Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (peace be upon both of them) said...

Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (peace be upon both of them) said: “I swear by Allah that your Imam will go into an occultation for a number of years … [during that period] the eyes of the true believers shall be filled with tears [due to being separated from him].” Biharul Anwar, Volume 51, Page 147; al-Ghaybah of al-Nu’mani Hadith Number 9: The House of Praise قَالَ الإِمَامُ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقُ : إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الأَمْرِ بَيْتاً يُقَالَ لَهُ: بَيْتُ الْحَمْدِ.

فِيهِ سِرَاجٌ يَزْهَرُ مُنْذُ يَوْمٍ وُلِدَ إِلـى يَوْمٍ يَقُومُ بِالسَّيْفِ لاَ يُطْفـى. Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (peace be upon both of them) said: “Indeed the possessor of the command (Imam al-Mahdi) has a house which is referred to as, ‘The House of Praise’.

In this house there is a lamp which has been glowing since the day he was born and will continue to do so until the day he makes his advent with the sword, and it will not be put out.” Biharul Anwar, Volume 52, Page 158; al-Ghaybah of al-Nu’mani Hadith Number 10: People with the Highest Rank قَالَ الإِمَامُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَينِ السَّجَّادُ : إِنَّ أَهْلَ زَمَانِ غَيْـبَتِهِ الْقَائِلِينََ بِإِمَامَتِهِ الْمُنْـتَظِرِينَ لِظُهُورِهِ أَفْضَلُ أَهْلِ كُلِّ زَمَانٍ لأَِنَّ اللٌّهَ تَعَالـى ذِكْرُهُ أَعْطَاهُمْ مِنَ الْعُقُولِ وَ الأَفْهَامِ وَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ مَا صَارَتْ بِهِ الْغَيْـبَةُ عِنْدَهُمْ بِمَنْـزِلَةِ الْمُشَاهَدَةِ.

Imam ‘Ali ibnil Husain al-Sajjad (peace be upon both of them) has said: “Indeed the people who live during the time of his occultation, have firm belief in his (the 12th Imam’s) Imamate and are awaiting his advent are the best people of every age since Allah, Great is His Mention, has granted them from the intellect, understanding and cognizance needed which would permit them to live during the period of the occultation, as if they were living during the time of his advent.” Biharul Anwar, Volume 52, Page 122; al-Ihtijaj Hadith Number 11: Greeting Imam al-Mahdi A man once asked Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (peace be upon both of them) how he should send his salutations upon Imam al-Qa’im (may Allah hasten his advent) and the Imam replied: تَقُولُ: السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا بَقِيَّةَ اللٌّهِ.