Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Last Luminary and Ways to Delve Into the Light Responsibility 62: Preparing for the Advent Another responsibility is to prepare for the advent of the Imam and we must perform those actions which should be carried out during the period of awaiting the Imam. It is clear that if a person is awaiting something to come about or waiting for a friend to arrive, one will prepare himself accordingly.
Thus, one who is awaiting Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf) must prepare himself to meet the Imam and be ready to accept the Imam and follow his commands and this cannot be accomplished except through purification of the soul, guiding others and following the appropriate people (the scholars of the faith).
During this period, one must also strive to attain the praiseworthy ethical traits which cannot be achieved except through piety, reaching the level of wara’ (a stage even higher than taqwa in which even the mubah acts are not performed) and in striving to follow all of the commandments of Allah.[^1] Imam Ja’far b.