ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Humanitarian Rights in the Time of Appearance of the Mahdi (pbuh) Or World Promised Saviour Preparation For the Coming of the 12th Imam (as) in Light of the Conditions That Will Prevail Before His (as) Appearance Our scholars have identified and written in their books certain things Muslims ought to do during the occultation: to pray for the twelfth Imam; to do charitable works for him; to perform hajj and to appoint someone to do that on his behalf; to seek his help and assistance in times of difficulty, and so on.

There is no doubt that all these suggestions are praiseworthy, however the most important obligation mentioned in the sources and that which needs further elaboration is awaiting deliverance through him (intizar al-faraj). There are many traditions from the Imams, both recommending the awaiting and enumerating its merits and excellences, during the occultation. Some of these Ahadith are presented below.

Imam Sadiq (AS) says, "Any one who dies with the love (Wilayat) of the while awaiting deliverance (through the appearance of the Qa'im (AS)), resembles the one who will be in the Qa'im's tent." Imam 'Ali Rida (AS) reporting from his forefathers and from the Prophet (SAW) relates the Hadith from the latter, who said: "The best deed of my community is to await for the deliverance." Imam 'Ali b.

Abi Talib (AS) says, "Any one who awaits our government, resembles the one who, in the way of God, has rolled in his own blood. In another tradition Imam Rida (AS) praises the one who awaits the deliverance, and says, "How praiseworthy are patience and awaiting for deliverance! Have you not heard that God says in the Quran: 'You await, and We too are awaiting?' So be patient because deliverance will come after despair.

Those who were before you were even more patient than you." Imam Ja'far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (AS) said: "A person who would like to be among the companions of al-Qa'im (AS) should be in a state of (active) waiting (Intizar), and perform all of his deeds with Wara' [a level higher than Taqwa] and with the most beautiful etiquette and then one will be counted as being in a state of (true) waiting (Intizar).

Then if such a person was to die and al-Qa'im (AS) was to make his advent after this, then that person would receive the reward as the one who witnessed his (al-Mahdi's) advent." There are numerous traditions on a similar theme. The Imams always used to advise their followers to await deliverance.