They are those deputies of his who shall take up the...

They are those deputies of his who shall take up the responsibility of the important functions of his government…the Almighty Allah would select those persons as his deputies whom He has made cognizant of divine realities.” [1] Mustadrak Hakim, 4/554 [2] Yanabiul Mawaddah, Pg. 437 [3] Yanabiul Mawaddah, Pg.

437 Number of the companions of Imam Mahdi (a.s) As for the number of the companions of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s) who shall pay allegiance to him are same as the number of the warriors of Badr, that is 313.

Sulaiman bin Haroon Ajali narrated that he heard His Eminence, Imam Sadiq (a.s) saying, “Indeed the master of this affair, that is the Qaim of the Progeny of Muhammad is safe, such that if all the people go away, the Almighty Allah shall bring his companions and they are the same that are implied in the words of Allah: O you who believe!

Whoever from among you turns back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people, He shall love them and they shall love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the unbelievers…” [1] And also: “…wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together…” [2] They shall be the companions of His Eminence, Imam Mahdi (a.s). His Eminence, Imam Ali (a.s) said, “By Allah! I am aware of the companions of Imam Mahdi (a.s); I know their names, tribes and the names of their chiefs.

These are the people whom Almighty Allah shall gather in ones and twos from different tribes and communities till they are nine. Then their number shall reach the warriors of Badr, that is 313 persons. And that is the saying of Almighty Allah: “…wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together; surely Allah has power over all things.” [3] So much so, that people would not have time to change and Allah would make them reach the Imam.

[4] Abu Khalid Kabuli narrated from His Eminence, Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s) that he said, “They are such that they sleep on their beds (It means that they were asleep and Allah took them [1] Surah Maidah 5:54 [2] Surah Baqarah 2:148 [3] Surah Baqarah 2:148 [4] Ghaybah, Shaykh Tusi out and gathered them in Mecca).