Hawzah News Agency- In a brief review, the narrations that speak of Intidhar (anticipation) may be categorized in two groups:
1. General Intidhar al-Faraj (anticipation for relief)
In this sense, religious teachings emphasize not only the virtue of maintaining hope for relief and a better future but also strongly condemn despair.
The emphasis that Islamic teachings place on this concept of anticipation and hope is so profound that it has been described with the loftiest titles and associated with exceptional spiritual rewards. Some of these titles include:
A Form of Worship
The Holy Qur’an and the Ahlul-Bayt (pbut) teach that the purpose of creation is to worship and be a servant of Allah:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
“I did not create jinn and humans except that they may worship Me.” (Qur’an, 51:56)
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) regarded anticipation for relief as one of the manifestations of this worship. He said:
اِنتِظارُ الفَرَجِ عِبَادَةٌ
“Intidhar (anticipation) for relief is worship.”
(Shaykh al-Tusi, al-Amali, p. 405)
Since most acts of worship are expressed through human attitude, it follows that intidhar also refers to a specific set of actions.
The Best Form of Worship
Certain acts of worship surpass others in rank, playing a greater role in spiritual refinement.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:
اَفضَلُ العِبادَةِ اِنتِظارُ الفَرَجِ
“The best form of worship is Intidhar (anticipation) for relief.”
(Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah, vol. 1, p. 287)
The Best of Deeds
In some narrations, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) described it as the best deed of his community:
اَفْضَلُ اَعْمالِ اُمَّتِی اِنتِظارُ الفَرَجِ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ
“The best deed of my Ummah is to await relief from Allah, the Almighty.”
(Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah, vol. 2, p. 644)
Relief Within the Anticipation Itself
Modern psychology confirms that hope profoundly affects human behavior. Expectation of a brighter future fills one’s present life with vitality and meaning.
Certain narrations express this truth, mentioning that the very act of awaiting is itself a kind of relief.
Imam Sajjad (pbuh) said:
اِنتِظارُ الفَرَجِ مِنْ اَعظَمِ الفَرَجِ
“Intidhar (anticipation) for relief is itself one of the greatest forms of relief.”
(Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah, vol. 1, p. 319)
The Greatest Jihad
In Islam, Jihad—striving in the way of Allah—is one of the best forms of action. Numerous Qur’anic verses and hadiths emphasize its importance.
Regarding the importance of Intidhar (anticipation) for relief, there are astonishing narrations that describe it not merely as a form of jihad (struggle), but as the greatest jihad. From such narrations, it becomes clear that true awaiting is not a passive state—it is an active, purposeful, and transformative deed.
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
اَفْضَلُ جِهادِ اُمَّتی اِنْتِظارُ الفَرَجِ
“The greatest jihad of my community is Intidhar (anticipation) for relief.”
(Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 37)
In contrast to these noble teachings, despair and hopelessness in Allah’s mercy are strongly condemned in the Qur’an and are counted among the gravest sins:
إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
“Indeed, none despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.”
(Qur’an, 12:87)
This discussion continues…
Adapted from “Mahdism Textbook” by Khodamorad Salimian with slight modifications.
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