For each of them...

For each of them, it would be more difficult to guard their religion than walking on thorns in the darkness of the night or holding embers; they would be lamps in darkness, the Almighty Allah would save them from every mischief and evil.” Second: It is that they shall be the most excellent people of all times, because it is mentioned in the tradition of Imam Sajjad (as) that he said: O Abu Khalid, during this period of occultation, those who believe in his Imamate and who await for his reappearance, they shall be better than the people of all times because Allah, the Mighty and Sublime would bestow them intelligence, understanding and recognition and for them occultation would be same as presence.

Their status shall be like that of the holy warriors who fought under the command of the Messenger of Allah (S). It is they who are sincere and are our true Shias. They shall call the people to the religion of Allah openly and secretly.[^1] Third: The rewards of their worship acts is multiplied.

Thus is mentioned in a narration from Imam Sadiq (as) that he said: O Ammar, giving Sadaqah in secret is better, by Allah, than giving it openly; similarly, by Allah, your worship in secret with your hidden Imam during government by an illegal ruler, and your fear of your enemy during government by an illegal ruler and in a state of truce with your enemy, is better than that you should worship Allah, may remembrance of Him be made Mighty and Majestic, during the manifestation of the Truth with the Imam of Truth which is manifest during the government of Truth.

Worship while you fear during government by an illegal ruler is not the same as worship and security during the government of Truth.