The importance and the necessity to pray for the Reappearance - First series

“The etiquette of prayer” 1/2

Now that the importance of praying and its wonderful effects came to light, (by the previous number of this subject) we proceed to study the etiquette of praying. It is written in volume 93 of Bihar al-Anwar: “If you don’t observe the condition of praying, don’t expect your prayer to be answered.”

1. Prayer should start with the name of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “A prayer that starts with “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful” won’t be rejected.” *1

2. A prayer should include the praise and worship of Allah. Imam Sadiq (PBUH) says: “Any prayer that is offered without the praise and worship of Allah before it, is incomplete and fruitless.”*2

3. Salutation to Prophet Muhammad and his Progeny. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Your salutation to us makes both your prayer accepted and your deeds pure.”*3

4. Seeking intercession. It has come in Verse 35 of the Surah al-Ma’ida: “Seek the means of approach unto Him” (meaning Ahl-al-Bayt).

5. Confessing sins. Imam Sadiq (PBUH): “Prayer consists of praise of Allah and then confessing sins…”*4

(1. Bihar al-Anwar 93/313; 2. Al-Kafi 2/503; 3. Bihar al-Anwar 94/54; 4. Bihar al-Anwar 93/318)

 

The etiquette of prayers 2/2

The continuation of previous number↩️

6- It should not be out of negligence and it must be offered with deep attention. Imam Sadiq (PBUH): “Allah does not answer prayers of a neglectful person. So pray carefully and attentively.”*1

7- Purity of food, drink and clothes. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “One who wishes his prayers to be answered, his food and trade must be Halal (pure).”*2

8- Paying the rights of the people. Imam Sadiq (PBUH) said: “Allah says” “I swear by My Honor, I will never answer prayers of the oppressed one who has done the same to another one.””*3

9- Abandoning the sin which is obstacle to answering the prayers. Imam Baqir (PBUH) said: “A servant asks Allah a favor … Then the servant commits a sin and Allah tells the angels: “Do not grant his need and deprive him of it.””*4

10- Being optimistic to the acceptance of the prayer. It is said in a Hadith: “When you are praying, ask Allah with all your heart and soul, and then believe in the acceptance of it.”*5

11- Persistence and insistence on prayers. It is written in the Old Testament: “Do not get tired of praying because I (Allah) won't get tired of answering.”*6

(1& 5-Bihar al-Anwar 93/323; 2 & 6-Bihar al-Anwar 93/372; 3-Bihar al-Anwar 93/320; 4-Bihar al-Anwar 73/328.)

 

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Mahdavi Lifestyle - First series

The concept of Mahdavi lifestyle

Lifestyle is the combination of actions and thoughts that together makes the puzzle of our life as a whole.

The awaiting person should choose a lifestyle that makes his master smile when his deeds are presented to Imam Mahdi (PBUH). So, firstly it is necessary to be acquainted with the lifestyle that is approved by Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and then employ it in daily life carefully.

Mahdavi lifestyle is the same as the religious lifestyle; but who cares about Mahdism and the Reappearance, does these religious actions with the intension of satisfying his master. For example when he is training a child, he thinks about how to raise a child who is a helper to Imam Mahdi (PBUH). Or when he gives alms, his first intention is Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) well-being.

In this section of Mahdavi Messages, we are looking to state the points that give our lives flavor of Imam Mahdi (PBUH).

 

The tableau of life

An awaiting person always heeds the issue that he’s awaiting the Reappearance and not the presence in his choices and finds Imam Mahdi (PBUH) present and an observant over his choices.

An awaiting person has a narration installed on the wall of his heart like a tableau and constantly thinks about it in various moments of his life and chooses his lifestyle based on this narration.

Musa ibn Sayyar says: “Imam Reza (PBUH) and I arrived in Tous. We heard whimpering… A few people were attending a funeral. I saw Imam Reza (PBUH) dismounted from his horse and approached the corpse. He lifted him and brought him close to himself. When the corpse was taken near the grave, Imam Reza (PBUH) came and stood above the corpse. He put his hand over the corpse’s chest and said: “I give you the good news that you’re in heaven. From now on, there is no fear for you.”

I asked: “Do you know this deceased?” He said: “Don’t you know that our Shiites’ deeds are presented to us every morning and night? Then if we see a flaw in their deeds, we would ask Allah for their forgiveness and if we see a good deed we would ask for his reward.”” (Bihar al-Anwar, v. 49)

 

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The duties of the awaiting people - First series

“Constant expectation for Imam Mahdi’s Reappearance”

One of the duties of the awaiting people is to wait for his reappearance and to prepare themselves for that enormous event. God in the Quran accounts worshiping as a goal of human creation.”

The Prophet says while interpreting this verse in the Quran that the best worship is expectation for Imam Mahdi’s Reappearance

Mekyal al-Makarem, volume 2

A reminder:

We should examine ourselves to see how much we are really waiting for Imam Mahdi.

 

Remaining patient in annoyance and denial

Imam Sadiq (PBUH): “When you are faced with difficulty and hardship in our way, be patient and recommend each other to resist.”

“Every person who is waiting for imam Mahdi and is patient in tolerating the annoyance and fear in this way, he will be in our company in the other world.”

Mekyal al-Makarem, volume 2—  Rouzeh Kafi, page37

Types of patience in the occultation based on narrations:

1. Being patient for the duration of the occultation

2. Being patient against annoyance and denial and ridicule of the opponents.

3. Being patient against calamities and disasters

4. Being patient when you see believers’ calamities caused by enemies while you cannot defend them.

 

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The Reappearance Signs - First series

The signs

It’s human nature to be curious about future and whatever is going to happen. This the reason why fortune telling is flourishing. These fortune tellers are either divine and their sayings are based on revelation (heavenly), or devilish and earthly.

Meanwhile, the promise of coming a savior is mentioned in all religions and cults, but coming of this savior also has signs for not losing the way, there are many narrations concerning this subject which indicates the importance of it and its positive and negative effects in personal and social life…

But the important point is to check the documentation and interpretation of these narrations and Hadiths which needs special attention.

 

Why the signs?

When autumn comes, leaves turn yellow and slowly fall. It’s a sign of the beginning of autumn, yet not autumn itself; but rather the messenger of the beginning of this season and it has no role in occurrence of autumn.

The yellowness of the face is the sign of disease, but the reason of disease is not “the color of the face”.

The signs of the Reappearance are also messengers of the Reappearance and have no role in occurring this divine order and are merely guidance signs and path indicators.

In other words, the signs play no role in hastening the Reappearance; but are rather the sign of approaching the Reappearance. In order for the Reappearance to occur, we should make the preparations for the Reappearance and not be looking for the occurrence of the signs.

 

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Seeking the Savior in Different Religions - First series

Savior Seeking in the Quran

Throughout history, in order to survive the catastrophes, people were waiting for a "savior"! Like Noah who saved people from drowning in a storm! Saving Lot from the city full of lustful people! Saving the Israelites from Pharaohs!

Therefore, due to this, God removed people with lustful life off the history; those who rejected Noah were destroyed! People of Sodom (Lut’s Tribe) were burned by the lightning! And also the drowning of Pharaohs in the Nile…

Therefore this whine of those who wait for a savior “Where is the destroyer of the buildings of hypocrisy and blasphemy? ” has a Quranic root.

Sura/Verse: ash-shu`araa' (The Poets) 169, Yoonus 73, al-Anbiyaa' (The Prophets) 71, al-Baqarah (The Cow) 49

 

Seeking the Savior in the Bible

Jesus Christ says about the Apocalypse: “Nations will be at war! Famine, pestilence and earthquakes will occur! People will hate each other! The sun will darken and the moon will have no light!”

Matthew, chapter24, verses 1to6

Whatever is said, this prophecy is much scarier than the terrible flood of Noah and the tale of Lot's folk!!! More importantly, humanity must experience and pass through all these calamities so that it can acquire the "merit" of believing in "the belief of salvation"! It is here that God does not get involved directly in "Saving" but sends his messengers to save the believers! Such as sending Moses, like sending Jesus...

Is it not the time for our "Savior Seeking" to get deeper?

 

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Visiting Imam Mahdi and Its Stories - First series

Just sinners read!

Sayyed Ibn Tawus says: “One early morning I was in the Sacred Cellar of Samarra, suddenly I heard my master, Imam Mahdi (PBUH), praying for his Shia:”

 “O Allah! You have created our Shia from our light and our remaining clay, they have sinned in reliance on our affection and our Wilayah; if their sins are related to You, forgive them that it makes us happy and what of their sins is related to them, correct them… and save them from the fire of hell, and do not gather them and our enemies together for Your wrath.”

(The book “Barakat e Hazrat e Wali-Asr” (the blessings of Imam Mahdi (PBUH)), p. 399)

Where are those who are afraid of their affectionate Imam because of their sins and find his Reappearance detrimental to them?

 

Iran, the land of Shiites of Imam Mahdi (PBUH)

After the pressures that escalated the situation of our country during the First World War and enemies rushed to occupy Iran, late Mirza Naeini (a great Shia scholar) complained to Imam Mahdi (PBUH). Mr. Naeini says:

 “I groaned a lot and complained to Imam Mahdi (PBUH). One day a revelation happened to me and I saw Imam Mahdi (PBUH) standing and beckoning me with his finger to look at a very high wall that was bent. Then I saw that Imam’s finger is pointing to the wall and he said:

 “This wall is Iran. It bends, but we have held it with our finger and we won’t let it be fallen. This is “our land of Shiites”, it bends, but we won’t let it be fallen.””

(The book “Majales e Imam Mahdi (PBUH) (Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) meetings)”; p. 261)

 

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The words of scholars - First series

Ayatollah Bahjat :

What sufferings (hardships) are incurred by Imam Mahdi (PBUH) who is the owner of the whole planet earth and how does he feel and how do we feel? He is in prison and is not happy and we are absolutely ignorant… 

In Bahjat’s Company, vol 1, p106

My friend, think about your Leader’s exile during which this vast world has become a jail for him...

 

The difference between Shiites belief in the Savior and others’

The difference that we Shiites have with other Islamic and non-Islamic sects is that we know this dear and great person; his name, his date of birth, his parents and his beloved ancestors, we know his “concerns”, but others do not know these... That's why Shiites’ resorts are "livelier" and "more enthusiastic" and "more meaningful" and "more focused"...

The basic principle of Mahdism principle is agreed on among all Muslims... But in the main part which is the "the knowledge of the Savior himself" there is inconsistent insight. Shiites, through their certain news, know the Savior by his name, specification, and his date of birth.

Supreme Leader, 74/10/17 - 84/6/29

 

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Imam Mahdi in the Narrations - First series

Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) signs

Imam Sajjad (PBUH) said: “Our Qa’im has signs from six prophets:

1- a sign from Noah (PBUH);

2- a sign from Ibrahim (PBUH);

3- a sign from Jesus (PBUH);

4- a sign from Moses (PBUH);

5- a sign from Jacob (PBUH);

6- a sign from Muhammad (PBUH).”

 “But his sign from Noah (PBUH) is the long life; his sign from Ibrahim (PBUH) is the secrecy of his birthplace; his sign from Moses (PBUH) is his fear of enemy and absence that Moses (PBUH) left Egypt to Midian due to his fear of Pharaoh and his army and was hidden for a while; his sign from Jesus (PBUH) is dispute among people about him and his seclusion from people; his sign from Jacob (PBUH) is his victory over problems and troubles; and his sign from Muhammad (PBUH) is his insurrection by sword.”

( The book of A’alam al-Vara, p. 290)

In some narrations a sign from Joseph (PBUH) is mentioned and that is being imprisoned.

 

The incredible glory and strength of Imam Mahdi (PBUH)

Imam Reza (PBUH) says in a narration: “Qa’im is the one who is old at the time of his Reappearance but has a young face; and he has that much physical strength that if he lays his hand on the biggest tree on Earth, he would uproot it and if he raises his voice among mountains, mountain rocks would turn into pieces. He has the Staff of Moses and the Seal of Solomon with him.”

(Kashf al-Ghumma, 3:445, Ea’lam al-Wara 407)

 

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Imam Mahdi in the Quran - First series

There are more than 300 Mahdavi verses in the Quran

Some Mahdavi topics in the Quran:

Descriptions of Imam Mahdi’s companions in the Quran

Jesus’ descent in the Quran

Some of the “Imminent signs of the Reappearance"

The future of the world in the Quran

Information about Messianism in the past religions

“Waiting for the Savior" in the Quran and other religions

The characteristics of the Reappearance Era" in the Quran and ...

That, God willing, will be sent to you dear Mehdi helpers.

 

The first one who returns

The translation of verse 18 of Surah An-Naba:

“The Day the Horn is blown and you will come forth in multitudes”

Imam Sadiq was asked: “Is the return (i.e. return to the world) right”?

The Imam said: “Yes”

Asked: “Who is the first person who comes back?”

The Imam said: “Hussein ibn Ali, who exits after the uprising of Al-Qa’im”

The man asked: “Are there people accompanying him? He said: “No, as Allah says (in the Quran): they come in groups and respectively, nations after nations.”

The book of Alvafy, vol. 2, p.267

 

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The Merciful Government of Imam Mahdi - First series

Blessings in the time of Reappearance

The Holy Prophet said:

“In the era of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), the earth puts out its treasures such as pieces of gold and silver,

The thief comes forward and says:

“Was my hand cut for a thing like this?”

The murderer comes forward and says:

“Did I commit murder for such an object?”

The one who hasn’t maintained ties with his family says:

“Did I cut the ties (with my relatives) for such a thing?”

Then these pieces of gold and silver remain on the ground and nobody has the slightest desire to take them.”

Besharat al-Islam p.71

 

Economy in the time of Reappearance

Imam Baqir (PBUH) said:

 “World wealth will be accumulated and will be in the possession of Mahdi (PBUH); the wealth beneath the ground and the wealth on the ground; then he will tell people, “Come and take what you cut the ties for” (i.e. materialism)

 “So he will give (everyone) as much wealth that no one before him had not given to another and he provides the earth with utter justice.”

Qeibat Na’mani P. 237

 

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