is like the example of Oiyamat, which will not come but all of a sudden.

The author says: In some of the traditions about occultation it has come down that Mahdi shall emerge like a glittering star. Yet some other traditions mention that God would set right Mahdi's affairs in one night. It appears that all these sayings refer to this fact that Mahdi's emergence is unknown and except for the one who has created him, none are aware of the time of his reappearance.