The Narrations:
The narrations are based on Qur'an and ahadeeth, therefore we will first discuss the Qur'an, and secondly the ahadeeth.
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First:
There are many Qur'anic verses which clearly refer to this subject. The Imams (as) helped the Muslims and gave them an explicit interpretation of these verses, which might have otherwise remained unclear.
* The following Qur'anic verse of Surah Al-Israa indicate that for every group of human beings there is an
Imam:
Remember the day when We will call every people with their Imam; then whoever is given his book in his right hand, these shall read their book; and they shall not be deal with a whit unjustly. And whoever is blind in this life, he shall also be blind in the hereafter; and more erring from the way (Qur'an 17:71-72).
If the Imam's existence is a necessity, we have to understand the meaning of an imam according to the Qur'an. This word was used to refer to those whom were appointed by Allah (as) to guide mankind. Here are some examples:
And we made them Imams who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of alms, and Us alone did they serve (21:73).
And when Abraham prayed to Allah (swt):
And make us Imams (guides) to those who guard (Qur'an 25:74).
Allah (swt) accepted his prayer:
And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam of men (Qur'an 2:124).
But at the same time the Qur'an has used this word to refer to those individuals who were chosen to be guides to Hell.
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And we made them Imams who called to the fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall not be assisted (Qur'an 28:41).
It is worth mentioning here that "made" in this verse does not bear the meaning that they were appointed like first kind of "Imam", nor forced to do that, but rather that they have misused the power given to them by God to manipulate others. God has in another verse appealed to Muslims to fight against them. The Qur'an has said:
Fight the Imams of unbelief -surely their oaths are nothing- so that they may desist (Qur'an 12:12).
We must now ask about the Imams of our time, whom we are obliged to follow. According to the Qur'an this Imam shall also be (shaheed) the witness, in line with these verses:
And on the day when We will raise up a witness out of every nation, then shall no permission be given to those who disbelieve (Qur'an 6:84).
And We will draw forth from among every nation a witness and say: Bring your proof; then shall they know the truth is Allah's, and that which they forged shall depart from them (Qur'an 28:75).
This witness should be living on this earth among the people so that he can be a proof of God. In another verse the Qur'an refers to a dialogue between God and Jesus, where Jesus states that he was a witness for the people while he was among them, and after he was taken to heaven, God is the witness.
112 This argument leads us to believe that the witnessing Imam must be alive. An examination of these verses guides us to the conclusion that he must be a living, wise, knowledgeable, pious, infallible Savior for mankind. If we could not find such a perfect man among contemporary men, then we have to examine the traditions, which clearly state that Al-Mahdi (as), who is the Imam of the time, is in Occultation.
113
____________
112. Qur'an 3:112
113. The traditions here are to be found in the following:
Ethbat ul-Houdat of Al-Hur Al-ameli.
Fara'id As-semtain of Al-Hamwuini.
Yanabui' ul-Mawadah of Al-Qoundouzi.
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* Allah (swt) has promised His servants victory against the soldiers of evil, and that His religion shall prevail over every other religion. As we read in the following verse:
We willed to show favor to those who were persecuted in the earth and to make them leaders and masters. It was also Our will to give them power in the earth and to let Pharaoh, Human and their hosts experience from their victims what they feared most (Qur'an 28:5-6).
Indeed we have written in the Psalms after the Torah had been revealed. The righteous among My slaves shall inherit the earth (Qur'an 21:105).
Moses told his people to seek help from Allah and exercise patience. The earth belongs to Him and He has made it the heritage of whichever of His servants He chooses. The Final Victory is for the pious (Qur'an 7:128).
That Islam is the victor over other religions:
It is He who has sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over every other religion, however much the disbeliever may dislike it (Qur'an 9:33 and 61:9).
In conclusion, then, we must ask whether or not suffering and evil people are part of the campaign of Al-Mahdi (as), something which is absurd. If we deny this, then we must ask if the promises of Allah (swt) are baseless, a question which is even more absurd. This leads us to no other conclusion that the suffering we face today is a preparation for the coming of Al-Mahdi (as). To explain this point further, we refer to the words of the Shi'ah scholarly who narrated: "The concealed Imam will invite the people to my faith and to follow the Qur'an's injunctions."
114 And in another tradition we read that: "In his government of the world, there will remain no land in which the call of faith, God's Uniqueness and Muhammad's prophethood is not heard."
115 And "Al-Mahdi (as) will establish the Islamic prayer and will himself act as its Imam."
116
Imam Ali, the first Imam of the Shi'ah, says: "The concealed Imam will, on his advent, offer Islam to people and call upon them
____________
114. As-Sadr, Kamal Ad-deen, p.411
115. S.H. Al-Bahrani, Al-Muhja, and Montakhab, Narration:31293
116. Anwar al-Tanzil
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to follow it."
117 Or as Imam Baqir, the fifth Imam of the Shi'ah, says: "The concealed Imam will begin his task at Mecca, and will seek people's allegiance on the basis of faith in the Qur'an, the Prophet's way, his own guardianship, and dislike of his enemies."
118 He says also: "In the government of Al-Mahdi (as) no one remains without having joined the followers of Muhammad."
119
All these verses and narrations together have a clear message: Islam -as the most thorough and sophisticated religion- is the only future alternative for mankind.
Second:
We read many ahadeeth from the Holy Prophet (saws) confirming the existence and the appearance of Al-Mahdi (as). Sunni scholars have mentioned and recorded hundreds of narrations about Al-Mahdi (as) in more than seventy books by their own valued and dependable authorities, including:
* Munsnad - Ahmad b. Hanbal (d.241 AH)
* Sahih Bukhari - Mohammed b. Isma'il Bukhari (d.256 AH)
* Sahih Muslim - Muslim b. Hajjaj Nishaburi (d.261 AH)
* Sunan Abi Dawud - Sulayman b. Ash'ath Sijistani (d. 275 AH)
* Sahih Tirmithi - Mohammed b. Isa Tirmithi (d.279 AH)
The authors of the above books died either before or shortly after Al-Mahdi's (as) birth.
120 There are many ahadeeth which discuss the characteristics of the Imam, some of which are:
About the necessity of the Imam's existence:
* Imam Ali (as) says: "The world will never be devoid of evidence, whether it is known or unknown."
121
____________
117. S.H. Al-Bahrani, Al-Muhja
118. Bihar ul-anwar, Vol.13, p.150
119. At-tabrasi, Majma'ul-Bayan
120. See also:
Masabuh al-Sunnah of al-Baghwi (d.516 AH)
jame'al-Usul of Ibn Athir (d. 606 AH)
Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyyah, Muhyuddin ibn al-Ar Abu (d.633 A.H.)
Tazkirah al-Khawas, Sibt ibn al-jawzi (d.654 AH)
Fara'id al-Simtayn of al-Hamawi (d.716 AH)
Al-Sawa'iq of Ibn Hajar Haythami al-'Asqalani (d.973 AH)
Yanabu'e al-Mawaddah of Sulayman al-Qandozi (d.1293 AH)
Some of the Sunni Muslims have written books especially about Al-Mahdi:
Al-Bayan fi Akhbar Sahib al-Zaman, Allamah Abu Abdillah b. Mohammed Yusuf al-Kanji al-Shafi'i.
Iqd al-Durar fi Akhbar al-Imam al-Muntazar, Shaykh jamaluddin Yusuf al-Damishqi.
Al-Mahdi Ale Rasul, Ali ibn Sultan Muhammad al-Harawi al-Hanafi.
Kitab Al-Mahdi, Abu Dawud.
Alamat Al-Mahdi, Jalaluddin Suyuti.
Manaqib Al-Mahdi, Hafiz Abu Na'im al-Isfihani.
Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi alamati Al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, Ibn Hajar Haythami al-'Asqalani.
Al-Burhan fi alamati Al-Mahdi akhir az-Zaman, Mulla Ali al-Muttaqi.
Arbain Hadith fi 'l-Al-Mahdi, Abul Ala' al-Hamadani.
121. Nahjul-Balagha Sermon 139 and Montakhabel-Athar, Vol.1 p.270
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* Imam Sadiq (as) says: "If there are only two people left on the earth, one of them will be the Proof [of God]."
122 Or "If there were no Proof of God, the earth and its inhabitants would be destroyed."
123
About the existence of the twelve successors after the Prophet:
* The Prophet (saws) said: "Indeed, the deputies and the Divine guidance after me are twelve people, the first of whom is Ali, and the last is Al-Mahdi (as)"
124
In view of the above, also the fact that history gives the exact details of the life and death of these Imams (as), there is no alternative but to accept that after the eleventh Imam (as), there should exist Al-Mahdi (as) as God's deputy thenceforth, to show the continuity of Imamah in the world. Moreover his program requires preliminaries, some of them mentioned before. For this end, the lifespan of Al-Mahdi (as) has been expanded.
About his family or his grandfathers:
* The Prophet (saws) said: "Al-Mahdi is one of us -the household- (Ahl Al-Bayt) (as)."
125
* The Messenger of Allah said: "Al-Mahdi is of the children of Fatima (as) (the Prophet's daughter."
126
* The Prophet (saws) said: "We the sons of Abd Al-Mutalib are the masters of the inhabitants of Heaven: Myself, Hamza, Ali, Ja'far, Hassan, Husayn, and Al-Mahdi (as)"
127
* Narrated Umm Salamah, Umm al-moumenin -the Prophet's wife-: "The Prophet (saws) said: Al-Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatima (as).
128
* Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: The Prophet (saws) said: "Al-Mahdi will be of my lineage, and will have a broad forehead and a prominent nose. He will fill the earth with equity
____________
122. al-Kaf, Vol.1, p.253
123. al-Kaf, Vol.1, p.252
124. Kamal Ad-Deen, p.146, and Yana'bu'e-ul-Mawada, p.447
125. Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol.2, tradition # 4085
126. Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol.2, p.369, tradition # 4086, Majma' ul-Zawa'id of Al-Haithemy, Vol.9, p.166, Al-Mu'jam As-saghier of At-tabarani, Vol.1, p.37, Sunan Abu Dawud, Vol.2, 207, Talkheess Al-Mustadrak, Ad-dha Abu, Vol.4, p.557, Al-Massabeeh, Al-Baghawy, Vol.2, p.193, Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol.1, p.84, Vol.3, p.36, Ousodo-ul-gabah of Ibn Athier, Vol.1, p.259, Al-Istiah'b, Vol.1, p.85, As-Sawai'q Al-Mouhriqah, p.98, Kanz El-Oumall, Vol.7, p.186
127. Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol.2, tradition # 4087
128. Abu Dawud, Book 36, tradition # 4271
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and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years."
129
* Umm Salmah, narrates that she heard the Prophet (saws) say: "The promised Al-Mahdi will be amongst my progeny, among the descendants of Fatima."
130
* Umm Salmah has related a tradition of the Prophet (saws): "Al-Mahdi will be amongst my progeny, among the children of Fatima (as)."
131
About his family and the necessity of his appearance:
* Abdullah bin Mas'ood reports from the Prophet (saws) who said: "The world will not come to its end until a man from my family, whose name will be my name, rules over the Arabs."
132 (Also Ali b. Abi Talib, Abu S., Umm Salma, And Abu Hurayra have narrated this).
* The Prophet (saws) said: "Allah (swt) will bring Al-Mahdi (as), who is from my family, out from concealment just before the day of judgement; even if only one day were to remain in the life of the world, and he will spread on this earth justice and equity and will eradicate tyranny and oppression."
133
* Imam Ali b. Abi Talib has related a tradition from the Prophet (saws) who informed him: "The promised Al-Mahdi will be among may family. God will make the provisions for his emergence within a single night."
134
* The Holy Prophet (saws) said: "The world will not come to an end until a man from my family (Ahl Al-Bayt), who will be called Al-Mahdi, emerges to rule over my community."
135
*Abu Sa'id al-Khudari narrated that the Prophet (saws) said: "Our Al-Mahdi will have a broad forehead and a pointed (prominent) nose. He will fill the earth with justice as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will rule for seven years."
136
* Mohammed Ibn Hanafiyyah narrated from Imam Ali that the Holy Prophet (saws) said: "Al-Mahdi is from our Ahl Al-Bayt, no doubt Allah will enforce his appearance within a night "(i.e., his
____________
129. Abu Dawud, Book 36, tradition # 4272
130. Abu Dawud, Vol.2, tradition # 207; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Vol.2, 519.
131. Bihar ul-anwar, Vol.51, p.75
132. Sunan Tirmidhi, Vol.9, p.74; Sunan Abu Dawud, Vol.5 p.207
133. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol.1, p.99
134. Ibn Majah, Sunan, Vol.2 p.519, Musnad Ahmad Vol.1, p.84, Hiliat ul-awlia'a of Abu Naim, Vol.3, p.177.
For more reference of Sunni books see: Ad-dhahbi, Mustadrak ul-sahihain
135. Bihar ul-anwar, Vol.51, p.75; Ithbat al-hudat, Vol.1, p.9
136. Sahih Abu Dawud, Vol.2, p.208; Fusul al-muhimmah, p.275
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coming is very unpredicted)
137
About his personality and Jesus's co-operation with him:
As we can see, Al-Mahdi (as) is from the Ahl Al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammed (saws), so he cannot be Jesus (the Messiah as). Al-Mahdi and the Messiah (as) are two different personalities but they will come at the same time, Al-Mahdi (as) as Imam and Jesus as his follower. This is one of the reasons why we believe that Ghoulam Ahmed of Qadian is neither the real Al-Mahdi (as) nor the Prophet Jesus (as).
* It is reported from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet (saws) said: "What will be your reaction when the son of Mary (Jesus) descends and your Imam is from among yourselves?"
138
* The Holy Prophet (saws) said: "What would be your situation if the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) (as) descends upon you and your Imam is from among you?"
139
* The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "The world will not perish until a man from among the Arabs appears whose name matches my name."
140
About other issues:
* Prophet Mohammed (saws) said: "The world will not come to an end until a man from the descendants of Husyan takes charge of the affairs of the world and fills it with justice and equity as it is filled with injustice and tyranny."
141
* Abu Sa'id al-Khudari has related a tradition from the Prophet (saws) who declared: "The earth will be filled with injustice and corruption. At that time, a man from among my progeny will rise and will rule for seven or nine years and will fill the earth with justice and equity."
142
* The Prophet (saws) said three times: "Listen to the good news about Al-Mahdi! He will rise at the time when people will be
____________
137. Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol.2, p.269.
138. Sahih Muslim, kitabu-Anbiya, Chapter bab nuzul 'Isa bin Maryam, Vol.2; Sahih Bukhari, kitab bad'al-khalq wa nuzul 'isa, Vol.4
139. Sahih Bukhari, kitabu-Anbiya, Chapter Nuzul 'Isa bin Maryam
140. Sahih Tirmithi, Vol.9, p.74
141. Bihar ul-anwar, Vol.51, p.66
142. Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol.3, p.27
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faced with severe conflict and the earth will be hit by a violent quake. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will fill the hearts of his followers with devotion and will spread justice everywhere."
143
* Imam Ali b. Abi Talib said: I asked the Prophet (as): "Is Al-Mahdi going to be amongst our own family or from some other?" He replied: "He will be from among us. God will conclude His religion through him, just as He began it with us. It will be through us that people will find refuge from sedition, just as it was through us that they were saved from polytheism. Moreover, it will be through us that God will bring their hearts together in brotherhood following the animosity sown by sedition, just as they were brought together in brotherhood in their religion after the animosity sown by polytheism."
144
* The Prophet (saws) declared: "Al-Mahdi is from my descendants. He will rise at the end of time, while the heavens will pour rain and the earth will bring forth green grass for him. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with tyranny and injustice."
145
* Abu Sa'id al-Khudari narrated that Prophet (saws) said: Severe calamity from the direction of their ruler will befall my people during the Last Days. It will be a calamity which, in severity, shall be unprecedented. It will be so violent that the earth, with all of its injustice and corruption, will shrivel for its inhabitants. The believers will not find refuge from oppression. At that time God will send a man from my family to fill the earth with justice and equity just as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. The dwellers of the heavens and the earth will be pleased with him. The earth will bring forth all that grows for him, and the heavens will pour down rains in abundance. He will live among the people for seven or nine years. Due to all the good that God will bestow on the inhabitants of the earth, the dead will wish to come to life again."
146
* The Prophet (saws) said: "Al-Mahdi will appear in my ummah. He will appear for a minimum of 7 or a maximum of 9
____________
143. Bihar ul-anwar, Vol.51, p.74
144. Bihar ul-anwar, Vol.51, p.84; Ithbat ul-hudat, Vol.7, p.191, Majma' al-zawa'id, Ali bin Abu Bakr Haythami (Cairo edition), Vol.7, 317
145. Bihar ul-anwar, Vol.51, p.74; Ithbat al-hudat, Vol.7, p.9
146. Ibn Hajar, al-Sawa'iq al-muharriqa, 161. See also: Yanabiu'al-mawadda, Vol.2
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years; in that time, the ummah will experience a bountiful favor like never before. It shall have a great abundance of food, of which it need not save anything, man will ask Al-Mahdi to give him, Al-Mahdi will say: Here Take!"
147
* The Messenger of Allah said: "Al-Mahdi is from my family, he will bring about a revolution and will fill the world with justice and equity."
148
* The Prophet (saws) said: "We (I and my family) are members of a household, for whom Allah has chosen the life of the Hereafter over the life of this world; and the members of my household (ahl al-bayt) shall suffer a great affliction and they shall be forcefully expelled from their homes after my death; then there will come people from the East carrying black flags, and they will ask some good to be given to them, but they shall be refused service. They will wage war and emerge victorious, and will be offered that which they desired in the first place, but they will refuse to accept it, until a man from my family (ahl al-bayt) appears to fill the earth with justice as it has been filled with corruption. So whoever reaches that time aught to come to them even if he must crawl on the snow."
149
Summary
In this chapter we have first analyzed the result of our survey based on our emails, and have explained the exact meaning of Occultation and tried to advance a rational way of understanding this institution, rather than presenting it as a legend. In addition, the Qur'anic and Sunnah references concerning Al-Imam Al-Mahdi (as) were thoroughly presented, and we gave answers to various questions concerning Imam al-Mahdi (as)'s Occultation.
At the end of this chapter, I would like to quote a poem by Jane Eliza Leeson. These words will move anyone living during this period of absence of a savior. She wrote:
____________
147. Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol.2, Tradition # 5083.
148. The sunni references to this narration are as follows:
Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol.1, 84
Jami' us Sagheer, al-Suyuti, 2, 160
al-Urful Vardi, al-Suyuti, 2
Kanzul Ummal, Vol.7, 186
Aqd al-Durar Fi Akhbaar al-Muntazar, Vol.12, Chapter 1
al-Byan fi Akhbar Sahib al-Zaman, Ganji Shafi'i, Chapter 12
Al-Fusool al-Muhimmah, by Ibn Sabbagh Maliki, Chapter 12
Arjahul Matalib, by Uballah Hindi Hanafi, 380
Muqaddimah, by Ibn Khaldoon, 266
149. Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol.2, Tradition # 4082, also in the History of Al-Tabary
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Savior, teach me day by day
savior, teach me day by day
Love's sweet lesson to obey,
Sweeter lesson cannot be,
Loving Him Who first loved me.
With a child's glad heart of love
At Thy bidding may I move,
Prompt to serve and follow Thee,
Loving Him Who first loved me.
Teach me thus Thy steps to trace,
Strong to follow in Thy grace,
Learning how to love from Thee,
Loving Him Who first loved me.
Love in loving finds employ,
In obedience all her joy;
Ever new that joy will be,
Loving Him Who first loved me.
Thus may I rejoice to show
That I feel the love I owe;
Singing, till Thy face I see,
Of His love Who first loved me.150
____________
150. http://tch.simplenet.com/htm/s/saviortm.htm
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Chapter Three
Awaiting - The Hope
It is a desert, dark and fearful,
No goal for man, no way, no companion,
No sun, no cradle, nothing is seen,
As if he has gone blind.
No wise man can be find to ask the way,
When suddenly thunder roars tiger-like,
And this man presses his ears for fear of the roar of thunder, then follow a brief lighting,
No one by him, no way is found,
Darkness and silence, and no hope is left.
Some may describe the feelings of mankind in this way, and this is a correct way of describing things if we observe history through critical eyes. The last century was filled with wars where the most powerful weapons were used, and it is not fair to criticize anyone for holding a pessimistic point of view. The Italian poet Luciano Somma wrote the following description of the earth ravaged by war:
Scorched land
Raped Land
Land of nobody
Rose-gardens withered, abandoned
Hoes unused, lie idle in empty barns
In its yellowish-gray coat, laughs the hyena daring among the cries of the festive ones,
who dance at the altar of idolatry.
On the barbed wires diverge the sunrays.
It is only by having the hope of reform that things will improve. As the Portuguese poet Fernardo Pessoa
151 put it:
Life is what we make of it
Travels are the travelers
____________
151. Pessoa, Ferndo Antonio Nogueira, 1888-1935. Born in Lisbon and educated in south Africa, he studied at Lisbon University, worked as a commercial translator and founded the journal Orfeu. After 1914, Pessoa created four stylistically distinct 'heteronyms': the symbolist 'Fernando Pessoa', the pastoral 'Alberto Caeiro', the Futuist 'Alvero de campos', and the elegant classicist 'Ricardo Reis'. He also created several partial `heteronyms and his, their complete works were published from 1952 (English translation by Jonathan Griffin, 4 Vols, 1974). Three Vol.umes of English poem had already appeared in 1921. It has been suggested that, far from being a conscious literary strategy, this heteronymity was a symptom of multiple personality discord. He remains an important figure in the Modernist movement. G. Monterio (ed), The Man Who Never was (1982)
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what we see is not what we see but what we are.
If we insist on being hopeful, it is because we know that hope is an essential virtue, and we realize how central this factor is for a believer's successful life. Analyzing the psychology of hope, C.R. Snyder -a distinguished writer- provides insights into the personality of the highly hopeful individual. Drawing on inspiring clinical cases, as well as his seminal research and widely distributed hope scale, Snyder shows that a hopeful individual differs from the rest of us in some of the following intriguing aspects:
* S/he has the ability to envision a broader range of goals than most people.
* S/he has a greater will power and energy in pursuing those goals.
* S/he has the skills to generate a greater variety of routes to reach his/her objectives.
In his book "The Psychology of Hope" he provides practical, research-based information on how hope can be fostered in children and adults. In a section, related to this specific subject, how to increase one's energy in pursuing one's objectives, and how to develop a greater variety of strategies to reach one's goals. I believe that our belief in a Savior, who may establish and realize such a global dream is one of the most crucial elements that will cause our hope to flourish and allow it to play a fundamental role in the development of our societies. Although we live during an occultation, this should promote us to be highly hopeful.
Man must reflect upon this Occultation and its social causes. Such a reflection will clarify certain facts. We see, for example, that the only way to reform those individuals who preferred their whims to the logical reasoning of the prophets, is to practically prove the fact that man-made schools of thought produce nothing
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for mankind but confusion and distress. The Armenian proverb says:
To be willing is only half the task.
And as the willingness is an important factor to achieve happiness, therefore the Almighty God has left people to themselves to examine the feasibility of the man-made ideologies. If someone seeks the true happiness, he should obey the advice of the prophets. Those who -in spite of clear evidence and signs- lose their identity in the face of man-made ideology and suppose that it can replace faith, should realize that these ideologies act only as a means, and the mode of its utilization should be determined by wisdom and religion. Otherwise it may be the cause of the greatest damage to mankind.
The period of the Imam's Occultation is the historical phase where man is left to himself, so that by not following nature and reason, experience proves to him that human society is always in need of divine guidance. As the leaders of Islam have declared, the advent of Al-Mahdi (as) will take place at a time when the majority of human beings wholeheartedly desire divine guidance, liberation from the disorders and confusion that they have created, and the establishment of a society based on Qur'anic laws. This is why we see that there is a continuous increase in the number of thoughtful beings who admit the need for spirituality and religion.
In addition to the above matter, the Shi'ah will be tested for their dedication to belief. This period is long, and infidelity may dominate faith and add to the sins and oppression. The Shi'ah will be subjected to a constant trial that will differentiate those who verbally claim to be believers whilst in comfort, from those who are true believers.
You find these points concerning the subject of Al-Mahdi's (as) Occultation in a brief utterance of Imam Sadiq (as) who says:
This matter of the Imam's advent and uprising will not take place until after the despair of finding happiness through man made schools of thought or by
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virtue of the victory of Islam on account of the lengthy wait. Nay! I swear by God that it will not come until you believers are separated from the hypocrites. By God, it will not come until the miserable become truly miserable, and the happy truly happy.152
He says also:
As the period of absence is long, only one group will remain steadfast, and another group of other people will say: "He is not yet born!" Others will say: "He was born and then died." Some say: "The eleventh Imam had no offspring." Others will commit sin by saying: "The Imam is incarnated in another body and then speaks.153
____________
152. Kamal Ad-Deen, Vol.2, Narration 3, p.15
153. Montakhab-al-Athar, 260 and Kamal-Ad-deen, Volume 2, Section 34, Tradition 51
