Time of the Appearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH)

Hawzah News Agency- One of the questions that has always occupied the minds of people is when will Imam Mahdi (PBUH) appear and has a time been determined for the appearance?

The answer is that, according to the words of religious leaders, the time of the appearance is hidden from people.

Imam Sadiq (PBUH) says in this regard:

«کَذَبَ اَلْمُوَقِّتُونَ مَا وَقَّتْنَا فِیمَا مَضَی وَ لاَ نُوَقِّتُ فِیمَا یَسْتَقْبِلُ.»

Those who set time lie. We have not set the time [of the appearance] in the past, and We will not set it in the future. (Al-Ghaybah, Sheikh Tusi, Vol. 1, p. 426)

Therefore, those who set a specific time for the appearance are deceivers and liars. This has been emphasized in the hadiths.

Imam Baqir (PBUH) also said to one of his companions who asked about the time of the appearance:

«کَذَبَ الوَقّاتونَ، کَذَبَ الوَقّاتونَ، کَذَبَ الوَقّاتونَ.»

Timekeepers lie, timekeepers lie, timekeepers lie. (Al-Ghaybah, Sheikh Tusi, vol. 1, p. 425)

From such narrations, it can be clearly understood that there have always been those who have set the time for the reappearance of Imam with satanic motives and such people will also exist in the future. For this reason, the infallible imams (peace be upon them) have asked the Shiites not to be indifferent towards the timekeepers, but to deny them.

Imam Sadiq (PBUH) said to one of his companions:

«مَنْ وَقَّتَ لَکَ مِنَ اَلنَّاسِ شَیْئاً فَلاَ تَهَابَنَّ أَنْ تُکَذِّبَهُ فَلَسْنَا نُوَقِّتُ لِأَحَدٍ وَقْتاً.»

Do not be afraid of denying the one who appoints a time for the appearance, for We have not appointed a time for anyone. (Al-Ghaybah, Sheikh Tusi, Vol. 1, p. 426)

The specific time for the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi, is not predetermined. The Imams of Shia Islam have explicitly stated that those who fix a specific time for his appearance are liars, according to Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi's website. Therefore, it's not possible to pinpoint a specific date or time for his arrival.

This discussion continues...

Extracted from the book “Negine Afarinesh (The Jewel of Creation)”, with slight changes