In addition...

In addition, we would have neglected the performance of an obligatory act legislated by Allah. Imam Ja’far b. Muhammad as-Sadiq (as) has said: وَ تَوَقَّعْ أَمْرَ صَاحِبِكَ لَيْلَكَ وَ نَهَارَكَ فَإِنَّ اللٌّهَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ، لاَ يَشْغَلُهُ شَأْنٌ عَنْ شَأْنٍ “Anticipate the advent of your patron (i.e.

the Imam) in your day and night, for Almighty Allah has a decision every moment and no affair may distract Him from another.”[^5] It has been mentioned in the traditions that we must not specify a specific time or occasion as to when the advent of the Imam will take shape. Rather, the advent of the Imam can take place at any time.

The period of advent of the Imam is one of those events which are subject to alteration, and can either be hastened or delayed and is related to its own causes and conditions which must be realized (before it can be manifest). Due to this, we are not able to specify a specific time as to when it will occur. As well, it has also been mentioned that his advent will occur unexpectedly, when people are in state of complete hopelessness. It has been narrated from Imam ‘Ali b.

Muhammad al-Hadi (as) that: فَتَوَقَّعُوا الْفَرَجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَقْدَامِكُمْ “Anticipate the advent from (the land) under your feet (meaning at any place and time).”[^6] [^1]: Kamal ad-Din wa Tamam an-Ni’mah, pg. 357, no. 54; Biharul Anwar, vol. 52, pg. 149; sec. 22, no. 76 [^2]: Kamal ad-Din wa Tamam an-Ni’mah, pg. 320, no. 2 [^3]: Kamal ad-Din wa Tamam an-Ni’mah, pg. 378, sec. 36, no. 3 [^4]: Biharul Anwar, vol. 52, pg. 94, sec. 20, no. 9; Kamal ad-Din wa Tamam an-Ni’mah, pg. 339, no.

17 [^5]: al-Iqbal, pg. 201 [^6]: al-Kafi, vol. 1, pg. 341, sec. ‘The Occcultation,’ no. 24 Previous…

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