Hawzah News Agency- Many things have been said regarding the duties and responsibilities of those awaiting Imam Mahdi (pbuh); however, briefly summarized, the duties incumbent upon people during this era can be divided into two main categories: General duties and Specific duties.
General Duties
These duties have been mentioned in the narrations of the Infallibles (pbut) as obligations of the Era of Occultation. They are not exclusive to this period but must be fulfilled at all times. Their mention in the context of the occultation era might be for emphasis.
Some of these duties are as follows:
1. Knowing the Imam of your time
One of the duties heavily emphasized for followers of Islamic teachings at all times—especially during the Era of Occultation—is acquiring the recognition of the Imam of the time.
Imam Sadiq (pbuh) said:
إِعْرِفْ إِمَامَکَ فَإِنَّکَ إِذَا عَرَفْتَ لَمْ یَضُرَّکَ تَقَدَّمَ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ أَوْ تَأَخَّرَ.
Know your Imam, for if you know him, the hastening or delaying of this matter [the uprising] will not harm you.
(Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 371)
Undoubtedly, knowing the Imam is inseparable from knowing Allah (swt); rather, it is one of its dimensions. As we supplicate to Allah (swt) in the noble Dua al-Ma'rifah:
اللَّهُمَّ عَرِّفْنِی نَفْسَکَ فَإِنَّکَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِی نَفْسَکَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْ نَبِیکَ اللَّهُمَّ عَرِّفْنِی رَسُولَکَ فَإِنَّکَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِی رَسُولَکَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْ حجّتکَ اللَّهُمَّ عَرِّفْنِی حجّتکَ فَإِنَّکَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِی حجّتکَ ضَلَلْتُ عَنْ دِینِی.
O Allah! Make Yourself known to me, for if You do not make Yourself known to me, I will not know Your Prophet. O Allah! Make Your Messenger known to me, for if You do not make Your Messenger known to me, I will not know Your Proof (Hujjah). O Allah! Make Your Proof known to me, for if You do not make Your Proof known to me, I will go astray from my religion.
(Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 342)
It is clearly derived from the narrations of the Infallibles (pbut) that all virtues in servitude to Allah (swt) hinge upon possessing the recognition of the Imam (pbuh) and adhering firmly to it.
2. Steadfastness in Loving the Ahlul-Bayt (pbut)
One of our important duties in every era is loving the Prophet's Household (Ahlul-Bayt). During the Occultation of the Final Infallible, the concealment of the Imam might cause factors to draw people away from this vital duty. Therefore, the narrations urge us to remain steadfast in our affection for those sacred lights.
We shall not forget that this love is a command from Allah (swt). Years before the Imam began his worldly life, pure souls expressed their affection for him. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh), the most noble of prophets and the final divine messenger, when speaking of his final successor, used the most profound word of affection “بِأَبِی وَ أُمِّی” (My father and mother be sacrificed for him), saying:
بِأَبِی وَ أُمِّی سَمِیی وَ شَبِیهِی وَ شَبِیهُ مُوسَی بْنِ عِمْرَانَ عَلَیهِ جُیوبُ النُّور... .
My father and mother be sacrificed for him! He shares my name and resemblance, and the resemblance of Moses son of Imran, upon whom are envelopes of light...
(Kifayat al-Athar, p. 156)
Similarly, Imam Ali (pbuh) said:
فَانْظُرُوا أَهْلَ بَیتِ نَبِیکُمْ فَإِنْ لَبَدُوا فَالْبُدُوا، وَ إِنِ اسْتَنْصَرُوکُمْ فَانْصُرُوهُمْ، فَلَیفَرِّجَنَّ اللَّهُ [الْفِتْنَةَ] بِرَجُلٍ مِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَیتِ. بِأَبِی ابْنُ خِیرَةِ الْإِمَاءِ.
Look to the progeny of your Prophet. If they remain quiet and stay at home, you too remain silent and cling to the earth. If they seek your help, hasten to assist them, for indeed, Allah The Almighty will bring relief from tribulation through a man from us, the Ahlul-Bayt. My father be sacrificed for him, the son of the best of bondswomen.
(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 34, p. 118)
Khallad ibn Saffar narrates that Imam Sadiq (pbuh) was asked: "Has the Qa'im been born?" The Imam replied:
لَا وَ لَوْ أَدْرَکْتُهُ لَخَدَمْتُهُ أَیامَ حَیاتِی.
No. If I were in his era, I would serve him throughout my life.
(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 51, p. 148)
In another narration, Imam Baqir (pbuh) stated:
أَمَا إِنِّی لَوْ أَدْرَکْتُ ذَلِکَ لَأَبْقَیتُ نَفْسِی لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْر.
Indeed, if I were to live that time, I would preserve my very self for the Master of this Affair.
(Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 52, p. 243)
Given the above narrations, there is no doubt that loving the Ahlul-Bayt (pbut)—especially the Final Proof of Allah—during the time of Occultation is an extremely important and valuable issue.
3. Piety and Upholding Divine Taqwa (Allah-consciousness)
Divine piety (Taqwa) is obligatory at all times, but it gains greater importance during the Era of Occultation due to the unique circumstances, as numerous factors conspire during this period to lead people astray.
Imam Sadiq (pbuh) said:
إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا اَلْأَمْرِ غَیْبَةً فَلْیَتَّقِ اَللَّهَ عَبْدٌ وَ لْیَتَمَسَّکْ بِدِینِهِ.
Indeed, the Master of this Affair has an Occultation. Therefore, let the servant observe the Divine piety and cling to his religion. (Kamal al-Din, Vol. 2, p. 343)
4. Following the Commands of the Imams (pbut)
Since all Imams (pbut) are a single light, as mentioned in the hadiths, their commands and teachings pursue a single goal. Therefore, obeying any one of them is tantamount to obeying all of them. When one Imam is not accessible, the directives of the others serve as a guiding light.
Yunus ibn Abd al-Rahman narrates that he visited Imam Kadhim (pbuh) and asked:
یَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَنْتَ الْقَائِمُ بِالْحَقِّ؟
"O Son of the Messenger of Allah! Are you the Qa'im (The Riser) of Truth?"
He replied:
أَنَا الْقَائِمُ بِالْحَقِّ وَ لَکِنَّ الْقَائِمَ الَّذِی یُطَهِّرُ الْأَرْضَ مِنْ أَعْدَاءِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ یَمْلَؤُهَا عَدْلًا کَمَا مُلِئَتْ جَوْراً وَ ظُلْماً هُوَ الْخَامِسُ مِنْ وُلْدِی لَهُ غَیْبَةٌ یَطُولُ أَمَدُهَا خَوْفاً عَلَی نَفْسِهِ یَرْتَدُّ فِیهَا أَقْوَامٌ وَ یَثْبُتُ فِیهَا آخَرُونَ
ثُمَّ قَالَ ع طُوبَی لِشِیعَتِنَا الْمُتَمَسِّکِینَ بِحَبْلِنَا فِی غَیْبَةِ قَائِمِنَا الثَّابِتِینَ عَلَی مُوَالاتِنَا وَ الْبَرَاءَةِ مِنْ أَعْدَائِنَا أُولَئِکَ مِنَّا وَ نَحْنُ مِنْهُمْ قَدْ رَضُوا بِنَا أَئِمَّةً وَ رَضِینَا بِهِمْ شِیعَةً فَطُوبَی لَهُمْ ثُمَّ طُوبَی لَهُمْ وَ هُمْ وَ اللَّهِ مَعَنَا فِی دَرَجَاتِنَا یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ.
“ I am the Riser of Truth, but the Riser who will purify the earth of Allah’s enemies and fill it with justice just as it has been filled with oppression and wrongdoing—He is the fifth among my offspring. He will have a prolonged Occultation to preserve his life, during which some groups will revert [from faith] and others will remain steadfast.
Then he said (pbuh): "Blessedness be to our Shia who cling to our rope during the Occultation of our Qa'im, who remain steadfast upon loving us and disavowing our enemies. They are of us, and we are of them. They have accepted us as Imams, and we have accepted them as Shia (followers). So, blessedness be to them! Then, blessedness be to them! By Allah, they will be with us in our status on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Vol. 2, p. 361)
This discussion continues…
Adapted from “Mahdism Textbook” by Khodamorad Salimian with slight modifications.
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