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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Last Luminary and Ways to Delve Into the Light Responsibility 63: Not Making Haste in the Advent of the Imam The next responsibility is to submit entirely to Allah and not make haste in regards to the return of the Imam. A true believer must not be in a state of hurriedness or say: “Why has the Imam not made his advent yet? I have had enough of the occultation!

I don’t have the ability to bear this any longer!” One must be extremely patient and content with the wish of Allah and must not complain about the apparent delay of the Imam. However, this does not mean that a believer should not supplicate for the speedy advent of the Imam, nor does it mean that one should not seek to lay the groundwork for the advent of the Imam! Rather, these things are recommended to be performed during his occultation. One of the companions said to Imam Ja’far b.

Muhammad as-Sadiq (as): جَعَلَنِي اللٌّهُ فِدَاكَ، مَتَـى هٌذَا الأَمْرُ الَّذِي تَنْتَظِرُونَهُ؟ فَقَدْ طَالَ عَلَيْنَا. فَقَالَ: كَذِبَ الْمُتَمَنُّونَ وَ هَلَكَ الْمُسْتَعْجِلُونَ وَ نَجَا الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَ إِلَيْنَا يَصِيرُونَ “May Allah sacrifice me for your sake, when will this definite command (the advent of al-Mahdi) which you are waiting for (come about)?

For it has taken very long.’ The Imam (as) replied: ‘Those who desire his advent (to appear soon) are liars, and those who want his advent to occur soon are the ones who shall be destroyed, and surely the Muslims are those who will be saved and will wind up with us.’”[^1] Without a doubt, being in haste and showing impatience has many harmful effects.

It is possible that a person who is in a hurry may run after those (false) people who claim the status of Mahdawiyyah (claim to be the Imam), in which case they will take the wrong person as being al-Mahdi (ajtf) and will actually end up misguiding themselves and others. In addition, it is possible that a person who makes haste in this affair would also become despondent or may even completely deny the advent of the Imam as ever taking place.

He may also entertain doubts and uncertainty in regards to the words of the infallible A`immah (as) and the promises which they have given us in regards to the return of the Imam. Such a person may end up denying the return of the Imam, rejecting it entirely or may fall prey to denying Allah, the decree and decision of Allah and His justice.

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