505 of the same work...

505 of the same work, the author, who belongs to the major Sunni sect the HANAFI, quotes MUHAMMAD IBN MUSLIM who cites IMAM JA'FAR AS-SADIQ (AS) explaining the meaning of verse 155 of the same SURA which states; "We shall test you with something of fear and hunger; some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere" (QUR'AN, 2:155) IMAM JA'FAR AS-SADIQ (AS) indicated that there would be signs indicating the coming (reappearance) of AL-MAHDI (AS) which are means whereby God tests the faithful: "something of fear" is a reference to masses perishing by contagious diseases; "hunger" is a reference to high prices of foodstuffs; "some loss in goods" is reference to scarcity and famines; "lives" is reference to mass destruction (of human lives, probably due to global wars); "fruits" is reference to lengthy periods of droughts; so when all that happens, then "give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere".

"this is its interpretation", continued the Imam, quoting verse 7 of ALLI 'IMRAN (QUR'AN, 3:7), which indicates that only those who are "firmly grounded in knowledge" are capable of interpreting the verses of the holy QUR'AN, adding, "We (AHL AL-BAYT) are the ones firmly grounded in knowledge". On p.

321 of same work, the author quotes IMAM JA'FAR AS-SADIQ (AS) interpreting verse 83 of Chapter III of the holy QUR'AN and commenting thus; "When the QA'IN, AL-MAHDI, reappears, there will be no land on earth where the SHAHADA (LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH MUHAMMADUN RASULULLAH) is not said". This could be a reference to the fact that by the time AL-MAHDI reappears, all continents of the world will have Muslim populations. They already do. At the end of vol. 2 of FARA'ID AL-SIMTAIN, and on p.

269 of IBN KHALDUN'S Introduction, IBN ABBAS, may Allah be pleased with him, is quoted saying that the Messenger of God (p) said: "IMAM ALI IBN ABU TALIB (AS) is the Imam of my nation and my successor therein after me, and among his offspring is the awaited QA'IN who shall fill the world with justice and equity as it was filled with injustice and iniquity.

By the One Who sent me in truth a bearer of glad tidings, and a Warner, I swear that those who persist adhering to his Imamate even during his GHAYBAT (occultation) are more rare than red sulfur". JABIR IBN ABDALLAH AL-ANSARI stood then and asked the Messenger of God: "O Messenger of God!