Now indeed the tokens of it have (already) come…” (Surah Muhammad 47...

Now indeed the tokens of it have (already) come…” (Surah Muhammad 47:18) Then He said: اِقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ “The hour drew nigh and the moon did rend asunder.” (Surah Qamar 54:1) Then He said: وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ السَّاعَةَ تَكُونُ قَرِيبًا “…and what will make you comprehend that the hour may be nigh.” (Surah Ahzab 33:63) And before that it is mentioned: وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ السَّاعَةَ قَرِيبٌ “…and what shall make you know that haply the hour be nigh?” (Surah Shura 42:17) يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْحَقُّ أَلَا إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُمَارُونَ فِي السَّاعَةِ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ بَعِيدٍ “Those who do not believe in it would hasten it on, and those who believe are in fear from it, and they know that it is the truth.

Now most surely those who dispute obstinately concerning the hour are in a great error.” (Surah Shura 42:18) Mufaddal says: I asked: What is the meaning of “those who dispute”? Imam (a.s.) replied: “They say: when was he born? Who has seen him? Where does he reside? and When will he reappear? And all these things imply making haste in the command of Allah, doubting in the divine decree and interfering in the power of Allah.

These are the one who will suffer loss in the world and indeed the disbelievers have an evil abode.” I asked: “So no time is fixed for his reappearance?” He replied: O Mufaddal, I don’t fix any time from his reappearance and neither is any time fixed for it. And one who fixes a time for our Mahdi, considers himself to be a partner of Allah in His knowledge and he claims to dominate the secrets of the Almighty Allah and also no divine secret has been disclosed to the common people.

Those who have deviated from the right path and are ignorant of the divine saints. Only these are having and the news of Allah and it is safe with them and the Almighty Allah inspires it to them so that the proof is completed for them. Mufaddal says: I asked: My master, how will the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) occur and how he would be accepted by the people? He replied: “O Mufaddal, initially people will be in doubt, then gradually his remembrance will be exalted.

His name, Kunniyat and lineage will be announced from the heavens and this will be talked about extensively by all: the good and the evil and the supporters and opponents; so that it may serve as the decisive proof for them.

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