relief to the desperate and those prior to you were more patient that you are”.
There is also a Hadith that refers to the reward given to those waiting; in ‘Al-Ghaibah” (The Conceal), Sheikh Al-Tousi reports from Abu Abdullah (PBUH), from Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that“There will come people after you whose deeds will be rewarded fifty times more than you’. They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! We were in your company in Badr, Ohod and Honain, and Holy Verses from Quran were revealed about us.’ He said: ‘If you were to burden with what they burden, you would not be able to endure what they endure’”.
Anwar:Does that mean waiting is enough in itself in regard to one’s relationship with the Almighty Allah?
Hasan:Of course not. You have to work hard and to be devout and pious. This is what Abi Basir reported in ‘Ghaibah Al-No’mani’ from Abu Adullah (PBUH):“In order to be in the company of the Al-Qa’em, one needs to wait and to work piously and behave ethically, and if he dies and the Al-Qa’em is revealed after, he will have the same reward as those witness him. So, endeavor and wait; salute to you, O company”.
Anwar:After all these efforts and hard work, is the Revelation going to take place?
Hasan:I know you are not really asking; you just want some Hadith to back up the knowledge have in this regard!
Anwar:That’s right.
Hasan:Yes, Sir. The Revelation will definitely take place and in a fixed and determined day, Inshallah. This is what all Muslims agree about. Here are some Hadith from the two schools:
· Obaid Bin Asbat Bin Mohammad Al-Qorashi Al-Kufi reports from Sofyan Al-Thawri, from Asim Bin Bahdalah, from Zarra, from Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:“Life in this world will not end until the Arabs have a man from my kinfolk whose name is the same as mine”.
· Abdujjabar Bin Al-Alaa Bin Abdujjabar Al-Attar reports from Sofyan Bin Ayinah, from Asim, from Zarra, from Abdullah that the Prophet (PBUH) said:“A man from my kinfolk will rule whose name is the same as mine”. Asim also reports from Abi Horairah that the
Prophet (PBUH) said:“Even if there were one day left of this world, Allah would elongate that day until he come”. Abu Isa said:“This is one fine and valid Hadith”.
· Ikmal Al-Din reports from Ammar Al-Sabati that“I asked Abu Abdullah (PBUH): ‘Which one is greater, devotions at the time of the Concealed Imam in secret in an unjust state or devotions at the time of the Revealed rightful Imam?’ He replied: ‘O Ammar! By God, almsgiving in secret is far better than almsgiving in public, and so are devotions at the time of the Concealed Imam in an unjust state when living in fear than devotions at the time of the Revealed rightful Imam in public when feeling secure”.
· Ikmal Al-Din reports from Ali Bin Mohammad Bin Ziad that I wrote to my father, Al-Hasan (PBUH) asking him about the Revelation (Al-Faraj), so he wrote back:“When your fellow is concealed from the land of the wrongful, then expect the Revelation”.
Anwar:Very good. Now I have a very very very important question.
Hasan:What is this very very very important question?
Anwar:There are a lot of people who claim to be willing to stand up for the Imam (AHHR) and pray the Almighty Allah to grant him the chance to be one of his followers and the martyrs in his presence, yet they do not characterize themselves with the morals of his Shi’a (followers). Can that be right?
Hasan:This is, in fact, one of the important questions and I will give a detailed answer that delights your heart:
· Believers should distinguish themselves with certain characteristics by word and deed, as there are many Hadith in this regard:
· A man said to Husain Bin Ali (PBUT): “O the son of the Messenger of Allah! I am one of your Shi’a (followers)”. The Imam (PBUH) replied:“Fear God and do not claim what Allah would call you a liar and a claimer for. Our Shi’a are those whose heart are free from deception, spite and corruption. So, you should say you are affectionate and loyal to us.”
· It is reported from Mohammad Bin Sinan, from Al-Mofzil Bin Omar that Abu Abdullah (PBUH) said:“The
Shi’a of Ja’far are those who are modest, chaste, strong in Jihad, devoted to their Creator, seeking the Divine reward and fearing the Divine punishment. If you meet such people, then they are, in fact, the Shi’a of Ja’far”.
· It is reported from Abdullah Bin Al-Walid that Abu Ja’far Mohammad Bin Ali (PBUT):“Can any of you put his hand in his Brother’s pocket and take whatever he wants? We said no, then he said: “So, you are not Brothers as you allege”.
· When a person is now distinguished with the characteristics of the believers, they should also distinguish themselves with the characteristics of the waiting and supportive people for the Revelation of the Imam (AHHR). I will mention some of these distinguishing features:
· To be following the practices of the Imams (PBUT) (Al-Mowalat) and renouncing the enemies of Ahl Al-Bait (PBUT) (Al-Bara).
· To be pious, working hard to do good and improving themselves before anyone else.
· To be sure that their deeds will be presented before the Messenger of Allah and the Imams (PBUT) and to do only what pleases them.
· To be fighting their desires and patient for the sake of pleasing the Almighty Allah.
· To be following the orders of the Most Glorious Allah, His Messenger (PBUH), the Imams (PBUT) as wells as Imam Al-Mahdi (AHHR) who orders us to obey and follow his Ambassadors.
· To follow the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) as an example and to adopt the manners of the Almighty Allah:“Adopt the manners of the Almighty Allah”:(Certainly you have in the Apostle of Allah an excellent exemplar for him)33;21.
· To be characterized with the characteristics of a supporter of the Imam (AHHR) at first in order to be able to claim so. Imam Al-Baqir (PBUH) says:“Our Shi’a are those who obey and fear Allah”. Anything opposing this is detested by the Most Exalted Allah as He put it in the Noble Quran:
(It is most hateful to Allah that you should say that
which you do not do)61;3.
(Do you enjoin men to be good and neglect your own souls?)2;44.
Anwar:Very good. It was delightful to hear this. Allah rewards you well.
Hasan:Likewise. See you tomorrow, Inshallah.
Symposium 59
Words on Claiming His Mediation
Anwar:Salam ‘Alaykom!
Hasan:Alaykom As-Salam Wa Rahmatollah Wa Barakatoh!
Anwar:After what you said yesterday, I was deeply thinking about my own qualifications and I wondered if I am qualified to be among the waiting mass for the Imam (AHHR) or one of his supporters! I actually concluded that I need to chasten myself from earthly filth and to work hard in order to be closer to the Divine Entity; so, I need to be pious, to be marked with high moral standards by word and deed, to be one from inside and outside except in Taqiyeh and to be