Hawzah News Agency- Specific Duties
The specific duties are those that are linked to the Occultation of Imam Mahdi (pbuh). These duties include:
1. Loving the Friends and Hating the Enemies of Imam Mahdi (pbuh)
Numerous narrations from the Holy Prophet (pbuh) emphasize affection and friendship towards the Ahlul-Bayt (pbut) and enmity towards their adversaries; this applies to all times. However, some narrations specifically advise friendship with the friends of Imam Mahdi (pbuh) and enmity towards his enemies.
Imam Baqir (pbuh) narrates from the Messenger of Allah(pbuh) as follows:
طُوبی لِمَنْ اَدْرَکَ قائِمَ اَهْلِ بَیتی وَهُوَ یأتَمُّ بِهِ فی غَیْبَتِهِ قَبْلَ قِیامِهِ وَیَتَوَلّی اَوْلِیاءَهُ وَیُعادِی اَعْداءَهُ، ذلِکَ مِنْ رُفَقایی وَ ذَوِی مَوَدَّتی وَاَکْرَمُ اُمَّتی عَلَی یَوْمَ القِیَامَةِ.
Blessedness be to him who lives in the era of the Qa'im (Riser) of my Household, who follows him during his Occultation before his uprising, loves his friends, and shows enmity to his enemies. Such a person will be among my companions and those dear to me, and the most honorable of my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection.
(Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Vol. 1, p. 286)
2. Patience Through the Hardships of the Occultation Era
Today, there are many who, for various reasons, cannot accept the belief in the concealed Imam or refuse to remember him, resorting to any means to undermine this belief. Since one of the core religious teachings is patience through hardships, it is imperative during this era to gain a greater patience than ever before against these difficulties.
Abdullah ibn Sinan narrates from Imam Sadiq (pbuh) that the Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh) said:
سَیَأْتِی قَوْمٌ مِنْ بَعْدِکُمْ الرَّجُلُ الْوَاحِدُ مِنْهُمْ لَهُ أَجْرُ خَمْسِینَ مِنْکُمْ. قَالُوا: یَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَحْنُ کُنَّا مَعَکَ بِبَدْرٍ وَ أُحُدٍ وَ حُنَیْنٍ وَ نَزَلَ فِینَا الْقُرْآنُ. فَقَالَ: إِنَّکُمْ لَوْ تحملوا [تحملونَ] لِمَا حُمِّلُوا لَمْ تَصْبِرُوا صَبْرَهُمْ.
A group of people will come after you, and a single one of them will have the reward of fifty of you.
They asked: "O Messenger of Allah! We fought alongside you at Badr, Uhud, and Hunayn, and verses of the Qur'an were revealed concerning us."
He replied: "If you were to bear what they bear, you would not possess their patience."
(Kitab al-Ghaybah, p. 456)
Imam Husayn (pbuh) also said:
اِنَّ الصَّابِرَ فِی غَیبَتِهِ عَلَی الاَذی وَالتَّکْذِیبِ بِمَنزِلَةِ المُجاهِدِ بِالسَّیْفِ بَیْنَ یَدَی رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلیاللهعلیهوآلهوسلم.
The one who patiently endures harm and denial during His Occultation is like a warrior fighting with a sword alongside the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)."
(Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Vol. 1, p. 317)
3. Supplicating for the Relief (Faraj) of Imam Mahdi (pbuh)
Supplications hold a lofty status in Islamic culture. One of the effects of suplications may be the removal of distress for all humanity. From the Shia perspective, this ultimate goal will not be achieved until the Final Divine Treasure emerges from behind the veil of Occultation and illuminates the world with His light. This is why some narrations advise us to pray for His uprising and relief.
Indeed, one who awaits the coming of their Master will ask Allah to hasten His relief, especially knowing that with His relief, the ground for the guidance, growth, and perfection of human society will be fully prepared. It is narrated that the Imam Mahdi (pbuh) himself stated in part of the Letter (Tawqi'):
وَاَکثِرُوا الدُّعاء بِتَعجیلِ الفَرَجِ.
And supplicate frequently for the hastening of the Relief (faraj).
(Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Vol. 2, p. 483)
The late Ayatollah Ali Pahlavani Tehrani (1926–2004 CE), known as Ali Sa'adat-Parvar, a Shia mystic who completed his spiritual journey under the guidance of Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i (author of "Tafsir al-Mizan"), says in this regard:
Of course, everyone knows that the Imam's recommendation for praying is not merely reciting words or the movement of the tongue; although reciting the Du'a carries its own specific reward. Rather, the intention is constant heartfelt attention to the meaning and concept of this prayer, and an understanding that during the period of Occultation, matters of religion, religious practice, and correct belief in the Occultation and Imamat are difficult tasks accomplished only by those who possess certainty and steadfastness.
(Zuhur-e Noor, p. 103)
4. Perpetual Readiness
One of the most important duties during the Era of Occultation is genuine and constant preparation. There are numerous narrations concerning this.
Regarding the verse, (اصْبِرُوا وَ صابِرُوا وَ رابِطُوا) "Be patient, and stand firm, and guard your post", Imam Baqir (pbuh) commented:
اصْبِرُوا عَلَی أَدَاءِ الْفَرَائِضِ وَ صَابِرُوا عَدُوَّکُمْ وَ رَابِطُوا إِمَامَکُمْ المنتظر.
Be patient in performing the obligations, stand firm against your enemy, and maintain readiness for your Awaited Imam.
(Al-Ghaybah, p. 199)
Contrary to some interpretations that equate *Raabitu* with establishing contact or meeting the Imam, this term means being prepared for struggle.
(Lisan al-Arab, Vol. 7, p. 303; Majma' al-Bahrayn, Vol. 4, p. 248)
5. Honoring His Name and Memory
One of the responsibilities of the Shia towards Imam Mahdi (pbuh) during this era is honoring his name and memory. This commemoration has many manifestations. It may be organizing sessions for Du'a and praying for him, cultural and promotional activities, setting up discussion circles, or fundamental and beneficial research—all of these can be in service of honoring the Imam's name.
6. Maintaining the Bond with the Authority of Wilayah (Guardianship)
Preserving and strengthening the heartfelt bond with the Imam of the Age (pbuh) and constantly renewing the covenant is another vital duty incumbent upon every awaiting Shia during the time of Occultation.
Regarding those who remain steadfast in the matter of “Wilayah”, Imam Baqir (pbuh) said:
یَأْتِی عَلَی اَلنَّاسِ زَمَانٌ یَغِیبُ عَنْهُمْ إِمَامُهُمْ فَیَا طُوبَی لِلثَّابِتِینَ عَلَی أَمْرِنَا فِی ذَلِکَ اَلزَّمَانِ إِنَّ أَدْنَی مَا یَکُونُ لَهُمْ مِنَ اَلثَّوَابِ أَنْ یُنَادِیَهُمُ اَلْبَارِئُ جَلَّ جَلاَلُهُ فَیَقُولَ عِبَادِی وَ إِمَائِی آمَنْتُمْ بِسِرِّی وَ صَدَّقْتُمْ بِغَیْبِی فَأَبْشِرُوا بِحُسْنِ اَلثَّوَابِ مِنِّی فَأَنْتُمْ عِبَادِی وَ إِمَائِی حَقّاً مِنْکُمْ أَتَقَبَّلُ وَ عَنْکُمْ أَعْفُو وَ لَکُمْ أَغْفِرُ وَ بِکُمْ أَسْقِی عِبَادِیَ اَلْغَیْثَ وَ أَدْفَعُ عَنْهُمُ اَلْبَلاَءَ وَ لَوْلاَکُمْ لَأَنْزَلْتُ عَلَیْهِمْ عَذَابِی.
A time will come upon the people when their Imam will be absent. So, blessedness be to those who remain steadfast in our matter during that time! The least reward they will receive is that the Creator (swt) will call out to them and say: "O My male and female servants! You believed in My secret and affirmed My unseen reality. So rejoice in the excellent reward from Me, for you are truly My male and female servants. I accept from you, pardon you, and forgive you. Through you, I send rain to My servants, and I repel calamity from them. And if it was not for you, I would have sent My punishment upon them."
(Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah, Vol. 1, p. 330)
This discussion continues…
Adapted from “Mahdism Textbook” by Khodamorad Salimian with slight modifications.
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