This interpretation and explanation concords with the...

This interpretation and explanation concords with the purport of some of the hadith s quoted earlier. The Angels and Jinn Hadrat ‘Ali ( ‘a ) said: “…God will assist Hadrat al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) through the angels, jinn and sincere Shi‘ah.”[^5] Aban ibn Taghlib said that Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ) said: “It is as if I can now see Hadrat al-Qa’im ( ‘a ) behind the city of Najaf when he arrives at that point on the earth.

He will ride a black horse with white dapples and between its eyes would be a white portion that shines (and will conquer the cities of the world). There will be no city in the world where its inhabitants would not think that al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) is in their midst and in their city. When he hoists the banner of the Messenger of Allah (S), thirteen thousand and thirteen angels who have been waiting for his advent for many long years, will gather under his banner (and be ready for war).

They were the very angels who were with Prophet Nuh (Noah) ( ‘a ) in the ark, Ibrahim al-Khalil (Abraham the Friend of Allah) ( ‘a ) in the fire, and ‘Isa (Jesus) during his ascension to heaven. “Similarly, four thousand angels will hasten to assist the Imam—they are the same angels who descended on the land of Karbala’ to fight on the side of al-Husayn ( ‘a ), but they were not given permission to do so and returned to heaven.

When they returned with the permission to make jihad , Imam al-Husayn ( ‘a ) was already martyred and out of the agony of missing this great favor, they have remained always uncomfortable and sorrowful, and until the Day of Resurrection they are flying around the shrine of Imam al-Husayn ( ‘a ) shedding tears.”[^6] Imam al-Baqir ( ‘a ) said: “It is as if I can see Hadrat al-Qa’im and his supporters now… Archangel Gabriel ( ‘a ) is on the right side of al-Mahdi ( ‘atfs ) while Angel Michael is moving on the Imam’s left, with fear and dread moving in the front and at the rear of his armies with a distance of one month’s journey, and God will assist him with five thousand angels from heaven.”[^7] The same Imam ( ‘a ) also said: “The angels who helped the Prophet (S) during the Battle of Badr have not yet returned to heaven in order to help Hadrat Sahib al-Amr ( ‘atfs ) and their number is five thousand.”[^8] Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ) said: “Nine thousand three hundred and thirteen angels will come down for Hadrat al-Qa’im ( ‘atfs ).